Chapter 26 #2
Zeke shrugged. “You wanna fuckin’ feel me up, have at it. Just note, I ain’t into guys.”
Since that didn’t rattle the Mafia goon, the man went ahead and checked Zeke’s person as thoroughly as if he was a pig, even around his dick.
Thank fuck he didn’t find any of the hidden knives. Though, that didn’t give Zeke much assurance since he had no doubt he’d be outnumbered inside.
The Sicilian tipped his head toward the side of the building. “This way.”
“Lead the way.”
With a shake of his head, the man pointed and said, “Go.”
Arguing with him would just waste more time, so Zeke went. “My kid better be in one piece and not have a fuckin’ scratch.”
“He’s alive and well, as you’ll see for yourself in a minute.”
Once Zeke entered through a steel fire door at the back corner of the warehouse, it took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darker, windowless interior. After they did, he saw the man wasn’t lying.
One corner of the warehouse was set up like a makeshift sitting area. And in that area was a couch. Sitting on that couch was his fucking kid with a bag of candy on his lap and, from what it sounded like, he was watching some kind of cartoon on a tablet.
What the actual fuck?
Either his kid was a mini badass or completely clueless. He hoped it was the first. “You good, lil dude?”
Ledger glanced over, shot him a smile and a nod, then turned his eyes back to whatever he was watching and shoved another handful of colorful jelly beans into his trap.
For fuck’s sake. He acted like he didn’t have a fucking care in the world. He took that to mean his son was unharmed.
And definitely not traumatized. Thank fuck.
However, his mother was going to be fucking pissed. Not only because Ledger got snagged, but from the resulting sugar high.
Zeke turned his attention to another suit-wearing, olive-skinned man sitting in a chair behind a metal desk with his fingers steepled in front of his face.
What kind of place was this?
While this whole set-up was in one corner of the huge warehouse, the rest of it was blocked by blue plastic curtains hanging from tracks attached to the ceiling, so he had no idea what took up the rest of the hidden space.
Zeke could guess it wasn’t anything legal.
When the man’s hands dropped, he said, “As you see, Ledger is fine. We aren’t in the business of hurting children. We only wanted a sit-down.”
“That’s a fucked up way of askin’ for a meet. Coulda simply fuckin’ asked for a sit-down. No reason to put your fuckin’ hands on my boy for that.”
Zeke kept his fists pinned to his thighs so he wouldn’t launch himself at that cocky motherfucker and get shot dead in front of his son by the six goons circling them.
“We wanted to make sure you took this seriously.”
“Again, no reason to take my fuckin’ boy.”
“Got your attention, didn’t it?”
It also got them a lifetime of hatred and revenge.
“Take a seat.” The man in charge tipped his head toward one of the matching chairs in front of the desk.
“Don’t plan on bein’ here that fuckin’ long. Just here to collect my son.”
“Take a seat.” It was an order, not a strongly-worded suggestion.
At least sitting would make reaching for the knife in his boot easier. He sat, doing the biggest man-spread he could manage.
He wanted to show this asshole who had bigger balls.
The fuck if it was La Cosa Nostra. Hell no.
“I’m Francisco Russo the Third.”
“And I’m fuckin’ pissed.”
Russo kept talking over him. “As I’m sure you’re aware, we previously had a deal with your counterparts.”
“Ain’t our fuckin’ counterparts.” Because the only counterparts his club had were the Fury and the Knights and neither had ever been in bed with the Sicilian Mob.
In fact, no one with a fucking brain got involved with an organization like them.
“Unfortunately, the Demons got a bit sloppy, as well as greedy, which caused their demise.”
“Don’t give a fuck. What’s this gotta do with the Angels?”
“I understand you biker-types are pretty territorial.”
Zeke’s eyebrows shot upward. “You mean like the fuckin’ mob?”
Zeke had to hand it to the guy, he had a knack for keeping his cool. He was able to ignore digs and stay on point.
“I want to inform you that the Twisted Souls are taking over the Demons’ old territory.”
“Already aware of that. Still no reason to use my boy as goddamn bait.”
“I brought you here to ask you to be a good neighbor.”
Of fucking course he did. “Can ask, but that don’t mean we’re gonna comply. Takin’ this to mean the Souls are gonna be your new bitches.” Now it made sense why they were taking over the Demons’ territory.
Russo sat back and studied Zeke. “Would your crew be interested instead?”
“My crew?”
“That gang of yours.”
“Only goddamn gang members in this room are yours.”
Russo released a soft chuckle. “That’s right. The word on the street is the Angels are just that: Angels.”
Was the fucker trying to get Zeke to launch himself across that fucking desk? Because he was only a cunt hair away from doing just that. “You forget the most important fuckin’ part.”
A single black eyebrow rose. “What part’s that?”
“The dirty part.”
That fucker’s smile was smarmy when he murmured, “That’s quite amusing.”
Zeke pulled in a breath and gripped the chair’s arms to keep his ass in the seat.
He needed to remember he was outnumbered and his son wasn’t far away. While Ledger might not seem traumatized from being snatched, he certainly would be if he saw his father beaten to within an inch of his life or simply shot dead in front of him.
And if that happened and Zeke somehow survived, Kyra would probably finish the job.
Russo placed his palms flat on the empty desk, spread his fingers wide, and leaned forward, the amusement long gone from his expression.
“Since you’re not interested in partnering with us, here’s the deal: the Twisted Souls will be running product through your territory and you’ll let them do it without any interference. ”
This fucker didn’t get to call the shots when it came to the DAMC and what belonged to them. “Fuck that.”
“You must’ve missed that it wasn’t a request.”
“Thought the DEA, ATF, and the rest of those alphabet pigs shut that cartel down?”
One greasy motherfucker behind him laughed while the rest in Zeke’s eyesight kept their expressions blank. Including the one sitting across the desk from him. “You’re na?ve if you think only one cartel exists in the entire western hemisphere.”
“Wouldn’t fuckin’ know since I don’t subscribe to The Cartel Quarterly.”
Goddamn. Zeke needed to take lessons from this motherfucker on how to keep his cool. No amount of taunting caused him to lose his temper.
“We’re businessmen. To remain successful, we know how to pivot.
When one door closes, another one always opens.
And if one doesn’t, you make your own opening.
” He tipped his head to the side. “I’ll make myself clear.
You will allow the Souls to travel unimpeded through your area or we’ll be slamming your club’s door shut and sealing it permanently. ”
Oh yeah, Zeke needed some major lessons on keeping his temper. Because it was getting ready to boil over. “Sounds like a fuckin’ threat.”
Russo sat back and steepled his fingers again, appearing unbothered. “It was meant to be.”
“Ain’t interested in that deal ‘cause it ain’t one where we’d benefit.”
“What would get you to comply?”
“Nothin’. Never allowed other fuckin’ clubs to run drugs or guns through Shadow Valley or the area we control surroundin’ it.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Zeke gritted his teeth.
The smug bastard turned his gaze toward Ledger. “You should be proud. You’ve got quite the handsome boy there. He looks just like his daddy. Would be a damn shame if that changed.”
Ice slithered down Zeke’s spine. “You threatenin’ my boy?”
“I’m threatening you. All you need to do is leave the Souls alone when they’re traveling through your area. It’s not a difficult ask. And you Angels won’t need to dirty your wings.”
“It’s also not an ask.”
One side of Russo’s mouth pulled up. “No, it isn’t. Glad we could come to an agreement. Now, I have other important business to attend to. Take your son and leave. While you still can.”