Chapter Eight
Kelley and Jesse sat in silence and he kept mulling those words over in his head. 'You have power even if you don't think you do.' It was probably the first time someone told Kelley something that would mould the future of his life, the first thing that would take root and grow, something he'd keep replaying in his mind for the rest of his life. Power.
“My father ... Charles showed me a video that night … a video of my girlfriend in a room full of men. She was enjoying herself, asking for more, crawling on her hands and knees …” Kelley's voice trailed off and he could feel the tension in his shoulders. The tension that would build every time he thought back to that night.
“Layla was the first girl that didn’t go in there willingly. Money makes people do crazy things, Kelley.”
“Did you know my mother?” He didn’t want to ask him if she went into that room willingly.
“I never saw her go in there, Kelley, if that's what you're wondering. I can see your mind working overtime with that train of thought. I met her a couple of times. She knew what was happening though. She knew about all the girls in those rooms. I don’t know if she partook before I started working there.”
“I don’t think she had a choice, Jesse … she flinched every time he walked into a room.”
“You always have a choice. I chose to ruin any prospects of a good career for Layla and I’d do it again. Even when you feel you have no choice, you do. I’m sorry if you don’t like my answer but that’s the truth, Kelley. She might think she has no choice and that would mean your father has some kind of hold on her.”
“How do I stop him?”
“You can’t … at least not now. Good plans take time to hatch. Charles Alexander is nobody’s fool. He has deep pockets and he lines the pockets of the right people. Taking him down won’t be easy but maybe you can start with that girl you love.”
“She liked it, Jesse.”
“How sure are you about that? Does she know any better? Has she been conditioned to like it? The mind can be your strongest weapon but there are always two sides of the same coin, kid. The mind can also be fragile, manipulated and used. Can you sleep peacefully every night knowing what you know about her?”
“No, I can’t.”
“I’m sorry this happened to a girl you love.”
“I do love her, Jesse, even if I’m not sure she really loves me back. How lame is that?”
“It’s not lame at all. Love is a powerful tool, it can push you to greatness but it can also break you. Be careful what you do with love.”
“You would’ve been a great father, Jesse. I can count the number of conversations I had with my dad on one hand.”
Jesse didn’t say anything to that but Kelley could see more sadness in his eyes. After a few seconds of silence, Jesse stood up and walked into the back of the dojo. Kelley knew that he had truly been saved the day Jesse Owens found him stumbling on that sidewalk.
Kelley jogged from the dojo back to the motel and showered and changed. He had a plan now, thanks to Jesse. Charles Alexander was the embodiment of pure evil and so was anyone else that associated with him.
Kelley parked his Escalade a block away and kept to the shadows on the sidewalk. He wasn’t really afraid of being seen in upper Yorkdare Bay, but he also didn’t want to announce his presence. He knew this area like he knew his own house.
Kelley climbed up the tree that flanked the outer wall of the grounds that housed the double-storey mansion. He landed with a soft thud on the shed built right against the wall. His feet found the grass next to the shed and he moved quietly through the trees.
The guesthouse lights were on but it was quiet inside and Kelley knew that he was in there. He could see a shadow moving behind the curtains of the bedroom. The sliding door was partially open and he slipped inside just as Hanson walked down the hall.
“Whoa … geez, you nearly gave me a heart attack.” Hanson smiled brightly as he clutched his chest and walked closer to Kelley.
“Hey, Hanson.”
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling but your number’s not in use anymore.”
Kelley leaned slightly against the wall. “I’m sure you’ve heard that I’ve been disowned.”
“Yeah, I did. Why, though, is my question.”
Kelley looked at Hanson, the unsure manner in which his hands clenched by his sides. “Does it matter why?”
“I don’t get why you’re such an asshole, Kelley. I mean I’ve been part of the inner sanctum for a year. Your dad saw you as weak, didn’t want to include you until later and then you go and attack him?”
Hanson's words were like a bucket of ice-cold water emptied over his head. Hanson had been his best friend for as long as he could remember and now he was flaunting his involvement with Charles? He spoke about the inner sanctum like it was something to be revered. Kelley was so shocked that for a moment he had no idea what to say or do.
“You know what they’re doing?”
Hanson chuckled low in his throat. “Don’t become all righteous, you’re no saint, Kelley. Norah told me how you pinned her down on your car, and took her roughly from behind.” He had done that, hated that he had, even though she had practically begged him to do it. He felt the nausea rise up in his throat and he clenched his fists tightly.
“You were all righteous in your own way, Hanson. The feel-good people, remember?”
“I had a momentary lapse of guilt that I’d been sticking it to your girl for a year. She loves the inner sanctum though, screams for more every time.”
“You’re sick, Hanson, what you’re doing is wrong.”
“We’re not raping them, Kelley. Shit man, is that what you think of me? They’re all willing, they love the money, the feeling of power they have, they love cock.”
“It’s not right, Hanson.”
“Your father was right about you, right to disown you and kick you to the curb. You’ll never be one of us, you’ll never be good enough to fit in.”
“I don’t want to be one of you.”
“Yeah, Kelley, you weren’t complaining when you screwed Norah. Did you know she came to me during every party after you fell asleep? She always needed more and you couldn’t give it. I wonder now if Marley will be the same.”
Kelley’s fist landed on the square of Hanson’s jaw and he fell backwards against the wall as Kelley kept punching him. “You’re abusing these girls. They’re not here for you to do with as you please!” Hanson slumped against the wall but Kelley didn’t stop and when Hanson finally fell to the floor he straddled his waist and punched him until his knuckles were raw.