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“I noticed you were checking out the sad girl on the bench near the elevator before we went into the Siren’s office, Kat,” I say, knowing that was totally different than what happened inside the office.
“I just noticed a pretty girl sitting there crying. Maybe I’ll buy that one tomorrow,” he says with a wink as he sinks into the seat of his convertible sports car and lowers the window. “Talk soon, my friend.”
“Talk soon,” I agree.
I had no idea Marika Yumiko was going to be there. My boss told me earlier this week that I would be promoted. The promotion is contingent on completing two tasks. The first was to meet with Katana, a member of the Japanese crime organization, the Yakuza. I’ll be taking the place of Arty the Agent, the current captain of our music industry section. It’s a shakedown crew, but it does help to get things done. We are called organized criminals because we know how to organize, after all.
There are also drugs and prostitution money moving around in the music industry. Not as much as there used to be, but there’s still enough to go around and make it more than worth the effort. Anyway, the assignment was to play nice with Katana and for me to make an appearance with him at Sonomi the Siren’s office, to let her know that his faction is aligned with me and the Russians now. The first task of the assignment is completed.
The second task is to demote Artyom with some discretion on whether I can get him to take a step down and work under me or if I should remove him permanently. I have to stop at home and grab some garbage bags and my knives; in case he has to go. Artyom has always been a pain in my ass about being raised in America, not a real Russian, according to him. But I will make my decision based on what’s best for everyone involved. Even though I’m known as the most terrifying enforcer for the Russian mob now, I’ll make my decision like a professional.
***
Mari Yumiko’s song is still playing as I return to my apartment. I turn off the CD player only because I have more work to do right now and need to focus. The reusable shopping bag I use when I collect money from Artyom is usually empty when I get to his place. I grab the bag from under the sink. This time I also take some plastic garbage bags from a box and put them in the shopping bag along with my knives. I choose my Smith and Wesson revolver over my Glock semi-automatic pistol, so I won’t have to search around for shell casings if it comes to that.
Artyom lives a few blocks away and has an apartment almost as nice as mine. I park in front of his building, grab the bag from the passenger seat, and head inside.
“Come in, Yosef,” Artyom’s Russian accent comes through the door after I knock only once. I enter and see that Artyom is sitting at his table with a bottle of vodka, two glasses, and several stacks of cash lined up in front of him. He’s twirling a poker chip from one of the Atlantic City casinos in his fingers like usual.
I look around for the new Bratki recruit that Artyom took under his wing. I’ve spoken toGhosta few times. The guy came over from Russia recently and is supposed to be good at stealth attacks. I don’t see any sign of him or anyone else except Artyom. I put the bag down, reach inside it, and pull my gun out. Artyom tilts his head, looking more curious than afraid of the weapon I have pointed at his face.
“Dmitry is gone. So is Victor, as well as a few other men. All gone. Can Ivan afford to lose me, too, right now? Nyet,” he answers his own question, no, in Russian. “I think not. Besides, I have reason for what I’ve done.”
“You’ve been skimming Arty,” I say, knowing he hates to be called Arty, “You know the consequences. But youareright. We have a little manpower problem right now, so I’ve been authorized to make a decision. It sounds like you’re going to plead guilty with an explanation. Explain yourself, Arty.”
“Expenses!” he says as he slams the poker chip down on the table. “I know you will take over my crew, Yosef. You will see. There are expenses upfront all the time. Should they come out of your pay? Nyet! You will see!”
“You know that kind of thing needs to be discussed and approved by the Boss, Arty. You’re going to have to come up with the money after you put your left hand on the table,” I say to him.
“Drink first?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Sure.Carefully,” I say as he fills up both glasses.
He downs a shot, and I do the same before moving the bottle and then the glasses over to the counter without taking my gun or my eyes off him. He doesn’t move except to put his hand on the table in front of him. I decide to have a little mercy and do this quickly. He was smart enough to admit what he did and not make me drag it out of him. I turn my gun around to use the square butt as a hammer. There are four dull thuds, each followed by a crunching sound, as I break each of the fingers on his left hand. He just groans a bit. I show him a little more mercy and leave his thumb alone.
“You work for me now, understand?” I ask.
“I Understand. Da, Boss. Thank you,” he says and nods his head while holding his hand.
I grab a towel from his counter and wipe the blood off my gun.
“Thank you,” he says again, sounding sincere.
“You must have had a lot of expenses, Arty. You got the money?” I ask him. He moves his busted left hand against his chest, picks up the chip, and twirls it around in his right hand.
“Nyet, but collateral I have.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“Heroine.”
“Arty, I’m the only one Ivan authorized to push H. What the fuck?”
“Nyet, Nyet. I don’t sell. I got packages of uncut Southside smack. Sonomi Sagawa, the Siren, wants the stuff. Extremely valuable to her. She think she could have lab break it down and replicate. She can use to move in and take over Southside territory. It’s under sink. Siren don’t know I have. I save in case she ever get something big enough I want. You take. May come in handy for you sometime,” Artyom explains.
“That’ll work. It’s a deal. Alright, now your first assignment as my lieutenant is to set up a meeting with a singer, Marika Yumiko. She just signed a contract with Sagawa,” I instruct him.
“I know who she is. The daughter of Yuuto Yumiko, owner of Yummy Records. Yuuto is a civilian but is well respected by all of us in the music industry. I deal with him and his brother on occasion. But, if the girl signed with the Siren instead of her father, we are not supposed to talk with her.”
