Redemption (The Restoration Series Book 1) by Christina Simpson Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christina Simpson
slid into the backseat and waited for him to close the door. He did, and then hurried to the front and waited for my direction.
“I have a meeting on the south side of town near Ricky Lane. I was told I could trust you, Perry. Is that true?” I questioned him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Your discretion is appreciated and you will be promptly compensated. I was also told you might be able to help me.”
“Sir?”
“I’m looking to have some fun. Find some…. girls. If you know what I mean.”
Perry’s face looked wary, analyzing, before he grinned. “I think I can help you out, sir.”
“Good. Now, take me to my meeting. 2400block of Ricky Lane. Then we can go find those girls.”
“Yes, sir.” He pulled away from the curb and began the drive across town. We arrived at the block I was targeting for the possible abduction of the girls. The last taxi charge was pinpointed to this block.
“We’re here, sir. Where exactly do you want me to drop you off?”
“This will be fine. Please wait here, I’ll pay you for your time.”
I opened the door and stepped out, briskly walking down the block. I turned the corner and found a small cafe. I slipped inside, buying a cup of coffee and sipping it for about ten minutes. When I was finished, I headed out the door and back around the corner. Perry was leaning up against the hood of his car, brows scrunched as he furiously tapped his fingers across his phone’s screen.
“Everything okay?” I asked as I moved closer to him.
His eyes popped up in surprise. “Oh. Yeah. Just confirming some details.”
“Great. So, tell me. Where can I go for some fun around here?” I watched as Perry glanced from his right to left, in an effort to make sure no one else could hear him.
“Well, sir. There’s a place just a few doors down, actually. If you go in and ask forLaruso, you’ll find what you need.” He pointed to a small worn brown cellar door. It rested between a barber shop and a small antique store.
“Make sure you tell them the entry word.” He pulled his phone out and checked it again.
“Tell them you’re looking to buy some antique china.”
“Thanks again, Perry. You be sure to wait right here. Consider yourself booked for the rest of the afternoon.”
I walked steadily toward the dingy cellar entrance and pulled open one of the doors, quickly making my way down the dirty stairs, letting the wooden slat slam behind me. A light flickered on and a man with a rifle strapped to his shoulder stood, blocking my view of the hallway behind him.
“What do you want?” The gruff voice asked me.
“Are you Laruso? I’m looking to buy some antique china,” I stated calmly but confidently, expecting him to comply. The guard shuffled to the side but kept his eyes trained on me. I saw another man at a rectangle table. He looked me up and down, and I couldn’t help but notice his dark face was scarred on either cheek
“And who told you we sold china?” He asked me.
“I believe his name is Perry. Said I could find you here. He’s outside, should I go get him?” I turned to walk back, but the man stopped me.
“We have what you need,” he sighed. “Sorry about that, but you can never be sure these days.”
“Agreed. No problem.”
“So, what are you looking for?”
Images of Nova passed through my mind. I didn’t want to come across as if I were looking specifically for her, but I wanted to see her. “I like them small and blonde. Preferably with blue eyes, but I could settle for something else.”
“I don’t know…. something like that might cost a bit of money.”
“Money is not an object.” I pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it on the table, drilling the man with a pointed stare. “Do you have what I need or not?”
“Of course. Follow me.” He stood up abruptly, scooting his metal chair away from him, and turned down a concrete hallway, with flickering lights above. We
“I have a meeting on the south side of town near Ricky Lane. I was told I could trust you, Perry. Is that true?” I questioned him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Your discretion is appreciated and you will be promptly compensated. I was also told you might be able to help me.”
“Sir?”
“I’m looking to have some fun. Find some…. girls. If you know what I mean.”
Perry’s face looked wary, analyzing, before he grinned. “I think I can help you out, sir.”
“Good. Now, take me to my meeting. 2400block of Ricky Lane. Then we can go find those girls.”
“Yes, sir.” He pulled away from the curb and began the drive across town. We arrived at the block I was targeting for the possible abduction of the girls. The last taxi charge was pinpointed to this block.
“We’re here, sir. Where exactly do you want me to drop you off?”
“This will be fine. Please wait here, I’ll pay you for your time.”
I opened the door and stepped out, briskly walking down the block. I turned the corner and found a small cafe. I slipped inside, buying a cup of coffee and sipping it for about ten minutes. When I was finished, I headed out the door and back around the corner. Perry was leaning up against the hood of his car, brows scrunched as he furiously tapped his fingers across his phone’s screen.
“Everything okay?” I asked as I moved closer to him.
His eyes popped up in surprise. “Oh. Yeah. Just confirming some details.”
“Great. So, tell me. Where can I go for some fun around here?” I watched as Perry glanced from his right to left, in an effort to make sure no one else could hear him.
“Well, sir. There’s a place just a few doors down, actually. If you go in and ask forLaruso, you’ll find what you need.” He pointed to a small worn brown cellar door. It rested between a barber shop and a small antique store.
“Make sure you tell them the entry word.” He pulled his phone out and checked it again.
“Tell them you’re looking to buy some antique china.”
“Thanks again, Perry. You be sure to wait right here. Consider yourself booked for the rest of the afternoon.”
I walked steadily toward the dingy cellar entrance and pulled open one of the doors, quickly making my way down the dirty stairs, letting the wooden slat slam behind me. A light flickered on and a man with a rifle strapped to his shoulder stood, blocking my view of the hallway behind him.
“What do you want?” The gruff voice asked me.
“Are you Laruso? I’m looking to buy some antique china,” I stated calmly but confidently, expecting him to comply. The guard shuffled to the side but kept his eyes trained on me. I saw another man at a rectangle table. He looked me up and down, and I couldn’t help but notice his dark face was scarred on either cheek
“And who told you we sold china?” He asked me.
“I believe his name is Perry. Said I could find you here. He’s outside, should I go get him?” I turned to walk back, but the man stopped me.
“We have what you need,” he sighed. “Sorry about that, but you can never be sure these days.”
“Agreed. No problem.”
“So, what are you looking for?”
Images of Nova passed through my mind. I didn’t want to come across as if I were looking specifically for her, but I wanted to see her. “I like them small and blonde. Preferably with blue eyes, but I could settle for something else.”
“I don’t know…. something like that might cost a bit of money.”
“Money is not an object.” I pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it on the table, drilling the man with a pointed stare. “Do you have what I need or not?”
“Of course. Follow me.” He stood up abruptly, scooting his metal chair away from him, and turned down a concrete hallway, with flickering lights above. We