The Prodigal Renegade. Victor Fakunle

He attended the University of District of Columbia but flunked most of his courses. He majored in Accounting and hated going to class. But Danny’s popularity continued to grow. He frequented night clubs in the D.C. metro area. He partied hard every other weekend and accumulated a lengthy list of girlfriends from all walks of life.

      It was customary for Danny to showcase his latest merchandise upon a grand entry at the clubs. He had exotic sport cars and SUVs. He always reserved a VIP spot right at the front door to guarantee a spectacular entrance. For Danny it was all about the publicity stunt. He secured a VIP lounge for his friends and potential dates and spent his nights sipping his favorite, Moët.

      Over the years, Danny had gotten involved with the underworld. He wanted to turn more profits. Danny invested in cars known to the Nigerian syndicates as “Abiku”. The term referred to the resurrection of an older sibling who had died, through the birth of another child to the same family or parents. Cars sold at Ultimate Motors, came from the streets of Baltimore and all over the northeast. The operation was carried out by the “B-More Boys,” a notorious outfit that specialized in car theft and chop shops. The cars were given new VINs and titles and sold to Ultimate Motors for a fraction of the current retail value. Danny made the trip to New York via Baltimore at least twice a month with a couple of hired hands to drive the cars back to his lot in Laurel, Maryland. He had to make another run in couple of days. He got a call in the middle of the night about the arrivals of a new batch.

      It was eight o’clock in the morning and Danny was fatigued from his trip to New York. He always drove the speed limit and was constantly on the lookout for police cruisers. It was tedious for him.

      Danny knocked on Dexter’s bedroom door. He knew Dexter had worked the late-night shift. Evelyn had brought Dexter to the U.S. two years after Danny’s arrival. By this time, Danny and Dele had moved into their own apartments. They all parted amicably. Chubi needed his space as he pursued divorce proceedings from Bunmi. The divorce was brutal on the kids and was later finalized based on irreconcilable differences. Despite all his personal woes, Dele and Danny were grateful to him for providing a roof over their heads.

      “Good morning, little brother”.

      “Good morning,” he muttered under his breath, still half-asleep.

      “Are you going to work today?”

      “Nope. Why?”

      “I’m going to downtown D.C to register the cars I bought at the auction in New York.”

      He was lying. Danny often made the trip with one of his staff, but it was a busy day at the lot. Nobody was available, and there were customers already waiting for the new shipment. He had always made it a priority not to involve family in his dealings with the underworld. He believed, that whatever the consequences, it was for him alone to bear. He made an exception.

      “Sure, why not? I don’t have any plans for the day. I need a break anyway.”