Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“He said they just have to ‘take care of some cunt’ around here first.”
“Huh,” I said, racking my brain for why I would have anything to do with this area, but at this point, my mind was spinning with all the different names and jobs I’d been mulling over for the past few weeks.
“Do you know who that is?” he asked.
“I think I’m the cunt,” I admitted, watching his eyes widen as I reached in my pocket for my phone, ready to reach out to the other capos and ask for clarification on who ran this area.
I didn’t even get my finger on the unlock button.
“No!” Lip yelled, trying to fly up off the ground, his panicked eyes behind me.
But it was too late.
I was too slow.
A van door flew open, hands reached out, and I was pulled inside.
Even as the door slid closed, I felt the prick of something in my neck, and the dizziness swirled within seconds.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Dav
Where the fuck was Cinna?
I flipped my wrist to check my watch for the fifth time in the past ten minutes, then glanced around the room again. It wasn’t like she’d get swallowed up in the crowd. She always stood out. Which meant I was likely not the only one who noticed she was missing.
As if sensing the train of my thoughts, Elian moved in at my side, glancing around. “Cinna’s not here yet?” he asked, sounding confused.
Because, yeah, Cinna was fine being late for a hangout, but she was always on time when she needed to be. Especially if it was Renzo calling a meeting.
“I know she was working today, but it’s not like her to be late,” I said, hoping some of the panic I was feeling didn’t bleed into my words. If anything, I was normally the person saying something meant to wave off everyone else’s concerns. But I was too debilitated with my own worries to really care about what others were thinking.
I’d texted her twice already, and I was in that place where I wasn’t sure if I did it again, she would freak out about me being needy and push me away. We’d taken steps forward finally. I didn’t want to fuck shit up.
“How are things with the Russians?” I asked Elian as I told myself that, if she didn’t show up by the time Renzo started the meeting, I would text her one more time.
“That’s kind of part of all of this,” he said, waving toward the meeting.
“Renzo taking the job from you?” I asked.
“No. But I’m working close with him on this one.”
“Alright,” Renzo called a few minutes later. “We all have places we’d probably rather be right now, so let’s get this shit over with,” he said, getting a murmur of agreement from everyone.
“The Bratva is moving into our territory,” he said, cutting right to the chase. “I’m not worried, but we all need to be more aware. The butcher shop, for example, had almost been taken right out from under us.”
“Almost?” one of the other capos called out.
“Well, congratulate Rico on his new legit business,” Renzo said, clamping his old friend on the shoulder. “We managed to… persuade the current owners into selling it and skipping out of town. But we are keeping eyes out in case they get other ideas. Especially the older son. He’s my only real concern. Cocky fuck.”
“What about the guy who was strung up?” Saff asked, shoving two capos out of the way, so Renzo could see her in the crowd as he spoke to her.
“That is the current leader of one of the local H dealers in the area. They were attempting to get him to agree to changing his alliance to the Russians.”
“Why are they doing the dirty work for the Bratva?” Saff asked.
“Seems to be a loyalty thing. Or a mutual dirt thing. These fucks can’t try to back out when they got blood on their hands too.
“So, now, it’s important for you to tighten your hold on all your local crews and businesses. Check in. Make sure shit is how it should be. This will not be the only business and crew that the Bratva will try to take.
“If you notice that someone who used to always pay on time is suddenly full of excuses, it’s time to bring some of your crew, and pay them a visit. If you can’t find a legit reason for the lack of cash flow, you’re going to need to bring them in for questioning.”
There were nods and grunts of approval coming from around the room, everyone ready to knock some heads together if they had to.
“The other concern about the Russians right now is that they are making friends.”
“What kind of friends?” someone in the crowd asked.
“Ones in high places. Suddenly, a few beat cops that have been loyal to us don’t want to talk to us anymore. It wouldn’t be paranoid to assume it goes to detectives, judges, and maybe even higher.”