Page 56 of Intent to Kill
“We went to pick up our usual cut from the working girls. When we got there, they refused to hand over our money, so we went to beat them down, and out of nowhere these guys jumped us.”
Dorian turned away before he did something stupid like shoot this dumb fuck in the face before he got all the facts. How dare someone try to embarrass him with such disrespect in front of all his men.
“The girls said they were working for someone else now.”
Dorian paused for a moment, taking in the story word for word. “They’re working for someone else?”
“It’s what they said.”
In a violent huff, Dorian stood upright. He’d taken down every enemy he’d ever had in Ridge City until the city’s crime empire rested solely in his hands. Add to that the fact that he was about to become the city’s most powerful official, a near unstoppable force. He didn’t know a person stupid enough to try and challenge him, let alone steal from him.
Add this to the continuous stolen cocaine supplies...
“Get this guy out of my sight,” Dorian said. He looked away as Antonio grabbed the broken man by the shirt and dragged him back out the front door. The sound of the gunshot was almost comforting.
“Boss?” Yani prompted.
Dorian began to laugh, an angry chuckle, which turned into a full-blown manic shout.
“The fucking yacht,” Dorian said, scoffing at his own stupidity.
“The yacht?”
Yani kept his arms clasped behind his back. His Second was a man of few words, but he was smart and had a brutal flair that came in handy. Like it would now.
“First, the yacht. Then all our drug shipments go MIA. Now, we’ve lost control of the prostitutes and my fucking club.” Dorian paced as his mind raced to put all the facts together. “These are not little coincidences. These are not small-time thugs making bad calls.”
He picked up the beautifully crafted flower vase from the front hall table and smashed it, scattering red roses along the tile.
“Somebody is coming for me.”
Dorian pulled Yani in, wrapping his hand around his shoulder to make sure what was said was for their ears only. “And we know exactly what we’re going to do about it.”
Yani obviously caught his drift because he visibly paled.
“Isn’t it a bit early to–”
“Do it. Now.”
11
HUSTLING
MARCH 1991
The doctor’s office was busier than usual that day, but even so, Mercedes sat alone. The chairs, lining the walls and a little worse for wear, sat only inches apart, yet still she might as well have been a pariah.
She plastered on a confident façade, though she felt anything but. All eyes were on her and it was obvious. They stared when she wasn’t looking and looked away when she did.
“Mercedes Preston?”
Mercedes sighed in relief and followed the doctor into her office. Inside, she hoisted herself onto the center table and steadied herself by gripping the edge of the vinyl. The doctor, Brooke, closed the door, her face buried in paperwork.
“Good to see you, honey.” Brooke smiled as she looked up from her clipboard.
“Brooke, it’s been too long,” Mercedes said.
“You certainly drew some attention in my waiting room,” Brooke laughed, putting her clipboard down and leaning back against the bench.
