10. Alek #3
Damn, betrayed by my own country…
I watch as he unlocks the first chest and slowly opens the lid. I know what’s inside the second I can see. He doesn’t even need to tell me, but he does. I barely listen as he talks, taking in how many are there, trying to calculate in my head.
In that chest are at least a dozen semi-automatic rifles. All in pristine condition, likely never used before.
“You can imagine what is in this second chest, can’t you? Or do I need to open this one too?” Matteo asks me.
I shake my head. “I get the picture,” I reply. “Must have cost you a fortune.”
“Oh, it did. Which is why we need to make a deal with Don Bianchi,” he tells me. “Not just for our weapons, but for his money. Our help doesn’t come free, you see.” Matteo pulls out one of the guns and shoves it to my chest.
I look over it, ensuring it’s in the condition I think it is. Checking the barrel and the chamber. It feels good in my hands, not as good as my own gun…but pretty damn good. It would be a shame to have these guns in the hands of the Carvels and the Bianchis for too long.
“Solid. Definitely came from Russia,” I say with a smirk. If only he knew the man he’s talking to did too.
“So, do we have an understanding?”
I tilt my head to the side and look down at the rest of the guns. “We have an understanding.” I reach my hand out and shake his. The feeling of his hand in mine makes my shoulders tense and my body wants to recoil, but I keep my calm.
“You saw the guns?” Stephan asks me as we all stand in his office. Butch, Dante, Lucas, Matteo, and me.
It’s frankly crowded in here.
“I did. They’re in exactly the shape he says they are. About two dozen of them,” I explain.
“The finest weapons from Russia, and you know they do their arms right,” Matteo says with a charming grin and sits down in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
Stephan eyes him and then looks back to me and Butch. “I trust you wouldn’t have brought them here if you didn’t think a deal was…valuable to both sides,” he says.
I nod my head slowly. Butch ends up speaking for me.
“I don’t know if I trust them completely, no offense, but they could come in handy going against the Dresvannis for damn sure.”
Stephan chuckles softly and folds his hands on the desk. “Well, I guess we’d better talk a deal then. What is it you’re offering exactly?”
“All twenty-four of the guns, twelve of our men,” Matteo says. “We don’t have very many men to offer you, but what we have…they’re yours until you don’t need them anymore.”
I bite on the inside of my cheek. Even twelve more men is enough to cause a problem with the Dresvannis. Even if they’re from the Carvels—not exactly the best men on the streets. We can take them down, but with the arms included it’ll be one hell of a fight.
I try not to look distracted, while also keeping a note in my head of what I need to bring back to Tommy.
“That’s a mighty fine offering,” Stephan says slowly. “What’s the price?”
Matteo chuckles and looks at Lucas for a second who smiles in return.
“It’s nothing much,” Lucas insists for his brother.
Stephan opens one of the drawers of his desk and pulls out a pen and paper and slides it across the desktop.
I watch as Matteo grabs the pen and clicks it several times. He seems to be hesitating.
“Get it over with, Carvel,” Stephan orders him. “I don’t have all day.”
He actually does have all day, there’s nothing else for him to do today except meet with the Carvels and figure out his next step with the Dresvannis. Since kidnapping Carmine didn’t exactly go as planned.
I fold my arms and tilt my head as I watch Matteo write down a number. My eyes widen slightly as I see that number.
One million dollars.
He slides the pad back to Stephan.
Stephan looks at it, then back up to Matteo, then back to me.
“You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?” he asks. “One mill for twenty-four guns and twelve guys?”
“They’re skilled marksmen, Stephan,” Matteo says. I know he’s lying. I’ve looked up every single one of their men, and the Bianchis’ men, and if they’re skilled marksmen, well then… I’m the fucking president of the USA.
“Doubtful,” I say brashly. “What are their body counts?” I ask.
Matteo stutters. “Higher than either of you can count, believe me,” he insists. “It’s worth it, Bianchi. Worth every penny to get back at the Dresvsannis.”
“How exactly do you think we’re going to do that?” Dante asks curiously. “What do you picture as taking them out?”
Matteo grins and the sight makes me sick to my stomach. Not as much as the words that come out of his mouth.
“We’ll take down each and every one of those brothers,” he says. “That way there’s no one to take control of the situation and no one to fight against. Just some poor lackies looking for someone to follow. They’ll fall right into our—I mean, your, hands.”
Stephan smiles at him. “Boy, you’re sayin’ exactly what I need to hear,” he tells him. “I don’t want a single one of those brothers left alive when we’re through with them. Not just Carmine, but all of them.”
I’d say that I can’t believe Stephan is really falling for this crap, but…I can. He’s blood thirsty, and he’s only interested in taking down his enemies, no matter what it costs him.
“We can do that whether or not we have their help,” I remind him. “I’ll see to that.”
“That we can,” Stephan agrees. “Which is why including the Carvels will only make us stronger.”
He looks down at the notepad again, and then stands up from his chair.
“You’ve got a deal, Mr. Carvel.”