BAB 2 I Arrived In Denver

Mia took a deep breath. She stared at the shabby motel on the side of the road not far from her destination city, Denver. After a long debate with herself, Mia finally decided to get out of the old truck that the middle-aged man had given her.

The deal was for her to give a yellow envelope to a man named Jaxon Bradwood that was safely tucked away in her backpack without opening or breaking the envelope, sealed as it was first given, and after that, she was free to go anywhere.

It seemed like an easy task, but something amiss had been on Mia’s head ever since she left Blueberry. She still didn’t believe that middle-aged man.

Arguing for a long time with her thoughts, Mia decided to stay at one old motel. She had no choice. She realized she could not last long in Denver with two thousand dollars. A cheap room can save a few bucks for other necessities.

The following day, Mia decided to continue the journey. Two hours later, she arrived in Denver and chose to stop at a restaurant before looking for a motel. She feels hungry and tired, but Mia knows that restaurants are the perfect place to ask questions and fill her stomach.

She had just sat down when a woman her age approached and asked for an order.

“Apple Pie and coffee,” she ordered.

The restaurant looked old but well maintained. Some visitors enjoy hot coffee at this hour. The atmosphere there was so calm. It made Mia feel comfortable after traveling for hours.

The waitress brought Mia’s order while giving a polite smile. Before the waitress left, Mia dared to ask as the middle-aged man had suggested.

“Do you know a man named Jaxon Bradwood?” Mia asked without thinking.

The servant’s smiling face disappeared instantly. Her gaze was so sharp that it seemed like she was skinning Mia. Her previously friendly movements turned alert. Seeing that, Mia felt uncomfortable.

“No, I don’t know the man you mentioned.”

The waitress just walked away in an impolite manner.

Mia felt disappointed and looked at the food in front of her with no appetite. If it weren’t for the middle-aged man’s threats, she wouldn’t have traveled to Denver just to be a courier. Annoyed, Mia cut the pie on her plate as if she was mutilating someone.

***

Frenzy screams echoed through the dungeon. They shouted harsh words of encouragement to the two men who fought in the ring known as the Red Cage. The two men seemed to be fighting between life and death by beating each other hard and mercilessly.

Gavin Caleston watched the fight as he watched the rest of the audience from the second floor, which immediately saw the view below. From where he sat, Gavin got the most strategic access to show his social status in the underworld. Nobody wants to deal with a man like him, but unlike the man sitting next to him, Jaxon Bradwood, they call him ‘The King of Underground. Everyone in Denver knew Jaxon very well and feared his being merciless.

“I bet the fight this time is won by Fritz,” said Gavin among the crowd’s cheers of encouragement.

Jaxon glanced at Gavin, shaking his head to disagree, “I bet on Joe.”

Gavin raised an eyebrow, doubtful.

“The bet?”

Jaxon shrugged, “Apartments on the Upper Side.”

“That’s it?” Gavin asked, disparaging. He felt sure that Fritz had won.

Seeing Jaxon, who was silent and seemed not to care, finally, Gavin followed the man’s game.

“All right, I’ll give you the apartment building. Give to me Aurelia Castle.”

Jaxon smiled faintly as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I knew you’d be playing dirty, Gavin,” he said, shaking his head.

There was no way he could exchange his precious castle for a building of twenty-eight floors. Not worth it.

Pretending to look innocent, Gavin stared straight into Jaxon’s eyes.

“What are you talking about, Jax? I don’t know what you mean.”

Rey Fredrik, who had heard the conversation between his two friends, just shook his head. The three of them have been friends since childhood, and this kind of conversation is common, but sometimes Rey feels that their friendship has no boundaries if one of them wants something.

Everyone knows that Aurelia Castle was built on a golden hill. Jaxon seemed to have deliberately constructed his ‘palace’ on a land full of gold sources as if he was declaring that he did not need a palace full of gold when the ground beneath his estate was a source of gold itself.

 ”Deal,” said Jaxon, giving Gavin and Rey a surprising answer. The two men stared at Jaxon in disbelief.

Before Gavin had time to ask, the victory bells that marked the end of the fight sounded loud, accompanied by triumphant screams from the audience and the winner himself.

Gavin’s head turned quickly toward the ring, representing the situation where Fritz sprawled on the floor while Joe swung his hands in the air, signaling his supporters to continue shouting his name in triumph.

Stunned, Gavin looked at the scene before him, his body frozen and his mouth slightly open. He didn’t even notice the pat Jaxon was giving on his shoulder.

“Tomorrow, my lawyer will see you, don’t forget to have all the paperwork ready, Gavin. I thank you for your ... generosity, mate.”

Rey’s laughter was swallowed by the shouts of two thousand other people chanting Joe’s name.