One greasy motherfucker behind him laughed while the rest in Zeke’s eyesight kept their expressions blank. Including the one sitting across the desk from him. “You’re naïve if you think only one cartel exists in the entire western hemisphere.”
“Wouldn’t fuckin’ know since I don’t subscribe to The Cartel Quarterly.”
Goddamn.Zeke needed to take lessons from this motherfucker on how to keep his cool. No amount of taunting caused him to lose his temper.
“We’re businessmen. To remain successful, we know how to pivot. When one door closes, another one always opens. And if one doesn’t, you make your own opening.” He tipped his head to the side. “I’ll make myself clear. Youwillallow the Souls to travel unimpeded through your area or we’ll be slamming your club’s door shut and sealing it permanently.”
Oh yeah, Zeke needed some major lessons on keeping his temper. Because it was getting ready to boil over. “Sounds like a fuckin’ threat.”
Russo sat back and steepled his fingers again, appearing unbothered. “It was meant to be.”
“Ain’t interested in that deal ‘cause it ain’t one where we’d benefit.”
“What would get you to comply?”
“Nothin’. Never allowed other fuckin’ clubs to run drugsor guns through Shadow Valley or the area we control surroundin’ it.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Zeke gritted his teeth.
The smug bastard turned his gaze toward Ledger. “You should be proud. You’ve got quite the handsome boy there. He looks just like his daddy. Would be a damn shame if that changed.”
Ice slithered down Zeke’s spine. “You threatenin’ my boy?”
“I’m threatening you. All you need to do is leave the Souls alone when they’re traveling through your area. It’s not a difficult ask. And you Angels won’t need to dirty your wings.”
“It’s also not an ask.”
One side of Russo’s mouth pulled up. “No, it isn’t. Glad we could come to an agreement. Now, I have other important business to attend to. Take your son and leave. While you still can.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“You good, lil dude?”
“Yeah,” Ledger answered as his little legs tried to match Zeke’s pace.
But Zeke was on a fucking mission: to get them the hell out of there while they were both still breathing.
While he didn’t give Russo an official answer about allowing the Souls free rein in DAMC’s territory, he had no doubt the Souls would do it anyway. They expectedLa Cosa Nostrato protect them.
Knowing that, Zeke let Russo assume he wasn’t going to make trouble for the Souls. Or do anything to stop them.
But fuck if they were going to allow it, even if it meant making enemies of that goddamn MC. He didn’t give a fuck about them. If needed, the Knights and Fury would have their backs.
However, the mob breathing down their necks and creating havoc would be a fucking problem.
He really didn’t want another damn war like the OGs dealt with when it came to the Warriors. And taking on theMafia was not at the top of his to-do list. The amount of scratch behind their criminal organization could totally decimate his club.
His father had partnered with the federal task force all those years ago for a damn good reason. At the time, Zeke had been against it, but now it was obvious that Zak was smart in doing so. The DAMC couldn’t take on the partnership of the Demonsanda long-armed, well-funded organization likeLa Cosa Nostra on their own and survive.
The DAMC officers needed to make a plan. They might even have to pull in the Shadows and figure out how to keep everyone safe if—fuck that—whenthey put their boot down. Because there was no fucking way he was letting the Souls run drugs—meth, fentanyl, or even fucking aspirin—through their goddamn territory. It would not only draw attention from the state and local pigs, but the feds, too.
Add in the fact the Angels wouldn’t financially benefit from the drug running in any way?
Fuck that shit.
Fuck the Twisted Souls.
