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I shook my head. “I’ll take care of it. Have everyone gather day after tomorrow,” I said.
“You’re going to make him sweat,” he said, eyes gleaming with malice.
“If he’s done nothing wrong, he’ll have no reason to sweat. And if he has…” I shrugged.
“What if he runs?” Sorin asked.
“Then I’ll chase him down like the dog that he is. And besides, he has already disgraced his family name. Do you think he would bring further shame to them?”
“You never know,” Sorin said.
“You don’t,” I agreed.
This was an unfortunate truth of the business. Most of Clan Petran were strong, solid, respected our rules and traditions. And if nothing else, this would be a good reminder for them to continue to do so.
“What else?” I asked, noting the tension that still radiated from Sorin.
“Vargas has consolidated the rest of the Peruvians. He’s effectively distributing for the entire city,” he said as he retrieved a beer from the refrigerator and leaned against the counter.
“And?” I asked, knowing where this conversation was headed.
“And that wasn’t what the clans agreed to.”
“We’ve never been in the business of managing others, Sorin. What the Peruvians do is not our concern unless it becomes our concern,” I said.
“Even after Vargas disrespected you?” he asked scornfully.
“Yes, even after.”
“You shouldn’t let that go,” Sorin grumbled.
I shook my head. “You’re grown now. Act like it, and use your brain. If Vargas had gone too far, I would have handled it, but what do I get by interfering now?”
“For one, you’d make sure everyone knows not to fuck with Clan Petran. And it’s stupid to give up all that money,” he said.
“Everyone knows not to fuck with us. And drug money, Sorin.”
“Yeah, drug money is money,” he said, looking at me indignantly.
We’d had this conversation countless times, and I hadn’t ever budged.
“Think. What would we have to gain by taking that business?”
“Money,” he said as if the answer was self-evident.
“And what would we have to lose?” I asked, raising the same point I had so often before.
Sorin went silent, his clenched jaw flexing. It was always that way with him. He rarely thought about consequences, infrequently slowed to consider the repercussions.
I broke the silence. “Why would we take the risk of the Peruvian drug operation when we can let them do all the work and get 15 percent of the profits?”
“Fifteen percent is nothing. We could have more,” he said.
“And it would never be enough. How many other clans thought the same, started with the drug trade, only to disintegrate? How many proud families have been brought to their knees by greed and infighting over pieces of the drug pie? That won’t happen to Clan Petran. Not while I’m in charge. I’m going to prove it the day after tomorrow, but I’m reminding you now.”
Sorin took another swallow and tilted his head, as much of an acknowledgment as he’d give me, I knew. But I didn’t need to belabor the point. We’d seen it happen countless times, had lost our father in the crossfire of such a skirmish.
“And it’s not like we’re in the poor house. We have fights, the clubs, the rent,” I said.
