Chapter 34: Chapter 34

I managed to track down Miguel’s uncle and passed the information on to Damiano, who sent his men to capture him.

While we’re waiting for them to return, I’m still searching for Miguel, who’s somewhere in South America.

“You wanted to see me?” Tyrone asks.

I glance over my shoulder and nod. “Come take a seat.”

I wait for him to sit down, his eyes flicking over my system before settling on me.

“I have a job offer for you,” I get right to the point.

His eyebrow lifts. “Yeah?”

“How would you feel about driving Eden around and being her bodyguard?”

He doesn’t even think about the question. “I’d like to do that. Beats working construction.”

“I’ll send you for defensive driving courses and weapons training.”

This time, his eyebrows fly up. “Okay.”

“Ever fired a gun?” I ask as I get up to grab a Glock from the cabinet where I keep all my weapons.

“Yeah. I shot bottles and shit as a teenager.”

Letting out a chuckle, I shake my head and sit down again. Taking the magazine out, I reload it and show him the basics before I hand him the gun.

“Just point and shoot,” I mutter.

He takes the weapon then locks eyes with me again. “What are we going to do about the drug dealers?”

“Most of them were killed when we searched for Eden,” I tell him.

He seems surprised by the news but then says, “Yeah, but as long as that bitch of a mother keeps using, more will come knocking on Eden’s door for payment.”

With all the shit that went down and helping Eden to adjust to her new life, I didn’t even think about her mother.

“Has it happened before?” I ask. “Dealers coming to Eden for money?”

“Yeah, and every time Eden ends up beaten. The shit has to stop.”

He’s right.

“I’ll take care of the problem,” I say so he won’t worry.

He shifts in the chair. “I can’t live here forever. When can I go back to my place?”

“About that…” I suck in a deep breath of air, then say, “If you move back to Brownsville, you’ll have to travel up and down at all hours to drive Eden around.”

His eyes narrow slightly. “What you getting at?”

“I own another apartment in this building. It’s on the same floor as Esmerelda’s place. Move in there so you’re close to Eden.”

Shock tightens his features, and he just stares at me.

I give him a few seconds to recover, then add, “The place is furnished, but you’re welcome to bring your own furniture as well.”

“How much will the rent be?” he asks.

Fuck.

“Well, I’m going to pay you twenty thousand a month. You don’t have to pay rent, but if you insist, we can make it an even two thousand.”

“Dafuq?” he mutters, looking at me as if I’ve grown two heads. “You’re gonna pay me twenty thousand? Dollars? A month? Just to drive Eden’s ass around town?”

“Yes.”

“Man, oh man.”

He shoots up from his chair and starts to pace up and down my office as if he’s a boxer getting ready to fight.

“Man, bro.” He stops to look at me with so much emotion I feel the punch in my heart. “Come here, son.”

I’m hauled out of the chair and almost get a rib broken from the tight hug he’s giving me.

I pat him on the back. “Tyrone…ribs.”

“Sorry.” He lets go of me then slaps me on the shoulder. “You sure you wanna do all that for me?”

“Yeah, but I’d prefer if you didn’t pay rent. The place is empty anyway.”

“No, I gotta pay my way in life. It will feel like I’m doing something to earn my spot in this classy building.” He shakes his head again, a look of disbelief still on his face.

“In that case, the rent is due on the last day of the month. You can leave the cash with Esmerelda so she can use it for groceries.”

Opening one of the drawers at my desk, I pull a set of keys out and toss them at Tyrone.

He catches them, the smile on his face so wide all I see is a row of white teeth.

Giving me the sincerest expression I’ve ever seen, he says, “You have a good heart, Dario. Thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

He gives me a hopeful look. “Can I go look at the apartment?”

“Sure.” I get up, and as we leave the office, he hollers, “Baby girl, where you at? Your old man has good news.”

“Downstairs,” she answers.

When we come down the stairs, he jingles the keys in the air. “Dario just gave me the keys to a fancy-ass apartment in this building.”

“What?” she gasps, stopping what she was doing on the laptop. “For real?”

“Yes. I’m gonna pay him rent.”

Her eyes meet mine, and she gives me a grateful look before she gets up from the couch and walks closer to us.

“Wanna come with? I’m gonna check out my new crib,” Tyrone asks with excitement lacing his words.

“Yeah, we’re coming with,” Eden answers for both of us.

We all bundle into the elevator, and I press the button for the fifth floor.

On the ride down, Tyrone says, “I also got a new job.”

“You did?” Eden asks, glancing up at him. “Doing what?”

“Driving your ass around. I’m gonna be your driver slash bodyguard.”

She raises an eyebrow at us. “My driver? For what? I don’t have many places to go.”

“It’s for my peace of mind,” I mutter. “And Tyrone’s. We only want to keep you safe.”

“Aww…”

“It’s good pay,” Tyrone adds. “So don’t get me in trouble with the boss.”

“Boss, my ass,” I mumble as the doors open.

We walk to the apartment, and when Tyrone unlocks the front door, I notice his hand’s shaking a little. He pushes the door open, and stepping inside, he lets out a long whistle.

“Wow. Nicccce,” Eden comments.

They glance around, and I can feel the excitement coming in waves off Tyrone. Before I can take cover, he comes at me and yanks me into a bear-hug.

“Thank you,” he whispers, sounding choked up. “You don’t know how much this means to me. Everything you’ve done for my girl and me…” He shakes his head as he lets go and wipes over his eyes. “Damn man. It’s like we won the lotto.”

I pat his arm. “You’re welcome.”

Eden watches us from the side, her features tight with emotion.

Thinking they might want some time alone, I say, “I’m heading back to my place. You guys stay and look around.”

I start to walk toward the door, but Eden catches up to me and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Thank you for doing all of this.”

I nod before leaving the apartment so I can get back to work.

On the ride up in the elevator, my thoughts turn to Eden’s mom. She’s placed my woman’s life in danger multiple times with her addiction problem.

When the doors open, I walk through the foyer and head back to my office while pulling out my phone.

Dialing a number, I listen as it rings.

“Frankie speaking.”

“It’s Dario.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I need cocaine.”

“Say what?”

“It’s not for me dumbass,” I snap.

“Oh…ahh…it will take me a couple of hours. Since your boss sent his men into the area, the dealers have been hiding.”

“Call me when you have it.”

“I need money to get powder,” Frankie reminds me.

“I’ll make a transfer now.”

I end the call and take a seat on the chair by my desk.

I plan on giving Mandy the weapon so she can take herself out. It’s the only way to keep Eden safe.

Focusing my attention on my system, I get back to work, searching for Miguel so we can close the chapter on the fucker.