Nicholas's Pov
Running on three hours of sleep and too much caffeine, I got down from the car towards the restaurant, the guys from the Dominican Republic finally showed up, took them long enough.This deal has been months in the making; calls, delays and them trying to play their little games. But now? Now, they're on my time and in my city.
The restaurant is dimly lit, expensive but discreet. It was the kind of place where power moves were made over overpriced bourbon and where nobody asks questions. I scanned the room and spot them instantly. A corner table in the restaurant with three men, well-dressed and carrying themselves like they think they're the biggest sharks in the water. Spoiler; they are so not.
Luis sees me first, nodding me over like I'm the one answering to him, how amusing.
"Nick," he greets smoothly but with a bite, like he's checking me out. I take my time sitting across from him, "Luis, glad you finally made the trip." He smirks, but I see the way he shifts as if he's not sure if I'm throwing a jab or not.
"We've been waiting for this conversation." So have I. I glanced at the two flanking him. Mateo, he's probably the type that doesn't talk unless it's necessary. Then Santi the other one leaned back, spinning a ring around his finger like he's bored, but I don't miss how he keeps checking me for a reaction. Luis leans in slightly.
"We all know why we're here, but before we talk about business, tell me something." His eyes lock onto mine, "Why now?" How predictable. I lean forward my elbows on the table, looking him right in the eye.
"Because I don't waste time and neither do you." The table was silent for a moment. Then Luis nods like he just got the confirmation he needed. A waitress appears, setting down drinks. Luis doesn't even look at her before waving her off. Then he folds his hands together on the table, voice lowering.
"Alright. Let's talk." Finally. Luis studies me trying to gauge if I can handle what's coming. I let him look and I let him think he's got some kind of upper hand here. Then I laugh just a little, and it was enough to make him second-guess himself.
"Luis," I say, leaning back in my chair completely at ease. "I think you've got this twisted."
His brows furrow. "Oh? How so?"
I take my time, swirling my drink before setting it down. "You're not testing me. I'm testing you. You came here because you need me," I continue, my voice calm but firm. "Not the other way around. So if there's a shipment coming in, I'm not showing up to prove anything. I'm showing up to make sure you can handle your end. Because if you can't…" I glance at my watch, as if I'm already bored with this conversation. "I'll find someone else who can."
Luis exhales slowly, his jaw tightening just a fraction, he knows I'm right. Finally, he nods.
"Fair enough." Santi chuckles under his breath.
"Shit. I like him." Luis takes a slow sip of his drink, watching me over the rim of his glass like he's got all the time in the world and I don't rush him. He's posturing and I'm not in the habit of entertaining men who think they have leverage.
"You already know what we bring to the table," he says, setting his glass down with a quiet clink. "Product moves fast, and no loose ends, we run a tight operation."
I smirk, leaning back. "That's what you say." There was a flicker of irritation in his eyes before he smooths it over.
"You've seen our track record."
"I've seen enough to know you wouldn't be here if you weren't good at what you do." I pause, letting the air between us tighten. "But good isn't enough." Mateo shifts slightly, but Luis holds up a hand keeping him in check. Smart move I thought.
"Alright, Nick," Luis says, a lazy grin stretching across his face, "What exactly are you looking for?" I tilt my head, studying him. He already knows the answer, but he wants to hear me say it and to see if I'm the kind of man who hesitates.
"I don't do sloppy, I don't do risks and I don't do people who think they can play me." My voice is low and even. "You want to work under me? You follow my rules. No mistakes, no unnecessary attention, and no questioning my decisions."
Santi lets out a low whistle, shaking his head like he finds me interesting. Luis, though he just watches me,
"Sounds like a fair deal," he finally says. "But you know how it is, trust is earned, not given." I chuckled
"Then earn it."
Luis nods his eyes gleaming like he's just been waiting for this. "Alright then, Nick. Let's start with a test." I tap my fingers against the table.
"Go on." Luis glances at Mateo, then back at me.
"There's a problem we need to handle. Someone's been interfering with one of our shipments, and we need it taken care of." He leans in slightly. "You do that and we'll know we can work together."
I exhale slowly like I'm considering it, but the truth is, I already decided the moment he started talking.
"Fine," I say standing. "Send me the details." Luis smirks satisfied.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Nick."
I don't bother responding and I turn and walk away, they're watching me but I don't look back. As I step out of the restaurant, the air is thick with the city's familiar honking cars and distant sirens, the murmurs of people moving through the streets.
My mind is already working through the next step, Luis thinks he's testing me but that's not how this works.I slide into the back of my car, nodding at Paolo in the driver's seat. "Let's go."
"Where to?" he asks, his eyes flicking to me through the rearview mirror. I check my phone. Luis's message comes through almost immediately; an address, a name, and a single line of text.
"Make him disappear." Paolo pulls away from the curb waiting for my answer. I toss the phone onto the seat beside him.
"Let's pay our guy a visit." The warehouse is tucked away in an industrial part of the city, a place no one looks too closely at. It was perfect for business. I step out of the car, Paolo flanking me as we approach the entrance. A single guard stands out front his arms crossed, and his eyes narrowing the second he sees us.
"Warehouse is closed," he says, trying to sound firm and that put a smile on my face.
"Not for me." Before he can respond, Paolo moves quickly but precise. A swift punch to the ribs, a hand on the back of the guy's head as he shoves him into the wall and he crumples without much of a fight. I stepped over him and push open the door.
Inside, it's dimly lit, stacks of crates forming narrow corridors. Footsteps echoed through the walls someone's moving around and unaware they have company. Paolo pulls his gun and I shake my head.
"Not yet." We rounded a corner and there he is. The man Luis wants gone. Marco Ibarra. He's a mid-level player who's been running games on the wrong people for too long. He turns and his eyes widening when he sees us.
"Nick—" I shot him in the leg and he collapses with a scream, clutching his thigh. Blood pools quickly and I crouch beside him tilting my head.
"You know why I'm here." He gasps, pain dulling the fear in his eyes.
"Listen—" I grab his chin forcing him to look at me.
"No." My voice is calm and final. "You listen. Luis wanted me to handle this, so that's what I'm doing." Marco swallows hard.
"I can be useful." I study him weighing the truth in his desperation.
"That right?" He nods, shaking his blood staining his hands.
"I know things about Luis and his operations. He's not as solid as he pretends to be." Interesting. I glance at paolo who's already checking his phone.
"We've got company," he mutters. Luis sent backup to watch me? Or to clean up if I failed? And I smirked how cute. I stand looking down at Marco.
"You just bought yourself a second chance." He sags in relief.
"For now." I turn to Paolo
"Get him in the car." Luis wanted a body, he didn't say it had to be a dead one.