11 11.Black Lotus

Luca POV

Kenne came to meet me at the Black Lotus Den.

It's where we'd always meet for information and other meetings. It was Mamou's den. From the outside it was just a bar. Of course it was a bar on the inside too... but something else behind the curtains. It was a slaughter house, a trap house; the drug lord's den and my hideout.

Not gonna lie, I'm never excited.

Nothing gives me happiness.

The only time I'm excited is when I'm all alone in my room, sniffing the white powder; Coke. The only time I'm in the Black Lotus.

When I sniff this I go to the moon.

That's when I forget all my problems, my ugly past and my messed up life. Escapism was my reality.

But it never occurred to me that I could be messing up further, cause they said they saved me from dying in the streets like the small time thief I was.

" You got all it takes. You don't have to die from bullets here. I'd shoot you for trying to steal from me if I wanted to. But I'm a good person. The streets are not safe. Let me help you," he said, "I can give you that which you want so bad. For free. You don't have to pay for it. You don't have to steal money from people.

All you have to do is follow my instructions. Be a good boy. Be loyal.

And it's yours... you can have it anytime...and.... I will make sure you are safe. I will take care of you...like my own son."

When I sniff Coke I feel so much better. I feel like he truly saved me. Cause where would I be if Mamou had not been giving me free Coke, a place to stay, a life, everything.

He and Kenne gave me a life... Luca's Rule No1 : WHOEVER GIVETH LUCA A LIFE, DESERVETH HIS LOYALTY.

I'd swear on my life that I'd be forever grateful to these two for treating me like a son.

I would have done it for real. Swear. I'd swear, but I stopped believing in the things Sr. Brendan taught me as a child.

She often said that God would come and save me. I believed it for sure, but I waited.

I waited for Him to take me away from the St. Francis of Assisi Convent Orphanage.

I waited for Him to give me back the life I once had.

He didn't come.

As I sneaked out of the convent I left Sr. Brendan a letter.

Mother, you have been the only mother I've had ever since Mama left me all alone. You gave me life and for that I will be grateful forever.

But mother, my nights are dreadful. I can't sleep. I won't move on.

You told me to wait for God. You said He'll pick me up and I'll be able to move on from my past, but He didn't come.

These nightmares I just can't.

If God comes, tell Him to find me in the streets.

Luca ಥ‿ಥ

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"Man come back, we barely five minutes into this meet up and you already reached cloud 9?"

Kenne tapped me out of my thoughts.

I looked at him.

He seemed cool as always. I liked him better than Mamou though.

Cause he was warm.

He also told me small inside secrets like Mamou's secret obsession with very young women.

Kenne was quite old, in his late fifties maybe. Mamou too.

They rolled like the truest of brothers...but Kenne was different.

Although he was a hundred percent loyal to his friend, he was quite reasonable, more friendly and sometimes goofy.

"No man, I was just taking a walk down memory lane, nothing big," I responded smiling.

" Why did you want us to meet so bad, considering the fact that you ain't done with your assignment yet."

"About that, Kenne, who am I dealing with? This woman is.... like... another version of me. She's smart, creepy, cool, super fast, she's just so different. She's made it so hard for me. And her eyes man....her eyes...."

"Hold it!! We didn't send you to fall in love Flores. You are not that type of person. And most importantly, you are not her type, she is our enemy. Take her down. With everything she has," he said, sternly this time.

"I was gonna say her eyes are intimidating," I responded calm as usual.

He looked at his phone and went to the counter to order a drink.

It beeped, and I thought maybe Mamou was calling.

I shot a glimpse on the screen just to see a text pop up. It was Mamou ,just as I expected.

Mamou: It's too late, they both know too much.

Who knows what?? But anyway I'll be the one to take these ones down too. Maybe they'll give me this one after I'm done with that little shit.

I was already mentally prepared. Cause I'd taken down so many. This would be just a walk over.

"Here," Kenne said giving me the glass of liquor.

" Cheers," We said as we took the shots.