Chapter 30 Teo
thirty
Teo
“The Miami shipment’s been sitting here for four days,” Sophia said without looking up from her cell phone, her voice carrying across the dock with the kind of authority that made grown men stop what they were doing and listen.
She sighed at whatever message she’d just read, then slipped the phone into her jacket pocket.
“Gianni’s people were supposed to clear it through their routes, but half his men have gone rogue since Isabella.
They don’t trust the Vitale name can keep them protected any longer.
And the other half is too scared to make any kinda moves. Ugh… she really fucked up everything.”
She tipped her head back, exhaling at the sky, truly upset by the damage her childhood friend had caused.
There was a deep sense of guilt that my sister had been trying to overcome ever since she realized her friend was actively trying to start a war and our family was right in the center.
Now, with Isabella dead, her guilt had morphed into this relentless drive to prove herself, as if her childhood friendship had somehow made her complicit.
It hadn’t, which was something I’d already told her numerous times.
Isabella was her own downfall. She made her choices and suffered the ultimate consequences.
Her death. Now her legacy and her family’s legacy is forever tarnished.
Approaching the stack of containers, running my hand along the cold metal edge, I told her, “She made her play and lost. Simple as that. I’m not losing any sleep over her ass and neither should you.
” I told her matter of factly, as I popped the lid on one of the barrels lined against the wall, taking in the all-white bricks arranged compactly in the tight space.
There were at least two hundred kilos in this shipment, along with some pills, and a crate full of firearms. I was losing mad money over this shit, though.
“We’re bleeding money. That’s what we need to focus on. How much is this costing us?”
“Twenty grand a day in storage fees, which we’ve been covering since it’s just been sitting here. Roughly a hundred grand every day it’s not on the streets. Not to mention we’re paying for the workers.” She gestured toward a cluster of people unloading crates nearby.
I watched the crew move around us, each one acknowledging me with a respectful nod but never stopping their tasks.
My operation was a well-oiled machine. I’d supply the infrastructure for people’s shipments, and I’d get a twenty percent cut of their profits, since I was the one assuming all the risk.
But the shit wasn’t doing me any good if his dope was sitting here in my port, and I was footing the bill.
The math didn’t lie. Almost half a million dollars in four days and closer to a million if it spilled into next week.
And that was just one shipment. Gianni had several shipments in and out of my port because I provided the most security, the best protection money could buy, and the safest routes for getting product out of the city.
Yet, he was being reckless, not handling his shit and it was pissing me off the more I thought about it.
“Move this shit,” I ordered. “All of it. Find a way to get it to Harlen’s crew out in Jersey.
They’re always looking for supply. We can’t afford to let this sit here any longer.
We’re cutting our losses and ties with Gianni.
If Harlen can’t take it, cut some deals.
Put an ambitious young nigga on. I don’t care, just get rid of it. And fast.”
Gianni knew the rules. Abandoned shipments became my shipments.
Late pickups was understandable one time, maybe even twice.
But multiple times… nah, that shit was inexcusable.
It showed a lack of respect for me, my operation, and my money.
I understand he was still coming to terms with the loss of his daughter, and probably was struggling to keep his business afloat, but that didn’t change the fact that his neglect was costing me a fortune.
“We’re not accepting any more Vitale shipments.” My tone was final and Sophia’s chin dipped, acknowledging my decision. I didn’t even have to look at her to know she agreed with my stance.
Another vibration from her jacket pocket had her reaching for her phone again. Her jaw tightened as she scrolled through her messages.
“I need to take care of something once we’re finished here,” she deadpanned, her fingers moving rapidly over the keyboard on her cell. Her expression darkened with every word she typed.
“Everything good?”
“Yeah, nothing I can’t handle.” She grunted, shaking her head. “Niggas think I’m some kind of joke... that’s all.”
The slight smirk that crossed my face wasn’t intentional, but I couldn’t help it. My sister was a force and whoever pissed her off was about to get a very rude awakening. She was just as made as any of the men. You had to be in this family.
“Well, before you go on your one-woman crusade, Bash and I need to holla at you about something important.”
Sophia’s eyes flicked from her phone to the workers still moving around us, then settled on something beyond my shoulder. She tucked the device into her back pocket.
“I was wondering what he was doing here.” Her eyes settled on my brother-in-law and his men filing out of their vehicles right outside the bay door. “Thought he was still cleaning up the mess in Atlanta.”
“Shit, he is. But this is pressing and can’t really wait.”
Her eyes met mine, with a flicker of concern. “The meeting?” Her brows pulled tight as the pieces clicked.
“Yeah,” I acknowledged, closing the containers and walking toward the group of men heading toward the warehouse. “You’re gonna handle something for us.”
All of the power players and decision makers in the faction met earlier in the day to discuss the free-for-all Isabella had caused.
Especially in the north. Her moves disrupted the delicate balance, where everyone stayed in their respective lanes.
With the oldest traditional family losing their leader, Don Ricci, his territories had been in complete chaos.
My focus had been on keeping my wife protected, and Gianni had lost complete control over his family.
Shit had been wild, and it was spilling into the way we operate and coexist with each other.
It wasn’t good for business.
The vote was to determine Gianni’s fate, then decide how to handle his territories. The decision to task Sophia with finding a suitable replacement for Gianni’s operation wasn’t a decision taken lightly. This could very well start another war.
But, war was easy. Restoring and then maintaining peace was a far more delicate endeavor.
We needed someone who could navigate this world with finesse, and perhaps a woman’s touch.
It also had to be someone who had the time to dedicate to searching for the right person who also wasn’t easily intimidated.
My sister was all of that. She had been proving herself for years, quietly earning respect from every family in our network.
I had no doubt she could find someone to fill a void that would soon be left by the Vitales.
Now it was time to make it official, the first order of business for the faction under our new leadership.
We all moved toward the office building, Bash finally meeting us at the entry with his gang of security. He dapped me up, then pulled Sophia into his embrace. “What’s good girl? It’s been a minute. Since the wedding, right?”
“Yeah, way too long. How you been holding up?” she asked genuinely as we continued to somewhere more secure, and out of reach of prying eyes and ears.
Bash and Sophia’s voices faded to a murmur as my attention shifted. “Lock this area down. Family only.” I told the nearest person, who nodded and began instructing the other men to secure the perimeter.
A buzz from my phone prompted me to pause before entering the medium-sized office. Yanna’s name on the screen made me smile.
Yanna: Meeting went great! Supplier has everything I need for the self-care section.
Me: That’s what’s up. When did he say they could deliver the first batch?
I finished typing my message and dimmed the light on my phone, before shoving the device in my pocket.
Pushing open the door, I stepped into the room where Bash and Sophia had slipped into a conversation about ways he could save money.
It was her specialty. Everyone that knew her, always found a way to pick her brain on cutting costs. She was the best in the business.
Before the door was fully shut all the way, another message from Yanna came in. Glancing at my screen, I smiled, happy that she was able to work on her boutique while we dealt with Gianni.
Yanna: As early as next week.
Me: Damn… that fast? I thought you said he was booked for the month.
Yanna: I did. LOL.. but I guess being a Donatelli has it’s perks.
Me: As you found out this morning.
Yanna: And did.
A loud laugh escaped me, and two pairs of eyes landed on me.
Bash shook his head with a knowing grin while Sophia only smiled knowing it could only be one person bringing a genuine smile to my face.
But, their stares also made me realize, I needed to get this situation handled.
Everyone’s time was money. Reluctantly, I sent Yanna a text letting her know how much I loved her and would call her later.
Right now, I needed to ensure I could keep my promise to Yanna.
She hated being under heavy security and not able to move freely. And I wanted to make my wife happy. Dealing with Gianni once and for all, would make sure she felt safe.
Me: I am proud of you. How about you let me take you to dinner? I’ll call with the details after this meeting with your brother and Sophia.
Yanna: Yeah, I’ll like that.
Me: Cool. I’ll talk to you in a few. I love you.
Yanna: Love you too.