Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Chapter 27

ASH

I don't like wearing suits.

Matter of fact, I hate wearing them.

Let me rephrase that. . .

I fucking hate wearing suits.

It's a messed-up excuse to wear heavy clothes and feel and act rich. I don't need to dress up in a suit to know I'm rich. I am rich and nothing, not even wearing fifty suits a day, can make me feel richer than I already am. I'll rather wear a pair of jeans and a tee and go around as unobtrusively as I can. It makes me blend in with the common man.

I like common. It's good to look common so when I strike, no one will see it coming.

They always never do.

I glance at the black pinstriped suit I have on and the cane in my hand. I don't mind the cane, but that's just another excuse to look rich. On second thoughts, I don't look so bad, they make the tats on my hands and neck stand out.

Well, the suit is already on and I won't be taking it off till after the meeting. . .

The one I'm having with the Russian.

I catch Moro's eyes as I step into the sitting room. "So tell me once again, you're sure you didn't get the information mixed up?"

He stifles an eye roll and sighs exasperatingly. "It says so in the file in your hand, Ash, but if you'd like me to reiterate it once more, I'll gladly do so."

"Be my guest," I say as I place the file on the table and situate myself into a chair.

"The head of the Russian Mafia drug lord - Igor Ivanov - would like to see you for a meeting this evening at 6 pm."

Igor Ivanov, the first of three other brothers. They've made a name for themselves in the business of drugs and prostitution rings. Now, I'm not against that, per se, I just don't like trading in female flesh and preying off their weakness for money. It rubs me the wrong way. That's not to say I haven't slept with a prostitute before, because I have, and I regret the times it happened. It was a total waste of my time and energy.

Now, I much prefer being in some form of entanglement with a woman. A beautiful woman I can showcase on my arm as well as to the world, quite like the one I've got presently.

"Igor wants to meet with you because-"

"He wants us to team up against the Asian drug syndicate and take them out of business." I finish, cocking a brow as I open the top button of my suit. "That's not going to happen for two reasons. One, I already have a plan on taking out Guilang, and two, -"

"You always work alone." Moro finishes for me.

"Yeah!" I shrug. "So remind me, once again, why I'm going for this meeting with him."

Moro sits down then, but it looks more like he's perched on the edge of the seat. "How about this - because you can't be a lone shark in the sea, and you need people to team up with."

"Even if said people will turn around one day and bite me in the ass?"

"You don't know that, and even if he tries it, we'll be one step ahead."

He doesn't know about the man I sent into the camp of the Russians. He doesn't know about the people I pay to get information. He doesn't even know about Tanya. Frankly speaking, he doesn't need to know about everything I do.

I only share what I want to, 'cause when push comes to shove, I'm the only one I can depend on.

"You're damn right we'll be one step ahead."

Make that several steps.

I know Igor's got a woman tucked away in the countryside of Sweden, and she's pregnant. I also know he's scared shitless of his wife and would jump into fire if she so much as tells him to. I also know he's considering killing the woman that's pregnant for him.

So yeah, I know all Igor's dirty secrets, including the ones he's yet to make, but I still need to know more. Something more substantial I can use against him and his brothers.

"Let's go!" I stand and flip the cane. With a flourish, I walk to the door, stopping only when I find out Moro isn't following. "What's the hold up for?" I ask as I turn to look at him.

"Nothing! It's just. . . this whole look," he waves his hand in the air like a magician. "It suits you. You should wear it often."

I just smile and shake my head.

It doesn't take us long before we get to Katva, the power seat of the Ivanovs. Almost spanning ten blocks, Katva is the sin city of Los Angeles. It consists of lit shopping centers, lavish casinos, and exclusive nightclubs. There are also hotels, giant resorts, and sports facilities. It's the hub of prostitution and strip clubs. It's a true gangster's paradise.

Would you believe it if I tell you I've never set foot inside Katva before?

"This place is something." Moro quips as Walter pulls into the driveway of the parking lot.

He's like a kid, looking out the window in awe. I can see the barely repressed excitement oozing from him. He probably never got to act like a kid during his childhood. Heck, me neither, but there's only one thing on my mind right now, and it's getting this show on the road.

"Come on!" My hand lands on his shoulder and with great reluctance, he tears his eyes away from the sprawling grounds and nods.

Valets are everywhere, waiting to park the cars of visitors. Walter, however, doesn't wait, he's already looking for a choice spot to park. Moro and I walk towards the entrance that will lead to Igor's private office, but just as we get there, a man dressed in a suit and dark glasses stands in the doorway. I don't doubt he's one of Igor's bodyguards.

"Mr. Thunder?"

I nod. He speaks into a walkie-talkie, informing someone about my arrival. He doesn't pat us down, doesn't even scan us with a metal detector. He doesn't need to, because I know for a fact that the door- all the doors-have specialized metal sensors. There's a reason I didn't bring my knife, but then again, anything can be used as a weapon. As we pass through the door, it doesn't beep, doesn't even make a sound. The only sound to be heard is the tap tap of my cane on the floor. See - I can use it as a weapon and no one would be the wiser.

We encounter another guard at the beginning of a wide corridor. It's long and white and has expensive artwork dotting either side of the walls. He doesn't say a word as we walk past him, but I can feel his eyes on us as we pass. According to the well-laid-out map Moro made of this place, Igor's office is the first, and that's at the end of this long, almost never-ending corridor.

Igor must have stepped on toes, or he naturally has paranoia about someone trying to kill him. Either way, it's getting tiring. I quicken my steps, making Moro jog to keep up with me. Another guard stands to the side of the door holding a rifle. I don't bother nodding, and neither does he stop us as Moro knocks on the door.

Well, he's polite. I would have swung that shit open in a heartbeat. No matter, it's already opening for us by a man.

Let's get this straight - I don't usually step into these kinds of meetings without first doing my homework on who I'm going to meet. I've seen a picture of Igor before and even studied the lines and planes of his face, but what throws me off balance is that I didn't find out about his height.

The man is short.

I'm not talking about average-short, I'm talking about close-to-being-called-a -dwarf short. It's a bit unnerving talking to an almost-midget.

His smile is from ear to ear as he throws his hands out expansively. "Mr. Ash, It's nice to see you, please come in, come in."

His words are heavily accented making it slightly difficult to hear them. No matter, I step through the door, followed closely by Moro. I don't know what I expect as I glance around his office, but it's definitely not rich black and red colors of furniture and a floor-to-ceiling view of the sprawling grounds that characterizes Katva. His desk is moderate-sized but the huge bookshelf placed strategically in a corner, more than makes up for it. It's filled with huge books arranged by color.

I'm willing to bet it's all for show.

"Please, Mr. Ash, sit, sit."

What's his compulsion to repeat everything twice?

I stifle the irritation swelling inside of me and take a seat. Someone knocks on the door and enters without waiting for a reply. Since I'm facing his desk, I'm not able to see who it is, but by the floral perfume wafting into my nostrils, I know it's a woman.

"Olga, please take Mr. Moro to the casino and make sure he has a good time."

Moro catches my eyes, and I nod. He dutifully follows the woman out, leaving Igor and me alone. I watch as he walks to a bar and mixes two glasses of cocktail, then he walks over to me and hands me one, without first asking if I'll take it or what I even want. If he's used to having his way, that's not going to happen with me.

I drop the glass on the table with a loud clank and cross one of my legs over the other. "Why am I here?"

He walks over to his seat and plops into it with a sigh. "I like that you get straight to the point. Always good for business." He takes a generous sip of whatever is in his glass and puts it down. "Let's say we have a common enemy."

"Let's say?" I smirk, wondering where he's going with all of this.

"It depends on how you look at it." He stands and walks to the window where he peers out at it, then he turns around to look at me and continues speaking. "Guilang needs to be taken off the scene. He's being snatching my business right from under my nose for a while, and. . ." He shakes his head. "How do you Americans say it - I cannot take it anymore - so I would like for us to join forces."

"So this is about a personal vendetta?" I tap my cane lightly on the ground wishing it was his head I was tapping it on. Fancy being called here to get dragged into a revenge spree.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." He says with a steely gaze.

"Cheap quotes don't do anything for me, Igor. Why should I join forces with you? What's in it for me?"

He looks at me piercingly before sitting down and picking up his glass and emptying the contents. "Mr. Ash, you have businesses scattered all over Los Angeles, you're into the drug business just like me, but where you really make your money is from your mines. Every other week, you hit diamonds and precious stones. You're a billionaire, and frankly speaking, you don't need anybody, but. . ." He stands once again and goes to the window where he peers out. It doesn't take long before he turns around to look at me. "Your kind of business needs weapons and men - so many of them. That, I can offer free to you without any cost. All you need do is team up with me to take Guilang out."

So maybe I read him wrong. This man does read books because, in my various lines of business, strategy is key. Of course, he must have also known I want drug supplies from the Chinese, of which Guilang is the head of their drug cartel.

It's my turn to drop some nuggets of advice. "One of the keys to being a good businessman is not to rush into anything."

"And that's why I'll give you all the time you need to think about it, but please don't take too long. Time, they say, is money."

Once I stand, he does so too, knowing fully well the meeting is at an end.

"Why don't you join me on a little excursion to the casino?" He offers with a smile.

Yeah! Why the hell not?

It'll give me a chance to see what all the fuss Katva is about.