Taking Care Of The Mobster

“You weren’t planning to sell my drugs, Drago,” Cross says with a dry snort. “Like you always do, you were going to dump the whole shit into some sea or something.

“That substance is dangerous. It shouldn't be out on the streets,” I argue. “Do you know how much harm that could have caused if I hadn’t nipped that operation in the bud? Did you think I wouldn’t find out? I know everything that goes on in my town, Cross.”

Cross scoffs. “This is ridiculous,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “So you went ahead and informed the cops about the drop. You even gave out the location of my warehouse and every detail of my production. That’s fucking disloyal, bro. Do you know how much I lost? I barely escaped with my life intact.”

“That was the only way I could stop you,” I reply, “and Don, you both were going to murder the entire population of this town and more. I couldn’t let you do that.”

“That’s your excuse?” Cross asks, angrily kicking at the chair in front of my desk. “That’s your fucking excuse?!”

“I’ll give you some money. A lot of it,” I add, playing on his greed. “You can start a new and honest life somewhere else. I can help you get away, out of the country. It’s not too late to get out of that shit hole, Cuz.”

Cross barks out a laugh, a derisive sound filled with anger and bitterness. “Look at you bragging about having money,” he says gruffly. “Isn’t that ironic? Seeing as you made all of that money selling drugs, alcohol, and guns, you fucking hypocrite! Quit the pretense, man. You are now some shiny CEO, and so what? Do you think you’re all that? Diligent citizen, my ass!”

I run a hand tiredly down my face, wishing I could magically stop the ache in my temples. “You need to cool off, Cross,” I say in a calming tone, hoping that will deter him.

But he’s far too gone to hear a word I say. “And what the hell was that? Drugs are dangerous? You’re a drug lord, for fucks sake? All narcotics are dangerous, whether mild or hard. You did all of that shit. We were on that street together, Carlos.”

“That was a long time ago, Cross. All of this,” I say with a wild hand gesture. “I built with honest hard work while hiding behind a life of crime and drugs.”

Carlos snickers and drops into a chair. “Yeah,” he scoffs. “I bet you got picked by your conscience and took on a covert mission; something grand like sweeping the streets clean of hard drugs and narcotics. But, of course, none of that shit erases the fact that you were once a drug dealer. Your fancy nightclubs and company were established with drug money. You’re a mobster, Carlos. That shit is in the blood. It’s your identity. Keep denying it all you want.”

I fist my hands beneath the table, willing myself not to give in to the anger boiling in the pit of my stomach. That would only prove him right...or maybe he’s right. Maybe it’s why I’ve been feeling like such an imposter every time I walk into my company. Maybe it’s why I can’t seem to get Cross’s voice out of my head even now.

It’s your identity. The words keep bouncing around inside my head.

“Is this because of that nurse bitch you’re fucking?” Cross says in a mocking tone that immediately gets my attention.

My heart starts to pound at his words. How does he know about Abby? And if Cross knows about Abby then how many others know about her?

I stand slowly, daring him with a hard gaze. “What the hell are you saying?” I say through clenched teeth.

Cross looks unfazed. A humorless smirk spreads slowly across his face. “She’s feeding you this righteous shit, yeah? Do you fancy yourself in love with her, or is her pussy so tight that you....”

I launch myself across my desk and throw a punch at his jaw, and Cross’s chair topples to the ground. “Don’t you dare!”

Cross staggers to his feet, cradling his bloody jaw. He leans against my desk and starts to laugh like a maniac. “Righteous citizen, my ass. Well, fuck her!”

I walk around the desk and stop directly in front of Cross. I grab his collar, lifting him until he’s at my eye level. “You will not come anywhere near my woman. Do you hear me, Cross,” I warn in a very quiet tone. “Touch a hair on her head, and I’ll shoot you dead. I swear.”

“I guess you do love her,” Cross says with a snicker, despite the flickering fear in the depth of his eyes. “Seeing as you don’t mind killing for her.”

“Get the hell out of my building!” I snap, throwing him to the ground.