“We just started. Things will calm down and go back to the way it was when we made it in my basement,” Joseph says, trying to reason with me.
“Will it? People are dying because one dumbass decided to turn our venture into his dream. He may be the first, but he won’t be the last. Some other fuckwad will come up with the same idea later. There’s always someone trying to make something bigger and better. What happens when someone who has more money and power decides they want to take what we have? Are you willing to put your loved ones at risk? Are you willing to give your life for it?”
Several minutes pass as they stare into their coffee cups and think about what I said. It’s a lot of money to give up, but what’s the use in having it if we can’t spendit? We knew eventually we’d have to deal with some shit over Snap, but not this soon into the game.
“You want out?” Dale asks, and I nod.
Dale and Joseph watch me for a minute before turning to each other. They have a silent conversation, making me wonder what they’re thinking. If they want to continue making Snap, I’m not going to stop them. But we aren’t doing it at RCC anymore. I want that shit as far from me as possible. There’s a chance I could be happy for once, and, goddamn it, I’m going to take it.
Dale breaks eye contact with Joseph and the two turn to me, letting out sighs almost in unison.
“We’re out, too, then,” Joseph says.
“Yeah, we started this together,” Dale adds, setting down his coffee mug. “I don’t want to do it without either one of you.”
“I wouldn’t want you two going off on your own. If something happened to either one of you….”
There’s no need to finish my comment. They are like my brothers and understand where I’m coming from. I just hope this is really what they want, and that they won’t hold it against me later.
“So, what’s the plan, Cash?” Joseph asks. “You wouldn’t have called us over if you didn’t already have an idea of how to end it.”
I give them my thoughts on what we can do. Find a bigger dealer and offer them the chance to purchaseSnap. Someone reputable who won’t fuck with the formula and is willing to rename it so it stays off the radar. It could be our last payday. Or destroy all evidence that it even existed to begin with. Offer our employees severance packages so they can provide for themselves and their families while they job search. Break down the back rooms and ensure that all traces of Snap are gone from the building.
“What about Samuel? What are we gonna do with him?”
I glance between the two men before responding. “Do you trust me?”
They chuckle, and Dale says, “That’s a stupid fucking question, man.”
“When’s the next cleanse scheduled for?” I ask Joseph.
“Tonight.”
“Tell the workers to take the weekend off, and you guys get some rest. We’ll call them in early Monday for a meeting. Don’t give anything away.”
“That works good, ‘cause Samuel is on a run tonight delivering the last batch,” Dale states.
“Good. See if you can hook up with any of your connections this weekend,” I tell Dale.
“We can get them started on boxing up everything Monday.” Joseph stands to leave. “No reason for us to do all the work when we pay them to do it.”
“Amen to that,” Dale adds, following Joseph to the door.
“Thanks, guys. I wasn’t sure how you two would take the news.”
“Hey, bros before dough,” Dale blurts, then stops and thinks about what he just said.
My brow quirks, and I glance at Joseph who’s mirroring my expression. “You’re an idiot.”
“You got what I meant, douche,” Dale retorts. “I’m out of here.Someof us have to do real work today.”
Joseph shakes his head and walks outside after Dale.
I lean against the door frame and watch them walk toward their cars. “Have a good weekend. I’ll be there early Monday night for the meeting.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
HAZEL
