FLAWLESS

CHAPTER 30

Vincent POV

As the dimly lit alleyway stretched out before me, I strode forward with an air of confidence, my gang following closely behind. The night embraced us, its cloak of darkness concealing our intentions. We were on our way to an underground fight, seeking a momentary escape and a source of entertainment to occupy our restless minds. The anticipation hung in the air, crackling with excitement.

Reaching the entrance door, I halted and motioned for my boys to enter first, their eager steps resonating in the narrow passage. Dan remained by my side, and I nod at him too. 

"I'll join you in a minute. Just need a smoke," I muttered, my voice laced with a commanding yet casual tone. 

Dan nodded, his understanding unspoken, and disappeared into the venue along with the rest of our gang. The doors closed behind them, enclosing me in complete darkness, save for the faint glow of distant streetlights.

I walked toward the rough brick wall, my body leaning against it for support. With a flick of my fingers, I extracted a cigarette from its pack and brought it to my lips. As I drew in the toxic fumes, a figure materialized from the shadows, gradually coming into focus. It was Ramo, one of the drug dealers working for my gang, responsible for supplying my boys with their regular fix. I whistled to catch his attention, and he approached me with a mix of deference and familiarity.

"What's up, boss?" Ramo greeted, his voice laced with respect. 

I merely nodded in response, passing him a spare cigarette and sharing my lighter. Together, we stood there, a brief respite from the chaos that awaited us, smoking in silence. The tendrils of smoke intertwined, drifting into the night, carrying with them the weight of our unspoken thoughts.

Ramo broke the silence, his voice infused with excitement. 

"You here to watch the fight tonight, boss?" he inquired. 

I exhaled a plume of smoke and replied. "Yeah." 

His enthusiasm spilled forth as he began praising the two fighters that were set to clash in the ring tonight. Names escaped his lips, but their significance was lost on me. My attention wandered, drawn toward a different realm altogether.

Pulling out my phone, I gazed intently at a single picture of Shanelle that I kept stored within it. The image showcased her radiant beauty, capturing her essence in a frozen moment of time. I stared at her, marveling at how such a breath-taking human being had entered my life and how, against all odds, I had fallen irrevocably in love with her.

Ramo's voice faded into the background as I drowned in the depths of that picture. My fingers traced the contours of her face on the screen, an act of devotion that only I could understand. But just as I was about to withdraw from my reverie, Ramo's words intruded upon my thoughts.

"Hey, I know that chick," he said casually, leaning closer to my side. Confusion and surprise mingled in my expression as I turned to face him. 

"You do?" I questioned, my voice revealing a hint of perplexity. 

Ramo nodded, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips, and continued, 

"She came the other day to buy Serenol from me. Paid a hefty 150 bucks for it. I even threw in a little side treat for her."

Shanelle buying drugs from Ramo was a revelation I hadn't anticipated. The pieces of the puzzle shifted in my mind, leaving me with a mix of concern and disbelief. 

Why did she choose to buy pills from him instead of going to a regular pharmacy? What made her use Serenol even though that it has strong effects afterwards? 

I had a lot of questions in my head, and they felt more and more important as time went on.

"Did she come alone?" I inquired, my voice laced with a hint of urgency.

 Ramo nodded in response, confirming my suspicions. The knot in my stomach tightened, a blend of worry and protectiveness intertwining within me. 

"Did she ask for anything else? Did she mention what the Serenol was for?" I fired off the questions, hoping for answers that would quell my mounting concerns. 

But Ramo simply shook his head, his expression devoid of any significant information. 

"Nah," he replied, his words falling flat.

Shanelle's panic disorder came rushing back to my memory. She trusted me and told me about her situation. I was worried and confused about why she started taking Serenol to feel better. Maybe her panic attacks got worse, or maybe her condition became too hard for her to handle alone?

As Ramo excused himself, eager to join the spectacle inside before it commenced, I nodded absentmindedly, my thoughts consumed by Shanelle's well-being. I stared at my phone, the picture of her capturing my attention once more. In the midst of the chaos and excitement surrounding me, a gnawing worry had taken root, overshadowing the forthcoming fight and the allure of the night.