Chapter 38
Max
This asshole’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
For the past two weeks, I’ve walked around unscathed and unbothered. Now, when I’m out with my cousin and my girl, they want to show their faces.
“Go back to the table, ladies,” Adrian commanded.
“Are there eyes out front?” I asked.
“I’ve always got eyes on my wife.” He turned his head to nod at the girls who were still lingering behind us. “Go.”
Audrey was clutching Kiara’s arm and hand, eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. Her gaze bounced between the guy pinned to the wall and me, filling with a million questions.
“Come on,” Kiara told her, gently tugging her along.
Audrey followed her lead, but kept looking over her shoulder, likely convincing herself what she was seeing was real.
Adrian pulled the man off the wall and pushed him down the hall towards the back door.
I tightened my grip on Carter and followed him out to the back alley way near the dumpsters.
Adrian tossed his man on the ground. He stepped on the man’s arm, pinning it to the ground, as he pulled his gun out of his waistband. Without hesitation, he aimed the gun and sent a bullet straight through the man’s hand.
The man screamed in agony.
“Shut the fuck up,” Adrian spat as he kicked the man straight in the face. “Be grateful it was your hand and not your stupid ass skull.”
Turning around, he yanked Carter out of my grasp and shoved him up against the wall. He pushed the mouth of the gun up underneath his chin, pushing his gaze to the sky. “And you - the fuck does your boss want with my cousin?”
“I’m only supposed to discuss it with-” He choked on his words as Adrian’s hand tightened around his neck, cutting off his airflow.
“That’s not what I asked you.”
I raised a brow, but I didn’t dare intervene.
I always knew my cousin had a short fuse.
Back then, we were just too young to see how big of an explosion he could make.
Seeing him now, eyes ablaze and gun cocked, helped me understand the eggshells his men usually walked on around him and his siblings.
“My boss…he…he wants to talk…” Carter struggled to speak, gasping for air with every word.
“There’s no ‘talking’ in this world. The fuck does he really want?”
“I’m…I’m serious. Out of…respect…for his father.”
Adrian’s mouth curled in disbelief. “Who’s his boss?” He directed the question at me.
“Elias Blackwell: head of one of the gangs on the south side. His boys run some of our families’ products.”
“Hm.” He finally lowered his gun from the man’s chin. “We’re not on his time. If he wants to talk, he can come to us. Max, you got a place?”
“Warehouse on 60th and Wallard.”
Adrian released his grip on Carter’s neck and shoved him towards his fallen partner. “Tell his ass to be there within the next hour.”
Coughing and gasping for air, Carter stumbled towards his partner, still nursing his bleeding hand, and helped him up.
As they hurried off, we went through the back door and into the restaurant. Back inside, the hum of the restaurant felt a world away from what had just gone down. We made a beeline for our table where the girls were still sitting with noticeable creases between their brows.
“Come on,” Adrian told Kiara. He grabbed her hand and helped her out of the booth. “We’re leaving.”
“What? Why?” Audrey asked. She scooted out and grabbed my outstretched hand. “Max, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain later,” I promised as we shuffled behind Adrian and Kiara.
I led her through the doors and followed my cousin across the street towards one of the black SUVs waiting there.
“The driver is going to take you back to my place,” I told her as I opened the other passenger door and helped her up into the seat. “Wait for me there.”
Audrey’s brows pinched together in confusion, her lips parting to speak again.
I shut the door before she could.
I hated leaving her in the dark, but I had no choice. The less she knew right now, the better.
On the ride to the warehouse, I called Tysir, Wesley and some of my other men to meet us there. I wanted to be prepared in case Elias came in on some bullshit. I doubted he actually wanted to talk. If anything, it was a ruse to get my guard down. Little did he know, I was smarter than that.
The location I chose was actually one of the buildings we used for our fight nights. Knowing the octagon was there made me feel more in my element. I paced back and forth within the cage while we waited for the assholes to show up, preparing myself.
One of the men at the door whistled, signaling our guests’ arrival.
Three men ambled into the doorway, donning their signature skull tattoos and guns on their waistbands. My men quickly cocked their guns at the sight of their weapons.
“Relax,” the man in the middle said, holding up his hands. “We’re here to have a civil conversation.”
“Leave the weapons outside, then.”
Nodding, the man and his crew pulled the guns out of their waistbands and dropped them on the other side of the doorway.
It wasn’t until all of them were patted down and cleared that they were let inside.
In the light, I recognized the man in the middle by his gray streaked hair and scar in the middle of his forehead.
I’d seen him on a few occasions when my father let me observe distribution meetings.
My father didn’t have friends, but he was always more laid back around this particular buyer.
Probably because he’s been in the game just as long as my father has - and he always gave more than the cut they agreed on.
From the way he confidently strutted inside with no gun, he probably assumed their good rapport extended to me. He couldn’t be more wrong.
“Maximiliano,” he greeted as he climbed up into the octagon, shooting me a wide smile. “Good to see you again.”
“It’s Max,” I corrected.
“Right. I forgot you’re all grown up now.” His eyes drifted to Adrian. “And you’ve bought a Ruiz with you?” He outstretched his hand as he walked towards Adrian. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I must say I was a big fan of your father - may his soul rest in peace.”
Adrian didn’t even glance at his hand. “Hm.”
He quickly let his hand fall and brushed it against his pants, hoping we wouldn’t notice the awkwardness lingering in the air. “Listen, boys, I came here today to clear the air. I think there’s been some miscommunication.”
I raised a brow in disbelief, but I let him finish.
“You see, Jayden and his mother owe me a whole lot of money. I lent my assistance for years, and as we both know, good deeds aren’t free.
It’s not fair if they reap the benefits of my kindness without giving anything in return while others break their backs to pay me back.
I let them off a lot easier than most because…
well, I still care about them. We became close after all those years - almost like a family.
If it were anyone else, they would be dead already. ”
My jaw clenched at the thought.
His eyes caught the movement, and the end of his lip tugged upward.
He forced it back down to maintain his serious expression.
“When Jayden came to me, he was worried sick about his mother. He was willing to do anything for me to let her off my hook. So, I was fair and gave him a choice of jobs: the corner or the rings. He chose the latter. Imagine my surprise when he abandons his duties a few months later.”
“He’s still making the same money,” I replied. “So, you shouldn’t have a problem.”
“I do, actually. Because he’s not doing what I told him to. This isn’t about the money. This is about the lesson I’m trying to teach him: actions have consequences; even if they’re not your own. Since his dad wasn’t around to do it, somebody else has to.”
I almost rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m taking over from here. Respect that, and you’ll keep getting your money.”
He chuckled. “See, you’re misunderstanding again. I’m not giving Jayden up. As far as I’m concerned, he works for me and he’ll continue to do so. All I need from you is support in making sure he reports to his post.”
“I’m not giving you that. I pulled him out of those rings for a reason. I’m not going to just throw him back in because you say so. You have no authority here.”
“Careful, Max,” he said, taking a step closer, his cordial front falling. “Your last name won’t protect you here.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?” Scoffing, I mimicked his actions and stepped in his face. “You must not know I’ve never needed my last name to do a goddamn thing.”
He stared me down, trying to mask the surprise flying through his eyes. I bet he thought he could walk in here and punk me out with his seniority and intimidation. But, there wasn’t a man alive I was afraid of. If he wanted a fight, then I’d give him one. All he had to do was swing first.
“You’ll stay away from Jayden and Janelle,” I told him. “If I hear one of your men stepped within even five feet of them, I am going to crush every single bone in your body with my bare hands. Are we clear?”
He stood firm for a moment, unwilling to back down.
But when Adrian stepped up beside me in silent support of my threat, his lips pulled up into a smile. “Ain’t this some deja vu,” he muttered. Shaking his head, he finally took a step back. “You’re making a mistake, Guerra.”
“No,” I replied. “You did the second you tried to take advantage of my brother.”
He glanced between Adrian and me, his jaw muscles jumping in frustration, one last time before finally turning on his heel.
“You sure you don’t want to put a bullet in his head?” Adrian asked.
“Not yet,” I replied. I nodded at Tysir and Wesley, a motion for them to come over. “I need to get Jayden and his mother to safety first.”