AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I realize as he steps out of the car that it’s Jordan’s nephew, Emmett, and I pay particular attention to him shaking his head in annoyance. He buttons his suit jacket as he approaches his uncle and his sister. “I apologize for the delay. The traffic was a bit of a problem,” Emmett says to the group of us.
Jordan waves his hand in dismissal. “It’s no problem. Leona and I have it handled.”
Emmett’s eyes lock with Leona’s, and she smiles brightly. “Don’t worry. We’ve hardly started.”
“Apologies aren’t needed. We understand you’re a busy man,” Emmett tells me, and I nod in thanks.
“I like this family dynamic you have. Your uncle was telling me this is your younger sister. I hope one day my sister takes the world by the balls like yours does. It’s a rarity to have such a strong woman in your family. A blessing, in fact,” I comment as I stare at his sister. Though, it’s not in a sexual manner. It’s a cultural difference. We do things much differently in other parts of the world. Most women are only used to secure alliances, but my hope is that eventually, I can bring Eset into something. She isn’t technically an Umarova, but she is my sister, and I will always take care of my family. Nazyr, too, if he wants the opportunity.
Leona giggles in a carefree manner. “Oh goodness, you haven’t met my mother. She’s the strongest woman I know. She taught me everything about being the woman I am.”
I offer the woman a soft smile. “I imagine she must be ferocious.”
“Yes, you have no idea,” Jordan interrupts, walking over to me and placing a hand behind my shoulder. “I’d love to test your products or taste them, as we should say.” We’re in public, so we’re operating under the guise I’m selling the Steele family liquor. I’d assume we’d be safe to speak freely this far out, but we can never be too sure, I guess.
“Of course, please come,” I say, leading them up to the shooting range. Along the back of the building, there are gun cases. We all walk up to them, and Leona heads to the smaller one, pulling out a 9mm Glock.
She walks over to one of the booths and puts on her eye and ear protection. While she’s putting ammunition in, the rest of us are putting on our eye and ear protection. Meanwhile, Leona’s quick to chamber a round. She tests the 9mm, and it sounds exactly as it should. She continues shooting until she’s out, places the gun down, and slides down her earmuffs. “It’s good,” she looks to her uncle.
He gives a nod, then looks at Emmett. “Emmett, check the AR-10, AR-15, and the AK. Leona, I want you to test the .308, 7mm, and 306. Ruslan and I will look at the rest of his supplies.”
Leona and Emmett proceed to do as their uncle says, and I must say they seem impressed with the quality of the guns they’re testing. I’ve seen many men test my product, and they all look the same when they’re satisfied. Shocked, but pleasantly so. I’m going to naturally assume this meeting is going as well as possible. In a few short minutes, I should know. If I can get them what they need, it’ll help them with their supply shortages.
Within about half an hour, we’re all finished testing everything. Emmett’s since cleaned the guns he’s tested, and Leona’s done the same with hers. They then put them back into their proper cases, and I pull Jordan off to the side to speak to him one-on-one. It looks like there might be a bit of sibling rivalry going on, and I don’t want it to take away from the business deal.
“It seems to me like you’re satisfied, and we can come to an official agreement.” I wait to gauge Jordan’s reaction, but the man doesn’t have one at all. He’s stoic, and for a few minutes, I’m almost sweating.
He then extends a hand, and I take it. We shake, and I can rest easy knowing the Steeles are going to move forward with this deal. I didn’t think they weren’t going to do it, but I know if they had another arm’s dealer pop up, I’d be met with some sort of competition. I’m certainly not the only arm’s dealer they could work with, but I am the one they want to work with right now. It’s a good opportunity for me to prove myself and my position in power. A time to prove to the people who are against me that I can do this, and I am doing it. I know some still remain loyal to Anzor, and acts such as this will make me seem more serious.
“Can you get me a combined mixture of guns on a weekly shipment? Add a bit of body armor every two weeks, but I don’t want to involve myself in the grenades and other miscellaneous items unless there’s a specific need. Guns are enough to worry about on the streets. The last thing I need is for someone to toss a grenade and then really shake things up with the ATF.”
“I can. Do you want me to include a bit of everything on the first shipment? That way, you have whatever you need if the situation arises?”
Jordan takes a few moments and then nods. “Yes, and if I require more of them, I’ll notify you.”
“Perfect. I’ll make sure to call my people and get everything set up. I take it you have a specific day and shipyard you want me to transport the items to?”
Almost every client, who buys as much as the Steeles are going to, has paid off people. They have whomever they need in their pockets to ensure they won’t get busted. “Yes. I’ll send over those details later with the first deposit.”
“Sounds perfect.” I extend my hand again out of courtesy, and Jordan takes it.
“We’ll see you again, I’m sure,” Jordan tells me, and I nod.
There’s no doubt about it. The Steele family is now my biggest customer.
“I’m sure of it. I’ve become attached to the area, so I’m going to be in Atlanta for a bit longer. It’ll make our business dealings a bit easier to handle, I believe,” I inform Jordan, noticing Leona and Emmett are coming closer.
“That it will,” Jordan replies.
“Perfect. Well, I must be going. There’s another situation that requires my attention. If you have any questions, concerns, or troubles, you know how to get in contact with me,” I tell Jordan and then head back to my SUV, where I have one of my other guards in the passenger seat. I knew I wouldn’t need him out here with me since things with the Steeles are settled, but when I really got down and thought about things, I knew I should at least have one other person here with me.
Now, I wouldn’t ever say the Steeles would go against me, but what would happen if they did? It would be just like the situation with Artos at the gas station. Nal is the guard I brought with me today. He typically stays in Grozny, but when he heard I was heading back to Atlanta, he asked if I wanted him to come.
He couldn’t leave that day because he has a wife and kids at home, so he flew out late yesterday and arrived first thing this morning. Since he’s leaving his wife and kids at home, I’ve opted to pay him a bit more than his usual salary. Danill makes the highest of all my men, but now Nal is making the second highest. I figure when you leave the ones you love the most behind, you need to be compensated for it.
Nal drives off, and we head for the hotel. We don’t even hit the interstate before I get a call. I figure it could be the Steeles wanting to change something about their shipment, so I move quickly while fetching it from my pocket. Only when the caller ID comes across, it’s my brother.
“Lom, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”
