Broken King

By Kevin Glendon

The Broken king is a story about love, loss, and the ultimate betrayal. It takes you into the life of Colin Dublin, who grows from a teenager to an adult, rising to the pinnacle of a crooked industry that has no limits or rules and is filled with fancy cars, fat wallets, corruption, and greed. Able to make it to the top through his ruthless ways, Colin makes a name for himself. To many, hes the king. His wife, Delilah, and son, Ethan, know him as a loving husband and father. In a business that never sleeps, it is hard to live two completely different life- styles, and its best to keep your family as far away from the drug game as possible. When the money is coming in, its easy to get consumed by greed, not knowing when enough is enough. Colin soon finds out the hard way how easily everything hes worked so hard for can be taken away in the blink of an eye. After being turned on by one of his own and having everything taken away from him, Colin goes after everyone with a vengeance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481729376

Kevin Glendon

Kevin Glendon grew up in the suburbs of South Jersey, not the most pleasant of areas by any means and certainly not the best for an influential teenage mind. He became consumed by a seductive lifestyle, making money in unlawful ways. With the birth of his baby girl, Kevin left the life of fast money, corruption, and greed behind him, wanting to do right by her, and started to get his life back on track. Kevin, eager to keep others from choosing the wrong path, built a story that would encourage people around the world to appreciate the life they have and know that choosing the easy way out is not always the best course of action. “The bottom line is, the obstacles that you overcome are going to determine how great you are.”—Curtis Jackson

Book preview

Contents

One Week Later Saturday, 10:15 a.m.

The following Monday

Friday 3:45 p.m.

Trial and Respect

Seven years later

The Betrayal of a King

6 months later

About the Author

About the Book

Vindictive |vin'diktiv|

Adjective:

Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

SITTING IN THE back of an old Jeep Cherokee, Colin stared out the window at the smiling faces of families just outside the bowling alley. Sweat accumulated around the brim of his black, fitted Phillies cap. The humidity of the hot summer’s day showed clearly in the sweat that streamed down his scruffy cheeks as he watched parents walk with their kids in and out of the building. He smirked at the sight of all the happiness that surrounded him. He adjusted his hat, making sure it was not revealing too much of his face, while looking around the parking lot to get a better feel of his surroundings.

Ramon turned around from the front seat to face Colin. Are you sure you still want to go through with this? They aren’t here yet.

Still staring out the window, Colin took his gun out from his waistband and set it on his lap. Yes.

Damn, I can’t believe we’re doing this to one of our boys. I hope your ass never pulls this shit on me!

You honestly think I want to be doing this to a friend? I don’t, but I can’t have anyone making us look bad. We have to make an example. Unfortunately, Kyle is the example. Not coming through for one night I understand, but not coming through for a month is unacceptable.

Come on, man. You know I’m behind you no matter what, but I just want to make sure you’re thinking with your head straight. We all know how hot-headed you get. Right, Mark?

They all started laughing.

Heads up. They’re here, Mark said from the driver’s seat as a blue Toyota Camry pulled into the parking lot. The car pulled in and parked across from the Jeep Cherokee so that the front ends of the cars were facing each other.

Colin put his gun back underneath his shirt inconspicuously.

Ramon’s phone began to ring.

What’s up, Kyle? Ramon asked.

Ramon turned and handed the phone to Colin. He wants to speak with you. 


Colin took the phone from Ramon. Listen, Ramon and Mark are going to get out of the Jeep and come over to your two boys to look at the product. You come get in the Jeep with me to count the money. If the product and money are all good, we just seal the deal and head our separate ways. Start walking over to me when you see those two get out. Make sure you get in the passenger seat in front of me.

All right. I’ll tell my two boys, Kyle said before hanging up.

Ramon and Mark stepped out of the Jeep.

Damn, this sun is brutal, Ramon said as he slid his sunglasses down from the top of his head to avoid any glare. They greeted Kyle briefly before continuing over to the Camry.

Kyle opened the front passenger door and sat down while looking over at the Camry to see what was going on.

What’s up, Colin? It felt like there was a little bit of tension when we were just on the phone. Everything good between us? I mean, I know this took longer than expected, but—

Colin interrupted.

No, shit isn’t good between us, Colin said, pulling his 9-mm Berreta from underneath his shirt and putting it up to Kyle’s forehead.

Kyle quickly felt distraught. An overwhelming sense of confusion consumed him, and he froze for a minute before gathering his thoughts together.

Colin, man, you don’t want to do this. Please don’t do this. We have been boys since grade school.

Before Kyle could muster up anything else to say, Colin pushed the end of the barrel into Kyle’s forehead. Kyle gritted his teeth in pain, feeling helpless, as the barrel indented the front of his head.

I don’t give a fuck what you have to say. I’ve had people waiting, and—

Before Colin could finish his sentence, the passenger’s and driver’s side doors opened abruptly. There stood Ramon and Mark, now with their guns drawn and duffles under their arms. In what felt like slow motion, Kyle looked at Mark and then Ramon. The unsatisfactory feeling of treason sunk in. Then Ramon grabbed Kyle by his shirt and threw him to the ground. He rolled twice before coming to a stop. Lying on his stomach, he glanced over at the Jeep just as it took off. Kyle was left in a crowded parking lot with families looking down upon him, just as confused as he was. One stranger walked over and helped him get back to his feet. The nice gentlemen asked if Kyle would like him to call the police. Kyle finished brushing himself off before replying to the gentleman.

No, Kyle said firmly, keeping his eyes on the back of the Jeep as it got smaller and smaller in the distance.

* * *

So, uh, that went well. You think we should see if he wants to chill with us later? Ramon asked sarcastically.

They all laughed.

Am I still going to Rob’s house right now? Mark asked.

Yeah, but first drop me and Ramon off at the high school for Delilah’s graduation. Then go to Rob’s and separate everything out for us.

You guys going to need me to pick you up after we are done?

Nah, we should be good. Just weigh and bag everything up. Then wait for us to get there.

Mark acknowledged Colin’s requests and continued over to the high school.

* * *

Mark pulled up to the side of the high school. The graduation seemed to have already started. Colin and Ramon stepped out of the Jeep and walked over to the driver’s side window to talk to Mark.

Roll the windows up before you get out of the parking lot, man. Those duffle bags are potent as fuck, Colin said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Come on, Col. You know the air conditioning don’t work in this piece of shit.

Would you rather take the chance of getting pulled over with those bags in the back? You know you can’t violate your probation.

Mark had been on probation for the past seven months. Someone accidentally knocked a drink out of Colin’s hand at a club. The guy thought it was funny until Mark broke every finger on that guy’s hand. He didn’t think it was that funny afterward. Accidents or not, Ramon and Mark made sure nothing happened to Colin or each other. Colin told Mark that he would send him a text when they were on the way to Rob’s house.

Ramon and Colin started walking over to the ceremony. They stood at the corner of the building waiting for Delilah’s name to be called. After twenty minutes of standing in the summer’s humidity, the graduation came to an end. Colin and Ramon looked upon all the people cheering, trying to pick Delilah out of the crowd.

They already called me up, but if you were here on time you would have already known that. The soft words came from behind them.

Colin looked back to see Delilah standing there with her arms crossed.

Baby, I’ve been standing here the whole time.

No you haven’t. I’ve been looking for you guys the whole time. I just walked around front to see if you were here. Where were you guys? Delilah said as her eyes became glassy.

We were taking care of business. Come on, baby, you really that mad at us? Don’t get so emotional. I’m here now, aren’t I? Colin asked, walking toward her with his arms open.

Delilah kept her arms crossed, refusing Colin’s hug.

Come on, baby. You know you can’t stay mad at me forever, Colin said as he started to kiss her neck and tickle her sides. Delilah tried holding back a smile but couldn’t resist. Her white teeth began to peek through her luscious lips, releasing her beautiful smile.



 Stop! You know you should have been graduating today also, Delilah said, poking Colin in the chest.


 Look, I’m not trying to argue about that today. Today is your day. Let’s just focus and enjoy that.

Ramon walked over and gave Delilah a big, warm hug.

Congrats, little sis. Look at you, growing up so damn fast!

Thanks, Ramon! You need to make sure you guys are more punctual from now on, Delilah said, pushing Ramon playfully.

Well, do you want to go with me to find Mom and Dad? It would be nice to show them that my brother and boyfriend did make an attempt to see their daughter graduate, Delilah said. She stared at Ramon, trying to convince him.

We can’t, he answered. We actually have to get over to Rob’s. Can I take your car, and you can catch a ride with Mom and Dad?

Delilah’s smile disappeared. She sighed, disappointed. After handing Ramon her car keys, she walked over to give Colin a hug. She hugged him tightly with her head up against his chest.

You do know we have plans tonight, right? Please don’t let me down twice in one day. Tonight is really important to me.

Colin looked down into her eyes and assured her that he would not disappoint her twice.

Delilah stood with her arms crossed, watching the two walk away, hoping that Colin would just turn around and forget the rest of his plans. He never even glanced back at her.

After a few minutes of searching for Delilah’s car in the overcrowded parking lot, they finally stumbled upon it. They jumped in, and Ramon turned on the ignition only to hear country music blasting. He quickly shut the obnoxious music off and turned on something more to his liking before heading to Rob’s.

* * *

Ramon turned down the radio as they pulled into Rob’s driveway. Colin and Ramon laughed and joked about the look on Kyle’s face earlier when he came face to face with three gun barrels as they walked toward the front door. They snickered a little more before giving a loud and hard knock to the front door. They heard loud footsteps from inside the house. The front door opened, and there stood Rob smoking a cigarette with a devilish smile. He was wearing his signature attire: a black T-shirt, jeans, a fitted Phillies cap, and gold necklace with Jesus on a cross. Tattoos up his arm completed his outfit. Ramon shook Rob’s hand and gave him a hug. Both were just over six feet tall and husky. Standing 5 foot 9 and weighing about 150 pounds, Colin was the smallest from the rest of the group, so it was humorous to him to see two grizzlies hugging it out. It always brought a smirk to his face. Rob greeted Colin in the same way and directed them to the basement, where Mark was. The staircase shook as the three went down the steps to see Mark bagging the marijuana up. The basement was dimly lit, with only one sofa and a couple of folding chairs around a coffee table. Mark sat in the middle of the sofa, adjusting his dreads, while he weighed the last of the weed.

Ramon forced Mark to move over so he could sit on the sofa. Rob took a seat on one of the folding chairs before taking a blunt from the ashtray on the coffee table that Mark had recently lit. Rob took two long pulls from the marijuana-filled leaves and held the smoke in. He paused for a moment, letting the smoke fill his lungs, before releasing it from his body. As the smoke filled the room, it started to take effect, making his eyes feel heavy and the top of his head start to tingle. Rob took one more pull before handing the blunt to Colin. Colin reached over the coffee table to get the blunt before sitting back down in the other folding chair. He told the others that he had something important to talk about before taking a few pulls from the disintegrating blunt.

For the past couple of years, they had been growing marijuana in a small rent-a-container unit well hidden in the woods. It was just a small operation, but it earned them thousands. There were a couple key benefits to living in New Jersey: there was plenty of woods to accomplish what they needed to do, plus they could sell in New Jersey and some parts of Philly. It wasn’t enough for Colin, though. He was always thinking of ways to expand. He was just looking and waiting for the best opportunity. That opportunity had finally come.

Colin took another pull and handed the blunt over to Ramon.

I was waiting to talk to you guys until we were all together. I have a way to make us more money. If it goes through, we will all be set for life.

Interested by what Colin said, Mark indicated for him to continue.

Colin went on to tell them about a party that he had been to with Rob the weekend before. The party had gone through the night and well into the following morning. When the party was nearing its end, Colin and Ramon had been sitting on the couch smoking one last blunt. A man with dreads had sat with them and, with a strong Jamaican accent, asked if he could smoke with them. Normally a disrespectful rejection would have come out Colin’s mouth, but exhaustion had the best of him, so he took a couple more pulls and handed it over, asking for the guy’s name. He replied, Keys.

Ramon interrupted Colin’s story. "The Keys?"

Yes, Colin replied.

Keys was a notorious cocaine