CHAPTER 2

Eric

Eric sat in his office with his feet kicked up on his desk watching an episode of a web series he got hooked on called The Hand I Was Dealt. Just as the series was getting good, Eric heard a light knock at the door. “Come in!”

Pistol Pete entered the office with a confused look on his face. “Where’s Millie? I thought she was supposed to be getting out today?”

“She’s out but nobody has heard anything from her yet,” Eric leaned back in his leather chair. “I’m sure we’ll hear from her sooner or later but be on point. Alex Russo and a few of those Italian fucks supposed to be on their way up here.”

“What they want now?”

“They want they hotel back,” Eric answered. He knew that the Russo family wouldn’t rest until they got their hotel back.

“So, what’s the plan?” Pistol Pete asked.

“They can kiss my ass!” Eric snapped. “I paid for this hotel. Now its mines, end of story.” As soon as the words left Eric’s lips, his secretary called him and told him that a Mr. Russo was here to see him.

“Send him in.” 

Alex Russo entered the office along with his son, Frankie, and four strong faced goons.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. What can I help you with today?” Eric asked in a cool tone.

“I’m here to see if we can work something out,” Alex Russo began. “I think we had a misunderstanding. You purchased one of my hotels but it wasn’t for sale and I’m here because I want it back.” He paused for a second to take in his surroundings. “I’ll pay double what you paid for it just so we don’t have no hard feelings.”

“I wish I could help you,” Eric said. “But unfortunately there’s nothing I can do for you.”

“I don’t think you understand,” Alex said with a friendly smile. “I’m going to get my hotel back one way or another. For your sake, I’m begging you to consider my offer.”

“I’m sorry, are you threatening me?” Eric stood to his feet and immediately one of his bodyguards locked the door.

“Why, yes, I certainly am,” Alex said with a straight face. “What you did was wrong and I will not allow you to get away with it. I’ve been doing business in this city for over forty years and I will not allow some hoodlums like you to come and mess things up.”

Pistol Pete quickly reached under the desk, removed an AR-15 assault rifle, and aimed it at the men. Eric slowly walked around his desk and slapped the shit out of Alex Russo. “Don’t you ever come into my office and talk to me like that!” Eric growled. “I already told you this hotel is mine. I brought it fair and square. If you have a problem with that then I suggest you take it up with Mr. Chambers because he’s the one who signed the contract. Now if you gentlemen would excuse me, I have to get back to work.”

Alex Russo rubbed the side of his face and smiled. “I see some people insist on doing things the hard way. I’ll be in touch,” he said as him and his crew turned and exited the office. Once Alex and his crew left Pistol Pete spoke freely, “I don’t know if you should put your hands on that old man.”

Eric waved Pistol Pete off. “Fuck him; I ain’t sitting here all day listening to bullshit. I have better things to do.”

“I understand,” Pistol Pete said respectfully. “But right now we don’t need any more unnecessary problems. We already have to keep an eye out for the Black Dragon,” he reminded him. Eric still had no idea why the assassin known as the Black Dragon wanted him dead. The assassin claimed that someone had given his whereabouts to Chico in return for a reward.

“Fuck Alex and the Black Dragon. I can’t sit around all day thinking about those clowns,” Eric huffed. In all reality, he was definitely concerned about the Black Dragon. From time to time, Eric found himself peeking over his shoulder trying to catch the danger before it caught him.

“I hear what you saying but we really don’t need any more enemies,” Pistol Pete told him. “I didn’t like the look in Alex’s eyes when he left out of here. I say you should have Jimmy take care of that situation before it becomes a real issue.”

“I’ll call Jimmy in a second,” Eric said as he grabbed his things and exited his office. He had an important meeting that he couldn’t be late to.