The Enforcer (Vengeful Empire #3)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

C hristos

“You’re certain the pig is here?” I asked Elias, who was sitting beside me in the back of the SUV. I’d remained seething since the useless meeting, learning everything I could about both Jeff and Kenneth. While there were aspects of morality issues I could use for blackmail, I would refrain from stooping to a lower level until I’d exhausted more traditional methods. However, from what I’d learned, it would seem corruption was prevalent within the political arena.

“He’s here,” my soldier insisted. “The guy stopped by to have a drink after work.”

“Who told you?”

“A guy I’ve known for years.”

I chuckled. My top soldier had lived a colorful life, including being raised right in this very city. “I guess Jeff insists on his employees working long hours.” Stern and Partners Land Development had a solid reputation throughout New York. They acted as brokers or as a general contractor depending on the situation. Given up to this point our empire was spread between Greece and outlying countries, we needed their heavy involvement in keeping the project on track.

I certainly had no intention of relocating to New York even for the short term. No matter if the flavor of women was a welcome change. My thoughts momentarily drifted to the woman I’d run into two nights before. The taste of her had been incredible.

I’d only resisted having a drink with the precious angel because our time spent would have led to additional intimacy between the sheets. Sadly, I couldn’t afford any complications.

Jeff had been smart enough to take me up on my demand for another meeting. While he’d assured me Kenneth and the man’s thugs hadn’t been told the location or time, we’d left what I’d believed to be an unsuccessful meeting to find a wall of men from the Laborers’ Union attempting to intimidate us. It had stripped away every ounce of patience from my system and I’d wanted to drive bullets into their brains.

Fortunately, it took more than inked brawn and stupidity to force me into something I’d likely regret. However, Jeff had set a trap and for that, he would pay the consequences. I’d already contacted my older brother, Dimitrios, the man considered the Godfather of the Night in Athens with the news the deal was likely dead.

He didn’t take my proclamation with as much grace as usual. We’d been through something similar while attempting to establish our nightclubs in both Paris and Milan. Fortunately, common sense had prevailed.

That and the brutality we’d used including promising a war if necessary.

Somehow, this slight felt different. There’d been some planning involved, although I wouldn’t put it past Kenneth and his thugs to threaten Jeff. If Jeff would have confided in me, this wouldn’t need to happen. Unfortunately for him, our reputation in the United States was crucial. We didn’t need other crime syndicates to determine we were fresh meat, weak enough to attack.

It wasn’t in my mindset to cause chaos or violence, but I’d do so if necessary across the board. This was merely a stopgap as well as a warning.

Or so I hoped.

With Marinos pulling the SUV to the curb, I took a few seconds to search the surrounding area. While New York was usually buzzing at all hours of the day and night, the small corner bar was nestled in the heart of Brooklyn and it was a Sunday night. That provided a less complicated location for me to provide the warning.

Marinos remained by the car, keeping watch on the street. Both Elias and Luca headed inside the bar, keeping my back covered.

I was headed out in the morning, returning to Athens. That would allow Jeff and his crew some time to think about my offer and what it would potentially mean if he caved to the Laborers’ Union. I was eager to return home. Business was booming and there was far too much to tend to.

There was a single bartender behind the bar, the late hour allowing for him to begin the process of wiping down glasses and righting bottles on the shelf. There were only two other customers other than the target. Luck seemed on our side.

The moment we walked in, I merely nodded first to the bartender then moved toward the back hallway easily seen from the front door. He’d obviously been through something like this before, but when he dared shift his hand under the bar, Elias was quick to react.

With a weapon pointed at the man’s head, the bartender lifted his arms, backing away.

I moved to the couple sitting at a table, peering down at them. “I suggest you leave. You don’t need the entertainment for the night.”

“We haven’t paid our tab,” the young man croaked.

“I assure you that I’ll take care of that for you.” I kept a smile on my face even as our intended target tried to slip out the back door. Luca caught him, dragging him by the collar of his jacket toward us.

The young couple was smart enough to leave without being told twice. Something I almost never did. Second chances weren’t in my vocabulary. There was a time when I hadn’t gravitated toward being the Enforcer, the man in the empire responsible for handling any difficulties. I’d wanted more for my life. Sadly, with the murder of my younger brother, I’d begun to see the light. There was no way of avoiding who and what I was.

Now it was a role I took seriously.

I watched the young couple in love as they scampered from the bar. At least the young man was protective of her, keeping his arm wrapped around the girl’s shoulders while constantly scanning his surroundings. Someone had taught him manners and common sense.

Both rare attributes these days.

I took my time, unbuttoning my jacket and sliding my hands into my trouser pockets before turning around. Luca had shoved the man back onto a stool, pushing away the guy’s beer so he wouldn’t be tempted to use the bottle as a weapon.

That would only get him killed.

“Ricky Malone.” I made his name a statement. I knew exactly who he was. While considered lower level in the workplace, he had a special place in Jeff’s heart as the man’s nephew. I walked closer, and he was already having a difficult time swallowing.

“Yes, sir.”

Sir. I was even more impressed. “So you know who I am?”

“Yes, sir. Christos Nomikos.”

“Excellent. Then you know both what I’m capable of and why I’m here. Correct?”

“I… I don’t know why you’re here, with me I mean. I don’t make the executive decisions.”

“No, but your uncle does.”

“Yes.” The kid was already putting the pieces together.

I patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Ricky. I’m not going to kill you. That’s would solve nothing.” I pulled out a barstool, placing my boot on the lower rung. “However, I need to send a message to your uncle and I was trying to figure out what would get his attention. Then I remembered you worked at his firm.”

Ricky darted his eyes to my two men. He was now shaking.

“Before we get to the meat of our discussion, do you know if Kenneth Baker has made threats to your uncle and his partners?”

He seemed confused by the question. “They’re friends, sir. I don’t think so, but my uncle doesn’t keep me in the loop with aspects on the executive level.”

I glanced at Elias, who was making certain the bartender didn’t attempt to make a phone call to the police. Friends. That held entirely different connotations. “Friends. I see. Well, don’t sweat it. Now, you’re going to do something for me.”

“Anything.” The poor kid was sweating bullets. I could certainly have that effect on people. Or maybe his reaction was based on seeing the weapon sticking out of my holster.

“You’re going to tell your uncle that his poor decision of working with Kenneth was something that is unfortunate, but will not affect the deal we established months ago.”

I allowed the words to hang. “That’s it?”

“That’s it. Now, that isn’t so difficult, is it?”

“No, sir. I’ll tell him. I can’t promise he’ll listen to me.”

I patted him on the shoulder once again. “You leave that part to me. Okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

Shit. I’d never felt so old. I couldn’t be more than ten years older than the guy, yet I felt ancient. I smirked and both Luca and Elias followed me to the door.

“What do you want us to do with him?” Elias asked. He had his arms in front of him, his hands crossed and he was stepping from one foot to the other.

“An eager beaver?” I threw out.

“I’ve grown bored with America.”

“You and me both,” I told him. “We’ll be back in Athens this time tomorrow. What do I want you to do?” I glanced back at Ricky and sighed. “ Spáste éna dáchtylo. O pónos prépei na eínai mia axioprepís ypenthymisi .”

Break a finger. The pain should be a decent reminder.

“Yes, sir.” Elias could break more than one given his strength and size. I headed to the door, Luca following me.

Once the cool air hit me, I took a deep breath. Sadly, the area smelled like stale booze and damp cigarettes. Not particularly appetizing.

Marinos moved toward the back door of the SUV, prepared to open it and wait until I was inside. A flash caught my eye and I turned, yanking my weapon into my hand at the same time.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The gunshots came from the shadows, figures moving closer. I fired off a couple of shots in the direction of the sound, unable to see if I’d caught any of the bastards.

“Get down!” Marinos yelled, his massive body barreling toward me.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

His body stiffened just as shots came from a different direction. The hit was hard, slamming into me near my breastbone. I tumbled backward, knocked to the ground by my soldier. The heavy weight of him knocked the breath out of me, agony scorching every muscle and tendon.

Panting, I struggled to roll him off while keeping cover behind the SUV. Both Luca and Elias were on me quickly while Luca continued firing off round after round.

I was tossed into the back of the vehicle, Marinos shoved in beside me.

“Get us out of here!” Elias yelled to Luca as he jumped into the front seat, immediately starting and gunning the engine.

The pain was coursing down my chest, the anguish sending flashes of white light across my periphery of vision. The gunshots continued, the SUV hit at least three times.

I rolled Marinos over, the lights of passing businesses allowing me to see the vacant look in his eyes.

“He’s dead!” I roared and was forced to clutch my heart. Fuck. This wasn’t good.

“We’re getting you to the hospital, boss. Just hold on.”

The words Elias issued were garbled, the pain biting into my brain. I struggled to sit up, but my body wouldn’t respond.

“Boss. Are you okay? Hold on. We’re…”