Chapter 23
Dmitri
Down the dark alley in a bar owned by one of my captains, was where the representatives from the Napoli gang agreed to meet with Vladimir and me.
Apparently, they were wary of the cops even though I’d assured them that most of them were under my payroll. But I didn’t blame them for trying to be thorough after what the cops did to them back in Naples.
“It’s great to have you in my area once again. Let’s get into this meeting, shall we?” I smirked and clapped once.
The door leading to other rooms behind the bar opened and three ladies seductively cat-walked towards our guests, all of them scantily clad.
Vladimir and I exchanged glances and he nodded in satisfaction. The ladies did their jobs, sliding onto their thighs and caressing their chests.
The meeting was very important to me and I didn’t want anything to go wrong, that’s why I went the extra mile to please them.
Vladimir cleared his throat and leaned forward. “We requested this meeting because you haven’t been delivering our ‘stuff’ consistently. Why is that so? Isn’t the money we send you monthly enough?”
Antonio, their consigliere tapped the ass of the lady that was seated on his lap and she stood up so that he could lean forward as well. “We’re sorry about that but there’s a new policy,”
I became alert and folded my arms, watching them carefully. “What kind of policy?” I injected.
When it came to the drug trade which was our major source of income, I didn’t like to sit idly so that nothing would go wrong, but with the looks on their faces, I realized that something was about to go down and I wouldn’t like it.
He chuckled lightly then wrote something on a paper and passed it to me. My eyes widened when I read the note and my forehead creased with a frown.
“Fifty grand per fifteen kilograms of coke? Isn’t that unreasonable?” I barked, tearing the paper into shreds.
“That’s what the boss wants and he asked me to tell you that there are other people that are ready to deal on his terms. So what do you have to say about it?”
I slammed my fist on the table, and the bottles of beer clinked against each other, causing a spill. The room became hotter as I imagined what would become of our business.
If Vladimir wasn’t here with me, I’d be throwing a punch at him.
“Tell Enzo that he can’t be serious. After everything I’ve done for him, this is how he wants to pay me back? And tell me, who’s that fucker that wants to meddle in my business, huh?”
Once again, my temper was flaring and I didn’t want to be held back. I felt Vladimir’s grip on my arm, tugging me incessantly and I shoved him aside angrily.
Due to my diligence in selling off each kilogram they shipped to us, I enriched their boss and my gang as well, and the only way he could think of repaying me was by pushing me to the corner.
By the look on their faces, I already knew what was going on. Someone had offered them a better price than I delivered to slow down my sales, but what I didn’t understand was why anyone would try to interfere with my business when I always minded mine.
“Don’t try to stop me, Vladimir. Don’t you see what these people are doing?” I fumed.
“I get it, but we can’t get violent here,” He whispered to my ear. “We are outnumbered,” He warned and I glanced around only to see other men that might have been lurking in the dark, wagging their iron bats to show off dominance.
A hiss slithered through my lips and I clenched my fists.
“Thirty grand per fifteen kilograms is what I can deal. That’s an extra five grand tops, take it or leave it,” I said with a tone of finality.
They all burst into laughter at my response and Antonio stood up, beckoning onto the lady he had pushed away earlier. “Thirty thousand dollars, do you think I’m here to joke around?” He cackled and wrapped his arm around her. “Anyway, Boss is very compassionate so he has given you one week to deliberate on it and send us back a response. Good night,” He turned around with his men trailing behind him and halted suddenly. “I see the ring on your finger, congratulations on your wedding,” He smirked cynically and stalked off.
As soon as they left, I picked up a chair and flung it against the wall. Luckily, the bar was empty so no one would get hurt.
“Vladimir,” I growled.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Find whoever is meddling and bring him to me,”
I walked away, unsure of where to go. Back in the days when I was still single, I’d have returned to the house and spent some time with Liora, but Ariel had taken up the space and with her friend’s presence, I was sure to lose my sanity.
Needing something strong to mess with my head a bit, I traipsed to the counter and asked the bartender to whip up a shot of Sklar’s Balkan 176 Vodka for me.
“Someone seems to be in a bad mood,” Margaret’s vanilla scent saturated the air as she settled onto the stool beside me.
The last thing I wanted was company, but I couldn’t send her away now that she was here. Maybe I’d put her to good use.
“How did you find me here?” I croaked, downing the shot of vodka in one gulp and requesting for another one.
“You already know how,” She retorted and I sighed.
Her father was a popular politician so she had enough resources to track me if she wanted. This was one of those days when she decided to use it.
“So what do you want from me now? I thought I told you that I’d come for you when I’m less busy-”
She scoffed and placed her palm on my thigh. “Less busy with your business or your wife?”
My body became taut with tension and I gazed at her. “Margaret,”
She raised her hand and let out a nonchalant sigh. “That’s alright, I know that I don’t mean much to you,”
“Don’t say that, Margaret,” I chided her gently.
She was just my mistress, but she had always been there for me, especially after Anya’s death.
“Am I wrong?” She squeezed my thigh and slid down the stool. “Well, I know those men that left and I can help you with them,” She murmured, piquing my curiosity.
The bartender passed the shot-glass to me but I pushed it aside and trained my gaze on her. “How are you going to do that?” I questioned curtly, my heart racing with anticipation as rays of hope danced in the shadows.
“Don’t bother about, but I have a condition,” She reached for my drink and gobbled it.
“Spill,”
She pouted and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m a jealous woman, and it hurts me so badly that you didn’t tell me that you got married. I mean, you are even wearing your wedding ring openly. How romantic,” She giggled momentarily and the fake smile on her face turned into a sneer.
“I was going to tell you, Mag,” I muttered in my defense.
“You don’t have to anymore. Anyway, for me to help you with your business, I want you to leave her for me. Divorce your wife and be mine alone,”