He felt the crisp night air rush past his face as he pedaled as fast as he could. He felt his thighs burn with the pressure he put on them.
As Gabriel arrived, he saw Jai-Lee waiting near the front entrance. He rode over.
"Took you long enough," said Jai-Lee.
"That's easy for you to say, you took an Uber," replied Gabriel.
"Well, no one said you couldn't take an Uber. You chose to bring your dusty old bike," Jai-Lee teased.
"Wow, stop, you're gonna hurt his feelings. He's been in my family for two years now. And it's a trusted family member who's never let me, or my brother, down."
"You share a bike with your brother?" Jai-Lee raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" said Gabriel.
"What happens when both of you need to go somewhere?"
"Now that you mention it... I didn't really think about it like that," Gabriel admitted.
"Anyway, we need to focus. Did you bring your dad's spare key and keycard?"
"Of course," said Gabriel, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the key and unlocked the door.
***
"Robert, my dear old friend," said Derrick smoothly. "My colleague Jenny passed on the message you sent."
He reached into the side of the car door and took out a firearm, cocking it back as he rested it against his thigh.
"You don't scare me, Derrick. We were raised in the same hood. I'm from where you're from. I've seen a him before. A gun's not going to intimidate me," said Robert calmly.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so stupid as to think that would scare you. It's just a little reminder. In case you forgot how the 'people from your hood' get down."
"I didn't forget shit, Derrick." In response to Robert's words, Derrick calmly hit him across the face with the butt of his gun. Robert's vision went black for a second before he could focus again.
"You must've forgotten a whole lot. Because you've got amnesia, my old friend. That's the only reason you decided to cross me. You left early. You got soft. I didn't see you on the block with the guys. I didn't see you selling anything. And I certainly sure it's been ages since you've seen someone use one of these," Derrick said, brandishing the weapon a bit higher.
"But you know I did. You know I'm down for whatever, boy. So again I implore you: don't play with me. Don't let the flashy cars and suits make you forget how I get down."
Robert took a deep gulp, panic rising.
"I gave you your money back. It's not like I didn't help clean some of it, but I can't anymore," he said
"I don't think you understand how a deal works. You took mymoney and entered into an agreement with me. You were desperate without me. You don't get to use my money to crawl out of the hole you dug yourself and throw it back to me before our business is concluded. I alone decide when that agreement ends. Do you understand, Robert?"
Just as Robert was about to agree, petrified, a memory flashed in his mind...
In the memory, he was young and still friends with Derrick. That day was the turning point for his life.
"Son, come sit with me a second," said Kelvin, Robert's father.
"Dad, I've got stuff to do."
"You don't have two seconds for your old man now?"
"Dad, really? Emotional psychology? Seriously?"
Kelvin gave Robert a sad, knowing look.
"Alright, alright," said Robert, sighing and sitting beside him.
"Boy, I love you. And that's why I'm saying this. But let me be blunt. Your mother and I raised you better than this. We sacrificed too much."
"Dad, what did I even do now?"
"It's not what you've done. It's the company you keep. That Derrick boy? He's gonna bring you down with him. He ain'tgoing anywhere. Just another criminal from the ghetto, a product of his environment. And I'll be damned if I let your mother's and my sacrifice go in vain.
"We worked too hard for you to have a chance to get out of here. You're not like them, Robert. God blessed you. Don't waste that.
"You think I'm just some old guy who doesn't get it. But if I don't protect you from this world, you're gonna drown. And he'll be the one who pulls you under. You hear me?"
"Yeah, Dad."
"You gotta go against the grain. This block is full of evil and poison. Be strong. Look fear in the eye and slay that beast."
"...Okay. Whatever you say, Dad."
Kelvin reached for his slipper.
"Get outta here, boy, before I hit you with this."
"You don't gotta tell me twice!" said Robert, grinning.
***
Back in the car, Robert took a deep breath and said, "No. No… I'm out. That's that. Do whatever you need to, Derrick. At least I know I'll go with a clear conscience."
"Oh, how noble," Derrick sneered, banging the gun against his own forehead. "This is your last chance, Robert."
"I gave you my answer the first time. It's not changing."
"Okay," said Derrick, nodding. Then he reached over and opened Robert's door.
"Then you're free to go."
"...What's the catch? It can't be that easy."
"I said, you're free to go, Robert. Don't make me change my decision."
Robert stepped out of the car. Just as he turned to walk, Derrick slammed the door shut. The SUVs began to pull away... then started circling back.
Robert's heart pounded.
This is it, he thought. I'm not outrunning them.
He stood still, embracing what he thought was his imminent death. An SUV pulled up beside him. The window rolled down.
"Trust me, Robert. Don't think because I'm not killing you that we're done. I'm going to make you regret ever laying eyes on me."
Before Robert could respond, Derrick rolled the window back up, eyes forward. The SUVs sped off.
Inside the vehicle, Derrick was seething. He punched the glovebox.
"Where to now?" asked one of his men.
"To Robert's lab. We're going to take his prized possession and trash the place."