Chapter 5

Over the following week, I strictly followed every single rule of a bottom-tier street soldier.

Every night I showed up at the dirty blocks on time and left at dawn.

I never collected an extra cent. I never drew my gun or poked my nose into anyone's business.

I didn't set foot in the club, nor did I contact a single gambler or supplier.

I was tossed into that run-down Irish pub on the corner. I sat behind the bar, collecting crumpled protection bills from small shops, occasionally dealing with a few drunk bums.

Meanwhile, on Roxy's end, it was like putting on a grand show.

She changed into a different mink or leather coat every day. The diamonds on her neck got bigger by the day. She walked up and down the street arm in arm with Declan, showing off.

What was even funnier was that she posted an update on the crew's network almost every two hours.

"A new day begins! Martini in hand, conquering this street! #Queen #SecondInCommand"

"Private meeting with the dock freight boss. Always expanding the turf, always getting stronger! #TopPlayer #WinningAtLife"

Every post came with photos of her posing with a pistol in the luxury office, or staged shots at mob banquets.

But what was the actual situation?

Through my own informants, I could clearly see every single time she hit a brick wall.

She spent most of her time at the club flirting with the boys, touching up her lipstick in the mirror, or bragging online.

The few times she took men to negotiate at the docks, they all ended up getting thrown out.

"What? You won't release the goods? But our crew is about to take over this whole block..."

"Wait, wait, we can discuss the cut on the protection money again..."

"Hello? Hello? Fuck, they hung up again!"

I listened to my boys report on her hitting dead ends over and over again. I just kept counting the coins in my hand with a blank face.

By Wednesday, things at the docks had gotten ugly.

Three shipments of the crew's smuggled goods were seized back-to-back by the port security team.

Declan came to me furiously.

"Katerina, you know all the crew's goods are being held at the docks right now, right?"

I looked up and blinked at him with an innocent face. "The goods got seized? That really is a shame."

"Don't play dumb with me!" Declan slammed his hand on the bar and snarled.

"Why didn't you pay off the port boss this week? You're just watching the crew's money line get cut off!"

"Declan," I put down the rag in my hand and looked at him seriously. "I'm just strictly following crew rules. You gave the order yourself. I lost my power and I'm reflecting on my mistakes."

"If I went over Roxy's head right now to negotiate with the docks, wouldn't that be openly defying the boss's orders?"

Declan's face got uglier by the second. "You..."

"Besides," I continued with a smile. "Didn't you make Roxy the club manager and your second-in-command? Paying off the docks, clearing up the suppliers, that's all her job now. I'm just a punished soldier working a street corner collecting loose change. How could I possibly steal the new manager's credit?"

Declan clenched his fists. I could even see the veins bulging on his neck.

"Are you fucking threatening me?" he said through gritted teeth.

"Threatening you?" I chuckled. "I'm just a bottom-tier street soldier doing my job."

Declan glared at me hard for a long time. Then he suddenly forced out a cold laugh.

"Fine, very good."

"You think this crew can't run without you? Fine. Just watch. I'm about to sign Don Salvatore's deal and lock down the smuggling monopoly for the whole city. I don't need a single finger from you!"

With that, he spun around and yelled at the top of his lungs to the crew boys out on the street.

"From this moment on, as the Capo of this street, I officially announce that Katerina is out of this crew!"

All movement on the street stopped. Everyone stared over in shock.

I slowly walked out from behind the bar, took off my apron, and just nodded calmly. No anger, no excuses.

"Understood."

Declan clearly didn't expect me to be so calm. He frowned. "You don't have anything to say?"

"No." I picked up my leather jacket hanging on the wall and buttoned it up one by one. "You're the Capo, your word is the rule. Of course, I will comply."

My straightforwardness seemed to creep him out a little.

And in that moment, every single piece of my next move was already on the board.

Back at my apartment, I took a manila folder out of my safe.

Declan had probably forgotten long ago that the lease for this club building expired tomorrow.

I called my family's muscle, Rocco.

"The lease on my building is up tomorrow. I'm getting ready to clear it out."

"Understood, Principessa. What time do we move?"

Rocco let out a deep laugh on the other end. "How many men? How much heat?"

"Enough to kick the doors in. Enough so nobody inside dares to speak."

I stared at the night sky outside my window, saying every word slowly. "Tomorrow morning at ten. Bring enough men and guns, and empty out my building."