“Hey, stop right there.”
Lucifer’s tone turned cold when he saw Robert approaching Storage Unit No.
13 again.
Edward immediately slipped the gold Rolex out of sight and looked at the older man warily.
“We already bought the unit,” Edward said.
“What do you want?”
“Relax.” Robert raised both hands and even took a small step back as if proving he meant no harm.
“What happened during the auction was business.
No reason to hold a grudge over a few bids.”
Lucifer narrowed his eyes.
“Then what are you here for?”
Robert glanced toward Edward’s pocket and smiled.
“I happened to notice you found something valuable.
Have you figured out where you’re going to sell it?”
Lucifer immediately understood that the man was up to something.
Still, with the Holy Power System and his new abilities, he was much less cautious than he would have been yesterday.
“Get to the point.”
Robert rubbed his hands together.
“I’ve been working storage auctions around Chicago for years.
I know a pawn shop on the South Side that gives decent prices, especially on watches and jewelry.”
He gave an embarrassed-looking smile.
“I haven’t made anything today.
If the owner gives you a good deal, throw me a small commission.
That’s all I’m asking.”
Lucifer didn’t believe him for a second.
But that didn’t mean he wasn’t interested in seeing where Robert wanted to take him.
After pretending to think it over, Lucifer nodded.
“Fine.
But we’re taking our own vehicle.”
“No problem.”
Robert agreed immediately, though a faint smile flashed across his face before disappearing.
Edward stepped closer to Lucifer.
“This doesn’t feel safe.”
Lucifer smiled reassuringly and deliberately raised his voice.
“It’s fine.
If I disappear, call the police.”
Then he took the Rolex from Edward and lowered his voice so only his friend could hear.
“Book two tickets to Los Angeles.
Wait for my call.”
Edward stared at him.
Lucifer simply patted his shoulder and followed Robert outside.
He had wanted to leave Chicago for a while.
The only thing keeping him there had been money, and until today, he had barely possessed enough cash to survive, much less relocate across the country.
Now things were different.
The ambergris alone could solve his immediate financial problems, and the Holy Power System had given him another way to change his situation entirely.
There was no reason to renew the lease on their miserable apartment if he and Edward could start over somewhere with better opportunities.
Lucifer climbed into Edward’s battered old pickup and followed Robert’s directions toward the South Side.
After several turns, they reached a rougher commercial block lined with aging storefronts, graffiti, and buildings that had clearly seen better days.
Robert suddenly pointed toward a run-down pawn shop on the corner.
“There.
That’s the place.
Kenny always gives fair prices.”
Lucifer gave him a sideways look but said nothing.
He parked the pickup in front of the shop, and the two went inside.
The moment Lucifer crossed the doorway, stale cigarette smoke hit him hard enough to make him grimace.
“What the hell is that smell?”
Robert followed without reacting.
His friendly expression had already disappeared.
He pointed toward Lucifer and addressed the two men inside.
“Kenny, this is the guy.”
Kenny sat behind the counter in a worn office chair with a cigarette between his fingers.
A large enforcer stood nearby, watching Lucifer without saying anything.
Kenny slowly blew out a stream of smoke.
“What are you selling?”
Lucifer took out the Rolex and placed it on the counter.
“Tell me if it’s real.”
Kenny picked it up.
He didn’t examine the movement, serial number, case, or bracelet.
Instead, he opened a drawer and dropped the watch inside.
“Fake.”
Lucifer almost smiled.
They weren’t even trying.
He put on a confused expression.
“If it’s fake, shouldn’t you give it back?”
The three men looked at one another.
Then they laughed.
Robert shook his head.
“I can’t believe you actually came here.”
Lucifer remained still.
Robert’s smile became openly mocking.
“Take the loss and get out, rookie.
You’re done here.”
Lucifer’s expression cooled.
He had already expected a setup, but he was about to respond when his eyes moved toward Kenny’s hands.
The pawn-shop owner had picked up a handgun and was casually wiping it with a cloth.
Kenny looked directly at Lucifer and smiled.
That changed things.
Lucifer could probably deal with Robert and the enforcer using Holy Seal of Justice, but testing whether his newly enhanced body could outrun a bullet inside a cramped pawn shop would be unnecessarily stupid.
He slowly raised his hands.
“Alright.”
Robert grinned.
Lucifer backed toward the door and stared at him.
“You’re going to regret this.”
He pushed outside and slammed the door behind him.
The moment Lucifer climbed into the pickup, the anger disappeared from his face.
A smile replaced it.
He had suspected Robert was setting him up from the beginning.
Now Robert and Kenny had stolen his property and threatened him with a gun.
As far as Lucifer was concerned, that settled the matter.
“Good,” he muttered as he started the engine.
“Now I don’t have to feel bad about what happens next.”
He stepped on the gas.
The old pickup rumbled down the street and disappeared around the corner.
Inside the pawn shop, Robert watched through the window until the vehicle vanished from sight.
Only then did he relax.
The kid was taller and stronger than he had expected.
If Kenny hadn’t been armed, Robert wasn’t completely sure how a fight would have gone.
Kenny pulled out a small stack of bills and tossed them onto the counter.
“Your cut.”
Robert immediately grabbed the money and counted it.
His expression changed.
“That’s it?
You said we’d split it evenly.”
Kenny waved him away.
“Be happy you’re getting anything.”
Robert looked toward the large enforcer.
The man stared back without amusement.
Robert swallowed whatever complaint he had been about to make, pocketed the cash, and left the pawn shop.
He walked several blocks toward home, becoming angrier with every step.
“Cheap bastard,” Robert muttered.
“We had a deal.”
What he didn’t notice was the battered pickup parked out of sight farther down the street.
Lucifer had already circled back.
He waited until Robert moved away from the busier road before quietly following him on foot.
Robert eventually turned onto a nearly deserted side street lined with neglected houses.
He was still complaining about Kenny when a familiar voice came from behind him.
“Hey, Robert.”
Robert instinctively turned around.
An oak club filled his vision.
THUD!
The wooden weapon smashed into his face.
Robert screamed and collapsed, clutching his bleeding eyebrow.
Lucifer stood over him with the ordinary oak club from the Lucky Draw resting in one hand.
“What was that you called me back at the pawn shop?”
“Help!” Robert screamed instead.
“Somebody help me!”
No doors opened.
No one came outside.
Lucifer stepped forward and planted a foot against Robert’s chest.
“I asked you a question.”
Robert continued shouting.
Lucifer sighed.
Then he raised the club and struck him again.
THUMP!
Robert’s cry cut off as the second blow knocked him unconscious.
Lucifer looked down at him and lifted the club once more.
Before he could swing, movement at the end of the alley caught his attention.
A young woman stood there frozen in place.
One hand covered her mouth as she stared at Lucifer and the unconscious man beneath his feet in horror.
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