Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“That’s too low. We need—”
The gun spun one last time and before I knew it he had it off the table, holding it casually out in front of him instead.
“The crates need safe transportation until offload at the shipping port downtown. I’ll pay you half now, half when they get delivered.”
“Let’s nego—”
“If you want to negotiate then get the fuck out of my office, pedazos de mierda,” Dad roared, “Pieces of shit.”
“We take high risk doing this and you’re offering—”
“Quarter of a million. It’s an offer you shouldn’t refuse. Your risk is well compensated. These are wholesale rifles. I’m moving them onto the streets. The serial numbers need to be shaved off so it’s going to cost me money. If you don’t want to take the deal, I can reach out to the Albanians. You’re not the only pendejos I can buy from, take or leave it. But next time you try to come in here, don’t waste my fucking time with bullshit excuses. We’re not selling Girl Scout cookies, motherfuckers. We’re in the business of making things happen. Either you make it happen, or I’ll find someone who will.”
The arms broker cleared his throat. “Right… we will have them delivered next week.”
My dad pounded his hand that was holding the gun on the table. The three bodyguards behind him stepped forward.
“Thursday,” he gritted out.
Which was three days from today then he casually stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. I followed suit. From the sound of things the meeting was over.
They nodded, clenching their jaws. “Thursday, amigo.”
My father shook his head with a cocky grin. “I’m not your friend.”
Grabbing the briefcase that was under the table, Dad placed it out in front of them. He slid open the locks, revealing stacks of hundred dollar bills perfectly placed in a row. Filling the entire briefcase from top to bottom.
“Since you think I’m your amigo, I’m assuming you don’t need to count it,” Dad crudely mocked, shutting the briefcase and sliding it across the table. The arms broker intercepted it.
“You interested in the women we picked up? I have a mother and daughter, beautiful women with big tits and voluptuous asses. A few other women as well, all young. Fresh. We had our go with them. They’re ready to be transported. If you’re—”
“No,” Dad cut him off without missing a beat.
I narrowed my eyes in confusion at the sick fucks sitting in front of me.
“Are you sure? They make good business. Make you a lot of money for—”
“Did I fucking stutter? Take your money and get the fuck out. My men will see you on Thursday.”
“How will we—”
“They’ll know.”
They stood up. I watched them leave without so much as a second glance.
“Say it,” Dad ordered, reading me like a goddamn book as soon as the doors closed behind them.
“You let them take those women?”
“I didn't let them do shit. I don't traffic women, Alejandro. But some of the men I know do. Everyone has a mother or a child. Those are two things that I don’t fuck with. You understand me?”
I peered down at the table. “Yes.”
My mind was spinning at what was going to happen to those women. All I could think of was Amari and Sophia, I would fucking kill anyone if they tried to take them. I proved that to be true already.
“You look me in the eyes when I’m talking to you, hijo. My patience is wearing very thin with having to remind you.”
I looked up, staring into his dark, cold, daunting eyes that never showed any emotion. There were times like these where all I wanted was to know what he was thinking, what he was feeling.
Especially, to know whether he loved me or not. Always feeling as though I was just another card that he brought to the table.
Power.
“Some people may never like me, and I will never give a fuck. Everything I do, I do it for all of you. At the end of the day, family is all that matters.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, taking in his words.
“Respect is not given, it’s earned. Until that day, you will look me in the eyes when I’m talking to you. One day you’ll stand where I am, and you’ll thank me for making you who you are.”
We rode home in silence. I stared out the limo window the whole way home, contemplating everything I had learned that day. When we got home my dad went straight to his office like he always did, and I headed up to my room. I spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, thinking about my life and how Sophia fit into it. She was never far from my thoughts. She knew who my family was. What the future held for me. We didn’t discuss it, but we didn’t have to. The truth was blatantly staring us in the face. Except when I was with her, I didn’t want to be anywhere else. It was like living a double life. Sophia’s Alejandro, the sixteen-year-old kid, and Alejandro Martinez, son of the notorious crime boss.