CesareandDantedragthe man into my office, his lip bloodied and one eye swollen shut. I chuckle softly, watching as he drops to the floor on his knees, his head bowed before me.
Flicking my hand at my brothers in a dismissive manner, they leave the room, closing the door softly behind them.
I lean back in my chair, studying the broken-looking man before me. He isn’t sniveling, which is one point in his favor. Most of the men that find themselves in this position can’t help themselves.
Cowards, all of them.
Sneering in disgust, I open my humidor and pull out a Cuban cigar. The man stays silent as I cut the tip and toast the end. His head stays bowed as I light it up, puffing furiously, and I decide I enjoy his supplication. He knows I am his king, and he acts accordingly.
So many forget basic manners. I’m not sure what this world is coming to.
I puff on my cigar for a few minutes, the smoke swirling around me, letting the hardwood floors cut into his knees. Tony D’Angelo started as one of the grunts. He did the dangerous drug runs, and he did them well, never getting caught. Tony always came across as just the right amount of ambitious; never enough that anyone at the top felt threatened but enough to show dedication.
It’s too bad his wife can’t say the same. Dolores D’Angelo is a whiny, greedy cunt. She fancies herself a fine lady, racking more and more credit cards up with her designer purchases, and Tony, beside himself, turned to the poker tables to try to clear his debts. Only to lose everything. And who did he lose to? The fucking Martinellis.
Pulling myself to my feet, I continue smoking as I walk around the room, circling Tony. He stays quiet, but I can see his hands trembling. The Martinellis, a Chicago-based family, have been the bane of my existence for years. They may be powerful, but nowhere near the level I am. Their reach barely extends out of Illinois, while I own the East Coast, although I’ve been wanting to get a foothold into the West Coast for years.
An idea forms as I flick the ashes onto Tony’s head. His body remains still, but his eyes flinch, ever so slightly.
Pulling my dark leather chair out, I take a seat, stubbing out the cigar in a crystal ashtray. “Take a seat,” I order Tony, and he drags himself to his feet, falling into the chair opposite me. Steepling my hands under my chin, I regard him. It might be worth giving him one final chance. If he screws up again, I’ll send Cesare to take care of both him and his useless wife.
Tony carefully meets my eyes. “How do you think it looks to have one of my men owing a small fortune to a rival family?” I bite out, and his shoulders hunch. “This should get you a bullet through the brain. You understand this, yes?”
Tony nods, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“But I am a generous man. You can’t help that your wife is loose with money. So, I am going to pay off your debt to the Martinellis. In return, I’m going to set you up somewhere on the West Coast. You and Delores will help me gain a foothold out there.”
Tony opens his mouth but then closes it, unsure if he’s allowed to speak. I wave my hand, giving permission. “What would you have us do?”
“I’ve been thinking of starting out in Arizona. With it being right on the border, and its international airport in Phoenix, it’s the perfect location for trafficking.” He nods and I think this over for a moment. Yes, Arizona would be the perfect state. There is plenty of wilderness … maybe in the mountains somewhere? Hmm. “I’ll set you up in a secure, remote location. Close enough to a town for supplies, but far enough out that you’ll have privacy. I’ll send children to you or you can source them on your own. I want them trained up, ready to be sold around the ages of twenty or twenty-one. And I won’t accept sub-standard, Tony. These girls will be educated, softly spoken, and submissive. The best of the best. There are plenty of men willing to pay high prices for children, and they can assist in the training. Get them ready to be sold.”
Seeing the gleam in Tony’s eyes, the corner of my mouth lifts. Yes, I think this will work perfectly.
Five Years Later
When I have a good idea, I have a good fucking idea. Tony and Delores have excelled beyond my expectations. I found the perfect location—a large house on a gated plot several miles outside of Flagstaff. Tony set up the basement as a torture and training room, filling it with cages and other implements he uses to break them. The children are taught from the moment they arrive at the house until they are sold. Judges, politicians, sports stars, celebrities—one by one they come to sample what the girls have to offer, and they happily pay a pretty penny for the honor.
The cut I receive is hefty, and I take ninety percent of the take once they are sold. Tony has traveled here today to give me a full update on his future plans. If he carries on like he is, I’ll let him do anything he wants.
A knock on my office door sounds ten minutes later, and Tony comes in, a large smile wreathing his face. He takes the seat I offer him and I’m a little surprised when he begins talking about a little girl he saw a few days ago when he was visiting friends in Chicago.
“Vincenzo, you should have seen her. This child—she could be a model. Long curly hair, and the biggest aqua eyes you’ve ever seen. Here–” He holds out his camera, showing me a picture of the girl. He is correct, she is stunning. I can almost picture the woman she’ll grow up to be, and I feel excitement stirring in my chest. It’s been a while since someone has intrigued me.
“What do you know about her?”
“I followed the family home. Not much of note. The parents are young, they must have been teens when they had her. They live in a small two-bedroom duplex in some little town outside of Chicago. Parents don’t have any job of note. I think this girl would be a perfect addition to our home.”
“Detail your plan to me.”
Tony shifts in his seat. “I don’t want to waste time trying to find the perfect time to take her. You’re paying me to run the business, and I don’t want to be away from the girls for too long. Dolores can sometimes be a little too harsh with them if you get my meaning.”
I nod. “Then what do you suggest?”
“A home invasion. Kill the parents, snatch the child. I’ll leave immediately for Arizona, getting her out of the state quickly. By the time the bodies are found, we’ll be long gone.”
“How will you keep her contained during the drive?”
A smirk forms on his face. “I’ll keep her drugged. But I’ll need someone to come with me—I can’t handle two adults on my own and keep both quiet. Not when they live in a duplex. Care to come with me?”
