City Culprits (Book 1)

by Brittany Nicole Allen

  “Who the hell are you?” She asked angered.

  Tyson pulled himself together standing back up to face her.

  “Don’t come near me.” She warned.

  Tyson laughed. “Your father taught you well. I’m impressed.”

  “What did you just say?”

  “Let me introduce myself. My name is Tyson. I know your real father. Carlos Rivera.”

  She took a deep sigh realizing who he was.

  “Now you got it.” Tyson smirked said noticing she knew who he was.

  “You must be ahead of the Jamaican Posse.”

  “That I am sweet pea.” He called her.

  “You came here alone? That’s not very smart.” She threatened.

  “No I did not.” Tyson snapped his fingers.

  The others came out from around the corner hallway, walking over toward Tyson and Zamora. They all stood closer to her but far enough away to where she couldn’t touch them.

  Zamora was amused at that.

  “Ah that’s really cute. Did you all rehearse that a few times?” She said sarcastically.

  “You should really watch your attitude.” Cassius warned.

  “Who the hell are you?” She got irritated.

  “Allow me to introduce.” Tyson said. “This is my cousin Cassius, and my main henchmen, Jamarco and Deandre. They are brothers as you can tell.”

  “Great. So what the hell do you want?”

  “Don’t be so hostile. I just wanted to meet Carlos Rivera’s long lost child. I have to admit, you are a very pretty girl.” He admired her.

  She ignored his statement.

  “How’d you get in here? And how did you know I was here?”

  “That sweet pea…is my dirty little secret.”

  “If I don’t get back to my father soon he’s going to come looking with his men.”

  “Don’t worry. I know we can’t sneak you out of here. I know your father has his men watching. I told you I just wanted to talk.”

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t scream out to him.”

  Jamarco quickly made a move against Zamora, pulling out his blade. Shoving it against her throat while pushing her against the wall at the same time. He was quick. The rest of them blocked her in, preventing her from making a move.

  “You realize how fast I can take that away from you?” She threatened him.

  “I’d like to see you try.” He told her.

  “You really wouldn’t.”

  “There are more of us than you.” Deandre reminded her.

  Carlos looked at the clock on the wall. He was starting to wonder what was taking his daughter so long to come back.

  “Quieres que vayamos y la encontramos?” Pito asked Carlos.

  (You want us to go and find her?)

  “Si ella no vuelve pronto.” Carlos answered.

  (If she does not come back soon.)

  They had Zamora’s wrists pinned up against the wall preventing her from fighting them. Deandre tightly pinning one wrist and Cassius pinning the other, while Jamarco still holding his blade to her neck. Tyson stood in the middle of Deandre and Jamarco close enough to Zamora as Jamarco was.

  “You’re not going to do anything to me. Let’s get real.” She said knowingly staring into Jamarco’s eyes. He stared back at her.

  “You say that with confidence.” Said Tyson.

  Zamora looked away from Jamarco to Tyson.

  “Because I know you need me alive to get what you want. So why don’t you tell me what you really want from my father.”

  Tyson laughed. “You are a very clever girl sweet pea.”

  “Ya know that nick name just isn’t working for me.” She said annoyed.

  She tried to free her wrists but Deandre and Cassius were too strong for her.

  “Don’t fight Zamora.” Tyson told her.

  She got angry.

  “That’s the look I was waiting for. It’s the same one your father has when he’s pissed off. That look in his eyes, when he’s about to kill somebody.”

  “How would you know that?”

  “Your father has done a lot of things Zamora.” Tyson said while tapping Jamarco on his arm as a gesture to back away from her.

  Jamarco backed off, letting Zamora to somehow free herself from Cassius’s grip. Jamarco quickly caught on, pinning her wrist back in place. His blade still in his hand by his side. He gripped as tightly as his brother was.

  Tyson gripped on to Zamora’s neck and jaw forcing her to look at him. He got serious with her. An evil look in his eyes.

  “You are quite the fighter sweet pea. I’ll give you that much. You are Rivera blood. That is for sure. But don’t think that just because you’re real father is Carlos Rivera…that his enemies can’t get to you. I think that we have proven that.”

  “Why did you come here?” She asked angered.

  “I just wanted you to know that I can get to you anytime that I want. If I didn’t need you alive…I could’ve killed you by now. Your father’s protection isn’t as heavily guarded as he thinks. You should be more careful. We are not the only one of your father’s rivals who is looking for you. But lucky for us and you…we are the only ones that know your location…for now.”

  “Are we done?” Zamora rolled her eyes.

  “How long did your father give you to come back?” He wondered.

  She didn’t answer. He tightly gripped his hand around her neck but not enough to choke her.

  “I don’t like being ignored. How long?” He demanded.

  “Twelve minutes.”

  “Three minutes left then.” He timed.

  “I don’t think we have anything left to talk about.” Zamora said trying to move her wrists again. That only made the brothers’ grip them tighter.

  “You’re hurting me.” She told them.

  “I have no remorse.” Jamarco told her.

  “Good to know.” She looked back to Tyson.

  He removed his hand from her neck and gestured for the other two to let her wrists free. Tyson looked Zamora in the eyes again. He rubbed his fingers through her hair. She tried moving her head away from him. Tyson grabbed on to her hair, pulling her closely toward him. She didn’t bother defending herself. She just reached her hand on to his arm.

  He whispered in her ear. “The next time I see your face, it will be under very different circumstances.”

  “I wouldn’t count on that.” She told him.

  Tyson pulled harder on her hair.

  “Do not; underestimate me, or my men. You will lose.”

  “You sure?” She tested him.

  “Everybody has a weakness. I will find yours. I suggest though, sweet pea, that you keep your friends close…and your enemies closer.”

  “We won’t be seeing each other again.” She told him.

  “You have no idea, what I am capable of, but now I know what you are. So now I know…how to handle you properly.”

  “You shouldn’t underestimate me either.” Zamora warned.

  “You better fix that mouth of yours.”

  “Get used to it.” She told him.

  He smirked, forcefully letting go of her hair. “We will be seeing each other again. And the next time, we won’t be so gentle with you.”

  “Ve a buscar a mi hija.” Carlos told Pito and Alex. It was past her time to return back.

  (Go find my daughter.)

  “No need. I’m here.” Zamora said returning to the room.

  “What the hell took you so long?” Carlos asked standing up.

  “I had to make an important phone call in private. Sorry to worry…father.” She lied to him.

  “This is my brother JT.” Nikkya introduced to the family. Carlos allowed him to visit the home on the condition that he never speaks of it to anyone.

  “It’s nice to meet you JT. Welcome to our home.” Carlos welcomed him shaking his hand.

  “Thank you. It’s…very roomy. Thank you for allowing my sister to stay here and protecting he
r. That means a lot.”

  “I’m sorry it had to be like this, but knowing a Rivera comes with a price.” Carlos told him, glancing at his daughter.

  “I understand.”

  “Will you be staying for dinner?” Minnie asked him.

  “I don’t want to impose.” He said.

  “Nonsense. You may dine with us.” Said Carlos.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Please. Call me Carlos.” He told him.

  Zamora was in her room. She had taken off her hoodie to change her shirt. JT suddenly knocked while opening the door at the same time. It was already cracked open. He immediately noticed Zamora’s bruises.

  “Hey Zamora? What the hell happened to your wrists?” He grabbed her arm.

  Zamora pulled her arm away. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

  “Zamora? Why are your wrists bruised? And your neck?” He noticed.

  “Keep your voice down.” She told him shutting the door.

  “What happened to you?”

  Zamora sighed while putting her hoodie back on. They sat on the bed.

  “After the meeting yesterday about Braydon, I went to the bathroom alone and when I came out…” She stopped herself.

  “What? Tell me.” He demanded.

  “I was attacked.”

  “What? By who?” JT raised his voice.

  “Keep it down.” Zamora told him.

  “The Jamaican Posse. Tyson, Cassius, Jamarco and Deandre.”

  JT stood up from the bed after hearing the last two names.

  “So they are a part of them. We were right.”

  “Yes.”

  “What did they do to you?” He asked concerned.

  “They didn’t hurt me.”

  “Well obviously they did.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Who are Tyson and Cassius?”

  “Tyson is the one in charge and Cassius is his cousin. I’m guessing he’s also his second in command. Jamarco and Deandre apparently are his henchmen.”

  “What did they say to you?”

  “They wanted to introduce themselves. Tyson wanted me to know that they’re watching and that they can get to me any time they want to. He said if he wanted me dead…he could’ve killed me already.”

  “You didn’t tell your father this? Does Nikkya know?”

  “No they don’t know. I didn’t tell Carlos because…we don’t exactly have a father and daughter relationship at the moment. We just met.”

  “But he could’ve done something.”

  “No he couldn’t. They were already there. What was he going to do? Search a whole building with armed guns?”

  “Great. So not even Carlos can protect you.”

  “Not enough. Que said they were good. He was right. If I told Carlos, he’d try to keep me locked up in the house and quite frankly I find his guards annoying. I’m glad I didn’t grow up like this. That would’ve really sucked ass.”

  “Zamora? You’re not thinking. You need to tell Carlos. If they get you. God knows what can happen. Tell your father Zamora. Or I will.” He said leaving the room. He was concerned for his friend’s safety.

  Minnie made dinner for the family. JT and Zamora kept eyeballing each other. He wanted her to tell Carlos what had happened. Minnie kept trying to get to know her daughter a little more but she refused to say much. She would only tell her and Carlos small things like what she liked to do growing up and where she went to school. She wasn’t ready to open up to them. Salena had helped Braydon and Annabeth with their meals. Axel remained quiet the whole time as well as Nikkya. Carlos got to know his house guest JT.

  “I see you were in the army.” Carlos said noticing JT’s dog tags.

  “Yes sir. I joined right after high school, when I was 18.” He answered dishing out a plate of mashed potatoes.

  “How long did you serve for?”

  “Two years.”

  “That’s fantastic. I also did the same. It was a rewarding experience. What do you do now?”

  “I work at a car garage. I hope to someday soon open my own.”

  “You like cars?”

  “Yes sir. I love cars.”

  “That’s interesting. It’s good that you know what you want out of life.”

  “Indeed it is.”

  “It’s good to have dreams.” Minnie smiled.

  The children went to bed a while after dinner. Salena was in her bed, reading a book. Carlos, Minnie, Axel, Nikkya, JT, and Zamora all went out in the back yard to enjoy the nice late August weather. They sat at a beautiful marble table drinking their favorite beverages. Nikkya and Zamora enjoyed their favorite wine together. Zamora was still quiet only sharing a conversation with Nikkya. JT got fed up knowing Zamora wasn’t going to confess, so he started up the conversation.

  “So sis. Are you going back to school soon?” JT asked his sister.

  “Yeah. I mean I think so. I want to.”

  “Can you keep her safe?” He asked Carlos.

  Zamora looked at JT knowing what he was up to.

  “Don’t worry about your sister. We will do our best to make sure nothing happens to her.” Carlos answered confidently. He took a sip of his drink.

  “Are you sure about that?” He questioned.

  Zamora shook her head at JT as a gesture to keep his mouth shut.

  “Do you have something to say to me boy?” Carlos raised his voice.

  “I mean, you can’t even keep your own daughter safe.”

  “JT. Don’t.” Zamora warned.

  “Excuse me?” Carlos stood up from the chair.

  “What’s going on?” Minnie asked.

  “Ask your daughter. She refuses to tell you. So I have to bring it up.”

  “What are you talking about?” Carlos questioned.

  “I don’t mean to be rude sir, but Zamora never told you that she was attacked by the Jamaican Posse when you took her to that meeting.”

  Nikkya had a look of confusion on her face. So did Minnie.

  “Is that true?” Carlos asked his daughter.

  Zamora didn’t answer.

  “Answer me!” He raised his voice at her.

  “Yes…Carlos. It’s true.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “Because it wouldn’t have mattered. I mean what were you going to do? Shoot up a building full of people?”

  “We could’ve done something to stop them.”

  “No you couldn’t. They were already there.”

  “When did that happen?”

  “When I came out from the bathroom. Tyson and some of his little posse were outside the door.”

  “What did that son of a bitch do?”

  She didn’t want to talk about it.

  “What did he do?” He raised his voice again.

  “He wanted me to know that they can get to me anytime that he wants. He said that if he wanted me dead, that he could have killed me already and that I’m not as safe as you think I am. He said they’re watching.”

  “Who else was there? Was Cassius with him?”

  “Oh so you know their names?” Zamora stood up in annoyance.

  “Yes. I do. They are my enemies.”

  “Yes. He also had his henchmen as he calls them, Jamarco and Deandre.”

  Nikkya’s eyes widened.

  “What? Why didn’t you tell me?” Nikkya asked.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to worry.” She told her.

  “So you lied about the phone call. That’s what was taking you so long to get back.”

  “Yes Carlos. I lied.”

  “I’m your father. Stop calling me Carlos.”

  “No! My father is dead. My mother is dead. You lost the right to be my dad when you gave me up for adoption.” She said angered.

  “It was to protect you!” He yelled.

  “I don’t need to be protected.” She told him.

  “Braydon does. You can’t keep him safe on your own.”

  “Do not mention my n
ephew’s name. He is my brother’s blood. Not yours.” She said

  “You don’t know my enemies. You don’t know what they’re capable of.”

  “No. But I know you. I know the things, which you have done. I know every crime that you were accused of. I’ve known your name, my entire life. I watched your name and organization spread all over the media and internet and to find out, that the most feared man in the state…is your real father. Do you know how that feels? To know that your real father is a cartel kingpin? My parents died…because of you. My sister is dead…because of you…my brother sent himself to prison…to protect me from the truth…because of you…so…father, I think you owe me an explanation of what this is all about. What’s your secret?”

  Carlos didn’t know how to respond.

  “Some things don’t need to be told.” He answered.

  “I want the truth. Or I’m leaving.” Zamora walked away.

  “I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I just thought you should know.” JT told him.

  “It’s okay. You did the right thing.” He told him.

  “Axel. You should go check on your mother and sister.” Carlos said as a demand.

  “I’ll be going. I’ll be checking on my sister often.” JT told Carlos before walking away.

  Nikkya walked with her brother into the house.

  “You need to tell her the whole truth. She needs to know.” Minnie told her husband.

  “I hear Carlos Rivera has made his way into the city.” Paco said to Lupe.

  “Indeed. He’s already found his daughter too.”

  “Well lucky for her. He just better keep to himself. This city belongs to me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.”

  “We’re not going to let him take over. Besides, you deal with weapons, he deals with drugs. I’m sure he’s plenty enough distracted with the Jamaican Posse, now that they found their way to his daughter.”

  “If he starts to impose a problem for us…we’ll be finding a way to his daughter too. I’m the king of this city and I intend to keep it that way.”

  “People fear Carlos Rivera. He’s a ruthless man.” Lupe said.

  “There’s only room for one of us in this city. I’m the most feared here. There will not be two kingpins here. I worked my ass off to take over this city. As for the Jamaican Posse, they better stay out of my way too.”

  “Don’t worry Paco. We will keep an eye on the Rivera’s. Their name spreads like a damn wildfire. If there’s something that we don’t like. We will find a way to fix it. We’re not going to let Carlos Rivera take over our city or the Jamaican Posse.” Lupe reassured him.