Page 78 of See No Evil

Legend adjusted hisRolex watch, a Christmas present from Caspian the previous year. He sat in his black leather seat on the private jet, headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, sipping a glass of vintage red wine and smoking his cigar. It was a six-hour flight. He hated having to lie to his fiancée, but it was necessary.

He was who he was.

It was what it was.

And now, it would be what it would be.

He’d spent eons researching, spending thousands of dollars to obtain what he needed, and countless hours, days, months, and years planning this trip of a lifetime. Nothing and no one was going to derail it. He pulled out his handwritten itinerary and read it, making sure he followed everything to the letter.

The jet he rode in was untraceable. There were no aviation records of its comings and goings, just as he’d arranged. He had a phony I.D. from Ortiz, carried only cash, no credit cards, and two different burner phones, which would be destroyed once he completed his excursion. His room and board had been taken care of well in advance using the phony identification, and paid in cash, as well as all of the accoutrements he’d requested. When he met his uncle in prison, things changed fast. Uncle Ortiz found out that Legend had been incarcerated in the same penitentiary he was serving time in, and though Legend didn’t know Ortiz, the man definitely knew of him.

The man actually decided to meet with him all of those years ago, and he promptly introduced himself, explaining that he was his father’s brother. Same daddy, different mamas. Daddy had never said much about him, but his name had crossed his lips a time or two. Ortiz had fled to Kentucky after getting into a bit of trouble in Puerto Rico, then got into a bit of trouble in Kentucky, too. Notwithstanding, Ortiz made it clear what his interests in him were. Legend was family, and he always wanted to grow the family business, especially after learning of Legend’s thirst for knowledge and power in the drug trade. At that time, Legend was an up and comer.

Legend, however, had no desire to work for anyone, and scoffed at the idea of answering to others. He’d always wanted to be his own boss. Besides, knowing what Ortiz was into, he wasn’t quite ready to jump that far into the hole, anyway. People had killed their own parents when it came to cocaine deals gone bad, let alone an uncle offing a nephew if things got too hot.Ortiz was to never be his superior, but he was a damn good source for information, and helpful when it came to his “final” arrangements. Legend didn’t explain why he wanted the three men taken out, but he made it crystal clear that he wanted to do it himself. Hands-on.

Ortiz never asked why. He merely offered his resources and connections, understanding that whatever was going on was personal. The man made it no secret that he wanted to make a buck on it, while helping blood,familia, at the same time. It took a long while for Legend to get the necessary funds, but time didn’t matter. He’d breathed, eaten and slept with this gnawing need for vengeance ever since he’d been a child. The only way to feed the ravenous monster within was to give it the old, fermented blood of the past, so he could walk freely into his future.

Legend folded the paper and slipped it into his black jacket pocket. Closing his eyes, he slept for the remainder of the trip. After all, he’d need his strength.

When he finally arrived on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, the pilot escorted him off the jet, and a car with a driver was waiting for him. A few words were exchanged as he got in the back of the vehicle. A simple greeting, confirmation of his destination, and the offering of a beverage was the extent of it. He sat in the back of the black Town Car, listening to Greentea Peng’s, ‘Look To Him.’ About twenty-five minutes later, he arrived at a small resort, with private villas. As soon as he walked in, two men greeted him in Spanish, calling him by his alias. He checked in under his pseudonym, then promptly went to his lodgings—a beautiful, opulent private villa with a pool. He walked inside to find the place was decked out in black, white, and gold marble.

He made his way around the room, checking it out, opening cabinets and drawers, doors here and there, then his eyes restedon the wood closet accordion doors in the bedroom. He opened them and smiled. An MG3 Machine Gun and F-2000 Assault Rifle immediately caught his eye.How pretty…

He picked them up, one at a time, examining them, checking their chambers, then placing them back just so.

After ensuring there were no cameras or recorders of any sort in the room, he took a piss, washed his hands, then snatched the special burner phone that was set up with state-of-the-art technology. Any call made from it would redirect the signal information, making it appear as if the call were coming from a tower in Mobile, Alabama. He knew that tonight, Desiree was out with a bunch of friends, including Melanie at some restaurant.

“Hey, baby. I’m at the hotel. I hope you had a good time at the spa with my sister and English earlier today. I take it since you’re not answering, you’re indisposed at this moment. Eating all the enchiladas and enjoying some margaritas… I probably won’t be able to call you later tonight because there’s a lot planned, but I’ll hit you up in the morning.” He stroked his beard and looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Just wanted to tell you that I’ll be home soon. Enjoy yourself tonight, baby. I love you.”

Ending the call, he turned on the shower, undressed, and turned on some music. ‘WHO I AM,’ by Leia Azar played as he got under the hot stream of water.

…Drippin’ wet.

My angel would come to me drippin’ wet… caught out in the rain… taking a bubble bath when she called me the very first time… Like a baptism…

He smiled at the thoughts of his sexy Desiree, then drew serious and focused as he rinsed shampoo out of his hair. He stepped out, dried off, trimmed his beard, put on a bit of cologne and deodorant, and dressed in black slacks, a button-downblack shirt that he only buttoned halfway, and a thin gold chain around his neck—a gift from Melanie many years ago.

After slipping into his black loafers, he donned his diamond pinky ring and went back to the closet, this time placing the items he needed in a duffle bag. He then grabbed the motorcycle helmet and jacket, and headed out to the rural, back hills of San Jose, Puerto Rico…

Daddy sat ina timeworn blue Lazy Boy chair, positioned right in front of the old-fashioned television. Legend ogled the old man with jet black hair and slivers of gray at the temples, as he blubbered and cried. His wife came and stood behind him, a plain, long-faced woman who placed her hand on his father’s shoulder. Small children, shiny-faced nieces and nephews he’d never met, from half siblings he’d never seen, made plenty of noise in the modest home that smelled of bread.

Daddy slowly got to his feet, and Legend watched an old man, who seemed far older than his years, make his way towards him. Arms outstretched. When his father wrapped his hands around him and squeezed, he wished he didn’t feel anything at all… but he did. His muscles jerked. His jaw tensed. Daddy sobbed onto his shirt.

“No one told me you were coming!” he yelled. “Let me call the family!”

“…It wasn’t a planned visit.” He looked around and hooked eyes with a man he presumed was another of his father’s sons, Ian. The man was standoffish—not that Legend cared. This truly had been unplanned, but when he made it to the villa, he’d felt compelled to make the trip to see his father. He wasn’t supposed to be seen by anyone he knew while taking care of business, but as he rode on that motorcycle to his original destination, tryingto talk himself out of it, he simply couldn’t. His soul begged him to continue forward. To see his papi.

“Sit! Sit!” Daddy released him and walked back to his seat.

Legend sat to his left, in a rickety chair that wobbled. He asked his wife, in Spanish, to leave them be. To grant them time alone. She corralled her grandchildren, and they all went outside to the front yard. Once the room was cleared, and Daddy had patted his eyes dry with a handkerchief, he looked him up and down.

“My goodness… My son. All the way from Kentucky. We talk. I see you on FaceTime, Legend, but nothing could match what I see with my own eyes today.” Daddy was animated, waving his hands about. “You’re so tall and big! Like a football player!” Daddy chuckled. Legend offered a watery smile and nodded in agreement. “I’m six feet. You’re taller than me. Much bigger, too. I’m glad to see you’re staying out of trouble, son. No more jail.” The old man had the nerve to shake his finger at him.

“Yup… no more jail.” Legend sighed, biting his tongue.

“Are you vacationing? Are you staying a while?”

“No. Just a short business trip.”

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