

FourShadough Publishing Presents:

An EBook Gangster Story

Frankie Blanco

By:

JUNE

Frankie Blanco

June Miller

Copyright L. Miller 2013

Published by FourShadough Publishing, LLC at Smashwords
Chapter 1

"Get up!"

The round black hole was the only thing he could see after he wiped the thick blood from his eyes. He placed his palms on the parquet floor and struggled to his feet, leaving a crimson handprint behind.

"Don't hit me no more man! I'll give you what you want."

The gunman grabbed him by the scruff of his velvet sports jacket and pulled him into the living room. He pushed him down onto the leather sectional and uttered dangerously, "Next time you try and run I'ma dump this clip in you! Now tell me where the safe at or say good night muhfucka!"

"I'm gonna give you what you want just tell me who set this up so I can make them pay for this disloyal shit!" He gurgled as he rose to his feet.

"Shut the fuck up! You ain't in the position to ask me for shit!" The gunman backed away from him, giving him room to get up but watched him closely. He wasn't going to give him another chance to run. Blood dripped from his victim's head wound where he was beaten with the gun when he attempted to escape and his mouth was ripped from the two hit combination for moving way too slow when the robbery was first announced.

"Let's go!" His voice echoed off the walls in the empty apartment.

His victim struggled to his feet and used the arm of the couch for support. He took a step and staggered toward the gunman who quickly backed away from him and let him fall to the ground.

"Get the fuck up!" He kicked his victim in the back viciously.

"Uuggh! Please don't hit me no more man. I'm trying to get the money for you."

The man struggled back to his feet and grabbed the wall for support. He leaned against it as he moved down the hall towards the rooms in the back. Smeared blood trailed as he turned the corner then paused briefly to gather his bearings. The light from the kitchen illuminated the dark hallway like a spotlight as the blood in his eyes blurred his vision. He could feel the hard steel in his back, nudging him forward with no regard to the pain he was feeling. He continued his trek to the room in the back where all the money was locked away in a closet and safe.

"Hurry up!" The gunman was getting impatient.

"I'm moving as fast as I can man."

The victim clicked a light on in the hallway near the bathroom that rained brightness and clarity on the two doors at the end of the hallway.

"Which room is the money in?" The gunman quizzed.

"The one on the right." The victim responded as he inched closer to the door. When he was in front of the brown wooden door, he dug into his pocket and produced a key and put it in the lock then opened the door as the gunman carefully peered inside over his back using him as a shield in the event something unexpected happened. He pushed his victim inside the room and slowly walked to the entrance. His left hand searched the wall inside the room until he found a light switch then clicked it on. The walls in the room were covered with some sort of foil and there was an old bathtub sitting off to the side next to a chair that had a thick wool blanket thrown over the back of it.

"The money better be in this room or I'm gonna splatter your fuckin' brains all over the walls!" The gunman's patience had reached its boiling point.

"It's in the closet. I'm 'bout to get it." The victim said, moving towards the double doors.

The gunman snatched him by his collar and pulled him back forcefully.

"You think I'm stupid muhfucka! I'm not gon' let you open that closet so you can get hold to a ratchet you got stashed in there."

"Ain't nothing in there but a safe and I have to open it to get the money." The victim said struggling to get to his feet.

"Nah Sherlock. I'm gon' open it first to make sure ain't no gun in there then you gonna tell me the combination and I'll open the safe my fucking self." The gunman said grabbing the knob on the door but looking back at his victim struggling to stand up holding onto the chair next to the bathtub.

When he pulled the door open there was a loud click. The victim instantly grabbed the blanket off the chair and dived inside the tub covering himself as the doors of the closet were blown off and shattered from the explosion that was triggered when the gunman tripped the wire by opening the door.

Smoke and body fragments littered the room as a small fire burned near the carnage. The victim removed the blanket and jumped out the bathtub and looked at the mangled gunman's body with missing limbs.

"Didn't expect a bomb did you muhfucka!" He chuckled as he stepped over the body and went into the hallway closet and retrieved a fire extinguisher. He aimed the nozzle at the small fire and the white foam extinguished the flames. He walked into the bathroom and opened the cabinet and grabbed gauze and Peroxide then began cleaning and treating his wounds. Looking in the mirror and satisfied with his amateur doctor skills in taking care of his wounds, he went to the living room stepping over a broken table where he was slammed when the robbery first began. He kneeled down and peeked under the couch and saw the blinking green light of the cell phone he threw under the couch when he first heard the apartment door crash open. He reached under and grabbed it then looked at the time running on the screen. He put the phone to his ear and began to talk.

"You still there?" He spoke calmly as he went back toward the back of the apartment.

"Yea. My God are you all right? I was terrified." The woman's voice said.

"I'm good now but that muhfucka was extra brutal with all his theatrics. He never gave me a chance to cooperate and just started beating and pounding on me like he had something to prove." He said while opening the door to the other bedroom and going inside and retrieving a loaded automatic pistol. "I'm gon' need you to find out something for me. I don't like this shit one fucking bit!" There was a knock at the door and then he heard the door close. "Let me call you right back." He whispered as he disconnected the call and cocked the hammer on the gun. He inched slowly into the hallway with the gun pointed in front of him. He listened to the footsteps and waited until the figure came into sight then lowered his gun.

"Man you late as a muhfucka!" He said as he turned and pushed open the door to the room where the massacre took place. "This dude a organ donor now. I need to find out who the fuck set this shit up. This has inside job written all over it."

"OK Blanco. Say no more. I'm gon' get some guys to clean this mess up and get you outta here." The tall bald muscular man said.
Chapter 2

"Frankie Blanco. What do I owe dis' displeasurable visit to my less than favorable social club?" The fat Italian man in an oversized valour sweatsuit said as he rose to his feet to greet his guest.

Two overweight bodyguards stood on either side of the door while another one dressed in a blue suit held an automatic pistol in his hand escorting Frankie Blanco inside.

"What's with all this tight security Vinnie? I thought we were paizan?" Frankie spoke when he was standing directly in front of Vinnie's massive oak desk.

Vinnie pushed himself away from the desk, rose to his feet then walked around it and stood in front of Blanco. He rocked back and forth on his heels before he spoke.

"I hears things Frankie. I heard about what happened to you's at one of your stash houses. I figured you would be comin' by sooner than later, I just didn't know if it would be for business or pleasure." Vinnie pulled out a cigar and lit it. "I try to tell ya those mulignan (moo lee yan) would turn on you's sooner or later but ya want to trust them more than you trust me." Vinnie blew out smoke and walked back over to his desk.

"Vinnie, you're a good dude, I consider you a very close associate that's why I came to you instead of sending someone else..." Frankie was cut off by Vinnie who banged his hand on his desk.

"You fuckin' threatenin' me you fuck!" He pointed his finger at Frankie.

Frankie shook his head slowly and spoke in an even tone, "Of course not Vinnie. You didn't let me finish my sentence. This is one of the reasons why our business together suffered. You're not like your father, you're a hot head."

"Don't you fuckin' disrespect me you fuckin' eggplant lover!" Vinnie hissed.

"Vinnie calm down. Your anger doesn't help this in any way. You have to learn how to listen before you fly off the handle. I haven't said anything to disrespect or upset you so I don't understand why you're so defensive."

The bodyguard with the pistol was getting jittery and the two standing at the door rubbed their hands together in anticipation of putting in some physical work.

"You's a slick talker Frankie. Our business suffered because you wanted me to extend the same treatment I gave you to those monkeys in the projects. I only continued doing business with you because you and my father, God rest his soul, had a good business relationship. I thought he treated you a little too much like you were familia but I thought it was because he felt sorry for you's but I didn't and still don't. I can't figga out why you love them moolies so much, like you half egglplant or somethin'." Vinnie laughed heartily at his joke and when he looked up Frankie was not amused. "Aah, sorry 'bout that joke Frankie, my father did say he always thought you was a mutt because you was around those fuckin' losers." He burst out laughing again, this time uncontrollably, as he leaned on his desk with his head down. He heard a click and stopped laughing almost immediately when he raised his head and noticed a gun pointed at him.

"What the fuck you think you doin' Frankie?" He looked at his goons and screamed out, "Kill this piece of shit!" None of the bodyguards moved. One of the bodyguards locked the door while the other stood next to Frankie. "What you's fucks doin'? I said to kill..."

Frankie waved his hand in the air, "I gotta stop you before you make a fool of yourself Vinnie."

"You fuckin'..." Vinnie lunged at Frankie but before he could get to him, he was stopped dead in his tracks by a wicked punch to his gut that buckled him and brought him to his knees right in front of Frankie. He looked at the bodyguard who threw the punishing blow and lowered his eyes, "You's an eggplant lover too! I'm gonna have your whole family whacked..."

Frankie wagged his finger at Vinnie, "I told you about that anger of yours Vinnie. You're really not in the position to talk reckless. Now before you really say something to these guys that'll get your skull split in half, I need you to let me finish what I came her to ask you or you can um, how do you say it?" Frankie looked up to the ceiling and rubbed his chin, "Yea, you can sleep with the fishes."

"Fuck you!" Vinnie screamed out, his rage turning his face beet red.

Frankie slapped him viciously then grabbed him by his neck with both hands and strangled him.

"I'm tired or you disrespecting me Vinnie. I'm tired of your racist jokes and I'm sick and tired of being nice!" He shoved him backwards forcefully then ran over to where he stumbled then slapped him three times in succession. "I'm going to finish what I started to say before you so rudely interrupted me earlier." Frankie smoothed out his clothes and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth and stared at the portly man who tried to show bravado but knew the cards were stacked heavily against him now. "Vinnie you know I considered you a very close and dear associate because of my past relationship with your late father. Our current business relationship is in place because of the respect I maintained for your father. That is the only reason I came here myself instead of sending my gorillas, as you like to refer to them." Frankie walked around to Vinnie's desk and opened a drawer and pulled out a Churchill cigar. "I know you heard about the botched robbery attempt but what bothers me is how you found out so fast. I would hate to think you had something to do with it just because we parted ways and you are no longer my supplier. Hmph. But the more I think about it Vinnie, the more I feel like you're capable of doing some foul shit like that because you're a real dirt bag. If you can treat the guys that work for you like shit then I know you don't give a fuck about me, that's why it was so easy to get them to turn on your greasy ass. Didn't you learn anything from your father? I know he turning over in his grave right now." Blanco paused for effect. "Now I have to ask you Vinnie although I feel like I already know the answer. Did you give any information to anyone about my personal business and by personal I mean where I keep my money, product and equipment?" Frankie turned his back to Vinnie and walked over to his bodyguard and whispered something in his ear then turned around slowly and addressed Vinnie again. "Before you answer I must warn you that any lies or mistruths that come outta your filthy mouth will cause you great pain so choose your words very carefully."

The bodyguard pulled out a black cylindrical object and started screwing it onto his automatic weapon. Vinnie looked at his once loyal bodyguard and felt a chill of death come over his body. He swallowed hard and looked up at Frankie who seemed to tower over him like a giant.

"Look Frankie, you know I wouldn't do anything like that to you. I mean, of course we had our disagreements and things but I would never set you up to get killed or robbed, that's not how I operate, you know this." Vinnie explained.

Blanco peered down at Vinnie, "You know something, I kinda believe you but then again, I don't. You might not have quarterbacked it but you was definitely on the coaching staff 'cause the muhfucka knew way too much 'bout me. He practically told me where the money and product was."

"Frankie, I don't know nothin' 'bout where you keep your product. I have no reason to need that kind of information. I'm no thief Frankie."

"It's funny Vinnie, I never pegged you as a thief until..." Frankie pulled out a cell phone and threw it on the floor next to Vinnie.

Vinnie looked confused, "What da fuck is that?"

"Pick it up Vinnie." Frankie said coolly.

Vinnie picked up the cell phone and started to read the text message then his eyes popped open wide as saucers, "Where da fuck did you get this shit from! Who's phone is this?" Vinnie screamed.

"It don't matter because he's dead Vinnie. What matters is what the message says." Frankie said lighting the cigar he had in his hand.

"This is bullshit Frankie. Somebody's trying to set me up. Can't you see that!"

"The only thing I see Vinnie is a dead man!" Frankie blew out the smoke and put out the cigar on the oak desk, crushing the cigar. He turned around and nodded his head to the bodyguard who advanced on Vinnie with his arm extended and the loaded automatic at the end of it. "Tell your father I know he feels disgraced for having such a disloyal son and give him my sincerest apologies for sending you to him so soon."

Frankie heard three quick bursts of air then heard Vinnie scream and stop. He turned his head to see Vinnie's blood splattered on the floor and oak desk while his body slumped over on the floor like slaughtered cattle.

"I know this was hard for you Joey but it was for the best. You're next in line and I'm sure you'll treat your men better than he did. Your money is in the briefcase and we'll discuss business tomorrow. Thanks again and I'll be in contact." Frankie said as he grabbed the handle of the door and turned it pulling the door open, "Hey Joey, hold this!" Frankie pulled out his own automatic with a silencer attached and let four bullets go into Joey's chest. His body fell and Frankie walked over to it and made sure the job was done by letting a slug enter the center of Joey's forehead.

"You couldn't possibly think I would trust you after you betrayed your boss for short money. You're the lowest form of human and deserve a seat in hell with every disloyal muhfucka that has cross in their heart!" Frankie spit on the corpse then walked out the door stepping over the bodies of the other bodyguards his men quietly disposed of while he was in the office taking care of business.
Chapter 3

"Rachel! Rachel! Get down here now!" Frankie screamed when he walked into his home. He placed the leather briefcase he was carrying on the European tiled floor in the foyer then made his way over to the couch. He took off his sports coat and threw it over the back of the leather sectional in the living room.

"Rachel! Don't make me come upstairs!" Frankie screamed as he went to the bar, grabbed a rock glass and a bottle of Glenlivet XXV then poured himself a shot of the 25-year-old Scotch. He threw his head back and took a swig from the glass and gulped the shot then slammed the glass on the bar.

"Rach..." He didn't finish his sentence because he saw the beautiful girl walking down the spiral staircase. She was approximately 5'7", wide hips with a small waist, thick thighs and an ass that boasted 35" in diameter. She held the wooden handrails as she slowly glided down the steps, not making eye contact with Frankie. When she reached the bottom step, she turned to face Frankie who was walking up on her.  
"Don't look at me like that Rachel, you know they called me right?" Frankie waved his finger at her.

"I had a feeling they would but before you believe what they said, let me tell my side of what happened." Rachel batted her eyes.

"I expected nothing less. Now let's go over by the couch and discuss this." Frankie said leading the way. He made a pit stop to the bar and poured another shot of Scotch.

"Can I have one of those." Rachel said taking a seat on the couch.

Frankie turned around and shot her an ice-cold stare that couldn't be mistaken as a look of content towards her comment.

"I was just joking." Rachel said quickly.

"I'm not. Now go ahead and explain to me what you're doing here."

"First let me say this, I'm your daughter and I have the same drive and attitude you have and a lot of people wrongly perceive that as being cocky and aggressive, my professor being one of them. The professor made a comment that you need a Bachelor's degree to live average and a Master's in order to be successful in today's world and I totally disagreed with the statement. I told my professor that it's not true because there are many successful people in the world who did not graduate from college or dropped out of high school and they're rich. I gave a list of names as proof, Christine Aguilera, Walt Disney, Bobby Fisher, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Ralph Lauren, Vidal Sassoon, Will Smith, Mark Zuckerberg, and Frankie Blanco." She ran her hand through her hair. "Then my professor tried to tell me statistically that list made up only 1% of the population and I asked for the percentage in real numbers Professor know it all couldn't tell me. So I asked a question I felt could be answered. I asked the professor to tell me what the statistics was for people who held degrees but still struggled financially and lived in poverty or close to it. Things became a little heated when I couldn't get an answer and my professor started talking a little reckless so I reacted and was suspended when I took a swing..."

"Rachel!" Frankie yelled out but had a small smirk on his face. "You're a young lady, you should never try to swing on a man under no circumstances."

"I didn't, my professor is a woman." Rachel laughed. "She went overboard and I'm a Blanco so you should know how that panned out."

"Ok, so now what? All that money I pay for tuition." He shook his head. "How long is your suspension?"

"It's only a week. Was I wrong dad, honestly?" Rachel asked her father.

"You were right up until you took that swing on that teacher. You need to understand that violence does not get your point across, it actually makes it moot. Next time, exercise more restraint and stick to your facts, eventually your opposition will concede."

"Ok. Well since I have a week off, let's spend some time together."

"Uh uh." Frankie wagged his finger at Rachel. "You ain't on spring break here. You still have homework and studying to do. I hope you have a friend getting your notes and shit for you."

"I have that covered dad. What about the weekend?" Rachel pushed.

Frankie's cell phone rang and he looked at the caller id and he looked up at Rachel, "Excuse me baby, I have to take this, it's important."

Rachel frowned and got up from the couch but gave him a quick peck on the cheek before running up the spiral staircase to her room. Frankie got up from the couch and walked over to his office and opened the door. There was a custom Hollywood Desk with a thick leather swivel chair sitting to the side of the window. He took a seat in his chair and opened the desk drawer and pulled out a Diamond Crown Figurando No. 6 from his glasstop humidor and fished out the cigar cutter. He cut the tip and then picked up a gold butane lighter and twisted the cigar in his mouth until the tip was emblazoned in red evenly. White smoke billowed out his mouth as he reclined in chair and put his feet on the desk.

"You finished Frankie?" The voice on the other line asked.

"You already know what I was doing. I like to smoke a good cigar after I put in some heavy work. What's up counselor?"

"I got those documents you wanted and some information for you. Can we meet so we can talk?"

"No question. You want to meet at my favorite restaurant or does this meeting require more privacy?"

"More privacy."

"Ok, let's meet at our undisclosed location." Frankie laughed. "Twenty minutes good for you."

"I'll be there in fifteen."

"See you then." Frankie hung up the phone.

***

A steel blue 2010 Jaguar XJL pulled up to the condo and backed into a parking spot. The occupant, a 5'5" thick red boned sister with a cropped haircut and average bustline stepped out the luxury vehicle in her six-inch diamond studded heels. She shut the car door and her ass shook in her silk chiffon dress. The wind blew on her skin softly as she sashayed up the walkway to the double glass doors. Through the frosted glass she could see the silhouette of a figure waiting for her. Her heels fell between the cracks in the antique salt and pepper cobblestone so she walked on the balls of her feet to prevent a spill. The security light popped on when she was 10 feet from the door and illuminated the rest of her trek to the building. Before she made it to the front door, the light inside suddenly turned off and she could no longer see the silhouette behind the frosted glass. The door swung open and she carefully stepped inside where she was grabbed by her hair and pulled to the floor. A hand was placed over her mouth to muffle her screams and another hand found its way under her dress. Her head moved left to right in an attempt to remove the hand while she used her own hands to claw at the face of the man behind her. The hand covering her mouth was removed and used to restrain her and that freedom allowed her to scream out for help. He turned her around briskly holding her hands firmly and leaned forward covering her mouth with his chest. It temporarily muffled her until her teeth latched onto his nipple and she bit down.

"Aww." He cried out. "Take it easy."

"Mmmmm." She mumbled as she licked and nibbled on his bare nipple.

Frankie sucked on her earlobe, her hands still restrained, and then stuck his tongue into her mouth. She closed her eyes and grabbed his bare ass with both hands and pulled him to her.

"Take me Blanco. Take me now!" Her voice was heavy with emotion.

Frankie jumped up. His physique was that of a person that worked out four times a week. His abs looked like a washboard and his shoulders were broad and squared. His 5'7" frame and 185 lb. body mass was held together by powerful arms and a hard chiseled chest.

Shimora Faulner was a 30-year-old executive lawyer assistant for the prestigious law firm, Shitznel & Lambert. Frankie was her boss' client but she and he made a connection that had turned purely sexual. She didn't care for him emotionally and he could care less. She was a sexual freak that enjoyed role-playing and rough sex. Her appetite and attraction to Frankie was his smooth characteristics and strong demeanor.

She salivated as he towered over her, his nine inches protruding from his midsection like a bare branch from an oak tree. Frankie took two steps back and kneeled down then grabbed the bottom part of her dress. He gathered the material in his hand then balled a fist and yanked her towards him. The slippery fabric allowed her to glide to him smoothly as he stuck his hand under her dress and fingered her bare pussy.

"Mmmmm." She moaned with delight.

Frankie dug his finger deeper while she pushed upward, he inserted another finger slowly, then another, until he was fisting her. She bawled out but kept pumping his hand as if it were his pipe. She bit down on her bottom lip with such force she broke the skin and a small red droplet of blood appeared. Frankie released the grip he had on her skirt and pulled off her heels one at a time.

Her breathing quickened in short breaths while he massaged her breasts and licked her stomach, following the fine hairs that lead to her vaginal lips. His tongue parted them easily, exposing an unusually large and hardened clit he sucked on gently. Her legs opened automatically and she grabbed Blanco by his ears and rotated his head to the natural movement of her hips. He sucked and lapped at her clit, periodically inserting his warm tongue inside her womb, which made her body inadvertently jerk each time. She let his ears go and twirled her nipples until they were raw. Sucking her clit was bringing her close to orgasm and her left leg began to tremble. Blanco could feel her spasms and stuck his middle finger inside her soaking pussy. He expertly fished for her g-spot and when he felt the soft tissue he started thrusting his finger in and out rapidly hitting the spot with methodic force while sucking her clit. Her moans became audible and her body responded unfairly by twitching sporadically until the sensation built up and exploded. Her pussy walls collapsed and liquid squirted out of her like water being pumped out of a hydrant through a fire hose. Blanco wiped his mouth slowly as he watched both her legs stiffen and her head shift left to right in nervous jerks.

"Your turn next bitch." His tone was not disrespectful it was more along the lines of sensuality since Shimora was a sexual deviant.

Shimora's naked body stopped going through convulsions and she breathed out in ecstasy staring at Blanco with eyes that wanted to devour him. She got on all fours and crawled over to where he was standing just looking at her. His hard body and smooth looks turned her on. He half smiled looking down at her when she reached his extension. She rose up on her knees like a feline clawing a scratching post and grabbed his member in both hands, unable to fully close her hands around it because of his girth. She looked up at him seductively and began to massage him, her hands wringing him gently like squeezing water out of a washcloth. Blanco threw his head back and closed his eyes enjoying the friction she produced from her soft hands. He licked his bottom lip as she grabbed both his hands and placed them at the back of her head as she bobbed back and forth on his dick with erotic enthusiasm. His member stiffened as the natural lubricants in her mouth glazed over his length. Shimora felt him growing inside her mouth and began slurping noisily for effect as she looked up at his expression of satisfaction. She moved his hands from her head and gripped his thighs to give her a better position and stability then opened her mouth as wide as she could. She let go of him and snaked her neck as she swallowed his mass like an anaconda devouring a rabbit. The sensation brought Blanco to his climax and he began pumping inside her mouth like it was her vagina and she gagged furiously as he forced it down her esophagus. She gurgled and spit as she fought to consume his thickness as hot creamy liquid splashed against her tonsils and she ingested his unborn children. She grabbed his waist and thrust him deeper in her mouth as she suctioned out every drop of semen from his dick then sucked on him until it went semi limp.

"Damn!" Blanco said as he breathed out.

"You like that daddy?" She asked in a young schoolgirl's voice.

"I enjoy when you suck me Canada Dry." He laughed.

"I love pleasing you daddy. Now can you beat this pussy up? I want you to punish this, make me beg you to stop!" She backed away from him and rubbed her clit with her middle finger.

Blanco became aroused again and his dick jerked up and down. He walked over to her and when he was close enough to grab her by her hand, she took off running through the condo.

"You're going to have to catch this pussy if you want it!" She teased as she ran naked up the stairs.

"What the fuck you doin' girl?" Blanco asked watching her robust ass jiggle as she trotted up the stairs.

"If you don't like it, make sure you beat me good daddy. I'm a bad girl." She purred as she disappeared down a hallway upstairs.

Blanco followed her up the stairs into the dark hallway and searched for a light switch on the wall. He felt a slap on his back and he turned and grabbed Shimora's hand and pulled her to him. She struggled with him and bit down on his neck gently as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around him. In the darkness, Blanco moved to the wall quickly, slamming her gently against it for support as he rammed his dick inside her warm pussy and began pounding her relentlessly. She screamed out when he entered her and dug her manicured nails into his back and breathed out heavily. Blanco placed his palms flat against the wall for more leverage, extended his left leg backwards and stuffed his pole in as deep as it could go then grinded hard and slow until he heard her yelp.

"Aaaah daddy! I feel it in my stomach!"

Blanco pumped ferociously and she screamed out in pain and pleasure.

"Harder daddy! Harder! Fuck me harder daddy! Punish this pussy!"

Sweat cascaded down Blanco's face after a hard fifteen minutes of over exertion and he was close to climaxing. Shimora pushed herself off him and dropped to her knees and jerked him off until he exploded and she let it shoot onto her bare breast.

"Hmmmmm." She moaned as she wiped it over herself like lotion then licked her fingers.

Blanco was winded and dropped to the floor from fatigue and caught his breath. Shimora sat down next to him and lay in his lap looking up at his heaving chest.

"You are truly the best lover I ever had Frankie. I look forward to our meetings." She smiled.

"My dear Shimora, you have a voracious sexual appetite and I just happen to be the man you are able to open up with."

"That's why I love fucking you, you don't sugarcoat anything." She laughed.

"No need to. Let's get dressed so we can finish up the other part of this business." Blanco said helping her to her feet.

"Ok Frankie Blanco. Let me go rinse off and I'll meet you downstairs in the dining room."

***

"So far none of the families have linked Vincent Buscetti's murder to you, however, it doesn't mean they won't. The heads of all the families are planning a meeting to prove none of them or their soldiers was involved since it wasn't a sanctioned hit. From what I'm hearing, they are hoping it came from within the Buscetti's family over power since the death of Don Buscetti." Shimora spoke while she pulled papers out of her briefcase.

"I was careful in trying to make it look like one of his own men did it. He treated them so fucked up that it was bound to happen any way."

"I have those papers for you to sign. Before you do, I am to inform you that what you're doing is very foolish and risky. This cannot be traced to the corporation so if and when the shit hits the fan, you are on your own."

Blanco cleared his throat and his eyes turned cold and his voice was icy, "Save your breath! I don't need a disclaimer for what you're doing for me. I'm the one paying for it so I know all the risks involved. I didn't become the man I am today without taking risks."

Blanco picked up the papers Shimora handed to him and shuffled through them until he found what he was looking for.

"Is this amount correct?" He looked up at Shimora.

"That's the numbers we came up with." She smiled.

"Guess I'm gonna have to trust your calculations then huh?" He said with a smirk.

"Yes but it's minus the twenty five percent for our fees."

"What exactly is twenty five percent in real numbers?" Blanco's eyes lowered.

Shimora felt warm and small beads of perspiration appeared on her forehead. She slowly reached into her briefcase but stopped when she saw Blanco pull a gun from his waist.

"Hold on there gorgeous. What you 'bout to pull from that briefcase?"

"Just a calculator so you can see the number for yourself." She replied nervously.

"Go 'head but be careful. I get nervous around beautiful women who carry briefcases with calculators in it." He smiled.

Shimora continued and pulled out a medium sized table calculator and began punching numbers.

"The starting amount was $2.3 million. There is a fee for cleaning the money, which is fifteen percent, which is equal to $345,000.00. Then there is the counselor fee, which is twenty five percent, the same as $488,750.00. That leaves you with a balance of a little under $1.5 million." Shimora glanced up at Blanco.

"A little under $1.5 million? That's not a real number counselor."

"The actual number is $1,466,250.00. After all the fees." Shimora said quickly.

Blanco paced the length of the dining room table but kept his gun by his waist. His pointer finger rested on the edge of the mahogany table and then he scratched his temple with the barrel of the automatic he held in his other hand.

"I have two problems counselor. First problem is, I didn't agree to one million four hundred nothing! My agreement was $1.5 million and nothing less! I know I can count and before I went to your boss we worked out the numbers and it came up to $1.5 million but now you're giving me a different number."

"Wait Blanco. I have nothing to do with that. I don't know anything about your deal, I was only told the amount and the fees. That's between you and my boss, you need to discuss that with him. You don't have to sign the document, I'll take it back to him with your disapproval and then you and he can work out the numbers." Shimora said quickly.

"See that's my second problem counselor. I spoke with your boss right after you called to meet with me to verify the numbers were the same and he advised me they were. Now I'm faced with wondering who's lying and who's telling me the truth."

"Wait a minute Frankie!" Shimora grabbed the papers off the table and held them in her hand. "Look at the numbers, these are the numbers in black and white!"

"Heh, heh." Frankie chuckled and took steps toward Shimora. "Do me a favor counselor. Take a seat at the head of this table, I want to tell you what I think. Fair enough?" Blanco waved the gun towards the wooden chairs with the leather covered puffy backs.

"Please Frankie..." Shimora sounded as if she was pleading.

"Shhhh babygirl. I just wanna tell you my thoughts on this, that's all." Blanco said cynically as he placed the gun against his lips in a hushing motion. "You are a beautiful woman Shimora and I love beautiful things. You and I, we get along famously, the sex is bananas and our business relationship has never suffered because of that. Your boss trusts you and I've come to trust you too but for some reason, I was a little wary on this deal. So I went to your boss and told him my concerns and he assured me I had nothing to worry about and was even offended I had any reservations when it came to dealing with him. From my experience I know the allure of money can sometimes cloud one's judgment and turn them into a thief. I told your boss I was willing to bet you would try to steal some of my money. There is a lot of money riding on this and I'm not really a gambling man, more of a risk taker, but I bet the original documents with the real numbers are in that briefcase." Blanco reached over and turned the briefcase so that if was facing him. He peeked over at Shimora and she didn't move, she was stone faced.

"Before I look, do you want to say anything? If not and I'm proved to be right, you are going to suffer the fate of a thief in the Middle East, if I'm proven wrong, you will receive my sincerest apologies and a gift of half a million dollars." One of Blanco's eyebrows were raised and his chocolate brown eyes were slanted.

"Wait Frankie! Please let me say something before you look through that briefcase. I am not only offended but disgusted by your display of distrust for me after all I've been to you. Our relationship was more than just sex and business; I genuinely respected you. I can't believe you would even think something like this about me." Shimora lowered her head. "Now you can look through it but when you're done, I don't want an apology from you because I know it won't be sincere."

Blanco looked through the briefcase. He pulled out papers, legal pads, and pens searching for the official document with the original numbers from the deal.

Shimora pushed the document on the table towards Blanco, "Don't embarrass yourself any further Frankie Blanco and just sign the document. From this point on its business between us." She passed him a pen he pulled from the briefcase.

"True to my word I'll give you a check for a half million." Blanco walked over to Shimora and attempted to kiss her but she turned her head quickly.

"Strictly business from this point Mr. Blanco." Her sass could not be denied.

"Ok counselor, strictly business." Blanco pulled out his cell phone and searched through it using the touch screen then put it back in his pocket.

"I would appreciate it if you would hurry up and sign the document so I can wrap this business up. Thank you."

"I will but I'm gonna use my own pen." Blanco pulled a stainless steel pen from inside the breast pocket of his jacket and looked at Shimora as she pulled out her ringing Blackberry. She opened the attachment and her mouth was agape after several seconds of looking at her screen. She looked up at Blanco but he wasn't standing by the table anymore. She was about to turn around but felt a hand cover her mouth.

Blanco grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth as he pushed the pen top down and a long stainless steel ice pick slid out of the bottom. He pushed Shimora's face down onto the mahogany desk, breaking her nose on impact then he surgically slammed the pick upwards into the base of her head as far as it would go. She struggled for some seconds then stopped moving. Her cell dropped from her listless hand, landing on its back playing a video of her switching the documents before she left her office. Blanco pulled out the pick and wiped it off on her dress then gathered up all the papers on the desk and deposited them into the briefcase.

"Didn't expect me to have somebody following you huh bitch!" He said as he spat on the corpse and grabbed her car keys.

Blanco went outside and hit the keyless remote and opened the passenger door and removed the papers from the plush leather seats. He grabbed a shawl that was in the backseat of the car then pressed the lever for the gas tank then stuffed the shawl into the tank. He pulled out his cigar lighter and lit the shawl then walked towards his car and pulled out his cell phone.

"I need a cleanup man to come to the condo. You know that means I won the bet and will be collecting my winnings from you shortly." Blanco laughed as he unlocked his car door. "As a matter of fact, I get the double or nothing 'cause I gave the bitch a chance to come clean even after I damn near told her I had the goods on her." Blanco closed the car door and inserted the key in the ignition. "When I sign the papers I'll send a delivery boy over to drop it off. When you send your clean up man, make sure they enter from the back of the condo and to be careful because there's gonna be a lot of police activity at the scene. I was especially sloppy."

As Blanco pulled off there was loud explosion then a fireball shot into the sky as the chassis of the car lifted ten feet off the ground then came crashing down.
Chapter 4

A police cruiser rode by slowly as the occupants inside surveyed the area and the group of four men standing in front of the project building that was notoriously known for drug trafficking. The officers were under strict orders by top brass not to harass any of the suspected dealers, workers, or users because the feds was conducting a big case they promised would bring down the entire faction. The officers eyed the men so long their heads almost did a 360-degree turn as they rolled by.

"Why those muhfuckas always staging us like that?" The youngest of the group named Bones spoke.

"They not checking for you so why you stressing that shit? All you gotta do is make sure the building is tight and you redirect that traffic that's coming from across the way." Nico was general of the Gravediggers Crew that had the dope game locked down in the Lafayette Gardens project houses.

"I got all that taken care of. Rotation is every hour and a half and I have the traffic moving smooth, they cop and break out, no hanging around. The only problem I have is with the morning rush, they like zombies and don't pay attention when they have that monkey on their back." Bones explained.

"I found a solution for that. I spoke with the girl in 2G and she gon' let you rock out in the crib from seven in the morning 'til nine. You let one dude serve from the crib and keep the look out on point so they know what's going down at all times." Nico said to him.

"That's what's up. I'll get it clicking tomorrow." Bones looked down at his diamond-encrusted watch. "I gotta go check on the count. Hit me up later boss, I'm out." Bones gave all the men dap and disappeared into the building.

Nico turned to the two men standing next to him, "Have you heard anything else about who had that mob dude killed?"

"Nah boss man. The streets ain't talking. What you really need to find out is who's holding things down cross-town because right now it's anybody's turf. Know what I mean?" The tall lanky guy named Fred said to Nico.

"I'm thinking 'bout going down there and checking things out for myself. It would be a good come up if I could get my own spot with my own workers." Nico said.

The other man who had huge biceps said, "I heard Frankie Blanco was already down there making a move for that real estate."

Nico's forehead wrinkled, "Where you hear that from Bluto?"

"Jack and the boys from down that way said they seen him pollying with some of those young cats out there. What other reason would he have for being out there and talking to them young guns?" Bluto replied.

Nico shook his head in surrender. Although he was a general in his crew, Frankie Blanco was like the commander in chief because he was the one that put Nico on. He supplied the work and the soldiers but allowed Nico to hire a few young guns from his area to balance out his organization. Blanco believed the only way to maintain loyalty was not to mix business with friendship; it was a disaster waiting to happen. Nico always believed Blanco placed his own men in his crew so he could secretly spy on him. Some of Blanco's workers pledged their allegiance to Nico, Bluto in particular, telling him the relationship with Blanco was purely financial and his relationship with Nico was more like family because they spent so much time together. Of all the workers sent to Nico, he trusted Bluto the least because the talk of his loyalty to him was overkill as well as his talks of branching off and leaving Blanco. Nico viewed it as Bluto baiting him so he could run back and tell Blanco so he could gain his trust and take over Nico's position as general.

Nico's business arrangement with Blanco was great and he had no valid reason for wanting to expand and have his own other than the satisfaction of being his own boss. The reality of that happening was not realistic because he would still need a connect and Blanco was the only one in the five boroughs with wholesale prices for prime product. He was also the only connect who would do business with them directly, no middleman, and that was a big deal in the hood. Nico held no animosity towards Blanco, they actually had a great personal relationship, Nico just wanted to get out from under his shadow. Blanco paid Nico very well, he was paid a salary unlike the rest of the workers who were paid commission. Nico was paid $30,000.00 weekly no matter how much product was moved and whenever sales increased he would get a percentage of that increase. Blanco spoke only to Nico when it came to business, he trained him on how to be a fair but firm employer, he taught him how to organize his workers by learning what their skills were then assigning them positions that complimented those skills, and he taught him to entrust one person he felt he could trust to personally handle all the work and to never, under any circumstances, handle the work himself. Those perceptive jewels were proof Nico was a very important figure in Blanco's drug network and it didn't go unnoticed because Blanco always reminded him, it was just that Nico was ready to move forward and didn't want to feel confined to only working in L.G.

"Hey Nico!" Someone called out.

Nico didn't recognize the voice and when he turned around wasn't familiar with the man coming towards him. Bluto backed out on him and the guy stood frozen in his tracks with hands raised in the air like he was under arrest.

"Hold on gangsta." The man said quickly. "I'm only here to deliver a message to a Nico."

"Who the fuck are you?" Nico quizzed as he surveyed the man's mannerisms.

The man tilted his head to the side, "Are you Nico?"

"Who wanna know?" Nico asked cautiously.

"Confirm your identity and I'll let you know. I have strict orders to speak to no one but Nico." The man said.

"Look homie, I don't got time for games! Who the fuck are you and who sent you to give me a message?" Nico gritted his teeth.

"It's not a game, trust me. Just tell me if you're Nico or tell me where I can find him."

"Fuck outta here fo' you get your melon smashed homie!" Bluto said using his thumb to cock the hammer on his weapon.

The man smiled as he backed up then turned around, "You must be him."

"You want me to go break him apart and find out who he talking 'bout?" Bluto asked Nico.

"Nah, just follow him to see where the fuck he going." Nico told him.

Bluto walked off behind the mysterious man and Nico turned to his friend and they walked into the building together.

"Yo Fred, how long we been homies?" Nico stopped and looked into his friend's eyes.

"Since first grade my dude. Why you asking me that?" Fred asked.

"That shit that just happened is suspect. I got a feeling Bluto doing some shady shit, I feel it in my gut."

Fred grabbed the pistol in his waist, "You want me to go body that muhfucka bossman?"

Nico looked at Fred and frowned. "Nah, I don't want you to do nothing right now but I smell something brewing. When I said I wanted to get my own spot, he was so quick to tell me he think Blanco looking at the spot. How the fuck he know about that already and the fat man just got murked a couple days ago? Where he getting his information from?" Nico sucked his teeth, "You know he's really Blanco's soldier anyway. Fucking spy!" He spit on the ground.

Fred nodded his head, "When you put it all together like that, he do sound suspect."

"I know, that's why I want you to keep your eyes and ears extra sharp when he's around and let me know if you hear or see anything to confirm my suspicions."

"Gotcha bossman, I'll have the binoculars on that muhfucka from now on." Fred said confidently.

"That's what I need from you fam. Now come with me to pay this broad the bread for using her crib."

Nico slapped Fred five and they walked up the stairwell to the second floor and knocked on apartment 2G then waited. The brown door opened slowly and Nico walked in first followed by Fred.

"What's good Joanne?" Nico spoke when the slim brown skinned girl with naturally curly hair opened the door.

"Ain't nothing Nico. What's up?" She closed the door behind Fred. "Y'all want somethin' ta drink?"

"Nah, I just came to take care of you for the week." Nico pulled a wad of money from his pocket and peeled off some bills and handed it to her.

She took the money and smiled heartily, "I didn't know you was gon' pay me now Nico, thanks." There was sincerity in her voice.

Nico hugged her and smiled, "I takes care of all my peoples that take care of me."

"Let me get you the keys to the bottom lock. You said only two hours a day right?"

"No more, no less." Nico said.

"I'm gon' keep all the bedrooms locked so please make sure whoever in here don't violate by picking locks just to be nosey, you feel me?"

"On my word, they only gon' be in the living room and the kitchen, nowhere else in the crib."

"Ok, I just don't want no problems with this."

"None, you know I don't bring problems, I create solutions." Nico laughed.

"No doubt. You always been a man of your word."

Joanne walked towards the back of the apartment and Nico took a seat on her leather couch in the living room. Fred walked over and sat down on the arm of the chair. They were both looking at the woman laying on the love seat across from them that was naked. She was asleep and her chest heaved up and down each time she breathed.

"I'm gon' ask her can I get some head at least." Nico chuckled.

"Shit, I wanna hit that fat ass." Fred replied grabbing his crotch.

Joanne came back into the room and immediately noticed the look on the men's face.

"She's not for sale and ain't part of the deal, so let's not even make her a topic of discussion." She said respectfully as she handed Nico a key.

"I ain't say shit Joanne. I was just looking at the nice view." Nico said taking the key and standing up. "You can't fault me for that."

"Hell naw." Fred cosigned.

"Well guys, I'm sorry. That's all for me and I don't share." Joanne said covering her naked girlfriend with the covers she kicked off in her drunken slumber.

Both men got the message and headed for the door and exited the apartment quietly. Joanne was a well-known bull dagger in the neighborhood who kept nothing but fine female specimens in her stable of girlfriends. Joanne had the uncanny ability to turn a straight, but curious, woman out and have them taste the rainbow. She had taken many a broken hearted woman in the projects and turned them bisexual with ease.

As the men descended the stairs they talked about one day bedding down the beautiful woman in apartment 2G. When they reached the lobby Bluto was standing by the entrance.

"Yo Nico, you not gon' believe what that dude wanted."

Nico looked at him suspiciously, "What dude?"

"The muhfucka you told me to follow."

"What the fuck he wanted?" Nico was anxious to know.

"I followed him around the corner to DeKalb Avenue. There was a black Bentley parked on the corner and he was talking to somebody in the back seat. Wanna know who it was?" Bluto was unusually excited.

"Who muhfucka?" Nico was agitated.

"Fucking Ivan! That's who the fuck wanted to talk to you! He's still over there waiting man. He paid the dude to come give you the message directly and nobody else."

Nico's eyes opened wide. Ivan Barsukov was a respected low level Russian mobster. Outside of his racketeering and gambling dens, he controlled a significant amount of drug trafficking in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx neighborhoods that were predominantly inhabited by Albanians, Croatians and European Russians. He was one of the few Russians who ventured into the black and Hispanic neighborhoods looking to distribute his highly potent drugs. Ivan was known for his love of vodka and dark skinned women as well as his voracious appetite for murder. His associates did not approve of his dealings within the poor neighborhoods; they frowned down on his activities because blacks and Hispanics were gaudy and noisy when they made exorbitant amounts of money. Ivan was best known for having the purest dope for dirt cheap. It could be stepped on three or four times and still be an easy eight in potency. The only catch was that whoever wanted those prices would have to get it by the pound and pay in full within a week with no excuses or shorts. A lot of up and coming drug dealers disappeared mysteriously after taking work from Ivan for not paying on time.

Ivan Barsukov sending someone to give a message to Nico could only mean one of two things, he was shopping for a new prospect for his growing drug empire or looking to cancel Nico's contract as a general of the Gravedigger Crew. Nico wasn't worried about the latter because he didn't have any beef with Ivan. It was obvious there was prime real estate on the market since the murder of the Italian mobster Vinnie who held down a large portion of the drug trade in the five boroughs. His connections would soon be looking for distributors and anyone with good product and low prices would be highly sought after.

"Is he still out there Bluto?" Nico asked.

"Yea. He was sending dude back and I tried to ask him what the message was but he said he gotta talk to you. He right behind me." Bluto turned around and the guy was walking towards them.

Nico went up to the guy and stopped him before he reached the front of the building.

"You got a message for me?" He studied the man's eyes for fear.

"So you're Nico?" He said flatly.

"I'm him. What you gotta tell me?" Nico looked at his waist and hands for signs of a concealed weapon.

"I was told to tell you that a very important person wants to meet wit' you to right now to discuss some business that will be in your best interest."

"My interest is in who sent you to give me this message." Nico said briskly.

"I honestly don't know bruh. It's a white dude with a funny accent sitting in a bad fucking whip. You must be a big deal to him 'cause he gave me two hun'ed up front to give you the message and said he'll give me an extra buck if I bring you to where he at."

"Is that right?" Nico scratched his temple. "Let me ask you a question, how you know him?"

"I don't fam. I was coming out the store and he beeped the horn and I walked over to see what he wanted. That's when he asked me to come over here and deliver the message to nobody but you."

"Aiight homie. Lead the way." Nico said as he turned around and held his palm up to his boys. "If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, come 'round the corner blazin'."

Bluto answered first, "I gotcha you bossman." He lifted his shirt up revealing the automatic pistol tucked in his waist.

Fred nodded his head as he looked at Bluto suspiciously.

***

Ivan stepped out of the Bentley wearing a white button up shirt, black slacks, and black shades. He greeted Nico with a firm handshake. The rose-colored black pinky signet ring shone brightly in the afternoon sun as Ivan spoke in a heavy Russian accent.

"You a veddy hard man to get in contact with, which means you are the man I'm looking for, yes?"

"How you doing Mr. Barsukov?" Nico tried to labor his breathing.

"No formalities, call me Ivan." His voice was deep. "I have little time so I get to point. I want to expand my drug operation to north Brooklyn areas. I hear much about you here and feel you are the man to help me carry out plan. I know who your current distributor is and I'm prepared to offer you fifteen percent more revenue and beat his wholesale price by five percent. I have limited time so I give you only one day for decision." Ivan handed Nico an envelope with a number scribbled on it, "I will expect call no later than tomorrow this time with answer." He pulled his frames down to his nose and peered over the lens at Nico, "I hope envelope will make you happy and help you give me answer that will make me happy."

Ivan shook Nico's hand again firmly and jumped into the backseat of the Bentley that pulled off leaving Nico standing with his mouth open. The meeting was over, just that fast. Nico looked down at the envelope he was holding and opened it. He counted fifty crisp one hundred dollar bills and looked around as if someone were watching him. There was no mistaking Ivan's intentions, he wanted to hire Nico to be the man who distributed his weight and the money in the envelope was a clear indication he was prepared to pay to make it happen. Nico looked up to the white cumulus clouds floating across the powder skyline then back down at the envelope. Not more than an hour ago he was talking about a come up and now he had the opportunity to bring it to fruition but was faced with a dilemma. If he accepted Ivan's offer it would definitely be a problem with Blanco and he didn't want that. Things suddenly got real for him as he weighed his odds. Everything in his head told him to take the money, but he couldn't without committing to taking the deal with Ivan. The statement, "Be careful what you ask for because you might get it...but not the way you want it," suddenly rang true for him. There was a decision to be made and he couldn't be careless nor reckless in making it because his fate lied in the balance. Rubbing his chin, he headed back to the projects to let his boys know he was going home, he needed time alone to think. He already decided he wasn't going to tell Bluto about Ivan's offer because he didn't want to chance it getting out before he had the opportunity to tell Blanco himself, once he made a decision.

"So what happened boss that was fast?" Bluto asked as soon as he saw Nico coming up the walkway to the building, his eyes lit like Christmas lights.

"Nothing. Muhfucka thought I was somebody else. I think he got his information mixed up and thought this was one of the spots the Italian man ran." Nico said quickly.

"All that 'Where's Waldo' bullshit just to find out you not the muhfucka he looking for?" Bluto shook his head in disappointment, "I was sure that meeting was about you coming up. I just knew you was gonna get the exclusive package deal."

"Why you think that?" Nico wasn't hiding his suspicions.

"I don't know, I figured if he came over here looking for you himself that he musta really wanted to see you 'bout some real exclusive shit." Bluto explained.

"Hmmm." Nico mumbled. "Well he ain't make me no exclusive offers so I'm not gonna trip, I gotta get outta here so I can bag some shit up for the rush tomorrow."

"Aiight boss. You want me to drop you off?" Bluto offered.

"Nah, I'm gon' have Fred drop me. I need you to watch these dudes out here for me." Nico slapped Bluto five while he put his cell phone to his ear.

"I need you to drop me somewhere real quick. Meet me in front of the building in five." Nico said to Fred on the phone.

***

Nico was telling Fred his dilemma with Ivan as the black Audi A6 flowed through the light traffic on the NJ turnpike. Nico lived in Fort Lee, NJ on a recommendation from Blanco. He had told Nico he should always have two places where he rested, one close to where his spot was located to give his workers the illusion he was always close by and accessible in case of emergencies and the second home located in another state where there could be no chance of him running into anyone that could link him to his life in Brooklyn. He said only his most trusted and loyal friends should know about the second home and none of his neighbors should know his true identity, in the event law enforcement should ask questions about him.

Fred pulled up to the front gates of the community and put the key card in the slot and waited as the two gates parted automatically and slowly opened to allow access. He maneuvered the car through the gates and drove through the community and pulled along the curb to a modest sized home that had security cameras mounted on the front and side of the building.

"So you leaning more towards fucking with Ivan?" Fred said as he exited the car from the driver's seat.

"Yea man. I just gotta find a way to tell Blanco." Nico said as he trotted up the walkway to his front door.

"You think he gon' flip when you tell him?" Fred walked up behind him as he opened the door and deactivated his house alarm.

"He not gon' have a problem with me wanting to do my own thing, he gon' have a problem with me wanting to do it in L.G. Ivan wants to supply me with more weight and for five percent less than what Blanco letting me get it for. I don't have a choice but to take that deal, it's too sweet."

"That is a sweet deal. Well whatever you decide you know I'm wit' it. Even if you have to go to war with Blanco over it, I'll arm up and put on my vest." Fred said with bravado.

"I hope it don't have to come to that for real homie 'cause if it does, it's worth it. L.G. is our hood and I respect what Blanco did for me but now it's time to move on and he can't lay claim to that real estate because that's ours by birth."

"Absolutely!" Fred gave Nico dap and they both hugged as Fred turned to leave.

"I'll hit you lata 'bout what I'm gon' do, ok fam?" Nico opened the door.

"Cool." Fred exited the house and left.

When Nico turned around he heard, "Uhhh hmm!"

A beautiful young woman was standing near the entrance of the hallway that lead to the backyard. She was in a fire red two piece bathing suit that showed her full bustline, curvaceous figure, and sexy legs. Her middle was covered with a see through white bikini skirt that stopped short of her hips. Nico gasped when he saw the stunning figure and was temporarily speechless.

"What's wrong?" Her velvety voice echoed off the suede painted walls.

"What you're doing here? I thought you was coming next week." Nico stuttered.

"I couldn't wait to see you baby." She sashayed over to him and put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

Nico held her in his arms and palmed her ass like a basketball and returned her kiss. He was glad to see her and had no idea she was coming to see him.

"How long you been here?" He asked when they stopped kissing.

"Are you referring to here in your house or are you referring to how long I've been back in NJ?" She sassed.

"You know I'm talkin' 'bout how long you been in Jersey." Nico sucked his teeth and walked to the kitchen and she followed.

"I been here for about three days. I wanted to surprise you. You're not surprised?" She purred.

Nico opened the refrigerator and pulled out a can of Cool Whip whipped cream then turned around to face her.

"I'm 'bout to show you how surprised I am."

"Oooh, you're so nasty. Are you going to use that on me and do all those things you told me over the phone while I was away in school?" She put her finger in her mouth seductively and bit down gently.

"Sho' 'nuff!" Nico said as he walked up to her and squirted a small amount on the exposed skin right above her breast.

"Mmmm!" She moaned as she scooped up the white cream with her finger and inserted in her mouth.

Nico grabbed her hand and lead her out of the kitchen and into the living room. He flopped down on the sectional and pulled her on top of him and they both laughed. She scooted over next to him and swung her legs onto his lap.

"I want to spend the night with you Nico."

Nico rubbed her thighs with his hand and looked into her eyes.

"Where did you tell your pops you at?"

"I told him I'm going to be spending the night with Brittany and her family."

Nico laughed, "If I know your pops he gon' call to make sure you're really there."

"I took care of that already," she smiled, "He shouldn't mind because he's always too busy to spend any time with me."

Nico became serious, "Don't act like that, you know your pops is a busy dude. You got everything broads your age dream of having and your pops is the one that makes that possible."

"I know baby but that's not everything. Anyway, I'm just spoiled rotten and used to getting what I want. You always keep it real with me, that's why I love you the way I do."

"You are a spoiled brat." Nico laughed as he ducked the throw pillow she launched at his head. "Let me ask you something, what he say about you coming home from school so early?"

"He was a little upset but I explained to him what happened and he agreed with my point so I think he's ok with it." She smiled.

"It musta been that smile of yours because that shit got me on tilt, it'll make a muhfucka change his way of thinking fo' sho'."

"I hope you're right and it makes my father change his way of thinking when it comes to us being together."

"I doubt he gon' approve of this because of the age gap and because of what I do. He wouldn't want you mixed up wit' a muhfucka like me."

"And why not?" She stood up and put her hands on her hips. "He's no better than you, he's the ring leader of the business you're in. Shit Nico, I know who my father is and what he does that's why he can't say anything about me being with a man like you. If I love him regardless of what he does then how can he protest me loving a man who is just like him?"

Nico left eyebrow raised, "You have so much fire under you girl." He smiled lovingly. "You might be right about what you're saying but you have to remember what your last name is and what that represents."

"I've been a Blanco for 22 years and I appreciate what that name has done for me but..." She cupped Nico's chin in both her hands, "...I want you to change my last name baby. I want to spend the rest of my life with your last name."

"I plan on doing that baby, that's my word but we need the blessing from your pops so we can be happy."

Rachel stood up straight, "Honestly Nico, I don't need his approval, you do. I'm tired of keeping our love a secret. I'm ready to tell him about us."

Nico jumped to his feet and grabbed her hands, "Hold up gangsta." He laughed. "Just hold on before you tell him. I'll make the announcement to him myself, I promise."

Rachel looked up at Nico and her head leaned to the side, "Seriously?"

Nico kissed her softly on her lips, "You got my word baby. I'll tell him."

"I love you so much Nico, now I know without a doubt that you love me too."

"Of course I do. Now go upstairs and get ready for me to decorate that cake the way I want with that whip cream so I lick it off."

"You're so nasty." Rachel pulled the strings of her bikini top and let it drop to the ground then walked away seductively towards the stairs. She lost the rest of her suit on the way up the stairs as Nico grabbed the can of Cool Whip and followed behind her.
Chapter 5

The white Hummer travelled down the street and turned down a deserted block. There were enormous buildings on both sides of the street as the utility vehicle made a right turn and pulled up to a warehouse that looked like it had been abandoned for years. Broken windows littered the dilapidated building as the Hummer pulled up to a large metal door behind the warehouse and two heavyset men pulled the door open to allow access. The truck pulled in and the men closed the door behind it as it came to a halt next to two jet black Cadillac Escalade ESV with limo tint.

Blanco exited the white Hummer dressed in a white linen blazer with the sleeves rolled up, a black tank top, black linen trousers, and black alligator sandals. The tip of his cigar steamed red embers as smoke billowed out of his mouth. He casually walked over to a small table set up in the center of the warehouse with two men standing around it. The young one had jet black hair slicked back with mousse, a white t-shirt, jogging pants and a pair of white sneakers. The older gentleman had graying hair, a sports blazer, white buttoned up shirt, black slacks and black loafers. His face was slightly wrinkled, the more prominent lines indented on his forehead. His demeanor was that of man who was powerful in stature and well respected.

Blanco plucked the ashes from his cigar onto the floor then put it back in his mouth before shaking the hand of the older gentleman.

"How are you Richie?" Blanco extended his hand for a handshake.

"Not too good Blanco." Richie replied looking at the young man next to him.

"Have a seat Blanco. Before we take care of our business, there's something very important we need to discuss."Richie said.

Blanco sighed to himself. He hoped when the meeting was set up that the amount of money to be earned by the Italians would be the premise to avoid any other discussions.

"Let's discuss then." He replied coolly.

Richie turned to the young Italian man standing behind him, "Blanco, this is Tommy Six Fingers. He's a close relative to Vinnie." Richie looked at Blanco with unsure eyes.

Blanco extended his hand over the table, pass Richie to Tommy Six Fingers who reluctantly shook his hand, "Glad to meet you. You have my deepest condolences for your loss."

The greeting had a sense of sincerity to it but Tommy Six Fingers eyed Blanco with daggers in his pupils. Blanco recognized the intense look he was receiving and averted the gaze as he took his seat in the gray metal folding chair. He glanced behind him at the two men who were guarding the metal door then set his sights back on Richie.

"Blanco, we have been friends now for over fifteen years and have been actively doing business for ten of those years. In that time I have come to know you on a more personal level. My family would not condone our friendship because of the kind of business you are involved with but I know you as a compassionate and caring man. I would never go against my family under any circumstances but I made an exception with you when I was told you were the one that killed Vinnie Buscetti...

Blanco cut him off and dramatically screamed out, "I didn't have anything to do with Vinnie's murder! Where did you get this information from!" Blanco stood up, not threateningly, more like vehement protest.

"Sit down Blanco." Richie said softly. "Vinnie's murder has caused a problem among the families. We are at brink for a war because the Buscetti's believe the hit was sanctioned by one of the families. Tommy here has come to me personally and told me that he's sure it was an outside job made to look like an inside mob hit. When he started to talk, all I could do was listen, out of respect for his late cousin." Richie rubbed his chin. "What I heard was very disturbing because your name was implicated in the murder. Now I must ask you Blanco...did you murder Vincent Buscetti or give the ok for the hit?"

Without hesitation Blanco answered smoothly, " Richie, it's very unfortunate that Vinnie was murdered but I did not have a hand in it nor did I order the hit."

"You fucking liar!" Tommy Six Fingers spewed, "You fucking monkey lover! You did it your fuckin' self! I know your stash house was robbed while youz was in there! You figured it was my uncle because it happened right after he had your package dropped off!"

Blanco kept his composure as he addressed Tommy, "How da fuck would you know all that? Were you there? Are you the one that set me up to be robbed?"

Tommy leaped over to table, knocking the bottled waters and papers on top of it to the floor. Blanco reacted swiftly, he moved to the side avoiding Tommy's hands and grabbed him by his shirt and sweats mid air then swung him into a wooden beam. The momentum of the airborne body threw Blanco to the floor but he was uninjured as he got to his feet and dust himself off before going to finish off Tommy Six Fingers. He approached him slowly and grabbed the young Italian by his hair and was about to turn him over and pummel his face until he heard a loud clicking noise.

"Get off of him!" One of the goons standing guard was summoned by Richie to stop the fight.

Blanco rose to his feet and turned to Richie who was shaking his head left to right.

"Richie, I was protecting myself. I apologize for any disrespect but I am a man first."

Richie waved his hand and waited for the guard to help Tommy Six Fingers to his feet. He was helped back to the table where he took a seat in the folding metal chair, winded from the crash into the wooden beam. Richie shook his finger at Blanco.

"Blanco, sometimes a man's reaction will betray what comes from his vocal chords."

"Richie, why would I think Vinnie set me up? He was my supplier for over five years. I had no reason to think he set me up and I had no reason to want him murdered." Blanco disputed.

"Blanco, as much as I want to believe you, I have to make a decision. I am an honorable man and will give you 48 hours to find out who murdered Vinnie. If you cannot produce a suspect by then our business together is done and you will no longer have my protection from any of the families."

Richie's eyes were steady.

Tommy Six Fingers smirked when he heard the ultimatum. When he heard Blanco was behind Vinnie's murder he was set to kill him but because he was such a close business associate of Richie, he had to get approval. There was rumor of a war so Tommy used that as his vice, he told Richie war between the families could be avoided because he knew who killed Vinnie and it wasn't anyone from the families, it was someone who wasn't connected. When Richie found out Blanco was implicated he promised Tommy if he was guilty of the murder of Vinnie, he would give the ok to get rid of him but for a price since Blanco was a financial powerhouse for him.

"Richie, I cannot promise you I'll find a suspect in the next 48 hours but I can promise you that I am not guilty of what I'm being accused of." Blanco was eyeing Tommy Six Fingers as he spoke.

"48 hours is all you have to save our business relationship and clear your name." Richie then turned to Tommy and addressed him, "You will hear from me in 48 hours, now you must leave."

Tommy kissed Richie on both cheeks then made his finger like a gun and pointed it at Blanco, dropping his thumb like he pulled the trigger of a gun.

"See you in 48." Tommy said as he walked toward one of the Cadillac SUV's.

Once the SUV pulled off and disappeared out of the old factory, Richie banged his fist on the table and screamed, "What the fuck did you do Blanco? You trying to start a fucking war?"

"Richie, Vinnie set me up. You know he wanted to take over my real estate. He was a fucking crook and a pig and deserved to die." Blanco said flatly.

"You put me in a bad position this time Blanco, my hands are tied. There's nothing I can do about this one." Richie shook his head in dismay. He genuinely liked Blanco because of his loyalty and great business sense.

"Richie, I would never put you in a position where you would have to choose between me or your family because I know what your choice would be. Excuse me for a second, I need to get something out the truck." Blanco rose from the table and walked to the truck and retrieved a manila envelope and a briefcase. When he came back to the table he placed the briefcase in front of Richie and the manila envelope on top of it. "I have never moved recklessly in my years of being your trusted associate. I would never violate your codes of honor, respect and loyalty. I have never reacted because of guilt or fear. I am and always will be a man of honor as you have always been to me Richie. Now please, open up the envelope." Richie picked up the envelope and opened it slowly. He pulled out a bunch of 8x10 pictures, papers filled with words from top to bottom and a small recording device. Richie looked through the pictures and read some of the papers but when he pressed play on the mini recorder, his eyebrows furrowed and the age lines in his forehead disappeared. He stopped the recorder and looked up at Blanco who was busy wiping dirt off his white linen blazer.

"How long...where did you...how did you get this?" Richie stuttered. "Blanco, is this official?"

"The documents have official seals on them, the voices on the recording are real and the pictures, the pictures do not lie." Blanco stood up and turned the briefcase around then opened it. He spun it back around facing Richie, "This is $250,000. I want to know if our business relationship will remain intact. If your answer is no, consider this a parting gift of my thanks for the years we've done business, if our business remains unbroken, I would like to receive my goods."

Richie stood up and waved one of the guards over to him then whispered in his ear. The guard went to the back of the Cadillac SUV and opened the trunk doors then went back to his position at the metal door.

"Blanco you are always one step ahead of an old man, huh? Tell me how you got this valuable information?"

"Before Vinnie's father died, he told me he thought Sal was a rat and wanted me to find out for sure before he whacked him. When I started investigating Sal, Don Buscetti got sick so any information I stumbled on, I would give to his son Vinnie to give to him. A year passed and I was surprised Sal wasn't dead so I asked Vinnie and he told me his father had a change of heart and wanted me to stop investigating Sal. Don Buscetti's health was failing so I had to do business with Vinnie instead and the first thing he did was raise my prices. I never did stop investigating Sal and that's when I saw Vinnie talking to the same feds and realized he was the rat all along. I know I needed solid proof before going to Don Buscetti so I hired a P.I. to get me the pictures and record him talking with the feds. I wanted to tell Don Buscetti but he died before I had the chance."

"That fucking Vinnie, he was always a fucking asshole. I loved his father like a brother but his son, that Vinnie was no fucking good and I knew he would take us down one way or another. Blanco, thank you for this information. I will let the heads of the families know exactly where I got this information and I will handle Tommy Six Fingers."

"Thanks Richie but as a favor to me, please give me the ok to handle Tommy Six Fingers myself." Blanco's tone held deadly intentions.

"Blanco, as much as I would love to approve that hit, I cannot. You have already spilled enough Italian blood for your life. Once I show them what that fucking rat was telling the feds about all of us they will allow the murder through a technicality. Capiece?"

"Yes, I understand but I'm going to tell you that Tommy Six Fingers is going to feel the wrath of Frankie Blanco."

"If Tommy Six Fingers is found murdered and no one can identify the shooter, then it will be unsolved. Be careful Blanco and we will be in contact very soon." Richie said as he grabbed the briefcase and manila envelope off the table.

"Thanks Richie." Blanco stood up and shook his hand and pulled him in for a hug.

Blanco turned and went to the open back door of the Escalade and grabbed two of the eight leather oversized duffel bags and walked to his Hummer.

Once he was finished with transferring the bags to the Hummer, he looked over to Richie who was listening to the mini recorder.

"I didn't know the feds knew so much about me until now. Vinnie was married to those fucks and from what I'm hearing on this tape, he didn't have a reason to rat because they didn't have shit on him." Richie shook his head. "The information on this tape is so valuable but damaging for the rest of the families, as well as myself. I will use this information like the Pied Piper and get all the rats in one place then kill 'em all!" Richie wiped his forehead with a white handkerchief. "Blanco, you never cease to amaze me."

"I'm only glad I could help you Richie and I didn't need 48 hours to do it." Blanco laughed and jumped into the driver's seat of his Hummer and pulled up to the metal gate and waited for the guards to open it for him to exit.
Chapter 6

"I'm glad for your decision. Here are the conditions: I drop off fifteen kilogram of pure heroin. You will pay me wholesale price of $27,000 per kilogram which is equivalent to $405,000.00 American. I want payment within two weeks of drop." Ivan explained to Nico.

Nico decided to take the deal Ivan offered the day before. The amount of heroin he was giving him was worth over $1,650,000.00 on the street. Nico put together a team of workers with the help of Fred and Rachel. Nico came up with a plan that would net at least $200,000.00 a week but it would be dangerous. The heroin Ivan had was straight from Afghanistan and was delivered raw. That meant Nico could step on it at least twice and it would still hold an eight or nine on the street. He was then going to bag up two kilos and distribute it to every well known drug infested area in the five boroughs. He was going to employ two dopefiends in each area and have them sell the product. The dangerous part was the drama he would definitely cause once the drug dealers find out he was moving in on their real estate. Fred was going to handle that part for him by employing 20 of the grimiest shooters from his team. Two were going to be placed on guard to make sure no money or product was lost while the dopefiends were peddling the bundles. They were instructed to use deadly force only when necessary because gunfire would bring too much heat to the spot and that would slow down the money train. The next phase of his plan was to distribute weight to some of the mid level drug pushers. He was going to step on the product three times so he could stretch it further and give up prices that no one on the market could beat. He planned on doing that with three kilos of the potent drug from Ivan. In this phase, Rachel insisted on helping find potential buyers in the suburbs although Nico protested vehemently but after telling him she had access to some of her father's old connections he agreed as long as she worked alone. If everything worked out, Nico would have over $450,000.00 the first two weeks, pay Ivan off and take his time getting rid of the remaining ten kilos. He stood to make a profit close to a million after paying off the workers and soldiers.

"That should be no problem." Nico said to Ivan.

"Should be? You need to be more confident, yes?" Ivan took a shot from his silver flask filled with Stolichnaya vodka.

"I'm confident. I already have my team set up."

"Then it's settled." Ivan shook Nico's hand firmly then offered him a drink from his flask but he declined. "I have product in location veddy close. You follow me."

Remembering what Blanco schooled him about touching drugs directly, Nico answered, "I will send my partner to pick up the work, is that ok?"

"No problem, I understand." Ivan responded with no emotion. "Have him follow me now." Ivan walked over to his black Bentley Continental Flying Spur and got into the backseat.

Nico walked over to his car and tapped on the window. Fred rolled it down and Nico whispered something in his ear and Fred nodded his head and turned the key in the ignition. Rachel exited from the backseat and Fred pulled off following behind Ivan's car that just pulled off.

Nico grabbed Rachel's hand and held it in his gently.

"Ok baby, this is the beginning. That was the easy part, the hardest part is coming."

"What is the hard part?" Rachel asked looking up in his eyes.

"I gotta tell your pops I'm going out on my own."

"Well, what's wrong with that?" Rachel rubbed his hand.

"I don't think he gon' have a problem with me going out on my own. The problem is gonna come when I tell him L.G. is gonna be off limits for him."

"I don't understand Nico. Why would you tell him that?"

"In order for me to be able to pay Ivan on time, I cannot have any other product out here, it will slow down how fast the money comes." Nico explained.

"Oh well, guess he'll just move somewhere else." Rachel said nonchalantly.

"Negative. I know Blanco. He' s big on family and loyalty. He's going to feel like I'm bossing up on him in a disrespectful manner and..." Nico looked down at Rachel.

"And what?" There was nervousness in her voice.

"He's gonna want to go to war over this." Nico shook his head.

"My father has alot of money, more money than he could spend in one lifetime baby. Besides that, he really likes you as a son so I don't think he would go ballistic like you're thinking." Rachel reassured.

"All bets are off Rachel. I have to be prepared for whatever and I can't underestimate what your father will do. I have to handle this like business, my business." His eyes were glassy. "I hope you don't have to choose."

"I already made my choice Nico." Rachel said seriously, laying her head on his chest.

***

Blanco was sitting inside his Lincoln Town Car with the engine idling and the windows up. The air conditioner was blowing on low, making the temperature in the all black car comfortable. He pulled his Cartier frames down to the bridge of his nose as he looked out the dark tint of the driver's side window. He was focusing on the figure walking to the plastic port-a-potty off on the side of the park where there was a carnival being held. He pulled the small silver caliber pistol from the glove compartment and readied it, putting a live round into the chamber. As the man approached the portable bathroom he was stopped by a young girl who pulled on his hand relentlessly. He laughed as they went back and forth playing tug-a-war while Blanco waited impatiently for their fun to end. His cell phone rang and he picked it up, sliding the screen down then putting the device to his ear, never taking his eyes off the man playing with the little girl.

"WHAT! Are you sure?" Blanco screamed unconsciously into the phone.

"He took the deal with Ivan. He has everything mapped out." The voice on the other end said.

"I can't believe it. Are you absolutely sure? I mean I need solid proof he really did that."

"I was there while he made the decision. You should be expecting a call from him soon, he said he was going to call you and let you know."

"Is that right? Huh." Blanco was in denial and upset at the same time. His emotions were getting the best of him. "Thanks, I'm gonna need you to tell me his plans from beginning to end and don't leave anything out."

"Ok I will but let me call you back when I'm alone."

"Make sure you call me before he does, I want our conversation to be on even ground."

"I got you."

Blanco ended the call and gritted his teeth. The betrayal came as a surprise because he put so much trust in Nico. He put so much work and time into molding him to take over his organization at the end of the year. With all the training and schooling he gave him, there was one final test he had to pass before he could be sure he was trustworthy enough to become reigning boss of the organization. There was no excuse for Nico's disloyalty and no reasoning for his betrayal, the only thing Blanco could think that would make him turn was gluttony, one of the seven deadly sins . He knew money nor power could have been the catalyst.

Blanco's anger reminded him of his mark and he directed his attention to the man still playing with the little girl. He reached into the back seat and grabbed a big sombrero with curly hair attached all around the inseam. He put it on and adjusted his frames then looked at himself in the rearview. Satisfied his disguise had him resembling a Mexican, he pulled the handle of the car door and stepped out into the sun filled day. Blanco approached the mark slowly, palming the small caliber pistol in his hand. The man finally gave in to the little girl's pestering and pulled out a roll of bills and handed a fistful to the little girl. Satisfied, she took off running back into the park where the carnival was going on full steam. The man turned and headed for the portable bathroom. Blanco arrived at the bathroom at the same time as the mark.

"Go ahead senor." He said in his best Spanish accent.

"Believe me, I was going first." The mark said arrogantly and pulled the door open.

Blanco waited for him to open the door then pulled down the towel he had draped over his shoulder and wrapped it around the hand that held the small firearm. He stood close to the door of the bathroom and when he heard the door opening he looked left to right quickly, not seeing anyone, he braced himself and when the door opened he briskly shoved the mark back into the small stall. The man, taken by surprise, stumbled backward and fell onto the man made commode filled with feces and urine. Blanco slammed the door behind him with his foot, checked the man's waist for a firearm then backed up pointing the white towel at his startled victim.

"Make a move and you die now. Be still!" Blanco growled. He looked in Tommy's eyes and could see that the bravado he displayed at the meeting with Richie was all fluff, fear consumed him.

"Do you know who I am?" Tommy forced out with hopes of buying himself time.

"Of course I do muhfucka, you think this a mistake?" Blanco said showcasing a devilish smile.

"Then you know you're making a big mistake." Tommy's voice betrayed him, cracking as he spoke.

Blanco laughed low in his throat, "You don't sound as tough as you did that day you talked shit to me Tommy Six Fingers." Blanco pulled the sombrero up then pulled his shades down on the bridge of his nose.

Confidence suddenly grew in Tommy when he realized it was Blanco but the gun in the towel dissuaded him from making any sudden moves. His expression changed but fear was still a factor because he was still at a disadvantage.

"Yea, muhfucka. all that gangster shit going out the window huh?" Blanco taunted him. "Connected doesn't mean protected muhfucka! You needed Richie's approval to get at me about Vinnie? You a pussy! If you was a real gangster, you woulda handled that shit yasself!" Blanco spit at him. "You's a fucking disgrace! You think I asked Richie's approval for this?"

Blanco's statement rang true and Tommy realized what he should have done. Blanco was right, he didn't need anyone's approval to sanction a hit outside of the family but his connection with the family was almost like he was a made man. He mentally kicked himself for misunderstanding Blanco's real position in the family, money. Facing the barrel of the gun, it was apparent he wasn't going to make it out of the portable bathroom, back to his wife and family at the carnival. Reality of his predicament brought on feelings of dread, he never expected it would end for him this way. Optimism was something he didn't believe in but his present situation called for it, he didn't have much choice.

"You killed Vinnie Blanco, he was my family. I follow the code and honor of..."

Blanco cut him off, "Save that 'omerta' bullshit Tommy! I killed Vinnie because he gave the ok for a hit on me, there is no code and honor in that! I know you played a part in it Tommy but I spared you because I figured you were just following orders but after how you carried on I figured you wanted to be with Vinnie so I'm going to send you to see him." "You think you're so smart Blanco. Your people came to Vinnie, he didn't ok shit! So you killed him for nothing!" Tommy revealed.

"You're a dickhead, you think the only reason I killed Vinnie was because he set me up? He was a fucking rat Tommy and he was giving information up to the feds and put my name in the mix. Didn't know that did you? All that 'La Costra Nostra' pledge ain't mean shit to that cheese eating muhfucka! I did everyone a favor by getting rid of him."

"You think you have it all figured out Blanco but Vinnie kept you alive from your own people. They plotted on you from the time Vinnie took over the family business. Your loyalty to them was stupid, that's why Vinnie called you a monkey lover." Tommy smiled, "Vinnie may have been a rat but you're living in a snake pit."

Blanco knew it was the truth but to hear it from Tommy made him boiling mad. The small caliber piston discharged repeatedly, the sound muffled by the towel covering it. Tommy fell backwards onto the commode, shaking the entire structure. His breathing slowed down as his arms reached out to grab onto something unconsciously. Blanco pulled the oversized hat down on his head and pushed his frames back on his face, concealing his identity. He let one final slug pierce Tommy's skull then opened the door and walked out briskly. On his way to the car, he thought about Nico's betrayal. If he was honest with himself, he would have to say it came as a surprise to him. He would have never thought Nico would turn on him. When Tommy said he was living in a snake pit it held more weight because of the news he received on the phone earlier but he had no idea he had a cobra in his midst the whole time. He handpicked Nico and built him into the man he was today. He personally trained him to be as close to a mirror image of himself so he could take over the whole organization. It pained him to know he had to deal with Nico. As he entered the car he sat down in the driver's side seat and dropped the small caliber pistol on the ground then kicked it into the sewer. He closed the door and pulled the sombrero off his head and put it in the backseat. He put the key in the ignition and rolled the window down and pulled of as he heard the ear piercing screams when Tommy's body was discovered slumped over in the portable toilet.
Chapter 7

"How much is it?" Nico asked, beads of sweat forming on his head.

"One hundred twenty five stacks just like the first time the machine counted it out." Fred said.

"The count is off homie. How much more money on the street?" Nico asked.

"About another hun'ed stacks but for some reason that shit not moving as fast as we thought it would." Fred shook his head.

"This not good man. We got three more days to get the money up for Ivan." Nico began to pace the floor. "We need to get that bread up or we gon' have to vest up."

"Don't you have some dough stashed that you can use until that money on the street start coming in?" Fred asked.

Nico sucked his teeth, "Nope. I might got fifty stacks on stash."

"Huh? What you been doing with all that cake you was getting with Blanco? Ain't no way you shouldn't have more than a hun'ed racks stashed, easy." Fred said amazed by the low number Nico called out.

Nico's expression changed. His finances wasn't on trial or up for discussion with no one, especially at a crucial time like this. He took offense to Fred's comment because he didn't offer any money from his own stash and they were supposed to be partners. He never questioned Fred about how much money he had or saved when they were employed by Blanco so he didn't see it being appropriate for Fred to ask him about his personal finances.

"What the fuck, you my accountant now?" Nico said a little annoyed.

"Nah son, I just thought you was breading like that. Look, we need to find a way to get that dough up in 72 hours or shit gon' start getting real dark." Fred said as he scratched his head then looked at Nico strangely. "Why don't you ask that bitch you fuck with? You said she was caked up and in love with your ass."

Nico never told Fred Rachel was Blanco's daughter, it was something else Blanco taught him, don't reveal any secret that can potentially be used against you for leverage to anyone, not even your closest friend. Nico understood there was an urgency to get the money but Fred was doing alot of suggesting at Nico's expense.

"First off, she ain't no bitch and don't you think I woulda thought of that?" Nico asked not really expecting an answer.

He hadn't asked Rachel because, even if she had it, a two hundred and fifty thousand would raise flags for Blanco and he would want to know what she needed it for and why. Although Fred and Nico were supposed to be partners, he didn't tell him everything about the meeting he had with Blanco. Nico was in a quagmire that was going to be difficult to get out of. He was facing big problems with Ivan as well as with Blanco and he needed to do something fast or things were going to get worse before they got better. He needed a large amount of cash and the only person he knew with that kind of money was Blanco but he could no longer count of him because of what he had done.

Once Nico received the product from Ivan he set his plan in motion immediately. He cut the dope then bagged it up to be distributed throughout his network of neighborhoods. He and Fred worked L.G. themselves and he decided it would be best to keep the rest of the product with Rachel so if anything went wrong during the first or second phase, he would have enough product to convert to money to rescue him. When the product was safely tucked away with Rachel, he asked Fred to go with him to talk with Blanco but he declined because he said he didn't want Blanco to feel threatened since he was never part of their original set up. Nico respected what he said but was somewhat fearful because he wasn't sure what Blanco would do once he told him. Nico decided to tell Blanco on an even playing field, he chose a busy downtown restaurant called, Gravano's. The restaurant was known for its delicious Italian cuisine and boasted of the pasta and sauce being made from scratch and flown in straight from Italy. He picked it because he knew Blanco loved Italian food and because the restaurant was always full to the max on any given Sunday. Nico went early and sat facing the entrance so he could see when Blanco arrived. Blanco was fashionably late, coming in wearing a taupe Italian crafted blazer with a cotton V-neck tee tucked into creme linen slacks that fell over a pair of camel colored Ferragamo boat shoes.

"What's up Blanco?" Nico had said, extending his arm for a handshake.

Blanco pulled him close to him for an embrace to make sure he wasn't armed with a weapon. They both sat down and Nico stared at Blanco with hopes the meeting place would provide a non hostile atmosphere for the news he was about to lay on him. A waiter placed Pellegrino on their table and handed each man an oversized menu then walked off. Nico didn't touch his water nor did he look at the menu, he stared at Blanco and when he looked up at him from his menu, Nico diverted his stare. Blanco put his menu down and folded his hand on the table and leaned in close to him.

"What's the problem fam? Why you looking so nervous?"

Nico rubbed his hand over his freshly tapered hair cut and replied slowly, "I need to tell you something and I don't really know how to tell you."

Blanco pulled back and squinted his eyes. His jaw tightened and his lips pursed as his thumb rested on his cheek and forefinger rubbed his bottom lip slowly.

"Just tell me." His tone was flat and even.

Nico blew out a burst of air and bobbed his head unconsciously, "Blanco, I'm ready to go out on my own."

"Ok." Blanco replied smoothly, "So go 'head."

Nico was shocked at the reply but when he looked at Blanco closely, his eyes were like icicles and his eyebrows furrowed deceiving the smooth tone of his voice.

"I did..."

Blanco's teeth clenched. "You did what?"

"I made a move already. It was time for me to move on Blanco, I need to get from out under your shadow." Nico said sincerely.

"What you mean from under my shadow? You ain't have no restrictions. I let you do what you wanted, if nobody didn't know you were under me they wouldn't know because I only dealt with you directly so what fucking shadow you talking 'bout!" Blanco was incensed.

"I ain't have no identity man. Everybody pairs me with you, it's like I can't say or do nothing without your name coming up. I want my own, I want to be my own man."

"I can't do shit about that Nico. You think this is the way to be your own man? You think you gonna be better off? You think you really ready to be on your own? I taught you everything you know about this business Nico and the most important things was family and loyalty, those are the only two things you didn't learn, the only fucking things that really matter at the end of the day."

"I'm disloyal 'cause I want to move on by myself? Ain't you the one that told me to never let anyone stifle my growth because it's mandatory? Now you mad I want to grow?"

Blanco raised his hand in protest, "First of all don't get it twisted, I'm not mad, disappointed but not mad. I'm not the one trying to stifle your growth dickhead, I'm the one that started your growth. You're the one stifling your own growth."

Nico was offended by the show of disrespect and retaliated, his emotions on full display.

"Fuck this! It's whatever, I'm moving on and that's what it is right now. I came to you as a man to let you know, I didn't have to tell you shit!"

"Do what you want muhfucka! Just make sure you pay out before you make that move and I'll have somebody else run L.G. Somebody that understands what real family and loyalty is!"

"I'll pay out and give you what's left of the work but you putting somebody in L.G. is gonna be a problem."

"A problem for who?" Blanco's eyes were slits.

"For you. L.G. is my hood, that's my home." Nico said matter of factly.

Blanco's laugh had a threatening overtone. "You trying to tell me that you're moving me out of a place I built? I don't know who put a battery in your back but you better watch what comes outta that hole of yours!" Blanco's voice was becoming audible enough for the customers to hear.

"You didn't build that, it was there already. These are my terms Blanco!" Nico was defiant.

Blanco whispered. "You ready to go to war over this?"

"I don't want to but if I don't have a choice, oh well." Nico sucked his teeth loudly.

"Tough guy huh? Ok, I want all my money dropped off in one week, every fucking penny!" Blanco pushed himself away from the table and stood up. He placed his balled fists on the table and leaned into Nico and whispered, "You're gonna realize too late that this was the worst decision you ever made. I'm declaring war for my real estate. If I can't eat out there, nobody will until a white flag is waved! This meeting is over!" Blanco turned on his heels and walked out the restaurant.

Nico snapped back to reality and blew out heavily. He had to have a total of $405,000.00 in the matter of three days. Blanco had already confirmed they were at war but so far there was no attempt made. He and Fred were careful and kept two additional shooters where the workers were just in case something jumped off.

"You need to put some pressure on the workers in the Bronx and Queens to step it up so we can get this money up." Nico said to Fred.

"I already talked to them Nico. We running a 24-hour operation, not much more we can do." Fred replied.

Nico shook his head and looked down on the floor. "Ok, I'm gonna go see what I can scrape up. You feel like dropping me off?"

"Nah, I'm gonna go do the rounds and pick up the count from the rest of the spots." Fred declined.

"Aiight, I'm out. I'll call you later and let you know what I came up with, you call me with the final count once you're done." Nico said as he gave Fred dap.

"No prob. Be careful."

Nico walked out the building heading for his car, thoughts of where he was going to get the money he needed invading his mind. He pulled the remote door opener from his pocket and pressed the button to unlock the car door automatically. The lights on the car flicked twice quickly as Nico made his way to the truck. From his peripheral view, he saw something or someone moving quickly in his direction. He looked to his right and saw a young dude moving with haste towards him, his hand tucked into his waist. His assailant pulled out a large hand gun and pointed it at Nico, not uttering a word. Nico instinctively ran for his vehicle and fumbled for the gun he had in his waist. Fear and adrenaline fueled him as he sprinted for his 2011 Tahoe SUV. He turned and the flash and thunder from the barrel of the gun made him duck and he stumbled into a parked car. His palms hit the pavement and he pushed himself up and spun around the parked car and finally pulled out his firearm as he knelt by the back fender. The gunman stopped when he noticed he was in the middle of the street exposed and his prey was now hiding behind a car. He crouched down next to the car nearest Nico and peeked through the back window as he crept around to the front of the car to get a better vantage point. Nico was only four cars away from his truck but he didn't see the gunman anymore, he felt he was in a standoff. He moved over to the next car and looked under it and noticed the feet of the gunman. His heartbeat raced as he crept behind him from the front of the car and jumped up and squeezed off three shots in his direction. The gunman heard the click of the gun and hit the pavement and rolled into the street then jumped up and dumped shells in Nico's direction. The bullets hit the side of the car leaving nickel sized holes in it. Nico flinched each time he heard the boom of the gun being discharged but when it stopped, he jumped up and started running down the block. As he ran he extended his arm behind him and released shots in the direction of the gunman. The gunman darted between the cars as bullets whizzed over his head haphazardly. He focused on Nico and tried to let his bullets find his target as he aimed before he pulled the trigger. Nico turned the corner as a bullet splintered the brick of the building on the corner. Once around the corner, Nico took off running like an Olympic track star and hit another corner. By the time the gunman turned the first corner Nico was out of sight and he thought better of taking a chance that he was somewhere hiding looking to pick him off. He abandoned his attack and left the area as quickly as he had come.

Nico was out of breath when he flagged down a cab and jumped inside.

"Yo, I need you to t-t-take me to Jersey. I don't care how much it cost. Please!" Nico said to the cab driver, winded from his three hundred meter run.

The cab driver took the directions and told him how much it would cost and pulled off while Nico slumped down in the back of car. It took him some time to catch his breath but when he did, he wondered if the hit came from Ivan or Blanco. His cell phone rang and he picked it up.

"Yo!" He said.

"I heard gunshots outside when you left. You aiight Nico?" Fred asked.

"Yea, muhfucka tried to ambush me. I thought for sure you woulda came out gunning when you heard that thunderstorm, that muhfucka musta had a hand cannon or something."

"I was in the bathroom when I first heard somebody busting off and came running out but by the time I got to the lobby everything was over. Muhfuckas was saying they heard shooting but ain't see nothing. I knew you just left so I was making sure it wasn't you. You feel me?"

"I want to know where that shit came from 'cause homie was trying to flatline me for real." Nico said.

"I don't know, it coulda came from our competition or it could be that muhfucka Ivan." Fred guessed.

"You think Ivan sent a muhfucka at me already? We still got a few days before he get paid the balance. Why would..." The phone beeped for an incoming call. "Hold on fam, let me see who this is."

"Hello?" He said when he switched the call.

"I told him to miss on purpose. Shorty that was hitting at you was to let you know that the war has started. You ain't paid me my money Nico and your time is up! This is not personal, this is business. You got your one and only pass today, next time I'm not gonna miss!" Blanco barked into the phone.

"You told him to miss on purpose? This ain't no fucking game Blanco! You playing with my life!" Nico shouted into the phone.

"Heh, heh, heh, heh!" Blanco laughed. "Welcome to war games muhfucka! You not built for this part of the game Nico. You 'posed to have a shooter on your hip every time you go to the fucking bathroom! You a boss now right? Well trust me on this, mine ain't gonna be the only bullets trying to puncture your melon. You gon' have a whole gang of muhfuckas trying to take your out...boss!" Blanco laughed wickedly into the phone again, sending chills through Nico.

"I'll be ready next time, believe that!" Nico faked bravado when he replied.

"Nico, I know you think you'll be ready but you won't. You playing in the majors right now and don't even know the art of war. If I were you, I would change my routine so I won't get caught slipping and have a bulls eye on my back!"

"Don't worry 'bout me, just make sure you change your routine and don't get caught slipping!" Nico sat up in the cab. "I'ma show you!"

"Yea, aiight. Well I hope that cab you in ain't taking you to your crib!" Blanco disconnected the call.

"Muhfucka!" Nico screamed as the call died. He clicked the phone over to Fred. "Yo, that muhfucka Blanco the one that sent that muhfucka at me!"

"Word! It's on then fam! What you wanna do?" Fred asked ready for war.

"I don't know yet homie but that muhfucka smart as hell. He caught me slipping this time, next time I might get bodied." Nico's mind was spaghetti, he couldn't concentrate fully on everything that was happening. He was scared. Blanco's ambush made him realize that he may be in over his head. If he didn't get Ivan's money, he would have two major figures gunning for him.

"You still there homie?" Fred asked.

"Yea man, I'm still here. Just a li'l spooked you know. We gotta get that money for Ivan man and fast. We don't need both them muhfuckas gunning for us."

"I'm going to check on that shit right now. I'll give you a call soon as I finish the count. Where you on your way to?"

"I'm not going home, I might go to a telly for the night." Nico definitely wasn't going to his house after Blanco told him he was in a cab. "I'll wait for your call fam, later." Nico disconnected the call and looked out the back window of the cab hoping no one was following him.
Chapter 8

Blanco made a left turn and pulled into an underground garage, parked his SUV then got out. He walked to the elevator and pressed the up arrow. Behind him he heard a noise and he slowly put his hand on the handle of the magnum tucked in his waist. He bowed his head down and cut his eye hard to the right to see if the noise he heard was someone approaching. The elevator arrived and he boarded quickly, spinning around to make sure no one was behind him. He pulled out a key and inserted it inside a keylock above the numbers on the elevator and pressed PH for penthouse. The doors closed and the cables pulled the elevator car to the last floor in the building. When the doors opened Blanco got off and walked into a carpeted hallway then made his way to the door at the end of the corridor. He was about to put his key in the door when he heard movement inside and stopped. He put his ear to the door and pulled his gun out and started turning the knob quietly then pushed the door open slowly. The penthouse was dark but the light from the moonlight shone inside and a silhouette of someone was clear to Blanco. He walked along the side of the wall, the carpet assisting in his stealth. He peeked around the corner of the wall and saw a man dressed in black with a large gun searching through his kitchen drawers. Blanco aimed at the intruder's gun hand and fired two quick shots in succession. The assailant was taken by surprise by the gunshots and spun completely around as the gun he held fell out of his hand. He hit the tiled floor with a thud and grabbed the gunshot wound to his shoulder. When he looked up Blanco was standing over him with a deadly look in his eyes.

"I'm only going to ask you one question. Your answer will determine if you go to the hospital or the morgue." He cocked the hammer on the powerful revolver. "Who the fuck sent you?"

The assailant screwed his face up and squinted in pain. "Nobody sent me, I'm a burglar."

"Wrong answer!" Blanco squeezed the trigger and a bullet entered the center of the man's forehead. His body stopped moving instantly and Blanco breathed out a burst of air and pulled his cell phone out and dialed some numbers.

"Yo, I need a clean up at my penthouse right now!"

"Gotcha boss. I'll have someone there in fifteen." The voice on the other end of the phone said.

"Ok." Blanco ended the call and checked the dead body for identification. He fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket. It had the address to his penthouse and a phone number. He dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up. A male voice answered and Blanco tried to trick them.

"Yo, I finished him, clean."

"Who 'dis?" The voice asked.

"It's me man. It's done." Blanco said.

"I don't know who this is, you got the wrong number." The male voice said and disconnected the call.

"Shit!" Blanco screamed as he threw his cell to the ground. " Muhfuckas!"

The war with Nico was started so Blanco and Rachel were staying at his remote condo. No one knew of the location and it was used for times like these. It troubled Blanco that it was the second time someone was able to get that close to him. He thought for sure the Italians had something to do with the first set up but he knew it had to be an inside job, this time he was leaning towards Nico because of the attempt he made on his life, initiating the war between them. Blanco's plan was to make Nico pay for his disloyalty by breaking his pockets then breaking him apart. He had inside information on Nico so getting to him was going to be easy but he still wanted to know who set him up. Disloyalty was something he detested and prided his operation's longevity on running a tight ship and that wasn't going to change because of Nico.

***

"It's dangerous for you to come here Rachel. Somebody mighta followed you." Nico said to Rachel when he opened his room door.

"Then why you tell me what hotel you was staying in and the room number?" Rachel answered. "You gonna invite me in or should I leave?"

"Stop playing and get in here." Nico said as he peeped outside to make sure no one followed her before closing the door.

Nico had reached out to Rachel to give him whatever money she collected from what she sold in weight. Counting on her was the last thing he expected to do but that conversation he had with Blanco terrified him more than he realized and he needed all the money he could pool together.

Rachel placed the briefcase she was carrying on the bed then sat at the desk. Nico opened the case and a look of confusion surfaced.

"How much is this?"

"It's only twenty grand. I told everyone the price you quoted and most of them loved it but said the quality killed the price." Rachel told him.

"What do you mean the quality?" Nico looked at the money in the briefcase frowning.

"I don't know baby. They said they couldn't give it away at that price because it was so weak." Rachel shrugged her shoulders.

Nico scratched his head, he and Fred cut the work themselves and stepped on it three time. It was good and could withstand another stomp if needed and still hold an easy 7 or 8 in potency.

"I don't understand that shit because even with the cut, it was a solid seven and a half. Shit!"

Nico shook his head in disbelief. Everything he mapped out before he took the deal with Ivan wasn't going according to his plans. He made a haste move and didn't think it out enough and now he was in a bad predicament. He couldn't believe he made such a big mistake in his thinking when he usually covered all bases.

"What's wrong honey?" Rachel saw the sick look on his face.

"Everything! I don't know how I'm going to get out of this shit!"

"I'll try and help you baby, just tell me what I can do."

"I need three hun'ed stacks!" Nico said unconsciously.

"Three hundred stacks of what?" Rachel was clueless.

"Oh my bad. I need three hun'ed thousand to get me out of this shit I'm in."

"What shit are you talking about Nico? I thought you said things was going to go good for you once you went on your own and left Blanco."

Nico looked in her soft eyes, "Look Rachel, your pops and me is at war. He sent a hit on me already and..."

Rachel cut him off, "You're at war with my father Nico?" She pursed her lips tightly. "What am I supposed to do Nico? I don't want you at war with my father. Maybe I can talk to him, maybe I can tell him about us and that would make the difference in him going to war with you."

It sounded like a good idea to Nico because it could buy him time to figure out what he was going to do. If he could get a temporary pass from Blanco then he could fully concentrate on getting Ivan's money and he still had a couple of days left.

"I don't really want you to do that Rachel but it would help me out a lot. I can't handle all this shit coming at me one time. I don't know what you can tell him to make him change his mind but whatever you do I hope it works."

"I'll find something to tell him baby, don't worry." She kissed him softly on his lips and rose to leave.
Chapter 9

"What the fuck you mean he missed his target! These muhfuckas are so incompetent! All he had to do was point and shoot and he couldn't even do that right! It's just like the other greedy lame you sent to kill him, he wanted to rob the fucking stash instead of handling his business! I told you to let those muhfuckas know that he wasn't a slow leak! This was our last shot at getting him. He's gonna be on high alert now that he knows he can be touched at home. Shit!" The cell phone was dropped on the floor. "He gonna know it was an inside job 'cause nobody supposed to be able to get so close to him."

"I know, I know but we mighta caught a break. The stupid muhfucka musta had my number on him 'cause Blanco tried to bluff me but I knew it was him out the gate, talking 'bout he finished the job. I ain't gon' lie though, I almost slipped 'cause I was mad anxious for the call after the first botch up." He laughed.

"How is that a break? It's gonna lead him straight to you!"

"Nah. If he trace that number it's gonna lead straight to Nico. He already got beef with him so it'll all fall into place. So, although homeboy fucked up, he didn't." He laughed again. "Maybe he'll cancel Nico out quicker and that's one less muhfucka to worry about."

"Well let's hope so. I'll talk to you later and update you on my progress on this end." The conversation ended.

***

Nico was slumped down in the backseat of Rachel's Lexus jeep camouflaged by the factory tinted windows. He didn't truly understand war on the streets because he never experienced it during his reign with Blanco. Now that it was declared on him and an attempt was made on his life, things were scary. He was on his way to meet Fred and pick up the count for all the spots. They were going to meet at an Fred's crib to make the transaction. He still wasn't going to have enough to pay Ivan in full but he was hoping if he had three fourths of the money he would be able to by himself some time. Once he found out what the count was he was going to call Ivan and tell him what he had to see if he would take it and wait for the rest in another week. If that went right he would have enough time to get the rest of the money and get his army together for the war with Blanco. Since Fred enjoyed busting his gun he figured he would have him orchestrate what they would do when it came to Blanco. Nico looked at the side of Rachel's face while she drove and wondered how much she really loved him. He was honest and told her what was going on between him and her father and she was riding with him. He wasn't sure if she told her father about them but he was curious to know because the stakes were high.

"Ay Rachel. Did you ever talk wit' your pops?"

Rachel hesitated before answering. She searched the rearview mirror looking to make eye contact before speaking.

"I did Nico." Her look was disconcerting. "When I went to speak to him I already knew something was wrong because of the way he was acting. I used that as a way to find out what was going on and he told me that he had important business to handle and for me not to worry, he wouldn't actually tell me anything pertaining to you so I was left to just tell him."

"What did you tell him Rachel?" Nico's voice held an unsure tone.

"I told him that I was seeing you and that you told me there was a problem between you both." Nico shook his head predicting what the outcome of her statement was going to be. "He became so irate, started throwing shit then punched the wall. I asked him, I begged him to please calm down and promise me he wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I told him I was in love with you and you planned on marrying me." Rachel paused and breathed in deeply then blew out as if she was fatigued. "He didn't give a fuck about nothing I told him, he said that I better get over you because you're a ghost."

Nico's heart revved from fear. There was nothing for him to do but accept the war with Blanco and try his best to stay alive. Going up against Blanco was not a task he wanted to entail but there was nothing he could do.

"Fuck it then. I guess I gotta do what I gotta." He tried to sound confident in front of Rachel but the volume in his voice betrayed him.

"I dont' understand how he can feel like that for you Nico. For as long as I can remember, you were like his son, he put so much into you. You were his pride and joy and he spoke of you highly all the time, I remember you coming over when I was younger and how he treated you like you were his son. I just don't understand how he can want to kill you over you wanting to go out on your own."

"I don't think it's that Rachel. It's more about him feeling betrayed by me. It's fucked up that it took all this for me to really understand what loyalty is but I do now. I wanted to go out on my own but I was a little impatient and wanted to get out from under his shadow when I shoulda just waited for my time instead of rushing my time. I fucked up and now I have to handle this shit." He looked at her eyes in the rearview mirror. "This is fucked up Rachel Your pops is at war with me and here you are driving his enemy around."

"You're not his enemy Nico. I love my father and I would never do anything to hurt him. I know my boundaries and I'm sure you wouldn't ask me or use me to set him up." She stared into the rearview mirror and locked eyes with him.

"You know I wouldn't do that but you know this war ends with one of us dying..."

"Don't say that! Maybe it won't come to that Nico. Maybe I can say something that will change his heart, I am his daughter."

"Good luck." Nico said as Rachel sucked her teeth at his comment.

The jeep pulled into a spot and Rachel exited while Nico scanned the area from the backseat. He pulled his gun out and slowly opened the door and waited for the front door of the brownstone to open before getting out. He saw Fred appear in the doorway and jumped out the jeep and raced up the stairs almost knocking him down getting inside.

"Damn muhfucka, you coulda waited for me to move outta the way!" Fred remarked as he stumbled backwards.

"My bad fam. This muhfucka got me spooked after that shooter ambushed me. I'm not taking no more chances." Nico said as he walked into the dining room of the house.

Rachel greeted Fred warmly as he closed the door behind her and followed her into the dining room. Nico had taken a seat and was checking his text message. Fred walked in and took a seat next to him.

"Talk to me fam. What's poppin'?"

Nico looked up from his phone and smiled nervously. "Can you excuse us Rachel for just a second." Rachel took her cue and walked to the kitchen. When she was out of ear shot Nico continued. "We at war with Blanco fam and if we don't come up with the rest of the money for Ivan, we gon' have war with him too."

"I'm ready for war! I was born and raised in Beirut! Let them ol' muhfuckas bring it and I'll handle it then go back at them fast and twice as hard!" Fred gritted his teeth.

"I'm not doubting you or the work you put in Fred but I know Blanco and it ain't gon' be that easy. You know how he get down fam, every move he makes is a calculated step." Nico reminded him.

"You know I don't give a fuck about that Nico, my guns go 'BOOM' just like his and I put in work like a plumber. I'm not sweating that shit, I don't move reckless and I have a team of goons that live for war."

_"Trust me fam, I know how you get down. I was just saying that because I got caught slipping and I want to make sure you don't sleep on that muhfucka."_

_"Aiight. Now that we got that shit straight, take this." Fred grabbed four Nike shoeboxes and placed them on the dining room table. "This is what I picked up late last night, I didn't get a chance to count it all but you can do that now."_

_Nico opened one of the boxes and looked inside. There were so many different denomination of bills but they were strewn in the box haphazardly. Nico opened the other boxes and money was in them the same way. He breathed out heavily, he knew it was going to be a job separating then counting all the money. He never thought to stop by his crib and get his money machine but he wished he had. He called out to Rachel and she came into the room._

_"What's up baby? You finished talking?"_

_"Yea but I got a problem." He pointed to the money in the shoeboxes. "I gotta count all this shit and separate the bills. This is a fucking job. I think Fred got a money machine in one of the stash houses, I'm gon' see if he can run and get it for me." Nico said dumping bills out of one box onto the table._

_"I have to be honest, that does look like a lot of work." She chuckled._

_Fred walked into the dining room and gasped when he saw the money on the table. "Damn fam, that's gonna take you a month of Sundays to count."_

_"Tell me 'bout it. Do we have a money machine at any of the stash houses?" Nico asked._

_"Yea we do. There's one at the crib down the block. I'll go get it for you but you gon' have to wait about an hour 'cause I have to make a run to the city. Pick up my mom's from her doctor's appointment." Fred said._

_"Damn! How I'm gon' get it then?" Nico shook his head."Hey Rachel, would you mind going...nah, fuck it, I can't ask you to go to no fucking stash house. I'm bugging. Do me a favor baby, can you separate all the money for me while I go get the money machine?"_

_"No problem baby. I can go get the machine if you want me to, it's no problem, really." Rachel offered._

_"Nah baby, thanks. I can't put you in no position like that. I'm just paranoid and shit, I gotta shake this shit off. I'm gon' go get the machine and by the time I get back you should have most of the money divided up."_

_Nico stood up and pulled the gun from his waist. He took it off safety and placed it back into the waistband of his pants. He smiled at Rachel then kissed her on the lips then walked towards the door. Fred walked with him to the door._

_"Yo fam, you gotta get a hold of yourself. I know you not really built for this part of the game but you have to slow down. I thought you was wildin' when you asked shorty to go get the machine."_

_"I know man but I caught myself. I been buggin' since that muhfucka sent that shooter at me. I gotta calm down. I'm glad I got you on my team fam 'cause I wouldn't know what to do." Nico slapped him five and embraced him warmly._

_"I got your back and your front homie. You know that!" Fred returned the love._

_Nico walked out the door cautiously and looked left and right trying to notice anything that didn't seem normal. He descended the stairs rather quickly and made his way to the driver's side of Rachel's jeep. He dug his hand in his pockets and in his haste realized he didn't have the key to her truck or the keys to the stash spot. He panicked and sprinted back to the house, looking nervously left to right as he climbed the stairs. The door was still open so he rushed in. He stopped short to catch his breath and closed the door softly behind him as he bent down placing both hands on his knees. After regaining his breath and calming down, he walked into the dining room to get the keys from Rachel but she wasn't in there. He went up the stairs to find her and when he reached the top landing he heard her and Fred talking vaguely. He approached the room where he heard the voices and stopped when he heard something that sounded disturbing. The voices were clear as if he was standing right there in the room with them. He pulled out his cell phone and pressed the arrow and listened._

_"...and that soft muhfucka actually agreed to me asking my father to call off the war. When I suggested it I thought he was gonna tell me no but hell nah," she chuckled, "that muhfucka tucked his tail between his legs and practically begged me to tell him."_

_"So what next?" Fred asked._

_"He's never gonna get all the money to pay Ivan. I shorted him on the money from the weight he gave me and once he finishes counting out that money downstairs, he gon' shit on himself. He is such a weak muhfucka, I can't see what my father saw in him." Rachel said._

_"I don't know either. That's my dude and all but he ain't built for this shit. Look how he actin' now that your pops declared war on his ass. I knew he was gonna fold. I told your pops he was gonna wind up doing him dirty and as soon as he took that deal with Ivan, I knew it was a wrap for him. That was a sucka deal and he went for it. Ivan is known in the hood for that foul shit, he drops a load on you then wants payment in full. Who goes for that dumb shit?" Fred said shaking his head._

_"Nico's dumb ass." Rachel replied._

_"Well most of the work is done now. All we have to do is wait for your pops or Ivan to finish this and we'll come off with the remaining ten keys you have stashed. I still have about $150,00.00 on the street that he won't ever see. By the end of the week we'll know where we stand and where this dude will be laying." Fred said._

_"Ok. Now there's one more thing you need to do." Rachel said._

_"What's that?"_

_"You need to fuck this pussy the right way 'cause your boy ain't hittin' on shit in that category either!"_

_***_

_Nico put his phone back inside his pocket then turned and retreated down the stairs. His head was pounding and his heart ached something fierce. He couldn't believe what he heard and it bothered him he didn't realize what was happening right under his nose. The whole time he was seeing Rachel she was plotting on his demise. His childhood friend was the fucking rat on his team and he thought it was Bluto the whole time. He wondered how long Rachel and Fred was fucking and how long they planned his downfall. He walked out the building and stood on the stoop, the fear he once felt was gone because his mind was in a fog. His fear was replaced with revenge and his hurt, replaced with revenge. His mind changed gears and he knew what he needed to do, Blanco's teachings came naturally to him, it was who he was, it was how he moved, it was his character._

_Nico breathed in deeply and walked back into the house, slamming the door behind him._

_"Rachel! Hey Rachel! Where you at?" He bellowed walking to the stairs._

_"I'm right here honey." Rachel replied as she appeared at the top of the stairs minutes later. "I was in the bathroom."_

_"Oh ok. I forgot your keys to the truck." He said as he ascended the stairs. "I need to get the keys to the spot too. I forgot I didn't bring mine with me."_

_Nico walked pass Rachel then stopped and stroked her hair as if he were putting it back in place. He cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her lips gently._

_"You are so fucking beautiful Rachel."_

_"Thank you baby. You always know what to say to make me feel good, that's why I love you."_

_"I'm glad you do, I don't know what I'd do if you didn't." He smiled devilishly and walked off to find Fred._

_Nico pushed the closed door open and found Fred looking out the window._

_"Yo fam, I was rushing so much I forgot to get the key to the stash house from you. I forgot mine at home." Nico said to him._

_"Oh aiight." Fred dug into his pocket and was taking the key off the ring._

_"Don't go through all that, just give me all the keys and I'll bring them back." Nico grabbed the keys out of his hand. "I got this homie."_

_Fred looked at him and smiled, "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. Now you actin' like you ready to take on the world."_

_"I'm just glad you my homie and in my corner 'cause with a friend like you, I don't have to worry about my enemies." Nico turned and grabbed the knob of the door. "You better check the last broad you smashed in here too homie, shit smelling like dead lobster and crabs." Nico burst out laughing as he walked out the door._

_"Fuck you muhfucka!" Fred laughed as Nico walked out._

_When he was downstairs, Nico walked out the door but before leaving he checked on Rachel. She was in the dining room separating the bills, preparing them to be counted by the machine. He wanted to pop a bullet in both her and Fred because their plan not only involved robbing him of his position but they wanted to see him dead. He was learning first hand all what Blanco preached to him over the years, it was all true and coming to pass. He remembered the first time seeing Rachel and being blown away by her beauty. He and Blanco were discussing business at his home and she barged into the office wanting to sit in on the conversation but he dismissed her, promising he would speak with her later. She protested and literally threw a temper tantrum then stormed out of the office. At the time Nico thought she was a spoiled brat until the day he spoke with and listened to her. He developed feelings for her almost immediately from their conversation but being Blanco's second in command meant a relationship with her was taboo. As time moved on, they secretly met and soon consummated their relationship. It was a secret he didn't want to keep from Blanco because he would surely disapprove of a romantic relationship with his daughter. In light of that, he tried to break it off from Rachel numerous times but she kept begging him not to stop seeing her, professing her undying love and now he knew why, she was plotting on him the entire time. He would never have thought she was a lying, conniving bitch but women like her came wearing masks, sometimes beautiful ones._

_The wheels on the jeep were turning just as fast as the wheels in his mind. The war with Blanco was taking a back seat and paying Ivan was on the back burner only because exacting revenge took priority due to Rachel and Fred being the reason for those problems to begin with. When he pulled up in front of the spot his senses seemed to be heightened as he scanned the building's perimeter before exiting. He quickly went inside and retrieved the money machine then went back to the jeep. As his left foot hit the last step, from the corner of his eye, he saw someone coming towards him. He dropped the money machine, spinned around while pulling his pistol from his waistline and dived into the street behind the jeep. He heard two shots fired and hit the pavement, laying on his stomach, he watched the feet of his assailant coming towards the front of the vehicle. He pointed at the feet of the attacker and squeezed the trigger as he heard a booming noise in succession coming from the muzzle of his firearm. The body fell awkwardly and he jumped to his feet and ran around to the front of the jeep and witnessed a man laying on the sidewalk rolling around in pain. Nico rushed over to him and picked up the gun he dropped and holstered it in his waistline._

_"Hol' up man! Don't kill me!" The man said._

_"I ain't never kill nobody in my life playa." Nico said eyeing the man on the ground. "You're my first!"_

_The roar of the gun echoed off the buildings as Nico pulled the trigger until all he heard was a clicking noise. He looked down at the dead body and felt nothing. It was his first time killing and there was no emotion, no feeling...nothing. He grabbed the money machine and jumped back in the vehicle and pulled off slowly. There were people coming out of their homes and looking through their windows as the jeep drove down the street._

_Nico banged the steering wheel as he drove. "_ _Them muhfuckas really can't wait to get rid of me! I'm not going out like that! War is on!"_ _The hit had Fred and Rachel written all over it. There was no way it was Blanco, he didn't know he was going to the stash house and if he did, he would have known his daughter's jeep. Nico wondered would he had figured it out if he didn't overhear Fred and Rachel in the house. He shrugged it off and began to think of a way to get to them before Blanco, Ivan, or they got lucky!_
_Chapter 10_

_"Is this Blanco?"_

_"Who is this?" Blanco asked._

_"A very concerned associate. Am I speaking with Blanco, Frankie Blanco?"_

_Blanco twirled the cigar in his mouth. He disliked anonymous phone calls._

_"This is Blanco. What do you want?"_

_"Do you have a daughter that drives a mustard colored Lexus jeep?"_

_Blanco stood up quickly, his palms got clammy and his heart raced slightly. His blood pressure elevated at the mention of his daughter's name and her vehicle. He was nervous because he was at war and knew there were no rules so family was not off limits. After his safe house was compromised he was especially fearful and sent Rachel to her friend's house hoping she would be safe there. This phone call was suspicious but he couldn't lose his cool, he had to play it out and pray Rachel was safe._

_"Yes I do, why?" Blanco asked cautiously._

_"Your daughter is involved in a murder." The voice said casually. "Her jeep was seen leaving the scene."_

_"How can you be so sure it was my daughter and her jeep?" Blanco quizzed as he grabbed his cell phone and dialed his daughter's number._

_"Her name is Rachel, her license plate SPLDBRT?"_

_"How do you know her name? Do you know her personally?" Blanco asked as he put the cell phone to his other ear and heard it ring out then go to voicemail._

_"No, not personally but I'm a close friend of a friend. I'm just calling to give you the information and to let you know where she is."_

_"Well tell me where she is and let's stop this charade." Blanco was frustrated and was tired of playing games. If his daughter was in trouble he needed to know so he could help her._

_"She's in Brooklyn on Bedford Avenue in Flatbush. It's the only brownstone with a black gate on the front door."_

_"Thanks for the information. I would give you something for this but I don't know who you are." Blanco said sarcastically._

_"I didn't do this for any monetary compensation, it's a favor for a favor." The phone went dead._

_Blanco called his daughter's friend to see if she was there and when she told him she left earlier that day he bit his bottom lip. He was sure he was being set up and whoever it was, was using his daughter since they were unsuccessful on their last two attempts. He promised himself he was going to torture the people responsible and make sure they died a slow agonizing death. Blanco put on his bullet proof vest, affixed his shoulder holsters and holstered his two automatic pistols then put on his sports blazer. He placed a small caliber revolver in the small of his back and grabbed the keys to his fully armored Mercedes Benz. He was on his way to Flatbush with the intention on saving his daughter's life or taking one._

_***_

_"What happened to you?" Rachel asked when Nico walked into the dining room._

_"Where's Fred?" Nico ignored her question and started for the stairs in haste._

_"He left. He didn't tell me where he was going. Tell me what happened baby?" Rachel pried._

_Nico turned around and patted his pockets. "I need a phone. I gotta call him." He looked at Rachel and held his hand out. "Let me use your cell."_

_Rachel walked back into the dining room and dug her hand in her Birkin bag and pulled out her Iphone and handed it to a waiting Nico. He took the phone and walked off as she followed behind him. He held his hand up motioning for her to stop and she reluctantly conceded. He walked up the stairs and made a series of phone calls then checked the call log on the phone. He searched the most recent calls and saw Fred's number, he wasn't surprised and wasn't interested in the number, he wanted to check the text messages and voicemail. He spent time reading the texts and listening to the voicemails from Fred and was blown away by how long they were actually dealing with each other. He sent some of the messages and voicemails to his own phone then made more phone calls from her phone. He deferred all her incoming calls and continued making phone calls from her phone anonymously. His last call was to Fred._

_"Hello? Who 'dis?" Fred asked when he answered his ringing cell phone._

_"It's me fam. That muhfucka Blanco put another hit on me when I went to the stash house! I need you to meet me here asap!" Nico said heatedly._

_"Are you ok Nico?" Fred sounded worried._

_"I'm good but I'm ready to war! How fast can you get here?"_

_"I'll be there in a half. I'ma have the army on deck when I get there!"_

_"Nah fam. We don't need them here, we need to plan how we gon' hit this dude back then send the troops out, you feel me?"_

_"No doubt. I'll see you in minute."_

_"Aiight. And yo, I got enough money for Ivan. See you in a minute." Nico hung up the phone._

_That last statement was supposed to get a reaction from Fred and Nico banked on him either calling Rachel or rushing over immediately. From what Fred and Rachel thought, there was no way he would have the money. He walked back downstairs to the dining room where Rachel was sitting down on an ottoman, her head thrown back like she was deep in thought._

_"Ay. You ok?" Nico asked her._

_She was startled and looked at him, "I was wondering what happened to you. I'm worried baby. Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"_

_Nico walked over to her and glanced at the money strewn on the table. "I'm ok baby, nothing to worry about. You finished separating the money?"_

_"I'm almost done, I have one more box left."_

_"Ok kool." Just then her phone began to vibrate and he passed it to her but looked at the incoming number and smiled inwardly. "Here baby, I gotta take a mean one, I might be a minute." He left the dining room in a trot._

_Rachel walked to the doorway to make sure Nico was gone before answering the phone. When she didn't see him, she answered the call.  
"You alone?" Fred asked quickly._

_"Yea." She whispered. "He's upstairs taking a shit."_

_"Yo you ain't neva lied. They fucked up that hit too!"_

_"Duh! I knew that when his ass walked back up in here. He ain't tell me anything but I know he's scared, that's why he upstairs, he probably shitted on himself."_

_"Did he come in with more bread or something?" Fred asked._

_"No. Why?"_

_"When he called he said he got the money for Ivan."_

_"Where the fuck he get that much money from?" Rachel asked._

_"Shit! That's what I'm trying to figure out now. That'll fuck everything up."_

_"Tell me about it! You on your way here now?"_

_"Yea, I should be there in another fifteen minutes."_

_"Ok. We gon' have to change the plan then. When you get here, find out if he really has all the money for Ivan and if he does you're gonna have to make sure he doesn't make the drop." Rachel coached._

_"You want me to murk him? Ivan, your pops or a shooter was supposed to do that so there would be no way for it to come back to us. That's how we planned it." Fred said protesting._

_"It doesn't look like that's gonna happen now, does it? If he pays Ivan then all this was for nothing. You won't get the position you deserved to have from the onset and you won't get the free start up money in the form of the stashed kilos of pure uncut dope."_

_"True but what will you lose?" Fred never thought of why Rachel initially came to him to set up his childhood friend._

_"It's not about what I'll lose, it's all about what I'll gain and I thought I would be gaining a real man in power, not a paper soldier like Nico." Rachel sassed._

_Fred had to laugh at the statement. "Look, I'm not going to murk my man. Why don't you do it?" Fred challenged._

_"So that's what happens when shit changes huh? A woman always has to finish what a man can't! No problem Fred and when I do, I'll get the lion share of the dope and money! End of conversation!" Rachel disconnected the call, fury over taking her._

***

Nico was standing close to the door but couldn't hear everything Rachel said while she was on the phone because she was whispering. What he could make out for sure was that she was definitely talking to Fred and that he foiled their plan by dodging the bullet. He laughed to himself in spite of the anger and pain he felt from the betrayal. He hoped Fred would call and like clockwork he did. He didn't know what to expect but from the conversation, Rachel wanted Fred to finish the job himself. She was a wicked, cold hearted woman and he realized she was the brains behind everything, she was the quarterback and needed a dumb, aspiring brute like Fred who was soldiered up. Brains and brawn, just like Blanco would do. Nico had to laugh at how stupid he was not to figure out Rachel was putting on an act with him the whole time he was fucking with her. She was Frankie Blanco's daughter for Christ's sake.

Nico wasn't expecting the reaction from Rachel and Fred once he told them he had the money to pay Ivan so his initial plan wasn't going to work. He had no more time to waste because they were trying to make him a distant memory. He checked the firearm in his waist and walked into the dining room startling Rachel. He walked over to the table and started dumping all the loose bills into the shoeboxes then piled them up on one another and carried them upstairs. Inside of Fred's room, he grabbed a duffel bag from out of the closet and placed it on the bed and found another bag to put the shoeboxes in. He peeked out the window and saw a Mercedes slowing down next to Rachel's jeep then pulling up in front of the building, double parking. Nico knew Blanco's car and felt a small knot in his stomach, he didn't know what the outcome was going to be but he knew something was definitely going down. He grabbed some socks out of the drawers and found some tape then ran down the stairs where he heard Rachel's phone ringing as he approached the dining room.

"I'm not in Jersey daddy." He heard Rachel saying on her phone. "What? Who told you that?" Rachel's voice elevated two octaves. "I am but I'm ok and nothing has happened to..."

Nico snatched the phone from her forcefully and slapped her to the ground then disconnected the call. He pulled out his pistol and snatched her up by her hair and dragged her to the chair she sat in while she separated the money. He stuffed a sock in her mouth and ran tape around her head to secure it. He slapped her again in the face hard as she grumbled into the sock.

"Don't move! I should blow your brains out the back of your fucking head you dirty bitch!"

Rachel looked up at Nico with terror filled eyes mumbling and moaning. Her cell phone rang again and Nico answered it while pointing the gun at Rachel's head.

"Yea." He answered.

"Who is this? Where is Rachel?" Blanco asked coldly

"It's me Blanco, Nico."

"Nico? Why do you have Rachel's phone? What is going on?" Blanco said coolly, making his way up the stairs of the building slowly.

"She's with me Blanco. I didn't hurt her...yet. I know you're outside and if you want her to stay unhurt that's where you should stay until we figure out what's gonna happen." Nico took control of the situation.

Blanco stopped dead in his tracks and thought cautiously about the situation his daughter was in. She was in the custody of the man he declared war on and he had no idea what he wanted. He knew Nico wasn't built for war but he had the upper hand at the moment.

"Look Nico. I came here because I got a phone call saying my daughter was involved in a murder. I just want to make sure she's safe." Blanco spoke in an even tone, careful not to show any emotion.

"I'm the one that called you Blanco..."

"Why? My daughter don't have no beef with you Nico and she is not part of our war. Whatever your reason for having her has nothing to do with our business. She is a neutral party in this, a civilian." Blanco explained.

"That's where you wrong Blanco. She is not a civilian and more involved in this business, your business, than you know. I called you so you could see it for yourself." Nico said looking at the shocked look on Rachel's face.

"I don't have time for guessing games Nico. What are you talking about?" Blanco tried not to sound frustrated but he hated the position he was in.

Blanco was sitting in his car on his cell phone trying his best to stay calm until he knew his daughter was safe. He wasn't sure what Nico was planning by getting him to come there or the reason he had his daughter but he was sure that if anything happened to her, he was going to make Nico pay dearly. An Audi pulled up in front of his car and parked quickly then Fred emerged. He ran past the car and Blanco jumped out of his vehicle, leaving his cell phone in the seat, stopping Fred.

"Ay Fred, hold up!" Blanco called out to him.

Fred turned around, startled to see Blanco standing in front of his house.

"Wh-what's up Blanco? Everything aiight?" Fred stammered.

"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to find out. Nico got my daughter in your crib, you know anything about that?" Blanco studied Fred's eyes.

"Nah. I don't know nothing 'bout that..."

Blanco cut him off, "Why you running then?"

Fred thought quickly, "He called me and told me he got ambushed again. I was coming to see what happened."

"I got him on the phone. Come sit in the whip with me while I find out what's going on." Blanco said as he hurried back to his car and grabbed his cell phone.

"Nico? Nico?" Blanco yelled into the phone.

"He hung up!" Blanco said unconsciously then looked at Fred. "So he never said anything to you about my daughter?"

"Nah Blanco." Fred tried not to appear nervous. "He called me and told me somebody ambushed him again today. You ain't tell me about sending out another hit so I figured it came from somewhere else?" Fred told him.

"Somebody tried to get at him today?" Blanco nodded his head slowly and rubbed his chin.

Blanco knew that Nico owed Ivan money from the deal he took. He figured Ivan may have been the one that put the hit on him but he needed to be sure.

***

Nico ended the call when Blanco no longer responded to him. He grabbed Rachel's hands and pulled them behind her and used two socks to tie her hands behind the chair.

"You know what's fucked up Rachel? I was nothing but good to you. I didn't do you dirty in no kinda way, not for you to try and set me up! I can't figure this shit out!" Nico's lips got tight while he talked.

"Mmmmmmmm." Rachel mumbled as she shook her head violently left to right.

"You want me to take that sock out your mouth? You got something you want to say to me about being grimy?" Nico teased. "I don't think it's a good idea 'cause if I do and I hear a lie come outta your mouth, I'ma want to split your shit."

"Mmmmmmm." Rachel continued mumbling then nodded her head.

"Ok bitch but don't say I didn't warn you."

Nico ripped the tape from her mouth then pulled the sock out as Rachel gasped for air. She looked up at Nico with soft eyes and blinked slowly, water filling one eye.

"Nico, I don't know why you're saying those things to me..."

Nico slapped her viciously across the mouth with the butt of his pistol, bursting her bubbly lips on impact and splattering red specks of blood on the floor. Rachel screamed out in pain and tried to use her tongue as a cotton swab as she sucked the blood and spit it on the floor.

"I told you Rachel. Don't fucking insult my intelligence by acting like you don't know why you sitting her tied up! If I was you, I'd just tell the truth so your shit don't get split again."

"B-but I don't..."

Nico backhanded her, slamming his knuckles against her eye socket. Her head jerked back violently then rested comfortably on her chest.

"Next time I'ma put a slug through one of those pretty legs of yours and let you bleed out. You slept on me bitch, you musta thought I was tissue huh? Keep fucking playing with me and I'm gon' show you how soft I really am bitch!" Nico spewed.

Rachel spit again then looked up at Nico slowly. Her eyes turned to slits and she showcased a one sided smile.

"Ok before I get shot, let me ask you one question. When did you figure this out?" Rachel asked as blood trickled down the side of her mouth.

Nico bowed his head then peered up at her, "I found out today." He spoke in a pained whisper. "I really thought you loved me Rachel, I believed all that bullshit you shoveled down my throat over the months. What fucks me up the most is I can't understand why, why you would want to set me up like this. I didn't do anything but love your wicked ass! Tell me why bitch, WHY!" Nico faked a punch to her face and was surprised when she didn't flinch or jump. "You's a bad bitch huh?"

"I'm a smart bitch!" Rachel replied snidely.

Nico slapped her again viciously then clasped his hands around her throat and began choking her. His grip was so hard he could feel her jugular vein pulsating in his fingertips as he squeezed harder. When her eyes began to bulge and the veins in her forehead became prominent, he released his grip slowly allowing her blood to circulate regularly.

"Not so smart if you can't breathe huh bitch? Now watch your fucking mouth or next time I won't let go!" Nico was furious with how Rachel was making light of setting him up. "Now tell me why you set me up before I lose my patience."

"Look Nico, don't take it personal, it had nothing to do with you...not directly anyway." Rachel started. "It's not like I sat and plotted this out it just kind of happened. I was genuinely attracted to you but you just didn't come across like a strong powerful man like my father. It was like you lacked machismo and that's what I'm used to, that's all I've ever been exposed to in my life with Blanco."

"Does Fred have that machismo shit you talkin' 'bout? Is that why you fucked him?" Nico gritted his teeth.

"Fred is an opportunist and a snake. When you first brought me around him, he didn't waste time flirting with me. Shit, he's the one that told me everything about you, he's the one that painted that fucked up picture I have about you." Rachel stated honestly. "He's the one that actually came up with the idea Nico. Your best friend. He wasn't as smart as you but he had that hunger and drive to be on top. He wanted your position Nico, he wanted to be you, he was jealous of you since you guys were kids. I can sit here and tell you all the shit he told me about how he used to fight your battles for you and how you used to run to him whenever there was trouble brewing. He told me everything about you." Rachel breathed out. "He was never really your friend Nico, money is what kept him around."

Hearing that had Nico seething. He couldn't believe his childhood friend felt that way about him and to tell it to Rachel was just foul but the ultimate act of betrayal was taking his girl and trying to set him up.

"You still didn't tell me why you tried to set me up. I can see why Fred did it now. Money and power are the usual common denominators for most set ups but you already have money and you already have power so it has to be something else." Nico inched closer to her and was about to slap her again but her phone started ringing again.

***

Blanco called Rachel's phone after he realized Nico disconnected their call. He needed to be absolutely sure what Nico wanted from him and why he was using his daughter. He had an idea but he needed to be sure he was right.

"Nico? Let me speak to Rachel." Blanco asked when he picked up the phone.

"She's busy right now but I can give her a message." Nico said sarcastically.

"Let's cut to the chase Nico. Tell me what's goin' on, tell me why you're doing this." Blanco's voice was calm.

"Ok. You want to know, here's truth for you. Your daughter tried to set me up. She tried to get me murked..." Blanco cut him off.

"Fuck outta here. My daughter ain't do that shit! She's not capable of shit like that! Let me speak to her!" Blanco lost his cool momentarily.

"You can't speak to her right now but I'll let you hear it for yourself. Hold on." Nico pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and searched for the voicemail he intercepted from Rachel's phone. Once he had it, he put the speaker on and played it.

Rachel screamed out, "Help me daddy! Please!"

Nico kicked her in the chest, knocking the chair backwards. She hit the floor with a crashing thud and he dropped the phone and stuffed the sock in her mouth.

"Rachel! Rachel!" Blanco screamed as he heard the commotion through the phone.

"What's happening!" Fred asked Blanco but he didn't respond.

"If you hurt my daughter Nico, I will make sure you suffer for years before you die!" The words were laced with cyanide.

Nico picked the phones back up and replayed the message for Blanco. Rachel looked at Nico and cursed under her breath. She squirmed and mumbled in protest as she lay on the floor listening to the condemning message being played.

Blanco listened to the message and his face showed shock as he heard her and Fred plotting the set up of Nico. He was more shocked by how his daughter seemed to be the brains behind the whole scheme. He turned his attention to Fred and disgust was plastered on his face as he pulled his pistol and pointed it at him.

"You and my daughter are the ones that set..." Fred cut him off.

"Hold up Blanco. It was Rachel who set you up. She the one that asked me to find somebody to do a hit for her. I didn't know until after she gave me the address that it was to your condo. I swear man!" Fred pleaded.

Blanco couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did Fred just admit he and his daughter were the ones that sent the hit out on him at his condo? Blanco's mind was being bombarded with too much damaging information he wasn't prepared to hear. He lowered his head and shook it left to right slowly trying to process what he just heard. When Fred saw his head lowered, he pulled the door handle and dashed out the car. Blanco looked up and saw Fred making a run and jumped out his vehicle as Fred ran up the stairs to his house.

Nico's mouth dropped open when he heard Fred confess that he and Rachel not only set him up but Blanco too. He laughed as he pulled Rachel's chair upright. He yanked the sock out of her mouth and slapped her numerous times.

"You set your pops up too? You's a real greasy bitch! What the fuck is your malfunction hoe?"

"Fuck you Nico! You don't know me muhfucka!" Rachel spit out. "Don't fucking judge what you don't know!"

"Nah, fuck you bitch!" Nico balled his fist and swung hard and connected on the right side of her cheek sending her and the chair falling sideways. He picked it up again laughing wickedly. "I keep telling you watch your fucking mouth bitch! You must think I'm playing!"

The front door crashed open and Fred came rushing in. Nico grabbed his gun and stood behind the chair Rachel was in and waited. Fred ran to the dining room and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Nico holding a gun and Rachel tied up and beaten.

"What the fuck you doin' Nico?" He screamed.

"What you fucked up doing." Nico replied with disgust. "I'm gon' ask you this one time fam. Lay down on your stomach and spread your arms."

"What?" The left side of Fred's face frowned up.

There was a loud boom that seemed to shake the room.

"The next one ain't gon' miss homie! Get the fuck down on your stomach and spread your fucking arms!" Nico screamed.

Fred lay down immediately and spread his arms on the parquet floor. Nico quickly checked him and relieved him of the gun in his waist.

"Get the fuck up slowly and go take a seat next to your bitch!" Nico directed.

Fred got up and sat down in a chair next to Rachel looking at her with a confused look. Nico grabbed the table cloth off the dining room table and tied Fred's hands behind his back. He picked up the phone and called Blanco again.

"Blanco." He said when he picked up. "Your rat just ran up in here." He laughed. "Stupid muhfucka huh? He was so spooked he thought Rachel told on his ass." He looked at his childhood friend and smacked him in the face with the gun and watched thick blood ooze out of his mouth.

"Nico. Let my daughter go, I'll deal with her, she's my family. You can do what you want with Fred, that's your family." Blanco said.

"I can't do that Blanco. I have a problem that I have to take care of first." Nico said.

"Well take care of it and let Rachel go." Blanco insisted.

"Not gon' happen. Rachel and Fred is the cause of my little problem so they are going to get me out of it."

"If you're talking about paying Ivan, I will give you the money, just let my daughter go." Frustration was building in Blanco.

"You got a deal. I need half a man. Can you handle that?"

"Where do you want it delivered?"

"Bring it here and we'll make the trade. I get the money and you'll get Rachel back."

"Done!" Blanco hung up and made a phone call to one of his associates and had them prepare the money for him.
Chapter 11

Nico was standing at the window, on guard waiting to see if Blanco was going to come through with the money, periodically looking at the tied up duo in the dining room. If everything worked out for him, he would pay Ivan, take the rest of the dope and disappear...in a perfect world but this was not a utopia, this was the devil's den and he made a deal with Lucifer himself. There was no guarantee he was going to walk away from this ordeal unscathed but he was hoping the chips would fall his way. While he waited he tried to rationalize why Rachel would want to set him up but he couldn't think of a feasible reason. Fred was different, when it came to money and power most guys dreamed of being a boss, shit he was guilty of it himself by taking the deal with Ivan but Rachel's disloyalty troubled him because it was uncharacteristic of someone who had it all. Blanco had always told him to always expect the unexpected and this was a testament to that statement.

An hour passed and there was no movement outside. Nico decided to make another phone call to Blanco just to be sure he wasn't stalling him and planning an ambush. Although he was aware of the circumstances surrounding his daughter being held for ransom, he knew Blanco would want revenge for his indiscretion.

"Blanco." Nico spoke into the phone when it picked up. "I'm just checking to see if you changed your mind."

"The money will be here in the next ten minutes. I was going to call you. How are we going to do this?" Blanco asked.

"I figured you drop the money off on the steps and I'll pick it up, count it then once I confirm it's all there, I'll send your precious goods out to you." Nico said.

"No problem. And Nico." Blanco paused for affect. "When this is over, it's over."

Nico didn't know how to take the last statement, to him it had a dual meaning and neither was good. He hung up the phone and made another phone call that lasted about two minutes and walked over to the tied up couple.

When Nico was in front of both of them, Rachel was staring daggers at Fred and Nico was surprised to see Fred averting her stare. Nico laughed.

"What the fuck? That bitch got you spooked just by looking at you?" Nico directed his attention to Rachel. "You is a bad bitch. Got that muhfucka scared to look at you and you got a fucking sock in your mouth! How you do that? Is that some Jedi mind trick or something?"

Nico pointed his gun at Fred, "I never thought you would do something like this to me fam. We knew each other since we were knee high to grasshoppers. You was getting money just like I was getting money. I put you down with every move I made, I made sure you ate good, I never gave you short money, I took care of you!" Nico's voice cracked. "You wanted me dead fam? How could you even want to do that shit! Over some pussy muhfucka, over money?" Nico walked over and snuffed Fred three times consecutively, the force behind each blow shattering the bones in his cheek, nose and jaw. Fred's head fell down to his chest and bobbed around like a newborn baby.

Twenty minutes passed and Rachel's phone rang. Nico picked it up and his heart raced increased.

"Nico, I have your package." Blanco said flatly.

"Ok, have them drop it off right by the front door. I'll count it first then let her go." Nico replied, strange excitement building up in him.

"It's a half a mil, how long is it going to take you to count all that."

"I have a machine, it shouldn't take longer than thirty minutes." Nico assured him.

"Thirty minutes, not a second longer." Blanco said ending the call.

Nico looked out the window and watched as two men carrying black duffel bags walked up the stairs and placed the bags in front of the door. When they made it back to their jeep, Nico called Blanco and told him to flash the lights on his car to make sure he was sitting inside. He did this so he could be sure Blanco wasn't somewhere else waiting to pounce. The lights on the Benz blinked on and off and Nico rushed to the front door and grabbed the bags one by one and threw them inside the small hallway then quickly locked the door behind him. He pulled the heavy bags into the dining room and placed one on the table and zipped it open. His eyes bulged when he saw the neatly stacked bills in the duffel bags. He pulled out stacks and began putting them into the machine immediately. As the machine counted bills, making a fluttering noise, Nico looked over to Fred and gritted his teeth.

"Look like shit didn't work out for you two fuck ups. Ain't this what this was all about, the money? Now you muhfuckas ain't gon' see none of it!" Nico continued counting the money.

Twenty minutes passed and Nico went through all three bags and counted $375,000.00. He quickly counted out $30,000.00 and placed it into one of the other bags and zipped it up. Rachel and Fred watched in awe at all the money being counted. Nico took all the bags upstairs and placed them on the bed. He looked at the shoeboxes and went into the closet and pulled out all the shoes. He packed the bags and stuffed the money inside then went back downstairs. He walked into the dining room and faced the duo for what was going to be the last time.

"Fam, you broke my fucking heart. I know you didn't expect shit to end like this but you bought this on yaself." Nico pulled his gun and pointed it at Fred's head and cocked the hammer.

"Don't do this Nico! I fucked up man, real bad. Give me another chance, please homie!" Fred begged.

Nico shook his head, "You didn't give me a chance Fred. You tried to murk me earlier today so fuck second chances!"

Nico pulled the trigger and a bullet ripped into Fred's cranium and exploded out the back leaving a gaping bloody hole. Nico turned to Rachel then walked over to her and snatched the sock from her mouth. The look of defiance she once wore on her face was now wiped away and replaced with terror after seeing Fred get his melon pierced. Her lips quivered as she begged Nico to let her go.

"Please Nico. I'm so sorry. Let me go, please."

"I was gonna let you go but you never told me why you set me up and now I don't give a fuck. What you did was foul! You had everything a bitch could want! You lived in a mini mansion, went on extravagant vacations, went to the best schools, drove around in the finest cars, had money at your disposal and a father that worshipped the ground you walked on!"

"That's just it Nico." Rachel replied. "All that shit but I was missing the most important thing."

***

Blanco heard the gunshot and jumped out his vehicle and ran up the stairs to the house. He was hoping Nico didn't do what he thought so he carefully picked the lock and snuck into the house. He put his back against the wall and walked alongside unsure of where Nico was holding his daughter. As he approached a room on the left, he heard his daughter's voice and paused to listen.

"I never had my father's love, he didn't pay any attention to me. It was like I was invisible to him; his work always came before me, he never spent any time with me. He was never at my swimming meets, my softball games, my spelling bees, or any of the other tournaments he signed me up for. On my graduation he sent one of the nannies in his place and he arrived ten minutes after it was over. I was never important enough to him to see me walk across the stage, I thought if nothing else, he would be there for that." Rachel's eyes pooled with tears. "Before my mother died, we spent so much time together, I was his little girl and we were inseparable but once my mother passed on, he forgot about me and concentrated on his work and getting money. Before I went away to college, I had a talk with him about how I felt and he brushed me off and started talking to me about you. That's when I first learned of you Nico. He talked about you as if you were his son, he put so much time and energy into you, spending all his free time with you, taking you on vacations and outings, showing you the ropes of his business. He loved you more than he loved me and I was his blood. All I wanted was the attention he was giving you, I wanted him to spend that time with me. When you came over to the house he always made me leave the room, he didn't want me to be a part of his life, he just wanted you. That's when I figured if I fuck with you then maybe he'd pay me some mind but you didn't want to tell him because you respected him so much. I grew to hate him and I hated you for taking my father away from me, I hated how he loved you more than he loved me, I hated him for forgetting me and for not loving me...I HATE HIM!" Rachel wailed as tears of pain flushed from her eyes. "I learned his business and figured that would be the only way for him to recognize my existence but I overheard him telling someone that he was going to leave the business to you. That infuriated me and I wanted to kill you both, I wanted to fuck up his plans for you and himself because I wasn't included. I didn't know how I was going to do it but when I met Fred, he made a pass at me and was loose with his mouth and I formed the plan from what he told me. I'm empty Nico, I was never loved, never showed love and that's all I ever wanted. Fuck the money, the power and the respect, I wanted my father's love. I wanted Frankie Blanco to love me the way he loved you! Now I hate him for making me go this far, I wish he was dead, I wish I never was his daughter, I wish I was dead! Fuck him and fuck you!" Rachel's eyes were red as embers and spit spewed from the years of hate, hurt and pain.

"Damn Rachel. I hear what you saying but you crossed the line when you tried to get him murked. That shit is unforgiveable." Nico stated.

"Fuck him! He thought he was untouchable, he bragged that no one could hit him because he was so careful. I wanted to prove his ass wrong so I had that fat ass Vinnie tell me when he picked up and I sent somebody to rob him at his stash house and he survived that shit. I don't know how and it infuriated me, I mean, I didn't want the guy to kill him, just hurt him and show him he could be touched. At the condo it was the same thing but he foiled that plan too. I wasn't trying to get him killed, I was just trying to scare him and show him that he needed me. But I wish they would have killed him now."

"That's some fucked up shit to say. I think your pops does love you in his own way, I think he was trying to keep you away from shit like this. Look, if he didn't love you, he wouldn't of come up off that half a mil the way he did."

"Fuck him! He only did that because he hates to lose Nico. You don't know shit! This is a game for him, he doesn't like to fucking lose! That's why he's out there, it doesn't have shit to do with me!" Rachel screamed.

"Well I'm 'bout to let you go because this is some wild shit. I got my own shit I need to handle and I have less than an hour to take care of it. Looks like you and your pops got some shit to work out." Nico said sincerely.

"Fuck him!" Rachel spewed.

"Whatever." Nico said as he began to loosen the socks that bound her hands.

Blanco appeared in the entrance of the dining room, a sullen look in his eyes. He heard everything his daughter said.

"I do love you Rachel." He said, startling both Nico and her. "After your mother died it left a void I couldn't fill. I didn't mean to neglect you the way I did, I just didn't know how to deal with her death and work just became my outlet. I know I cannot apologize for the time lost but I can try and make up for it now. I'm sorry Rachel and you have every right to feel the way you do. I love you baby."

Rachel's hands were free and she sobbed like a two year old after hearing her father's words. Nico was dumbfounded and hoped he would be able to leave without any problems. He watched as father and daughter embraced and held each other and tried to walk past them. As he passed by, Nico pushed his daughter off of him and pulled out his firearm.

"Hold on Blanco! We had a deal." Nico said with his arms raised in the air.

"Yea, I said I'd give you the money, I never said I was going to let you keep it! You have a choice, leave without the money or don't leave at all!"

Nico surrendered. "Fuck it, you can have this shit, you and your crazy ass daughter."

"Good bye Nico." Blanco said waving the gun towards the entrance of the door.

Nico walked out the door and left. Blanco and Rachel embraced for what seemed like an eternity.

"Come on baby, let's go home." Blanco said to her. "Did you see where he put the money?" He asked her.

"I didn't see but I think it's upstairs in one of the bedrooms." Rachel said.

They both went up to the bedroom and grabbed the duffel bags off the bed and went back downstairs. They exited the brownstone and they walked to Rachel's jeep and opened the back to put the duffel bags inside. Blue and red flashing lights appeared from nowhere and four black SUV's surrounded the jeep and men wearing black fatigue uniforms with the words SWAT emblazoned on the back, drew their automatic weapons on the couple.

"Shit, I'm fucked!" Blanco said under his breath.

***

Nico was upstairs in the bedroom looking out the window as Nico and Rachel were taken into custody. He smiled to himself because he called the police on Rachel's phone and told them where the vehicle involved in a murder was located and the woman driving would have the murder weapon in her bag. He also told them that they may also be able to apprehend a notorious drug lord by the name of Frankie Blanco because it was his daughter who was involved and he would be trying to rescue her. Nico had dropped the murder weapon inside her bag after he killed Fred. He wiped it off with the socks he tied herl up with when Blanco entered the dining room and they embraced. He laughed when he thought about the duffel bags they took with them. He looked under the bed at the neatly stacked money and pulled it out and put it on the bed. He filled the duffel bags up with shoes and placed the money that was in the shoeboxes in the top of each bag so they appeared to be full of money.

He called Ivan and told him where to meet him for the drop. He peeked out the window again as he saw the police cars disperse. He learned a great deal from Blanco, the most important thing, always expect the unexpected.

##

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