NALEDI’S POV
This was the part I hated about working in the underworld.
The disrespect. The utter disregard the men could have unless you showed off what syndicate you belonged to.
We were led into the hinder parts of the bar, into a smelly office that held Don Hawkings. The man in question was on his feet, waiting for our arrival until he saw us.
“Who are they?” He sneered, his Italian accent thick as well as his sordid breath. “Where are the Cosa Nostra? Matteo?”
I spoke first. “Mr Don Hawkings. I will be your new dealer. Naledi Rogers.” I held out my arm, hoping he didn’t shake on it.
I didn’t want the bacteria that came with his dirty hands.
“Get me Matteo.” He didn’t shake me, “I will not be discussing serious business with fucking putas.”
He returned to his seat afterward and I was glad he did that. I didn’t think I would be establishing my power this quickly but I was glad nonetheless. I loved putting egocentric men in their places after all.
I did it for sport.
“Unless you don’t want the 200kg of coke in my possession, I suggest you speak to me and refrain from using derogatory words in my presence.”
“Who is this woman? Get her out of here and get me on the line with Matteo! What an insult!” He roared and the next thing I knew, the office welcomed a new batch of guests which were, of course, thugs.
“You are dealing with the Cosa Nostra.” Korah snarled, “We demand an apology for this heinous act.”
“The Cosa Nostra?!” He laughed, “How do I know that you are not posing to be delegates from the Cosa Nostra? The Alpha regards me too much to send a bunch of Putas to my forte.” He got up and I wondered how the hell I missed his pot belly the first time. “I will take whatever you have in your possession, deal with you and send off your remains to the Alpha for judgment.”
“Arrest them!”
I reached for my gun instinctively and in one second, two men went down with a hole between their eyes. “Who’s next?” I looked around with a crazed expression, “I dare you, just one step and you’ll be on your way to ghost town.”
“Put down the gun.” Don Hawkings growled, “Put down the gun and I might spare your lives. You are surrounded. Turn them in.”
A smell of burning skin reached my nose and I smiled. “No darling, I have a better idea.”
I’d think they’d anticipate my move, but I guess I underestimated the levels of their intelligence. At this rate, and with these people, I wondered how they got to run their business.
There were three men in the room, Don Hawkings made them four, and two dead bodies. Two charged for me, and the other at Korah.
Huge mistake.
Korah burned her attacker to a crisp and I shot one in the leg, not failing to deliver a perfect timed spin kick to the other, who fell like a pack of cards. Pathetic.
“Who are you? Who sent you? Why are you here?!” Don Hawkings said, jittering as I approached him.
“Naledi Rogers.” I stalked him as I spoke. “Representative of the Cosa Nostra pack and mate of Alpha Caellum Morello. Rings a bell?”
He hit his table, with nowhere to go. Eyes wide, he shook his head, horror overtaking him.
“Please… Spare my life… Don’t kill me!”
My gun was raised. And I never missed.
“You know, I also used to be an assassin.” I clicked my tongue and he shook at the sound. My lips stretched to a smirk. “Ever heard of the Lady Attai?”
I never thought the normal eyes could widen any more than they could. But Don proved me wrong. It was a shame to bear such a powerful name and be anything but.
“I took jobs taking care of men like you, but now I look at it, I believe I took on men you wish to be like. Men that have a ridiculous amount of power and wealth and seek to prey on women bold enough to build a life in the business.”
“Looking at you, I can tell you are just one little bitch who got lucky with a connection to the Cosa Nostra, thinking you are high and mighty.” My face turned stoic, “I’d excuse you for the bullshit you just pulled but seeing there is no such thing as forgiveness, I’ll give you a little something to remember me by, instead.”
Korah looked at me like I had two heads. Within the blink of an eye, I shot both his legs, targeting at the joint in his ankle, and finishing it up with another to his knee.
Good luck fixing that.
“I’ll also take my business elsewhere. Consider yourself cut off from the Cosa Nostra. I’ll be handing over the goods in my possession to someone more worthy. Maybe even a rival.” I said, twisting the knife in his heart. “Let’s go.”
Korah followed me, and we left the office. To our surprise, the bar was filled with men – or thugs – who had been beaten by our team of four and left on their stomachs, lying face down.
I tsked at the sight of the wannabes. There was no way in hell I was doing business with them. “Let’s go,” I said and that was all it took to make our round back to the car, to our next client.
The day went smoothly. I didn’t need to do so much to get my money and deals ran smoothly. Apparently, word travelled fast on these streets. Set one example and the others learned.
Thus making my first run smooth as silk. We had circled around town and there was nothing left but the 100kg I’d decided Don Hawkings wasn’t fit to have. I needed to sell the goods, but I was determined to sell them for a higher cost.
We had made our findings and placed word on the street in search of a new and paying client, all to no avail. When I received a call from a supposed Curt who was said to be interested in business, and capable of paying, we went right to the heart of the city, and I walked away with twice the price I’d intended.