We took the money back to Raphael. It wasn’t all the money, but it didn’t matter. The idea that sprung in my head while we were walking away from Matt’s safehouse was that this cycle was going to continue.
Raphael told us to keep the money.
I felt like this was a test.
Because at the end of the day, what was to stop Raphael from hiring someone else to get the money from us? The cycle would repeat itself. Rather than take that chance, it was burned in my mind to give that money back.
“He said we could keep it. He said it was payment for doing the job. Keep whatever you find, remember?” Levi reminded me as we drove back.
“I know, but what makes you think that the whole thing wasn’t a test?” I said. “I don’t trust it. He clearly does coke or something. You remember how when we first met him he was twitching and shit? It’s gonna be one day that he’s gonna be out of his mind and asking where that money is and then we’d be next. Let’s just take it back.”
“What if he just says I told you to keep it?”
“If he says we can keep it again, then fine. But let’s not push this right now.”
We waited and spent the night back at our motel room. But all that did was create more time to overthink the situation.
Our situation.
Levi obviously wanted to keep the money.
“I still say we should keep it. We have a little amount of money to our names right now. We can move into a house or an apartment or at the very least, stop using a fucking motel that we’re paying 25 bucks a night for. I’m just saying that this could be the leg up we need.”
“Again, babe, I’m not saying you aren’t right. I don’t want to stay in this motel either. I’d love to actually have a house or even an apartment. I’ve never even had one. But this? This could be life and death right now.”
“He told us to keep it. That’s the point, babe. Why go against what he wants, and what we want and need?”
“I just want to be sure. That’s all.”
“You want to take that chance? We could just leave. Leave L.A. Go buy some farm somewhere or something.” He said.
“You want to take that chance? I replied. “Let’s face it, Levi, we’re not going to ever “settle down.” You and me? We’re going to be on the run forever. Because that’s where we have the most fun. That’s where we are most free.”
Levi thought for a second and he sat down beside me and wrapped his arms around me.
“I just… I want to give you the things that I think you deserve.” He said, leaning into me.
“Levi, you already have. Besides, I’m just as shitty as any other person. We’re all shitty, but we wear it better than most.”
“We don’t hide it.” He said, realizing what I meant.
He laid his head and mine, as we looked out at the moon from a motel window.
It wasn’t ideal, there were no stars, and the world kept going like it didn’t care what we were looking at.
Just the way we liked it.
The next day, we drove to Rapahel’s. The usual procedure followed. We were frisked and the briefcase was opened and looked at. We told them we want to give the money back. The men looked at us like we were crazy, but there were a couple of them that seemed to think this was a good idea.
We were escorted in, and Levi was all smiles.
“Ah, my friends. A job well done last night. I take it you already enjoyed yourselves with the money?”
“Well, we thought about it and - “ Levi started.
“We wanted to give it back.” I finished, and then put the briefcase on the table. Opening it to display the money.
Raphael looked at the money and then Levi and I. His smile disappeared for a second, and it turned into a laugh. It wasn’t a jovial laugh, it was one of almost incredulity.
“Really?” Was all he said.
“Yes.” I answered.
“Why would you give me the money I told you to keep, back?” He asked, seemingly genuinely curious.
“Because it’s your money.” I answered again. “We wanted to return it to its rightful owner.”
Raphael studied it for a second, and then looked us both up and down.
“You are loyal. I like that.” He finally said.
He slid the briefcase back towards us.
“You keep it. I insist. No worries, no problems.” He said with a used car salesman's smile. A wave of relief seemingly washed over Levi’s face. I took the briefcase back and held it in my hand.
“You did a wonderful job and now, I know I can trust you. When the time comes, I will have other work for you. If you are interested.”
“We’ll be in touch then.” I said.
“Good. Thank you again, my friends.”
We took our leave and we were escorted back out and to our car.
We got in, and took a breath. It wasn’t fun to be in that room, with a man who has that much power. At any moment, perhaps he would have had us killed. But I want to think that us at least attempting to give back the money showed that we weren’t going to take the money and run. Maybe that was a mistake, I didn’t know.
We left, and the money was ours. We went to the bank and opened a joint account. That 120,000 went right in. Levi had his own account for the Docks, I had mine from Uber. This one was the… unsavory account. Money went got from… doing odd jobs as it were. At least that’s the way I looked at it.
Levi decided to spend some money on booze. The stress of all these situations we were getting into, finally caused him to have to relieve it in some other way rather than sex. I’m not saying crime made me horny, but you know, the thrill was a lot, but we were in a lot of tough spots and sometimes you need something else.
But right when we were about to spend the money and really enjoy ourselves…
The world stopped.
The coronavirus hit the states and everybody stopped doing things. Nobody wanted an uber anymore. For what seemed like forever, everyone was inside. Everyone just cooped up and stayed. We were in the motel, but soon, we had to leave. Travel wasn’t happening. People weren’t going to work or started working from home.
So now, we were on the road. Again.
For a few nights, we had to sleep in the car. We didn’t have a spot, and so, we had to execute Levi’s plan.
We bought a house in Belmont Heights.
Due to Covid-19, we actually made out on the sale, only having a 2.6% interest rate. Which is obnoxiously good. Like, if I could go back, I would absolutely keep that house at that rate.
It was close to the port so Levi could get to work. We didn’t have much to move in, so this was the start that Levi was really hoping for. We of course used fake names. Levi knew a guy at the docks who could easily get fake ID’s and we opened the joint account with the same fake names.
It was far less complicated when you know people who can do some crazy things on the internet. Everything we had to do to buy a house, we did, and nobody wanted to go through all that shit during covid. We didn’t even really have a face to face. Just some phone conversations and zoom meetings. But hey, as far as they knew, they were selling a house to Brad and April Brown.
We bought furniture, we bought TV’s and it took a little while, but the house became our own.
We celebrated.
A lot.
And the best part is there wasn’t a house warming party, and we didn’t have to interact with our neighbors. And the neighborhood was pleasant. Like, a few years earlier, Levi and I would have picked this place clean with home invasions.
“You wanna get married?” Levi asked out of the blue.
“Like… right now?”
“No, like… at some point? Do you want to get married?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Oh. okay.”
“Why?”
“I just figured, you know, we’re probably stuck with each other for life now. The bank thinks we’re married.”
“They do. One day, we’ll have to make it official. Unless we die first.
“You think it’s gonna end like that?”
“We’re awful people Levi. That’s always how it ends for us.”
Levi was still making an honest living at the docks, and I continued to drive for uber, though work was scarce for me. It took about 4-5 months before things were semi back to normal and people were walking around in masks, or not in masks. I was used to that whole mask thing anyway, so it never bothered me.
I picked up fares every now and again and it worked out.
Until it REALLY worked out.
I saw a fare near downtown LA and was destined for Inglewood. I looked at my phone and headed there, until I saw a building on fire and two what looked like men in masks, looking lost and confused. They had huge bags and were flagging me down, waving pistols.
Clearly, they wanted my car.
I stopped and opened the door.
“Get in!” I yelled.
The two men hesitated for a moment, and then threw their bags in and got in the back. I drove off.
“Yo, who the fuck are you?” One of them shouted, putting the gun to my neck. I had to be calm, but I was nervous and banking on getting them out of the situation would benefit me.
“I’m saving your asses, so if you don’t mind, let me drive.”
The man took the pistol back from my neck.
“I’m your uber, so just tell me where you need to go.” I said, pointing at the phone and the uber app open. The men played along.
“Watts.”
“Cool.”
I drove and one of the men pulled out a phone and began talking to someone.
“Yo, we got the money and burned the fucking place down…. Uh,... some bitch… my bad. My bad. This girl picked us up and is bringing us back… yeah… yeah..”
He stopped and held the phone out.
“He wanna talk to you.”
“Put it on speaker.” I said. “I can’t drive and talk, we might get stopped.”
He pushed the button.
“Who’s this?” I asked.
The voice on the other end was calm, flat, and matter-of-fact.
“Appreciate you helping my boys out.”
“Just another person trying to get by.” I said.
I drove the rest of the way, then men got out grabbed. The bags.
“Good looking out.”
I nodded and began to back up.
“Yo, can we ask for you on Uber?”
“If you need me, just let me know. Ask for April.”
I drove off and that was the beginning of a most fortuitous relationship.
It looks like the roles are reversed, don’t they?
Here I was, making fun of Victoria Lyons for calling herself a queen not too long ago, and now, I have the silly crown. Because of this very win. Winning Queen for a Day was the goal, and the goal was a means to an end. To get back the title that was taken from me, and then establish the order. This is simply the fastest method.
You can be mad at me for doing that Victoria, but you knew it was coming. I said it plenty of times. I have a destiny, I have a goal to achieve and that means I have to get to the top by any means possible. It’s not my fault we went different directions on this. I’m here to accomplish things as quickly as I can. I don’t lie about that.
What else would you think I was going to do? Did you think I was just going to book some nonsense match for myself? Hey, I’ll get a free one over Bea Barnhart or something? No. I’m doing the most logical thing a person can do when given the chance. It’s not rocket science. You don’t have to like it, you just have to stop me.
But before all that, you should be thanking me.
Because if not for me, you may not even be The Bombshell’s champion right now.
You would have been stuck in a triple threat match against Vargas and Crystal and you most likely would have lost. I eliminated Crystal and cleared the path for you to prove you belong holding that title. Now, you did only beat old lady Mercedes so I can’t give you too much credit, but the fact is, you did it and won.
Now, all this is, is the payment you owe me for doing so.
I didn’t get a thank you, I didn’t get an acknowledgement, I was ignored. I pointed out so many things wrong with the system, and you just agreed because you saw them too. And then, I acted on them to change it. What did you do? You benefitted and gave me nothing in return. That’s not cool Victoria.
So, yes, why wouldn’t I use this opportunity to take the title from you? I feel like that more than makes up for what you have failed to acknowledge.
We both held the crown, Victoria, the only difference is, you decided to be dumb and not use it for it’s purpose. What kind of idiot would not reward themselves? You can think you did something noble and whatever, but the fact is, you just let the whole “Queen” thing go to your head and it just meant you are more interested in a crown than actually doing something great.
But this is where you are now. You are the Bombshell’s champion, and you know what that means? You’re a target. Old lady Mercedes attacked you, I’m cashing in. Do you understand that the attacks are coming from everywhere? Do you understand the burden you have on yourself right now?
The old saying is “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Because the responsibility of being at the top is vast. You will have only enemies right now. Everyone coming for what you have. Do you have a plan for dealing with that? Do you have anything mapped out?
No, you’re just happy being champion. You climbed the mountain and won the title. It’s surreal for you. Because you didn’t expect it to happen.
I have planned for this and even if old lady Mercedes had won, I had a plan for her as well. The crown’s power would have been used the exact same way. You in particular don’t matter when it comes to the match itself. It would have been me vs the champion regardless.
But, I will say this. In many ways, I’m glad that it’s you.
I spent basically a year trying to rid this company of stars and legends of yesteryear to usher in a new era. You were part of that new era. And thanks to my work, you got that shot. And you are a champion.
No one can take that away from you. It won’t matter that your reign in a little over two weeks, it will stand in the record books for eternity. From now until forever, you will be known as Bombshell’s champion.
I just need the physical belt because that’s my destiny.
I am inevitable, Victoria. I have a purpose to make this company better and I need the fucking belt to do that.
I was so close to starting last time and then people got in the way., That was my learning experience. I learned about the burden of holding that championship and how quickly everyone will come after you, how they will send person after person after you. They will do anything and everything to make you understand you are replaceable.
I’m probably being the most honest with you right now when I say, cashing in the crown for the belt is the most upfront anyone is going to be with you.
I said I was going to, and I am. Simple and straightforward.
You are clearly not ready to hold that much power and burden on your shoulders.
In reality, I’m doing you a favor.
Because once I am the champion again, and I lead this company, your spot isn’t going to be lost. You aren’t going to be cast aside right away. You’ll be right at the spot you earned. The spot I envisioned for you. You, a main event level player. That’s where you’ll stay. It’s others I need to establish the pecking order.
I tried it once and it stopped. But the order is going to be perfect. This company will be a utopia, because the playing field will be level. It will be free for everyone and anyone to achieve their goals. That’s what I was going for the entire time and people just seem to think I’m the bad guy for wanting it.
I just need you to understand that this is bigger than you, Victoria. This is what I need. This is about me. You do not understand the pressure that is going on right now. But I will show you and the rest of the Bombshell’s. I’m going to lead by example. Everyone will get their chance. Everyone will get their fair shake.
No more has-beens and favortism. No more hand picking opponents, no more random title matches. That’s what I’m going to put an end to. I just need the title to do it.
I’m sure you understand. You owe me that much.
But if you don’t. If you wish to make this difficult and want to resist what it ultimately going to be better for you in the long run, be my guest. I will be happy to show you the error of your ways and I will put you down right in the middle of the ring when I take back the championship.
It is going to be better this way.
Trust me.
