“We had a tip from an informant who was paid well for his information. Zorro sniffed them out as soon as the truck arrived.” Years before when we were more heavily involved in running drugs and weapons, informants were our bread and butter. While they still existed, their services were needed less frequently. “One asshole mentioned Sergio.”
“Maybe under duress?” Sinclair threw out.
“Why would he? A name out of the blue?” I tossed back. “Did you talk with Carmine?”
Sinclair huffed. “So far, he’s blown me off.”
“Pretty damning,” I shot back.
Alexander threw up his hand. “Enough. We walk this through step by step.”
Montgomery whistled. “A shitty situation. Any idea the person or persons on our side working with them?”
“Not yet,” I answered. “However, I have a preliminary list of club employees I believe could be in Russo’s employ. I’m going to head to the club tonight and see if I can flush out the traitor. I’ve asked Donatello to leak the takedown of the drugs later this afternoon. That will put the fear of God into those involved.”
Alexander was listening closely and I could sense by his tone of voice how disturbed he’d become from the latest issue.
“In addition, Donatello will have a come to Jesus meeting with the delivery company to determine if we need to change distilleries,” I pushed when our Don didn’t say anything. Zorro huffed in response.
“Whom do you suggest we consider?” Alexander’s tone was flat.
I took a deep breath. “There’s one out of Baton Rouge whose been clamoring for our business and another in Kentucky I’ve been in conversations with. Both reputable.”
The quiet in the room was irritating. Montgomery had warned me that our eldest brother wasn’t in the best of moods, especially after learning I’d had the three bodies tossed into the ocean. If Montgomery wasn’t tormenting me on purpose, he’d mentioned I’d been accused of being far too much like our father.
That was a first. I’d been called the soft brother. The young brother. The inexperienced brother.
“You were told the order had come from Russo,” Alexander said, his voice far more reserved than I’d thought it would be. As Don, my brother heavily favored confirming information versus reactionary tactics. I could easily tell he was furious with me.
“Yes, sir,” I told him while tossing Donatello a quick glance. While this was a family meeting, every Capo had been invited. What my brother and Don of the Prince Crime Syndicate would never tolerate was drugs being introduced into our club or any other legitimate business for that matter. “Sergio to be exact.”
He slowly lowered his gaze toward Zorro, who immediately swished his tail. “Good boy, Zorro. Good boy. Have the club scoured, Jax. I will not tolerate drugs being sold from within our establishments.”
“Remember that two of Sergio’s men were spotted inside the club the other night,” Donatello added. It would seem news traveled fast.
“From what I could tell on the security cameras, they could have been casing the club.” My statement was met with another stern look from Alexander.
“I’m aware.” I was somewhat surprised when Alexander opened his desk drawer, pulling out a box of dog biscuits. Although very little should surprise me about my brother. Once again, his wife’s influence. He took the time to crouch down to Zorro’s level, even smiling when he fed the pup the treat. “He’ll be good for you, Jax.” When he lifted his head, I could tell there was more on his mind than just being hopeful Zorro would provide me with companionship.
“Yeah, he might be the only creature outside of the family I can trust.” Which was a truthful statement on my part at this point.
Alexander backed away. “We’re getting out of the business of selling drugs. Period. That’s been on my agenda for weeks. We have one last shipment coming in that’s already in route.”
The news shouldn’t shock any of us. However, the timing did.
“I’ll make it happen,” Sinclair told him. “We have a week until it’s due in.”
Yes, we still handled some of the best party favors in the business, running cocaine from both South and Central America for our more upscale clients, but in no way was it acceptable to potentially allow kids to get their hands on illegal drugs.
We had scruples even in our illegitimate business operation, our drug experts constantly screening shipments. If there was any sign of fentanyl, heroin, or any of the date rape drugs, not only was the source tossed off the roster, but the seller would find him or herself in our crosshairs.
Definitely not the best position for them to be in. We had our thumb on every maritime source in both national and international waters.
We also had a few pirates on our roster in case we wanted the punishment ugly.
“Do you remember when I almost went to prison right after Pops died?”
When Alexander reminded us of his arrest, he was usually doing so with intense reflection. That wasn’t always good since only recently had be become sentimental.
