Luca #2
“He also didn’t use the money for what he said he was using it for. I expect every dime returned plus triple interest,” I whispered through the pain.
“What he move the money toward?” Domino asked with a fixed frown contorting his face.
“Product,” My jaw rolled. “He’s trying to push distribution again out of boredom, pushing back his pending retirement to keep busy. I guess it’s the thrill that keeps him holding on when his time has passed.”
“That means he’s stepping on toes in advance without considering what’s at hand,” Domino’s voice elevated.
“Bingo,” I whispered nodding my head.
“It’s not expansion, it’s creating competition which can turn into unnecessary wars.” I lightly schooled them to something I was sure they already knew.
“So, millions taken from under us,” Matteo clarified with a tight face. “Then he lied to use it to move weight without permission.”
“That’s not business, that’s disrespect.” Roy’s rugged voice cut through the room.
“I’ll handle it,” he added.
I glanced over at his dark eyes before there was a tap at the door.
Roy handling something could be just as deadly as me saying I’ll take care of it.
He scooted his chair back, buttoned his jacket then calmly walked over to the double doors.
All eyes were trained on the door. Roy slapped hands and pulled Brutus in for a brotherly hug before letting him step into the room fully.
Next, the energy shifted, then in walked Monster Decebal.
He looked like a living nightmare from hell.
Cloaked in black clothes that matched the color of his skin, he said nothing as his all-black Timbs guided him to the corner of the room.
With his back to the wall, his black eyes traveled over the room in acknowledgment before landing on me.
I nodded my head in recognition then eyed the men around my table. I dared anyone to show fear from Monster’s presence or else they didn’t belong amongst us. Monster had the type of aura that scared grown men. He made people look away in fear of him becoming their new boogey man.
Monster’s security was so precise that it turned powerful men like me and Roy into ghosts.
I respected what he built on his own. His company didn’t just guard people, they erased vulnerabilities.
His actions made up for his lack of talking.
I looked back over at Brutus, aka Brutal, who stood next to Roy.
He was Roy’s friend and one of the few people Roy trusted outside Bonetti blood.
They met young, back when Roy still had a version of life that I never got to experience from being homeschooled.
Roy got to get out more and explore, meet people, and create long standing relationships just from being in public school and different sports growing up.
Our eyes connected, just as I lifted my hands and signed.
“Your floor.”
Roy nodded once then stepped forward.
“Most of you are aware of my personal bodyguard, Brutal. Who you don’t know is Monster Decebal.” He nudged his head in Monster’s direction.
“His security make sure people like us stay breathing long enough to keep doing business, create immediate families, and start our legacy by having kids.” Roy smirked.
“His men will start rotating coverage across our properties starting this week,” Roy continued, glancing over at Matteo first.
“Finance offices first.”
Matteo nodded one.
Roy’s attention went to Domino.
“Transport hubs second.”
Domino tapped his chest twice.
Roy kept moving through the table like he already mapped this conversation before arriving, even though I called the meeting randomly.
“Night operations third.” He looked over at Rico.
“Long overdue,” Rico spoke lowly.
“Our men won’t be replaced… Monster’s men will coordinate directly with our internal discipline structure… reinforcing our blind spots that matter because we all know pride and cockiness can kill even a tightly knitted organization faster than a bullet,” Roy finished his statement and stepped back.
He never was the one to overtalk nor over explain. Monster finally stepped off the wall slowly. He stepped three inches away from our table with a permanent scowl creasing his brows.
“The Don and Capo remain primary… Disrespect and more than the job description of what my company offers will not be tolerated. Any grievances you have with Monster’s Inc, take it up with your Don or Capo, and they will speak with me.” He stepped back soon as the last words left his mouth.
“Thank you, Monster and Brutal for joining us,” I whispered out roughly.
Both men nodded their heads. Brutal slapped hands with Roy before him and Monster exited. I waited until the door was shut before I signed my final words.
“There will be a funeral next week Friday.” I signed very slow as I scooted my seat back and stood.
“Lucille Bonetti will be buried at ‘Forever Souls’ cemetery… Your presence is required.” I stuffed my busy hands inside of my trousers, standing behind my seat, saying nothing else.
Chairs slid back as my men adjusted their suit jackets, faces void of emotion.
Quiet nods passed between each other acknowledging the news that had to be known amongst my men to ensure they didn’t feel like they were left in the dark.
If anything, they were probably more concerned with how I was taking this.
Little did everyone know, I made peace the day I found out my grandfather was dead that this day would come.
I spent months mourning a mother that I would have to kill in order to stop her from killing herself.
The men she worshipped were dead. She didn’t care about no one else but the power she craved.
I looked at it as me putting her out of her misery.
It didn’t mean that I’d ever stop acknowledging her as the woman who gave birth to me.
The woman that I would forever love. Just like men like me accept the truth that we're going to hell and not heaven for all the souls we claimed here on earth, I accepted Lucille’s pending blood on my hands with no remorse. She had to go.
Sad to say, there was only one woman who my heart beat differently for.
One woman that made my trigger finger hesitate.
I hated that I was still caught up in my feelings over La’Nova.
Hated that I still hated her for killing the one man that I’d give my life in order to see him smile and just talk again.
The cherrywood doors shutting in finality snatched me out of my thoughts. It was only me and Roy left in the room. With my hands still tucked inside my pants pocket, Roy and I stared at each other for what felt like minutes.
He sighed roughly like he did when he first walked in, then leaned forward with his elbows resting on the black conference table. His hands dragged slowly across the top of his waves as he murmured loud enough for me to hear.
“We always seem to have some deeper shit with us.”
I didn’t answer because Roy didn’t use his favorite quote lines unless something tragic already happened.
“Lucille told me something before she left my house.” He dropped his hands away from his head to look me dead in the eyes.
My chest tightened, I could hear my heartbeat thumping loud in my ears.
“What.” I slowly started to grind my back teeth together.
“She said La’Nova in Vegas.”
My stomach dropped.
“She protected by the Reyes.”
Something inside my ribs twisted violently, making it hard for me to take my next breath.
“She pregnant,” Roy whispered the last part, looking away from me.
My world stopped, I blinked a couple times and thought maybe I heard him wrong.
“She what?” I frowned, finally blinking like I didn’t hear Roy correctly.
Maybe I didn’t hear him correctly at all.
“She pregnant in Vegas, protected by that flamboyant nigga Balani.” He didn’t cushion it nor try to make the blow softer which was appreciated, we didn’t candy coat shit.
My stomach clenched so hard it felt like something sharp kept scraping and stabbing my insides over and over.