That doesn’t appease Hangman, who stabs his finger at Kozlov. “And the next time you fuckin’ wanna talk, you call and set up a meeting. We’re not petty criminals you can push around.”
“Of course you’re not,” Kozlov says in an ironic tone.
Hangman takes offence and menacingly jerks towards the asshole, while everyone standing reaches for their guns. He says to Kozlov, “You want something from us, you fucker, so drop the bullshit and get to the point.”
Kozlov flicks his hands at his goons, who relax their postures. “My apologies. You’re right.”
I ease my hand off my gun with a breath of relief as I think of Henri and Brielle in the lobby. Today is not the day for a bloodbath.
“You bet your ass I’m right.” Hangman snarls as he sits back.
Joker sighs. “Let’s get on with it.”
“Yes,” Kozlov says. “Let’s.” He glances at his second, a man named Zakhar Sizov, who to this point has been silently leaning against a wall near the window. “Tell them.”
Zakhar nods. “A gang war’s brewing. The Tonapah fucks and 311 Boys have allied themselves with each other.”
“That’s bullshit!” Hangman spits. And he’s not wrong. The 311 Boys are entitled white gangbangers with too much time and money. And they’re racist up to their assholes. For them to align with the Tonapah Union, a gang of black kids, is unbelievable.
“It seems so,” says Kozlov. “But that doesn’t make it less true.”
“Why?” Joker asks.
“Reno is small,” Zakhar says. “The Savage Nomads are recruiting new members, which makes us all uneasy. They’re getting greedy. Want more territory. That doesn’t sit well with the other gangs.”
“What about the Flying Dragons?” Joker asks.
Kozlov waves his hand dismissively. “They’re nobody. Useless bunch of boys claiming they’re aligned with the Yakuza. Thinks it gives them credibility, but it’s bullshit. The Yakuza would not blink an eye if we lined the Dragons up against a wall and executed them.”
“Then do it,” Hangman challenges.
I shudder inside. I’ve done some fucked-up shit in my life, but this discussion is over-the-top bloodthirsty.
Kozlov shakes his head. “They’re annoying at most. Not worth our time.”
Hangman looks like he’s won a victory, but Hell’s Jury wouldn’t execute them either. We don’t kill indiscriminately and we have no beef with the Dragons.
Joker moves the conversation along. “Okay. The 311 Boys and Tonapah Union have formed an alliance to take out the other two gangs. Why the fuck should we care?”
Everyone in the room knows the answer. A gang war is not good news for the economy in Reno and the Russians and Hell’s Jury are heavily invested in casinos and other tourist attractions. Plus, the four gangs are like fleas to Hell’s Jury. We pretty much ignore them unless they step out of line.
Sizov says, “Together they’ll be strong enough to wipe-out the Dragons and the Nomads and expand their territory. The bigger they are, the more they’ll think they can challenge us. We’d win, but again, that level of violence will impact tourism for a few years.”
“And where do the Blackbeards come into this?” Joker asks.
The Blackbeards are Hell’s Jury’s rival biker club and while we own Reno, they’re always pushing us.
Kozlov’s lip curls. “Those pussies couldn’t organize a riot. They’re stupid and random. No one would align with them. Not even the gangs. And Crip.” He shakes his at head at the thought of Blackbeard’s president. “He’s a coward.”
No one disagrees with Kozlov’s assessment.
Hangman drains his beer, then plunks the bottle onto the glass coffee table making Kozlov wince. “How bad is it?” Hangman asks.
“Growing,” Zakhar replies. “I think it’s worth grabbing one or two of the gangbangers off the street and having a talk with them. Maybe offing one in front of another. Putting them in their place.”
“Both gangs,” Joker states. “One or two from each.”
“Yes,” Kozlov says. He grins widely. “We’ll target the Tonapah Union. You can have the 311 Boys.”
