Chapter 4Ciara

Chapter 4

Ciara

After we took out the men at the printery, with Lou nowhere to be found, we searched the entire building. In all, we walked away with a ton load of cash, a book with information about the debtors, and a laptop. We knew that Nando wasn't very keen on being in charge, and so Blaze was making sure things went his way and we were happy to oblige.

I had just arrived home and stepped into the shower when my phone rang. Usually, I would ignore it while I'm in the shower, but something caused me to step out and reach for the phone which was on the face basin.

"Hello."

"He's dead!" It was Garry and he was making no sense. "Miss Ciara, they killed him!"

"Calm down Garry. Who they kill?"

"They killed … they … they…they…"

I heard him choke while trying to get the next words out. At that point I didn't need to hear them to know what he meant. A snarl escaped from me as my blood ran cold. No, this boy was not talking about my brother. He must be mistaken.

I swallowed to release my constricted throat muscles and steadied my voice. "Calm down, Garry. Breathe…"

With my heartbeat drumming heavily in my ear, I listened to him for a minute as he hyperventilated over the phone while I coaxed him. I knew I had to remain calm to get to the meat of the matter, so I inhaled a couple of deep breaths. When I was satisfied that Garry was ready to talk, I asked him to explain in detail what happened.

"Miss Ciara, they killed him … they killed Cory!" he almost screamed into my ear. "Those bastards murdered him."

"Garry you must be mistaken …," my throat tightened, and my voice cracked. "Stay right there, I'm coming."

But even as I said so, the blood rushed to my head as the phone slipped through my fingers. Every part of my body felt as though I had jelly for bones. Weakness washed over me, and I staggered backwards. The back of my knees hit the edge of the tub, causing me to tumble over the side, hitting the back of my head on the shower wall. While the pain ricocheted through my skull, I lay there without the strength I needed to rise.

For what seems like hours, which indeed was a few minutes I lay there, the pain in my head now pounding like crazy. My mind went blank for a minute until anger seeped into my core. Images of what I would do to Marco and his gang played in my mind. This gave me the strength I needed to stand.

Completing my shower, I donned jeans, t-shirt, a leather jacket, and opted for four-inch heel mid-calf black boots. I pulled out my retractable baton which I had purchased online, along with a taser, which I slipped into the pouch attached to my belt. Now all set to do some damage, I left the apartment and burned the pavement on my way to the basketball court where the boys usually hang out.

The place was swarming with onlookers as I pulled up to the basketball court and brought my motorbike to a screeching halt. I had to push through the small crowd to get onto the court as I heard sirens approach. Garry was cradling Cory in his arms and bawling like a baby. I rushed over and knelt beside my brother, taking him from Garry and shaking him.

"Cory," I croaked. "Wake up. Don't do this to me."

He wasn't breathing and I didn't feel a heartbeat or pulse when I checked. I gently slapped his face, hoping that he was just passed out. Deep down I knew he wasn't going to respond but I was truly in denial.

The police arrived while I was still trying to awaken my brother with the paramedics seconds later. Everything happened in a daze. The paramedics were trying to save him, but I could see the looks in their eyes. They rushed him to the hospital, but the doctor only did what I suspected. They pronounced him dead.

I saw the police lingering nearby. They'd followed the ambulance to the hospital and had heard the doctor giving me the news. I was in no mood to speak with them, but the quicker I dealt with the police the faster I could get to the bottom of this. I needed answers, and from experience in the streets, I knew the police could do nothing.

One of the officers approached. "Miss Braithwaite, if you have a minute."

"I know nothing."

All three of them introduced themselves and I noted that the one in back was black and seemed upset. His lips were twisted, and his eyes never left me. He seemed to be a rookie and left the questioning to the white male with the beer belly and blue eyes. The other took notes as he stood silently beside him.

"Did your brother have any enemies?"

"Detective?" I queried as I'd already forgotten their names.

"Detective Mckoy."

"Look Detective Mckoy, my brother was a straight A kid who never got into any trouble. He never had time for enemies."

Mckoy nodded and made a tsk-tsk sound. "It's always the good ones. Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this. If you don't mind coming to the station tomorrow and talking with us further?"

Yes, I know, always the good one who gets the shitty end of the stick. I wanted to voice that, but I couldn't. I nodded and murmured something along the lines of, "Yes sir."

They bade me farewell with a reminder to come to the precinct to give my statement and any information on the attackers. However, my mind was on the boys who took my brother, and I wasn't giving the cops the satisfaction of catching those creeps. I was going to send them to hell myself or die trying.