Chapter 9

 

Eric

Eric sat behind his desk in his office with a disturbed look on his face. He had just got word back that it was none other than Jack who had been trying to destroy the Mason family empire. The news didn’t come to a surprise to Eric but it did piss him off. He knew that Jack was a snake, but he never expected him to go this far. Eric looked up at Pistol Pete. “I need you to grab some soldiers and make this problem go away.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Pistol Pete said as he exited Eric’s office. Eric sat behind his desk and ran his hand across his waves and let out a loud sigh he had no idea running the family business would be so much work. A soft knock at the door grabbed Eric’s attention. “Come in.”

Kelly stepped foot in the office and could immediately see the stress on Eric’s face. “Hey baby I was just checking to make sure you were alright?”

“Yeah I’m good baby.” Ever since Eric had allowed, Kelly to move back into the house, she had been acting like a brand new person, Eric could tell that she was truly sorry for what she had done and had learned her lesson. But with all that being said in the back of his mind it was still a part of him that still didn’t trust her. “What’s on your mind?”

“Was just a little worried about you,” Kelly walked over and slid down on Eric’s lap. “Ever since you’ve taken over the family business you’ve been stuck in this office stressed out and honestly I’m getting a little worried about you.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Eric said quickly. “I have everything under control.”

“Any word on when Derrick’s getting out of jail?” Kelly hoped and prayed that Derrick was released as soon as possible so that Eric could go back to living a normal life. She could tell that Eric was trying to be strong, but deep down inside this wasn’t him.

“Mr. Goldberg said he should be hearing something any day now about my father getting out.” Eric said as he moved Kelly off of his lap. “Go put on something nice I’m going to take you out to eat.”

“Really?” Kelly’s face lit up with excitement this would be the first time that the two went anywhere together since she was allowed back inside the house. “I’ll be ready in an hour.” Kelly said as she ran off to get dressed.

Eric sat behind his desk when he felt his cell phone vibrating in his pocket. “Yeah.” He answered.

“This is, Chico,” he spoke in a calm tone. “I’m calling to inform you that Joey Alvarez’s body has been found and me as well as all the other members on the council agree that the Mason family is responsible for his death.”

“How ya’ll figure that?” Eric asked with a raised brow. “Just because ya’ll found his body doesn’t mean that we were responsible for Alvarez’s death.”

“Joey Alvarez was last seen entering your father’s home,” Chico pointed out. “Which tells me if your father didn’t kill Joey Alvarez himself then he had it done or either he knows who did it.”

“I hear what you saying Chico, but you have no hard evidence you basically just going off of your gut and I don’t think that’s fair.” Eric said.

“Listen Eric this isn’t the court of law it’s the streets so I don’t need no hard evidence and let me tell you one thing about my gut,” Chico paused for a second. “My gut is always right and I always follow my gut.”

“You’re making a big mistake Chico, our family is innocent,” Eric pleaded. He knew he was fucked, but right now, he was just trying to buy his family some time.

“A hit squad will be coming to kill you and everyone in your entire family within the next 24 hours please don’t try to run or skip town because wherever you go I’ll find you.” Chico said in a calm tone.

“Chico, my father has brought you millions of dollars and this is how you repay him? There has got to be another way, another way to let us clear our name at least. I’m telling you me and my family is innocent.” Eric told him.

“Listen Eric, I personally love your father and your entire family. I swear I do, but business is business.” Chico said then hung the phone in Eric’s ear.

“Shit!” Eric cursed loudly. He knew there was nowhere to run or hide, Chico’s hit squad would hunt him and his family down like a pack of dogs until every last one of them was dead and gone.

The door to Eric’s office swung open and his hand immediately went to his holster.

“Baby it’s just me,” Kelly said with her hands up and a frightened look on her face. “You okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” Eric said as he stood up and buttoned the top button on his suit jacket. “What you all dressed up for?”

“You told me to get dressed so we could go to dinner,” Kelly said with a confused look on her face. 

“Sorry baby,” Eric apologized. “Where do you want to go?”

“You sure you alright baby?”

“Stop asking me am I alright. I told you I’m fine.” Eric snapped. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.” Eric quickly ran upstairs and removed his suit jacket and shirt he then walked over to his closet and pulled out a Kevlar vest and strapped it across his chest. He wasn’t about to take no chances. 

Eric made his way back downstairs and saw Pistol Pete snacking on a bag of chips. “I’m about to take Kelly to dinner. I need you and three other men to suit up and join me.”

Instantly Pistol Pete could tell that something was wrong. “What’s wrong?”

“Chico called and said they found Joey Alvarez’s body,” Eric shook his head. “Said me and the entire family is dead.”

“Damn!” Pistol Pete spat. “That’s bullshit!”

“Yeah I know but it is what it is,” Eric shrugged.

“So what’s the plan?” 

Eric smiled. “Ain’t no plan. When they come, we banging out.”

“I’ll round up as many soldiers as I can,” Pistol Pete said. There were already twelve armed bodyguards posted up out front of the mansion and Pistol Pete along with two other guards inside watching over Eric. “Oh and by the way I sent a few soldiers out to take care of Jack.”

Eric nodded. “Good job and make sure you get word to Jimmy and Mike. Tell them it’s time to go to war.”