Mag-log in๐๐๐๐ข๐'๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ***
โPage twenty-threeโsigned by โM,โโ Antonio tapped a page in the ledger. Voice outrightly composed. โShipment through Matamoros. You owed me thirty on arrival, but you wired twenty-five.โ Victor and Cesar bent over, staring at their own ledgerโa thick, grimy book with handwritten entries, inked in red and black. โShipment 0131-L. We received twenty-five of that orderโnothing more.โ Victor jabbed their page, while Cesar nodded in rhythm. โWhat do you mean?โ Antonio curled a brow in confusion. He skeptically cross-checked his ledger, and tilted his head in disapproval. โThis book is my Bibleโ he taps on the open page, eyeing them squarely. โWhatever is in itโฆis my commitment. Crossed number means paid. Blank space means debtโsomeone still owes. Five crates are blank.โ KiktorโVictor Loa's Consigliereโleaned forward, and accessed Antonio's ledger. โBossโ he called Victorโaccent unmistakable. Arabic. Victor Loa cocked an eye at him and he continued. โMedinaโs house record, hints thirty. But thenโanonymous five. We never got five crates.โ โThatโs what weโre sayingโan internal screw-upโ Victor growled. โYou know how the game goes, just write the shit offโ.โ he was now referring to Antonio โThatโs charityโ Antonio forbears the demand. โIf I wanted to f*ck around, Iโd just manage hotels.โ His once measured voice drops an octave, cold and flat. โThirty crates left my hands. Full. Tagged. You received twenty-five. Not my problem if five grew legs and walked offโYour losses arenโt my write-offs.โ โBruno (Enforcer)โฆ we ainโt trying to rip you,โ Cesar wheedled, voice low but too slick. โWe just want the numbers to reflect what actually got to usโmoreover five crates is nothing, comeโ.โ โOver fifty million in merchandise?โ Antonio countered calmly. โIโm sorry partner, but thereโs a workaround hereโฆand that, I can't give in to.โ The steel door opened. Rafael Mendez enteredโsleek suit, tie ironed. โGood-evening, Gentlemen,โ he rasped in englishโhis breath a mix of hazelnut and whiskey. โSorry Iโm lateโI encountered some delay at the entrance.โ Silence followed his excuse. Reputed in their world for his lateness, yet the most efficient among lawyers. Getting no response or rebuke, just as it always used to be, He laid out his briefcase on the table. A few papers slid out, and he arranged them, setting aside a new draft contract. โSoโare we balancing?โ he asked. โMendezโI want the ledger from the last transactionโ. Antonio's gaze ignited, lethal. Without wasting a beat, Rafael pulled out a folded chartโpolish and official-looking. Then he singled out a wax-stamped export manifesto, from the previous transaction. โDidn't the old deal closeโโ. โCross-check the two accounts with yours. Let's see who owes who?โ Antonio interjected, sliding his own ledger forward. Rafael Mendez adjusted his glasses, finger hovering over the now three ledgers. Scribbles, alias names, offshore dump points, he checked everything. โThirty crates actually did moveโ he concurred, tapping the margin with a pen. โBut they seem to have gotten only twenty-five. And since customs didnโt flag itโthe shortfall actually comes off the client.โ โThat is itโno more debates,โ Antonio throated, lighting tobacco. โGentlemen! You want the next batch? Forty cratesโmixed arms, including six prototypes I shouldnโt even have. You settle last month, not in words but cash. Elseโโ โElse, what?โ Victor Loa challenged with furrowed brow. โElseโelse we wonโt move a single box.โ Antonio tapped a knuckle against the table. Rage. Cesar sucked in air through his teeth. Jaw ticking. โThe offloaders mustโve taken their cutโwhat do they normally call it ?โ โNeighborhood tax.โ Cardoza chimed in. โYesโexactly.โ Cesar snapped his fingers. โNeighborhood cut. They always take their percentage for every shipment that crosses the border.โ โSeriously! Haven't heard about such, all my years in the business.โ Victor Loa ran a questioning gaze at Cesar Matรฉ. โIt started recentlyโI forgot to mention itโ Kiktor rubbed his eyebrow, and stretchedโoutwardly bored. Refilling his glass, he went to the far end of the room, by the window, and settled. Antonio smirked, boldly reading the meaning to Kiktorโs move. โListen up, I donโt give a damn about what your border boys tookโor their meth habits.โ Smoke sizzled out his nostril like a broken exhaust pipe. โLike I said, I don't run a charityโIf you want new steel, you pay old debt, then I stamp this new deal. Simple, I donโt feed border cutsโ Victor Loa flipped through the last three pages of their ledger, teeth bare. He couldn't bring himself to pay for goods he didn't receive. โI disagree.โ He snapped, slamming the ledger shut. โWe canโt strike new orders if the missing ones can't be struck out.โ Antonio tilted his head with a lopsided grin โThen donโt.โ Victor signaled Cesar. They rose to leaveโbut Antonioโs threat froze them mid-step. โBefore anything, Gentlemen, we balance the books, or I start erasing names from this world, and the next.โ The men paused. โYou wouldn't dare,โ Victor sneered. โIs it a dare?โ Antonioโs grin came out slow, dangerous. His lips moving silently, before a single question dropped icilyโ โShoot!โ A red pointer emerged on Victor's forehead. The next second, the sound of a bullet broke in, through the window. Kiktor shoved his Boss {Victor Loa}, and they both landed on the floor. โHoly sh*t!โ Victor cussed, edging murderous glare at AntonioโKiktor already drew his gun, pointing. โCapo mio, youโre playing a foolish game. Lucas wouldn't dare go this far.โ Cesar Matรฉ barked. โThat's why he appointed meโI play Mafia better,โ Antonio grinned, cocking his eyes at the gun Kiktor had on him. โHandle with careโelse I show you how to use emโ Victor gave Kiktor a nod and he put away the gun. โThis is what you call a temperโhow come you're not Italian?โ Light laughter rippled from Cesar. Fake, just enough to avoid insult and conceal his fear. โGentlemen..please. Sitโ Antonio urged, adjusting his tie which was slung over the shoulder like a napkin at a butcherโs counter. Without argument, they returned to their seats. Kiktor & Cardozaโs alertness now at paramount. โWhat the hell is this?โ Cesar queried as Antonio slid forward an envelope. โOpen it.โ Enraged Victor tore the envelope open, scanned the note, then passed it to Cesar. Eyes darting back to Antonio. โShipment manifest?โ โNoโrather a gift. For old times sake.โ Antonio corrected. โNow, that's client privilege,โ Rafael smiled thinly. Just as Antonio could highlight the new tip, the steel door creaked open. Elian, one of his soldiers {errand boy}, stepped inโyoung, leanly built and a teardrop tattoo. He walked straight to him, bent low, and whispered. โGod damnit!โ Antonio muttered a cuss. โYou sure?โ Elian nodded. โExcuse me Seรฑores,โ Antonio rose. Cesar Matรฉ lifted his chin. โAny problem?โ Antonio blinked once, brushing off the question. โBack in a beat.โ Without waiting for interrogation, He turned and walked briskly after Elian, steps echoing sharper. In his office. He just stared down at the lot. Five Police vans littered the premises with their barrage of colours. Uninformed men already escorting people outโno shouting. Just ghostlike glints of extraction. โAny warrant ?โ Antonio asked. Elian, the only person in the room with him, responded. โYeahโexplosive likeโ. Antonio nodded curtly. He opened his drawer, retrieving his phone. Dialing a number, he held it over his ear. โCall your men offโ. โWhy ?โ โThey are sabotaging my business flowโwait,โ He pulled the phone away from his ear, glancing at the ID. Commissionerโs number. โBreanna?โ โSurprise!โ Breannaโs voice lilted, mocking. โYouโve grown smarter.โ Antonio chuckled dryly. โWhat choice do I have? Iโm dealing with Blade Knuckles.โ โImpressiveโHmmโ His growl rumbled low, while his fingers flew over the laptop, searching surveillance feeds. โDonโt bother, a*shole,โ Breanna cut in, insouciantlyโas if she saw him. โKeep Victor Loa and Cesar Matรฉ calmโIโm coming in to pick themโ Antonio's fingers paused mid-air, but he didn't let his frigidity slip. โWho are they?โ He countered, his eerie baritone voice doing the mask. โTwo minutesโjust two more minutes and believe me, you will know themโ Breanna swore. He hung up on her, jaw clenching ferventlyโanger boiling over like hot lava.โ > ยฟPor quรฉ estรก tan ansiosa por morir?{Why is she so eager to die?}. His gaze snapped over his shoulder, toward the exit door. โSeal every entranceโ. He ordered, striding away. ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐โฆCesar shifted restlessly after Rafael Mendez explained the manifesto. โI donโt like this. We should just go.โ โNo,โ Victor objected, now obsessed with Antonio's new contract. โIf we want to keep our territory under our thumb, then this is the only way. We can't afford his black book.โ Victor knew that deals of sort, cost fortunes, but Antonio is offering it without any form of alimony. He looked at the sealed door, waiting for Antonio's return. Cesar scowled. โHow sure are you that he delivers?โ Victor exhaled. โIf it were Lucas, Iโd stake everything. But with the stunt he pulled now, that kid isnโt an amateurโโ โEveryone pack upโwe move.โ Antonioโs voice cut through. He made straight for his ledger and seized it. โWhat happened?โ Cesar grunted. โInternal clean-up.โ โI thought you said this space was cleanโ Victor narrowed slits. โI never said that it wasnโt being watched.โ Antonio retorted, leading them through a galley corridor. In the basement, engines purred. โLetโs finish this somewhere else.โ They all boarded the van, slipping into the driveway tunnel, leaving behind the chaos above.๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌยฐยฐยฐThe holding room was grey and quiet. Breanna sat with her hands folded. Back straight. Eyes on the door.She found it hard to sleep or eat. She had always been the one to lock people here, but now this feeling of being locked was overwhelming. The waiting. The weight.She thought of who to reach out to, but none. The panel was obviously trying to bury her, so it was pointless.The door opened, and a guard stepped in. "Ma'am. You have a visitor."Breanna didn't move. She still wedged her tough personality. "Who?"The guard didn't answer. He just stepped aside.And in walked a woman Breanna didn't recognize. Sharp suit. Carrying a leather folder. No smile."Detective Stewart," the woman said. "My name is Elena Vargas. I'm here to escort you out."Breanna's heart stopped. "Is the hearing scheduled today?""Your hearing has been adjourned indefinitely. All charges pending review." Elena opened the folder, showed her the stamp. "You're free to go."Breanna d
๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌยฐยฐยฐShe sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped. "Nevena," she called, softer. "I didn't mean to be rude. Forgive me if it hurt you."Nevena shook her head. Sophia waited. Then she pulled Nevena close to her chest and consoled her. They just stayed there while the morning light crawled across the floor."I won't scold ever again. Okay?"Nevena swallowed. Tried to speak. Nothing came out. Sophia didn't push.Finally, her voice emergedโcracked, raw. "It's not that. We went to Antonio."Sophia went still. "Antonio? That's reckless.""Junior took me. He spoke some language I didn't understand and paid the driver with words." Nevena laughed onceโhollow. "He had Antonio's personal contact card.""That boy is going to put someone in trouble one day." Sophia seethed."He just wanted to tell his buddy that his mother was in trouble and ask for help.""I bet Antonio wouldn't pay an ear.""He said yes." Nevena sat up. "But there's a condition.""I know it." So
๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌยฐยฐยฐ"Then don't be a monster." Nevena's voice didn't shake. "Be the man who gave his buddy a contact card and told him to call if he ever needed you."Antonio exhaled slowly, controlledโ and dropped his hand. He stepped back. Just one step and turned away from her.He walked to the decanter. Poured two fingers of whiskey and drank it standing, staring at the drawn curtains."She arrested me, put me in cuffs," he said. "And dragged me to court in front of my own men. Made a spectacle.""She also did the same with me. I respected it." Nevena cut in."Forgive meโbut I'm not that merciful." Antonio obliged."I don't mean you forgive her. But she's facing the panel alone. They're going to bury her."Antonio set the glass down. "You think I can stop that?" He turned. "I'm not a politician, Tourist. I don't own judges. I own casinos and hotel contracts and a few people who owe me favors.""But you know people who know people." Nevena pressed calmly. "That boy gave
๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌยฐยฐยฐThe chief security led them down a corridor that whispered wealth. Marble floors. Dim sconces.He stopped before a door of grey wood. Pressed a code into a panel beside it. The lock clicked."Mr. Hunt's private waiting room," he announced, stepping aside. "He'll be informed of your presence immediately upon arrival."Nevena walked in without thanking him.Junior followed, briefcase in hand. The door closed behind themโsoft, final.The room was dressed in glamour. Deep leather chairs. A decanter on a side table. Heavy curtains drawn against the morning. One door and no telephone.Nevena stood in the center, arms crossed, staring at him. The suit. The briefcase. The contact card. For a split second, he looked like a miniature of Antonio."How do you even have that card?"Junior touched his breast pocket. "Buddy gave it to me after I met him about your court case. Told me if I ever needed himโreally needed himโto call, not to run to his house at midnight."
๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌยฐยฐยฐOutside smelled of stale earth and cold wind. Nevena had asked twice where they were going. Junior hadn't answered either time, he just led her to the road and flagged down a cab.The driverโa thick-necked man with tired eyesโglanced at them. "Where to?"Junior leaned forward and switched languages like flipping a knife. "La casa de mi madre. El barrio viejo. Santa Fe." The driver's eyes flicked to Nevena, then back to Junior. A beat. A slow nod."ยฟSola la casa?""Sรญ. Ella no necesita saber la direcciรณn."The driver grunted and clicked the lock. Junior reached for the door but Nevena's hand tightened on his shoulder. "What did you say to him?" Her pulse climbed. "I have a bad feeling.""Trust me." Junior turned at her. "We aren't getting into trouble."Nevena stared back. This wasn't the boy who'd asked for crayons yesterday.Trusting his guideline, she settled into the cab with him. The driver dropped the meter and they pulled away from the curb. Ne
๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌยฐยฐยฐDuring Breanna's long absence, things ran smoothlyโฆ from science revisions to maths and so on.Sophia's phone dinged, one glance at it, she excused herself and left. After a while, she came back walking cold, Nevena snapped a gaze at her sensing something wrong. โDid something happen?. You look moodyโJunior tilted his head at Sophia then went back to his book, uninterested. โCan I see you out for a few minutes?โ Sophia beckoned on Nevena.Nevena gave a curt nod, understanding that whatever it was, wasn't for Junior. She singled out a word problem and instructed Junior to practice with while she was gone.In the enclosure of Sophia's room, Sophia summarizes the trouble Breanna was in and the disturbing information she got about the possible outcome from a colleague.โMaybe we should call her up?โ Nevena suggested.Sophia hesitatesโ a phone call during a panel hearing could go south, but Nevena's persuasion won. She dials but it goes straight to voicem
๐ธ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐ She stepped under the drizzle, rolling her suitcase behindโgetting to the Cab's space, she boarded one. โMAVERICK HOSPITAL...pleaseโ The driver blinked at her through the rear mirror, confused.โUhโchange of heart?โ Nevena offered a sly smile, sliding into
"I'm coming back to Bulgaria," she finally whispered. "Now we're talking," Stefan said, throwing his fist up in triumph. "Iโll book your ticket right away." "Yeahโฆ sure," her voice strained, as if buried beneath a landslide of ash. "Nevena!," Stefan called gently. "Cheer upโitโs for the
Mafia's Nemesis โฟโฟโ โฟโฟโฟโฟโ โฟโฟโฟ Antonio's Mansion : 4:30 AM โฟโฟโฟโ โฟโฟโฟโฟโ โฟโฟโฟ The room is silent, cloaked in darkness while moonlight leaks through the curtain. Antonio jerks on his massive bed with a strangled gasp. His sculpted chest rose and fell like heโs been running for miles. His finger cla
โฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟ MAVERICK HOSPITAL,FRONT ALLEYโ AFTERNOON โฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟโฟ Nevena stepped out of Maverick Hospital . She stood for a moment under the pale awning, her fingers curled tightly around the small cup of orange juice Junior had given her. She didnโt open it. She couldnโtโinstead, she tuck







