Chapter twenty five
Nadia
On the extremely rare occasion, and I’m talking once in a generation, that a meeting between the leaders was called, usually it was the leader and one other member who were allowed to show up.
It was a no-holds-barred thing, since none of the leaders wanted to show up without their weapons, and there was no one unbiased and trustworthy enough to check and hold everyone’s stash.
Pop’s told us stories of these meetings ending in shootouts and bloodshed.
I was curious to see what would happen today.
He opted to lean on the wall right next to the door, and I did the same.
That way we had a clear view of everyone who entered, no one could shoot us from behind, and we had ample range to quickly access our weapons.
Hattori Sr. and Dion arrived not ten minutes after. They sat on the opposite side of the room, in direct view of Pop and me, and moved their chairs so that the backs were to the wall.
“Clive.” Hattori Sr. tips his chin down.
“Naoya.” Pop responds.
“Nadia Slade. Home, at last.” Hattori Sr. looks at me.
“We finally meet,” I replied.
“I hear you are vying for the same title as my son.”
“It was mine first.” My eyes narrow.
“But yours no more,” Dion smirks at his father’s obvious dig. That’s when Riven, accompanied by both Shane and Hatchie, struts in.
“Because there is a new king and he is late to the very meeting he called.” All of his attention is on Riven now.
Hattori Sr. is an imposing man. He stands probably 5’11’’, with brown eyes, a full head of grey hair that touches his shoulder, and a clean-shaven face. You wouldn’t know he’s a gangster from the way he’s dressed in his loose beige button-down, black suit with leather inserts, and boots.
“That was my fault.” Cordelia Barrett steps in and closes the door. The thud of an ominous striking of the gavel signals the start of this meeting.
“Breaking rules, are we? First with your leader interfering with the race, now having four phantoms to two Kingsmen and LBC.” Dion sneers.
“Her car was sabotaged. I saved us all the headache of having to repeat the race.” Riven glares right back.
“Nadia. Is this true?” Hattori Sr. asks, and all eyes turn to me.
“Yes.” I’m looking at Riven when I confirm, but he quickly looks away.
“Hmm.” He rubs his chin.
“I see no issues with his actions.” Pop cuts in.
“Of course you wouldn’t.” Dion spits.
“You were well over the line when he interfered; this doesn’t concern you.” I refute.
“Oh, but it does. If he hadn’t-”
“Enough.” Hattori Sr halts his wayward son with a single gesture.
“I, too, have no issues with this matter. Nor do I particularly care that there are four Phantoms present when precedent says there should only be two.”
His words are a sword that cut the legs off Dion’s whole argument. Even his own father wouldn’t side with him. Pity. Like a good boy, Dion leans back in his seat, crossing his arms and shutting his mouth.
“That’s great.” Pop claps.
“What I wanna know is why the fuck this meeting was called?” He glances pointedly at Riven.
“It has come to my attention that the Kingsmen have been trespassing on the South side.” He reveals.
This wasn’t news to me. When I told Pop about the meeting, he informed me that this was likely what this was about. He’d been keeping tabs on the situation and had a real fucking problem with it, but he wanted to keep his cards to himself for a little while longer.
Guess the cat’s outta the bag now.
“What do you have to say for yourself ?” Delia directs the question at Naoya.
“How can one trespass on unclaimed territory?” He contends.
“That’s your defense?” Delia looks offended.
“I have no reason to defend my actions, Cordelia .” He continues.
“The South side is a wasteland that has been sitting there for 24 years. I see no reason not to repurpose the land.”
His expression is aghast, like the entire idea of not reclaiming the land, of being put on trial for his efforts to do just that, is preposterous.
I have no idea how someone so well-spoken, so eloquent and sophisticated, can be a gang leader.
He could’ve been an especially corrupt politician if he chose to.
“I see a reason: you made an agreement that you wouldn’t,” Delia answers with exasperation and anger.
“You and Clive came to a temporary alliance and scorched the South side. Killed as many Scorpions as you desired and had the others running with their tails between their legs. That’s when I called a meeting where the three of us settled this dispute.
I remember it, clear as day. The three of us would put this matter behind us, so long as the South side remained untouched.
” She ambles closer and closer, til she’s standing right in front of Naoya.
“You are violating -” She leans down, hands on the desk, and looks him dead in the eye. “-that agreement.”
“Tearing down old buildings, making new ones, storing those weapons you guys are trying to distribute for the Italians.” Riven lists off, leaning against the teacher’s desk and crossing his ankles.
Where did the Kingsmen get the money to do all this? Construction is not cheap; I would know. The only reason I was able to build the Daredevil in the first place was that Pop had a connection and we made a deal. Drugs and protections for equipment.
Surely the Outfit wasn’t funding this? This was an endeavor that would cost them more than they would stand to make in the long run. And being affiliated with the Kingsmen was cheap labor to them; they didn’t really need them when it came down to it. What the hell was going on?
It’s been bothering me since Pop told me about this.
The Kingsmen were based on the North side, meaning they shared no borders with the South.
To do whatever business they were running over there was just more time and effort.
That they’d been there and evaded the Phantoms and LBC for this long in and of itself was an impressive feat.
“Sounds to me like you got some big plans,” Riven smirks, adding fuel to the fire.
“Sounds like he has some big secrets,” Shane adds.
“Sounds like he has some explaining to do.” Hatchie sits backward on a chair, his grin maniacal.
“Alliances are temporary. Agreements don’t last. The last one didn’t either. It was a mistake to leave the South side untouched. A mistake I am going to rectify.” Hattori Sr. remains unruffled, dismissive as if what he’s saying is obvious.
“No, what was a mistake was allowing a parasite like you to poison our garden.” Delia pushes away, stalking back to her corner.
“Same old, Cordelia. Can never have a conversation with her unless she’s hurling insults. You dodged a bullet, Clive.” The Kingsmen patriarch smirks.
“Watch your mouth.” Pop smirks right back, not bothering to hide the lethal bloodthirst lurking inside him.
The room devolves into anarchy after that, shouts and threats being hurled at one another. Chaos once again prevailing over order. Isn’t that the Stonebridge way? But I’m no longer paying attention. Because something isn’t adding up.
Alliances are temporary. Agreements don’t last. The last one didn’t either.
Last one? There was no “last one”. The only agreement I have ever heard of between the gangs of Stonebridge was the one between Pop, Delia, and Naoya.
We’re too much at each other’s throats for any of us to agree on something.
Just look at what happened today. What did he mean?
Deals get broken? That would be true; deals are broken all the time around here.
The last one? There was no last one. Not unless-
Not unless this had all happened before.
There was an agreement before the one to leave the South Side alone.
One no one talks about, and it didn’t hold either.
So, who were those agreements made with?
And why the hell would Naoya Hattori implant and not someone who was born here or knows the history, knows about such a deal?
Why would Pop not know? Not a thing happens in Stonebridge without him knowing.
You dodged a bullet, Clive.
Fucking hell. He knows about Pop and Cordelia.
Of course he would; Pop and he agreed together to scorch the South Side.
But no, he wouldn’t. He shouldn’t fucking know about the two of them.
Pop hasn’t told a single goddamn person apart from me.
He hasn’t even told Abigail, so why the hell would he tell Naoya Hattori?
No, all he should know is that the Scorpions killed Callahan, but it’s pretty clear he’s aware of a lot more. My phone is already out, texting Deck in a second. I have to leave now , but I wouldn’t dare leave Pop on his own in a snake pit.
I don’t say another word and spare anyone a single glance when Deck finally arrives. We switch places and I’m hightailing it out of the high school. There’s something I’m missing, a key part of the story that’s right there; I can feel it. But what the fuck am I looking for and where do I find it?
I stop on the sidewalk and breathe. I need a clear head to figure this out, and there’s too much spinning in my goddamn mind. From Riven, to Pop, to Naoya, it’s all too much.
“Think, goddamit, think.” If Anton could see me now, what a disgrace I’ve become. The thought brings a smile to my face.
Analyzing my surroundings, I search aimlessly, as if any one of these bricks or patches of concrete holds the answer. My eyes catch the gothic structure towering a few blocks away.
Brick and concrete may not have the answer, but stone certainly will.