6. CARLOS
CARLOS
T oday has been a long day. One issue after the other with shipping schedules and antsy clients.
I’m happy to finally be home. I close the door to my apartment, or should I call it my penthouse?
This place was a great find. An apartment building just in town, and I purchased the entire top floor.
I think most people would expect me to live in the city, but I prefer it here in Grinston.
When I come home and shut the door, it feels like another world, which is what my brain needs after a taxing day.
Lucas lives in the apartment below me and a couple of the other smaller apartments belong to my security.
My home is nothing too crazy. I would classify it as elegant and understated.
All rooms have hints of earthy colors, dark greens and blues.
Dark woods give it that homely feel while my artwork gives insight into my crazy brain.
Everything from abstract to erotic. My favorite room is my study. In particular my collection. My hobby.
Upon entering the large space where I have a dark wood desk, a large brown leather chair and matching leather sofas, there is a huge display cabinet that covers the entire back wall.
A glass cabinet that contains my most prized possessions.
The glass is shatter and bullet proof and only I have a key that's kept on me at all times.
What are these possessions and hobbies, you may ask?
I collect two things for different reasons.
The first is that I have a ridiculous collection of knuckle dusters.
Yes, you heard me and I’m not ashamed of it.
They have always been my chosen weapon when needed, and my love for them stems from being a child when my grandfather handed me his before he died.
It belonged to all the Silva men before him.
After that I collected them, searched auctions and internationally to find unique ones, no expense spared.
Each one has its own story and I love them.
Not only are they beautiful on display, but the damage they inflict is stunning.
The second hobby and collection of mine is even more personal, and I would say they are my trophies.
A reminder of who I am. Teeth. Yes. Teeth.
Within the cabinet is a large wooden box with a purple velvet interior, which was custom made in Brazil, containing a single tooth of every person I have killed and tortured.
Most of them I had gold plated, but the platinum encased teeth are extra special.
I only have two of those as they were special kills. Senior players in the arms trade.
Now, is it sick to collect such a thing? Honestly, I don’t give a fuck. They make me happy. It's my legacy. Since I moved into supplying, I haven’t had any new additions, but you never know. I can only imagine how much they are all worth from the gold alone.
Closing the study door behind me, I walk down my wide hallway, soft lighting highlighting the way until I reach my enormous bedroom.
Again, the room is filled with dark wood furniture, a huge king bed and dark navy painted walls.
A large floor to ceiling window covers the entire wall with the lights of the city visible in the distance.
A mixture of peace with chaos in the background.
As I start to undress, only remaining in my pants, my phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket. It's my father and that's not good.
“Hello,” I say, knowing that greeting him in English will be annoying.
“Forgot your roots already?”
“No. What do you want?”
“That is no way to greet your father. But I appreciate you don’t want to chit chat. What is going on with Enrico?”
I pause. Why is he asking about my brother?
“Nothing. He’s working and keeping out of trouble.”
“That’s interesting you say that, as my men have informed me that he has been meeting with a gang that is not affiliated with anything you do. Did you not know?”
What the hell?
“Wait, what? How do you know this? Have you got your men spying on me?”
“Don’t be so naive, Carlos. What did you think I was going to do after we made our deal? I need to make sure you are keeping to the terms. But from this conversation, I gather you have no idea what your brother is up to. And you know the consequences if you break the agreement.”
“I’m not coming back. If Enrico is up to some stupid shit, I will bring him home. But I’m out of the family.”
His gravelly chuckle vibrates down the phone. I know that laugh. Fuck. I‘ll kill Enrico myself if he screws things up for me here.
“You don’t have a choice. Reign the little bastard in, otherwise I will take over.”
The line goes dead and I want to smash my phone against the wall. The manipulative asshole. This is all a ploy to get me back home. The fucker will find any means or excuse. What the hell is Enrico up to?
I send off a text to Lucas to get a couple of our guys on the case to find out what my sneaky brother is doing. I can’t let him ruin this for me. I won’t. I will bury him in the woods before I allow that.
I need a distraction. My mind immediately falls to Simon.
Maybe I’ll visit the club tonight. Cause a little drama with my little lion.
Yes. I think I’ll do just that. After our little encounter yesterday I need to see him again, just to make sure he’s real, and from my own personal piece of detective work, he is at the club most Friday nights.
I’m on my way, cub.