Page 12 of Queenpin
If Big Heavy hasn’t found Katie yet, she’s in trouble somewhere. The woman has pissed off a lot of people by getting into their business.
Raul reaches out like he’s going to touch me then drops his hand just as quickly. “I know you’re worried. There’s nothing we can do if Big Heavy has her. If they have her, she’s either dead or pretty close to it.”
I stop in my tracks. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’ll let Katie get the shit kicked out of her? You would let them sell her on the market like livestock? Would you do that to me?”
“Fuck, Lucian! You know I have your back.”
I take a look at my trusty lieutenant. A man that has been by my side through the transformation and rising of ranks. Have I been wrong all along and he’s not someone to trust? Has he been fucking around on me and telling Big Heavy lies?
I don’t care about dying. I know I’m one step closer to death every minute I wake up. I’m more afraid of what they will do to me when I’m alive.
I press the elevator after my rant. One of the new gangs, MS15, has been trying their best to weasel us out of making them pay what they are supposed to pay. They want the coke, I want the money. It’s really not that difficult.
“You sure you want to do this?” Raul asks when he climbs into the back seat of my car.
I get into the back seat just as the driver starts the car. I notice that there are two men in the front I have never seen before, but I don’t worry too much about it. Once this is over with, I can go back to the club.
From this moment forward, I use the voice changer. “Yes, I’m sure.”
We drive to the site where the assholes wanted to meet up. They need more stock but as refusing to pay for the product, which is not going to work well for them. I need my money.
I step out of the car with the duffle bag ready for whatever is about to happen. Ready to get my money.
“Where’s your leader?” One of the assholes calls out.
I make sure my mask is on tight and the voice changer is plugged into the mouth section. “I’m here.”
“McGrace!” One of them shouts and walks towards me with a slight limp to the right side.
That’s the choke point in case they decide to get frisky with me. I always want to make sure I know how to outsmart them, weaknesses are the best way.
“You dragged me out of my house… because… why? You have a problem with the bill we set up?” I bark.
The limper stumbles a little and regains his composure quickly. “What’s with the mask?”
“What’s with evading my questions? I’m missing something.” I feign boredom in order to keep him on his toes. This asshole is really getting me pissed off.
“I don’t have all the money.”
And there it is.
I take a couple steps closer to him, making sure to walk ambiguously. “Am I running a soup kitchen, Raul?” I call out to my partner.
“No, you’re not.”
I reach behind me and whip out my gun. It’s already locked and loaded ready for whatever these assholes think they are going to do. These fuckers.
“What makes you think you can re-nig on our plan? I fronted you some shit… I gave it to you without asking for more than ten percent extra and now you’re broke?”
Raul steps behind me, careful not to touch me. He knows when I get into this mood, it’s better to leave me alone and to back me up.
He tries to back track. “McGrace! I’m sorry. We’ll try to get the money to you as soon as possible.”
“That’s not how this works, little man,” I murmur lightly while taking my Glock out of and shooting him in the leg. I could have taken him out, but he’s not going to give me any money if he’s dead.
I then point the gun at the other loser who’s creeping behind the wall. “You will give this message. Do you understand? You will give the message that Lucian McGrace is done giving fucking second chances. The next time, I’m killing him. Do you got me?”
He nods, looking down at his friend on the ground screaming in agony. I don’t give two fucks that I probably shattered his leg. Not one.
