Page 17 of KingPin
“Ralf! There’s no way this asshole knows how to do anything!” Matt, another foot soldier, yells.
Ralf walks around the table and stands next to Matt. The young gangster doesn’t stand a chance going toe-to-toe with Ralf. Ralf would have no problems killing him right here and making it seem like a suicide.
“You will respect Mason. Everyone in this room is to respect Mason. He’s the shot caller now. If I hear you’re being little fucking shits, I will take care of you myself. Do I make myself clear?”
I hope for the sake of my gang they take the not so vague threat to heart. Ralf means business.
“Luca, what are you watching?” Katie asks from my left side.
I put my fingers to my lips and point to the seat next to me. I don’t want her to interrupt what I’m hearing. Out of safety and security, I’m not recording this meeting.
“Even though we are suffering a great loss, business is still to be ran how it is supposed to be. Don’t think you can slack off because I’m new. I want shit to go as smoothly as before. Do I make myself clear?” Mason practically growls at the gang.
“Go, Mason!” Katie whispers like a cheerleader.
I nod my head.
She nudges me from the side. “You know you like him. Why won’t you give him a chance?”
I want to slap her. I need to focus on getting rid of Raul before I focus on my love life. Or what I could actually do with a love life.
How would that even work? The thought of being touched like that has me wanting to stab someone in the face.
Living the life on the streets, I had men take what wasn’t theirs just so I could have a place to sleep or something to eat. My life hasn’t been rainbows and hummingbirds and all of that shit. It’s hard out there as a woman.
“I’m going on the run with Matt to Chicago to pick up the shit. They want to see me,” Mason informs them. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning to beat the traffic and be back here by lunch time for the next run.”
He’s being too specific. He doesn’t need to hold their hands like they are in preschool. My sector runs pretty smoothly for the most part even with my death.
“All right, Mason. Sounds good,” Matt grumbles with his head looking down.
I know my death had to be hard on him. I groomed him since he was fifteen when I found him on the streets selling pills. He’s been with me for a few years and has been pretty loyal to me.
Ralf speaks up next to bring the meeting to a close. “Under no circumstances is anyone allowed to touch the money without me or Mason counting it. Is that understood? The missing money still hasn’t been accounted for and I’m pissed as fuck over it.”
That’s another thing I have to work through. The missing money. Fuck my life.
“Yeah,” everyone answers solemnly.
Chapter Fourteen
Mason
No matter how much I try to calm my nerves after being introduced, nothing is working. “So, what happens when I get to the pickup?” I ask Lucian after the meeting.
“It’s very important that you pay attention to your surroundings. At any moment, there is someone there and they will kill you. You need to be cautious and have your gun at the ready.”
It is weird to be sitting around the living room so casually with Lucian. The woman who I never wanted to see again but now I’m helping.
In the back of my mind I know why I’m doing this but I’m not ready to admit it to myself.
“All right. And then I get out and give them the bag?”
“You don’t give those cock suckers shit until they hand over the money. Thatbaghas twenty-five grand with of product and I will be damned if they get away with it. You’ll check the money to make sure it’s real before handing over the bag. If you think there is anything wrong, you need to leave. You got me?”
I nod. “Yeah. I got you. Am I going to have a driver?” I ask.
“Matt will drive you. We have a tracking device in the vehicle you will be taking. I’ll give you a camera to put on your clothes so I can watch you.”
