Dante's Redemption Read online

  Copyright © 2015 by Jaime Whitley

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form of by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes, if done so constitutes a copyright violation.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.

  Edited by: Second Gaze Editing.

  Formatted by: Brenda Wright.

  Cover Designed by: Kellie Dennis with Book Cover by Design.

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  It’s so easy to think you’re invincible when you’re a kid. No one tells you any different, so you’re led to believe that you’re untouchable. When you play with your GI Joes, Snake Eyes always takes down the bad guys; and good always prevails over evil. Your parents just smile and watch you play and protect your innocence. Then you grow up and you learn that good doesn’t always win. In the end we all die, there is no escaping the fact that we won’t live forever. When your time is up, it’s up. There’s no cheating death.

  I always knew growing up I was destined to make something great of myself. I was going to have purpose in this ugly world and bring some beauty into it. I just didn’t know how I was going to do it. It’s hard to find yourself when your mother’s a drug addict and your dad walked out on you at the age of four. Not really the best role models for a kid.

  Most people would use that as their excuse to slack off and not have to follow the rules. Feel entitled to do whatever the fuck they wanted because life handed them a shitty hand. Not me, I took it as my chance to prove to everyone out there that there are no excuses; you create your own future.

  I studied hard through school and my grades excelled. I joined every sports team I could to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t have to go home to my mom. I eventually had to get a part-time job at an auto shop to help pay for my food. My mother never seemed to care if I had food on the table. The only thing she cared about was how she was going to get her next fix I had no choice but to provide for myself or I would go hungry.

  Still, I never resented her. Her addiction made me stronger and taught me that hard work pays off. Fast forward and here I am, thirty years old and a DEA Agent with a nice record of busts under my belt. Ironic isn’t it? I grew up with a drug addict and now I take down drug dealers. Dante Santoro, the biggest walking contradiction to the drug world. Nice to meet you.

  When I was trying to figure out what to do with my life, I figured law enforcement was my calling. Fucking drug dealers. They are such fucking scum and I have the luxury of dealing with them every day. There’s no better way to spend your day than taking out the trash, but I want off the streets. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but I want to dig deeper, get to the root of the problem. Sure, the dealers play a huge part, but I’m out for blood, I want the suppliers.

  For the past three years I have been itching to get an assignment where I can get on the inside and today might be that day. Scratch that, today is that day. The streets are getting worse and the drugs are now popping up in schools. The fact that we got a call about an overdose in a middle school is insane. It takes a real asshole to sell drugs to anyone, let alone kids.

  Walking into the station, I say hello to a couple of the guys and continue to the back of the building. I’m early, which isn’t unusual for me. I prefer being the first person in a room, so I can keep my back to the wall and an eye on the door. Call it paranoia if you will. I rub my hands through my hair and over my head, palming my face down to my droopy blue eyes. God, I need something to get me up and running. The coffee I had this morning must be gone to shit ‘cause it’s not doing the job this morning. I slept like shit last night, tossing and turning over the announcement that’s to be made today. I’m studying the board that has all the pictures of who’s who in the family and where they fall in ranking order, when I hear Riggs’ voice fill the room.

  Riggs is a hard guy with a soft heart. He took me under his wing the very first time we met. His hair is always mussed and his tie always has a stain; that’s just the way he is. He’s good at what he does and doesn’t take any shit from anyone.

  “Morning, Santoro. You’re here bright and early,” Captain Riggs says while walking to the white board.

  “Well, you know what they say, early bird gets the worm.”

  “And promotion?” He questions with his eyebrow raised at me.

  Kicking off the wall, I walk to the board, invading his personal space. “You know I’m the best fit for the job. I’m ready for this and you know as well as I do I’m way more qualified for this assignment than any of those rookies. Hell, I’ve grown up around drugs. I’ve busted enough dealers in my three years with the DEA and even excelled in the undercover training, finishing top in my class. I’ve met all the requirements needed.”

  Holding up his hand he stops me from continuing, “Slow down, Santoro. Let’s get through the briefing first. We have a lot to go over and some new developments.”

  Just as he says that, everyone starts piling into the room. I make my way back to the chair that has all my paperwork on it, while the others grab the seats in front of me. I wait for the shuffling of feet and chairs scratching across the floor to come to a stop as everyone is seated or standing in the back of the room. Some try to talk to me, but I don’t bother making pleasantries. I’m here for one reason, and until I hear what I know is the right decision, I’ll remain focused on the words I want to hear. I learned a long time ago that you can only rely on yourself. I prefer to do things on my own, which is why this assignment is perfect for me. I won’t have to worry about having a partner and I will be able to focus on the task at hand.

  The captain goes over the basic intel we’ve already been provided. He breaks down the street gangs and the newest drugs to hit the streets. When he hits the topic I’ve been waiting for, I straighten my posture and wait to hear what his final decision is.

  “Now as you all know, we’ve been working every angle, trying to figure out a way to get one of our guys on the inside. This took a little longer than we would have liked, but for your safety, we had to make sure it was done right. This is our only chance and there’s no room for fuck ups. We have one shot at this and it needs to be done right. With that said, we had a Hail Mary fall into our lap. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Someone on the inside of the Onorato family has turned evidence, looking to help take down the mob. They are looking for a new supplier to handle the distribution of their
product,” his eyes cut to me and I know I have this shit in the bag. Looking away, he continues, “Now I’ve gone over all the options I have available and I’ve chosen Santoro to go undercover.”

  Everyone starts whistling and I get a few pats on the back. I’m so fucking pumped right now. After everyone settles down, the rest of the briefing continues and everyone is dismissed. Staying behind, I wait till the last person leaves the room, closing the door behind them. This grabs Riggs’ attention.

  “Is there something you needed?” The annoyance in his tone doesn’t go unnoticed as he stares at me, waiting for my response.

  “When do I start?” The answer I would like is right now, but I know those words won’t come out of his mouth. Hopefully I don’t have to wait too long.

  “There are a couple things we need to do first. We need to clear your background. Erase any and all traces of you that will lead the mob right to the DEA. We have to make sure they can’t link you to us. Then, we will need to make you a new identity and backstop it with assistance from the HC UC Ops unit. We’ll work on your back-story and the rest is up to you. If they think you tie your shoes the wrong way, you will be fucked. I need to know your head is in this; once you go under, there is no going back.” I think about what he is saying for a minute until I remember why I’m the perfect person for this job.

  “Then let’s get started. I’ve never had a problem remembering shit. You know that. As for my head being in the game, this is what I’ve been waiting for. Let’s do some damage and take these assholes down. I’ve nothing to lose.”

  Riggs nods his head at me as a grin spreads across his face. “Alright, let’s go get you a new identity.”

  “One more thing.” Walking towards the door, I open it and follow him to his office.

  “What’s that?” he says, with a sigh. I know I’m keeping him from getting his day started, but he should be used to it by now. This is usually a daily occurrence between the two of us. I look at myself as the annoying son he never had.

  “Who decided to turn on their family?” I’ve been staring at that board during the whole briefing and can’t pinpoint who would want to suddenly turn. I’ve been following those guys for so long, and no one has messed up to the point where they would need to risk it.

  Rubbing the back of his neck and glancing quickly towards the door he answers, “I’ll fill you in on all that later. Right now, it’s just too risky for anyone to know. I need you to trust me. When the time is right, I’ll give you the name.” I can tell there’s something he’s not telling me, but I don’t push it. I nod, even though I’m not happy with his answer. When I asked who it was, his body stiffened and he wouldn’t make eye contact with me when he answered. I will leave it alone for now but I will get my answers, even if I have to go behind his back to get them. I exit the room and get ready to embark on my new life as a criminal.

  Last week, after I was told the great news, I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. Riggs wouldn’t and still hasn’t disclosed the identity of the family member helping us out. He says that it’s for my protection and that the less I know, the better. I say bullshit! If I’m going to be effective, I need to know every angle I have at my disposal. It’s sketchy as hell, but I’m a fucking detective and I’ll get to the bottom of it whether he wants me to or not.

  My identity has been wiped and I’m now Dante Serra. I couldn’t help but laugh when I was given my ‘new identity’. I guess using my crack head mother’s maiden name fits well with a drug dealer. They could have mixed it up a little better. I grew up on the streets with a hooker for a mother and not a clue as to who my dad is. It’s funny how it isn’t much different from the life they just erased. Very few people know about my life, and if they do know, chances are it’s because it was for some kind of testing shit for work. You know, the kind they do to make sure you’re mentally stable; right before they outfit you with your gun and release you out into the public.

  Walking up to the building where my new home resides, I’m thankful it’s in a good area. I’m supposed to be a successful supplier, not a struggling dealer. The condos are all nice looking and well kept. There are a bunch of kids playing at the end of the road and a couple parents watching them from one of their porches. One of the moms sees me looking their way, smiles and waves at me. I return the gesture and feel at ease. I have a feeling I won’t be needing to look over my shoulder much, at least not for housewives with spatulas. After looking around, I put the key in the slot and unlock it. This is the first time I’m seeing where I’ll be living for who knows how long. I was told to check the place out and arrange it the way I like it but I couldn’t be bothered. As long as it has a bed, bathroom and a means to cook a meal, I’m good. I’m not worried about making my place homey when I have a mob to infiltrate. I’m not a homey kind of guy. I always made it a point not to be home growing up, so planting roots just isn’t that important to me. Once I figured out what it was I wanted to do, that was it. I’ve been married to the job since.

  Hitting the light switch, my eyes take a moment to adjust to the dimly lit room. At first glance, you can tell it’s pretty mundane. The walls are a bland color of white and there are holes in the wall from where previous pictures hung. I guess the owner of the building couldn’t be bothered to do a little spackling. I’m actually quite surprised by this since the outside is so nice. Throwing my keys on the counter, they make an echoing noise in the empty space. I head over to check the rest of it out. Chuckling as I look around, I see that the guys at the department took me seriously when I told them I only needed a bed because there is not one piece of furniture in here besides the couch and TV in the living room. I’m surprised at how much space this place actually has. From the outside it seems like it would be cramped, but that isn’t the case at all. There’s a spacious kitchen and living room, two spare bedrooms and a bathroom off to the right. I’m suddenly making a mental note to rent more furniture to fill this place up with. Walking to the left, I reach the master bedroom. I’m relieved to see that the movers got my bed and clothes delivered. A ringing noise comes from my pocket and I reach in to grab my phone. Looking at the screen, I see Riggs’ name flash across it.

  “Hey man, what’s up?”

  “It’s captain,” he states.

  “Was. In case you forgot, I no longer work for you, but a very dapper fellow named Sal,” I correct sarcastically.

  “Cut the shit, Santoro.”

  “Serra.”

  “What?” I can hear the confusion spilling from his voice. Sitting down on the bed, I kick off my shoes sending them across the bedroom floor.

  “Serra, my name is Dante Serra. You know for a captain you really aren’t that bright.” Laughing into the phone, I apologize for being the sarcastic son of a bitch I am. Even though I’m not. I don’t have too many people that I get to fuck with that often, so when the opportunity presents itself, I take it.

  “Cut the shit, asshole. Are you settled?”

  “Yeah. Just walked in the door, actually. I’m about to go over some notes and prep myself for the initial meet tomorrow.” My stomach lets out a growl and it isn’t until now that I realized I haven’t eaten all day. I’ve been at headquarters memorizing everything I need to know.

  “Get some rest. You have been at it non-stop, and though I encourage your dedication, I need you well rested for tomorrow. Lack of sleep leaves room for errors. Ones we can’t afford. I chose you for the job because you have no distractions. I can’t afford to have anything happen to you.”

  “See, I knew you always considered me the son you never had. And dad, I love you too,” I joke into the phone.

  “You know I do, son, but that’s not why I chose you. I needed someone who would have their head in the game twenty-four-seven. Someone to easily assume their new identity and run with it. You were the best candidate for the job. You’re always so focused and I know you won’t let me down. Contact will be scarce after tonight and you know how to reach us if you need t
o. Good luck, Serra, and let’s take these motherfuckers down. No more dead kids in schools or on the streets.”

  “Hell yeah. I won’t let you down. Trust me, I got this.”

  Hanging up, I grab my shoes to put them back on, then head to the front door. There’s a Chinese place right around the corner so I will grab some food to go and get to bed. Riggs is right. I need to be well rested and on alert from here on out. When I wake up I will no longer be Dante Santoro with the DEA but Dante Serra, drug supplier for the Onorato Family.

  Today is my meeting with Angelo, who is the right hand man for the Onoratos. He’s a real scumbag and I’m ready to get on the ins with him. We’re meeting at a diner in the city at nine sharp, or so he said. I’m sitting eagerly on the edge of my seat, rolling my lucky poker chip between my fingers as I wait for him to arrive. He is thirty minutes late so far, which pisses me off. I have five big pet peeves and being late is one of them.

  I can’t say that I’m surprised after everything I’ve heard about him. The informant working for us went into great detail of the type of person Angelo is and what he is capable of. The list went on for days and it seems as though he’s had his hands in a little bit of everything. There’s blackmailing, robbery, providing people with free drugs to create addicts, using people’s weaknesses for his own personal gain, and murder, just to name a few. A real fucking shitbag.

  I turn my wrist to check the time on my watch, and am about to get up and leave when the door opens. In walks a man with a smug look on his face as he scans the room. He’s wearing a black suit with dress shoes and his dark hair looks like it has at least a gallon of grease in it. He looks like a total cheese ball. I’ve seen pictures of Angelo, so I know he’s clearly looking for me. His dark eyes land on me and the poker chip in my hand. As he slowly walks over to my table, he stops along the way and whispers something into the waitress’s ear, smacking her ass as she walks off. You can tell by the glare she is giving him that she is not amused. His attitude makes my stomach turn. I can just tell he’s the kind of dick wad that gets what he wants or someone pays the tab for their insubordination. This gives me more ammo to take this fucker down. As he reaches the table he stops and waits a moment before speaking.