Free The Cartel by A. K. Alexander Page A

clean."
     
    "It sounds like an expensive venture to me. I don't know if we have that kind of cash ready to invest," Javier commented.
     
    "Not a problem," Levine replied, holding up his hands. "I'll loan you the initial investment, with a small interest applied on the payback, of course."
     
    "How does this benefit you?" Antonio asked, wondering again if Levine could be trusted. “Other than the interest on a loan that I’m not certain we would need anyway.”
     
    "Your investment in my casinos for one thing, and I want a thirty percent cut as well."
     
    "Thirty? You can’t be serious?" Antonio said. "Why in God's name do you think you should take a thirty percent cut of our business? We're the ones taking all the risk. You want us to move the drugs and all you do is take our investments, accepting it into your casinos? That sounds like bull-shit deal for us, if you ask me."
     
    "I didn't mean to offend you, Tony. Please, let's all relax, and see if we can't make a deal which suits us both," Levine remarked in a cool, even tone. “I certainly don't want to screw you," Levine replied, wiping a trace of sweat from his upper lip.
     
    "I take my business very personally." Antonio crossed his arms and leaned back.
     
    "In this business, that can either be a great asset or a serious detriment. It all depends on how you want to play the game. I'm counting on your playing of the game so both of us can participate and come out as winners."
     
    "There's no way in hell I'm going to offer you thirty percent of my business. I'd be willing to go ten."
     
    "Ah, come on, let's be fair here. I may not be taking the same amount of risk as you, but I am putting my business and myself on the line. I'm willing to offer you a substantial amount of cash to set up a big operation, plus give you an exclusive to use my paradise here for you to process your business ventures through. Ten is too low for me."
     
    "Twelve."
     
    "Nah, still too low." He shook his head, a sly smile on his face.
     
    Antonio sighed and a silence fell across the table. He eyed Levine. "I'll go as high as fifteen and that's it. You're still getting cash off the top of the immigrants we run through. As far as I can see, I'm offering you one hell of a deal.”
     
    "You drive a hard bargain, my friend, but I'm anxious to do business with you." Levine stretched out his hand and, with a handshake, closed the deal. He leaned back in his seat. "I think some good ground rules have been laid here this evening. Now I would take great pleasure if you would both partake in having another cognac and sharing some fine Havana cigars with me, given to me by none other than Batista himself. This was before Castro got his grubby hands on that unfortunate country. I tell you, the fucking wops are still having a hard time getting over that one. They want Castro so bad, they can taste it.”
     
    Levine handed out the fine cigars, and as they sat puffing on them, Antonio hoped the deals he was making with the Jew would not be the cause of his own downfall. He was sure that somewhere in those percentages that the Cosa Nostra would be getting a take. First things first. If they could get rid of the competing Mexican families life would be easier. He’d later deal with Levine and any of the mafia he needed to.
     
    Once back in his suite, Antonio was able to relax. Levine had put him on edge. No matter how Levine referred to the Italians, Antonio knew the old man had an affinity for them. He admired them. If there was one group of people Antonio didn't want to work for or with, it was them. They were sneaky, not to be trusted. The only honor they recognized was within their families. They were too well known for causing wars, and Antonio had no desire to be a part of that.
     
    The meeting had done one thing for him, and that was to take his mind off Marta and his son, Alejandro. What a good and powerful name, he mused in his near drunken state. The cognac the men shared together