14. Coen #2
“Get your shit together if you want to be taken seriously,” I tell them both. “Enter!” I call out toward the door.
A young guy walks into the room, about medium build, not much to him. A baby face and a stone-cold stare. Yeah, he’s definitely been in this world long enough to have the light stolen from him.
The meeting was scheduled to be with Johnny Jones, but this is his advisor, Miller.
With my hand outstretched, I stalk toward him. “Afternoon. When should we expect Mr. Jones?”
Miller shakes my hand, firmer than I anticipated him to. “You won’t. He’s occupied with other business. You’ll be dealing directly with me.”
Dominic stands but doesn’t come any closer. “This isn’t what we agreed to.”
"This is what you'll have to accept because Johnny is away on other business.
" Miller doesn't back down despite Dominic easily doubling him pound for pound.
"With all due respect, Mr. Adler, I've been with Luciano since a young age.
I know the ins and outs of the organization better than anyone alive, and there isn't a person more capable of handling today's affairs than I am.
Now, with that being said, shall I leave, or can we continue? "
Dominic chuckles. “Audacious young lad, are we?”
"Please don't insult my intelligence because of whatever biased impression you have of me based on my age and appearance.
The late Luciano and I ran a successful operation with next to no issues for many years until your predecessor came to kill his own flesh and blood.
" Miller stares directly at Dominic with each word.
"I don't question the way you run things, now I'd appreciate you doing the same. "
Bryant finally rises from his seat and walks over to Miller. “We’ve spoken before.” He extends his hand. “Magnus Bryant. At your service.”
"Miller Rossi." Miller grips Bryant's hand and then extends it to mine. "Coen Hayes." And then turns toward Dom. "Mr. Adler."
Dominic hesitates but takes the young man’s hand.
“Alright then,” Miller announces. “Let’s cut right to it.” He claims a seat and sits in it without asking permission.
I kind of appreciate the balls on this kid.
"I believe we have a common enemy." Miller glances between us.
"We can talk shop all day long until our faces are blue, but I think we should focus on the core issue here.
I did some digging and found your profit margins are down, did a little more digging and uncovered you're having some transit issues. "
Dominic clenches his hand into a fist. “Who?”
Miller shakes his head. “You’re asking the wrong question, Mr. Adler.”
I sigh and take the bait. “Why are our profit margins important to you?”
“Yes, thank you, Mr. Hayes. Great point you bring up.” Miller taps the manila folder he sat down on the desk in front of him. “Because ours are, too. And if I’m not mistaken, whoever is attacking your business is also after ours.”
But that’s impossible, isn’t it? I thought ours was a personal attack.
I catch Bryant’s stare and feel Dom’s boring into me. All of us thinking the same fucking thing.
“Whoever is targeting us…” Miller folds his hands together on the table.
“Is on the inside. Deep inside. Someone who knows both of our operations well enough to make this happen. Someone with connections on both the east and west coast. Someone who can pull strings from wherever they are. And someone who can do so completely undetected.”
Everything he’s saying makes complete sense, but how does that connect to June? What angle would this person be playing that they would involve the east coast syndicate? Is it a ruse to confuse us and get us off their trail?
“I’m going to need to see proof,” Dominic finally says. “Are those your records?”
Miller slides them across the table. “See for yourself. I have nothing to hide. Our numbers have been down for six months. Slow at first. Then the attacks started hitting heavier about a month ago. We’re not just losing product, but we’re losing men, too.
And that’s not something that I, or Johnny, will stand for.
That is not the legacy that Luciano left behind. ”
Dominic studies the paperwork then looks up at Miller. “Who do you think it is?”
Miller shrugs. "That's what I'm here for. To figure it out. To cross-examine every piece of data we have and see if a pattern shows up. If we can identify that, I think we can solve this mystery once and for all."
"I'm following up on a few leads," Dominic tells him. "We have a small team canvassing, and I've brought Lorenzo Savini on board."
“He’s a great asset.” Miller nods and continues.
“As do we. Along with myself, Johnny, and a couple trusted assets, we’ve been chasing every possible lead.
His wife, Claire, is tracking down a source as we speak, and their close friend and business partner Josey Romano is assisting her. I believe you may know him.”
I run his name through my head, considering where I may have heard it before. “Wait, he works for Johnny? I thought…”
“Yes, he was a former associate of Franklin Sharp. Now he works with us on the east coast.”
“Hold on,” Bryant chimes in. “Johnny’s wife is involved?”
“Very much so,” Miller confirms. “She’s an invaluable asset to the organization.”
Bryant narrows his gaze at me and then Dom. “See.”
“With her being so…hands on.” Dominic repositions himself in his seat. “Have there ever been instances, and forgive me for being so specific, where she has been kidnapped?”
Miller doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Lately?”
"No, not since the fallout. Franklin was the one who ordered the hit."
“Why?” Dominic asks him.
“Because Johnny had done something that no one else except his brother had done before. He outsmarted him. I’m sure you heard all about this on your end.”
“Yes, we have heard rumors of what happened.” Dom rubs at his beard.
“It was my understanding there was a longtime feud between brothers. That came to a head, both dying at the hands of each other. If I’m being honest, things have been so chaotic in the fallout that the specific details have been lost in the shuffle. ”
“It’s a much longer story than I bargained to tell, but the importance of it is not relevant today. Perhaps another time I will correct the erroneous details.”
“Dominic has a point,” I tell them.
Dom looks at me with a tilt of his head and a warning stare.
“I’m sure you heard of the council meeting where Dom was crowned the successor of the west coast.”
“Hayes,” Dominic says with a quiet but vicious urgency.
“Let him talk, Dom,” Bryant interjects.
Miller remains focused on me, not paying much attention to either of the other two men in this room. The kid has the ability to stay completely stoic in the face of danger.
“Our partner took a bullet that day. She almost died.
And that wasn't the first time her life was in peril.
A few weeks prior to that, she was abducted, tortured, and had she not gotten away, I don't think she would be here with us.
" I focus on each word and do my best to continue.
"We were under the impression it was ordered by our enemy, our competition.
But upon him finding out what happened to her, he tracked them down and brought her attacker to justice. We witnessed it with our own eyes.
"We continued a cease-fire until we eliminated what we thought was the group of people responsible for the attack—another faction that was trying to gain control over who won at that council meeting.
But threats have been coming in from time to time, threats against her life.
Very specific threats left at these transit sites that have been seized.
They point directly at this person from before, the one we were sure we had purged. "
Miller blinks a few times like he’s processing the information. “And you’re sure it’s not a copycat, someone just picking up where the other left off?”
“We aren’t sure of anything, other than these things are tied together, and that she isn’t safe.”
“This information cannot circulate.” Dominic stares right at Miller.
“Understood.” Miller sighs, something weighing on him. “I have something I’d like to share, too.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a slip of paper. He slides it across the table to Dominic. “This was at the last cargo van that was compromised.”
I walk over and stand behind Dom to get a better look. Bryant joins me.
Dominic clears his throat and reads the paper. “You took what is mine, now I will take what is yours.” We all turn to Miller.
“What does this mean?” I ask him.
Miller shakes his head slowly. “I have no idea; I was hoping you could tell me.”
Dominic and I ride across town to one of the warehouses on the outskirts of town. A run-down old thing that doesn't have much security or prying eyes—a perfect place for pickups and drop-offs.
As much as he insisted to be a part of this stupid fucking mission, I was even more persistent in demanding that I go with him. He needs backup, and if he isn't willing to bring one of our men, there isn't anyone more suited to be at his side than me.
Bryant and I played rock paper scissors to determine which of us would go, but even if he had won, I’d have hogtied him and left him with no choice.
If something happens to me or Dominic, I want Bryant to be the one to comfort June.
He’ll know what to say and how to handle the situation, and he’ll provide her more stability than I ever could.
I hate admitting someone else is more capable of being the man she needs, but when it comes to her heart, I cannot be selfish.
I never have been, and I never will be. For her, she deserves the whole fucking world.
And that’s exactly what she will get—even if I’m not the one to give it to her.
If Dominic didn’t agree, he wouldn’t be so carelessly risking his life.
We pull into the parking lot, dust picking up in our wake, and park near the white panel van we’re taking on the route.