“In my city, I don’t need an invitation. We need to talk.” He rubs his finger against his nose as I blow out a breath. I was never really one to dabble in drugs. They didn’t appeal to me in ways that they do others.
“We can do this one of two ways, Martin! You can sit down and speak to me or I can sober you up rather quickly.” Pulling the gun from under my jacket, his eyes widen. There we go.
“I haven’t done shit, Vitale. I swear to it.” These tweekers always think they’ve done something to warrant my visits. It’s almost amusing to a point.
“Selling tainted products doesn’t seem like nothing.” Examining my nails, I take a seat across from him. He shakes his head.
“That’s bullshit. I wouldn’t use it if it was tainted.” I already know all of this.
“True. So why am I being told the product is coming from you?” I watch as the high takes hold of him. I’ve always wondered what the thrill is that they seek using over and over again. To me, it’s pointless. Whatever sins you’re trying to bury will come back when the high wears off.
“Last I heard Gambino was out there with his own shit.” Ah the infamous Gambino name arises again.
“What all have you heard?” Now we are getting somewhere.
“Just that Gambino had business lined up with the Columbians. I didn’t say shit because I was getting new business in. They thought I had that pure shit.” So Gambino is running with the Columbians now. Isn’t that a shame?
“So Gambino’s shit is tainted yet you think it’s a wise move to take on his people?” Martin shakes his head as he smiles.
“Hell no! I knew it was a bad idea, but the money was good. I never touched your stash, Cordae. It was all out of mine.” Nodding my head, I know he wouldn’t dare touch what he puts out there for me.
“How can we get Gambino’s shit out of the picture?” Clearly asking the junkie about removing potential threats would be the wise choice here.
“Go after Gambino or his Columbian connections. I heard Vito might know one or two of them.” Of course he does.
“Get Vito on that then. I want to know who heads up the chain of commands. Gambino isn’t working alone on this.” Martin nods before I stand. “Make it good, Martin. I don’t want to move inventory to a new dealer.” He knows I’ll do it too.
“Yes sir. I’ll work on it now and give you a call when I have something.” I turn and walk back out of the room exasperated. I know where this is leading and to whom, I just don’t like it.
Chapter 22
“Nikolai, tell me good news.” I sit at my desk rubbing my temples when he walks in.
“That depends on what you think is good.” Chuckling he takes a seat in front of me.
“Well that varies.”
“I only had to shoot one of his kids, does that count as good?” My eyes come to meet his, but I can see the laughter in them. He didn’t kill any.
“So he agreed with us?” Nikolai nods his head before leaning forward in his chair.
“He had a visit from Sinclair and Gambino. They wanted his business. He refused and Gambino made sure he roughed him up. The asshole looks like he’s been through a meat grinder.” Shaking my head, I clasp my hands in front of me before leaning my head into them.
“Is Gambino going back for another visit?” I can hear him sigh. This is getting worse and worse.
“He is next Friday. I assured him that we would have people in place.” Glancing up at him, I need to make some new decisions.
“Good. I’ll personally be there.” Nikolai shakes his head but that isn’t going to stop me. “I will Nikolai! There is no discussion here. Gambino wants to rule this city but there is no way in hell that I’ll let that happen.” He watches me like a hawk.
“Understood.” He stands to leave when I lean back in the seat. All of this drama is making me insane. If that’s even possible, I’m sure I’ve already been there for a while. Someone once said there’s a price to pay for happiness. I wonder what that price would be for me? Losing everything I have? I’m not even sure how you would describe happiness after the life I’ve had. Maybe there is no such thing. I’d like to believe that there could be for some people. Who deserves that though? How does one deserve happiness? That thought alone disturbs me in ways it shouldn’t.
I close my eyes as visions of Ava’s blue eyes dance around my mind. So much like an angel yet so lost in her own darkness. She would be one of those people that I’d wish happiness for. She deserves it more than anyone I know. I shove away from my desk and head into my room.
The roaring of the wind intensifies. The windows shudder beneath the force of the storm outside. Lightening crackles above as I stare out of my bedroom window. Some things never cease to amaze me, and this is one of them. Storms have always intrigued me. The way the wind roars and whips its way around everything in sight. The way the thunder rattles the walls like a drum. I pull up the cameras on my phone, checking security before I lay down. My stomach knots at the sight standing at my front door. She stands there in the pouring down rain contemplating her next move.
I walk out of my room and down the stairs, never taking my eyes off the phone. Off her. I don’t go open the door. I stand there watching her on that screen. If she wants this, if she wants me, she has to come to me. I can’t offer her that sense of peace she so much desires. As I stand here watching her, she turns to walk away but stops. My chest tightens as I look at the look on her face. She’s worn out and it shows. I watch her raise her hand to knock when I slide my phone into my pocket. Pulling the door open, I look at her. Water drips down her face.
“Hi.” Her voice breaks while she looks at me. She’s shivering from the cold rain; I reach for her.
Pulling her into my chest, I savor the feel of her in my arms. This woman is breaking my resolve minute by minute.
“You’re freezing.” Whispering into her hair, I lift her in my arms and carry her upstairs. Once in my room, I carry her straight to the bathroom before I set her down. Her body shivers and shakes as I reach around her and start the shower. When I step back to look into her eyes, there is more there than just the rain. There are tears. I reach up and wipe her cheeks with my thumbs before pressing my lips to her head.
“What happened?” I know something is wrong, I can see it in her. The hurt I can see eats at me, but there’s little I can do about it.
“She’s officially missing, Cord. She said she was going out to shop and never came home. What do I do? Do I call the police?” Wrapping my arms around her as she cries harder, I just want to take the pain away from her.
“Shh. Everything will be fine.” Her sobs turn to screams as she realizes exactly what happened to her mother. To know that your father actually went through with his plan and killed your mother is a harsh reality. It’s a hard fact that she has to swallow. Now, she has to live with what he’s done to her. He’s ripped her heart out of her chest and stomped it into the floor. No amount of time will ease that ache.
I pull away from Ava and start to strip her wet clothes off as her cries continue. I quickly strip mine off before taking her quivering body into my arms. Holding her against me, I try to let my heat warm her before I walk us both into the warm shower. Letting the water cascade around us, I never let her go. I can’t let her go, not like this. The sobs slowly calm before she looks up at me.