just a bunch of nigga-rich car dealers, then who are they?â
He paused, looking up toward the ceiling as if he would find the right words to describe them up there. âHow about the most respected drug distributors on the East Coast? They have ties to the Italians, Russians, Mexicans, Dominicans, and Asians, as well as with me and my people. And you should know that theyâve reached out to all of their allies about their recent problem with you and your organization.â
I glanced over at Elijah, who was avoiding eye contact at the moment. Bernie was right; he should have known who the Duncans were. I would deal with that mistake later. For now, I had to learn all I could about what I was up against.
âAnd what has been the response from his allies?â
âNobody wants a war. Itâs not good for business. Most of them have decided to stay on the sidelines for now, but if they had to choose sides, I donât think you would fare well. You provide a necessary service, but the Duncans are a cash cow that makes us all a great deal of money. Although . . . Iâm sure many of them wouldnât mind seeing the Blacks kill each other off so they can pick up the scraps, if you know what I mean.â
I knew exactly what he meant, but it didnât change the fact that I was going to kill Junior Duncan. âAnd you? What do you and your people want?â
âThat is an interesting question. To be quite frank, we want what you want, but we want you to do it smart.â
âIâm listening.â
âYou want to kill Junior. Well, weâre suggesting you make life easier for yourselfâand usâby eliminating his father first.â
âYou want us to kill LC Duncan?â
Bernie leaned back smugly in his chair. âWho are we to tell you anything, Xavier? Youâve always been your own man. Still, logic dictates that if you cut off the head, itâs much easier to kill the rest of the snake.â
I shook my head. âBernie, you are one cold piece of work. Here I am thinking youâve come to stop me from killing Junior, and instead you tell me to kill his whole family.â We laughed together briefly, but I cut it short, announcing, âItâs gonna cost you one million dollars.â
âHuh. A million dollars for what?â He sat up, looking pained at the thought.
I explained my price, though he knew damn well what the million was for. âA million dollars to kill LC Duncan.â
âThis is your problem, not ours.â
Elijah noticeably stiffened, and I canât say I blamed him. It was taking everything in me not to go off on this old Jew for insulting me this way. If Bernie was anyone less powerful I might have snapped his neck on the spot. Given his position of power, though, I kept my temper in check as best I could.
âI donât understand why you think Iâm so stupid, Bernie,â I said through gritted teeth. âYou didnât come here to give me advice. You came here because you want us to do your dirty workâand Iâm telling you itâs going to cost you one million dollars. Iâll throw in the rest of LCâs sons, especially that homewrecker Junior, for free. But I want a million dollars to take out LC.â
Bernie bit down on his lip. To be honest, I didnât think his cheap ass would go for it. He looked like he was in actual pain when he finally said, âFine, weâll pay one million dollars, but I must have your assurances that nobody will know me or any of my people gave the order. And I mean nobody.â
âWe donât talk about our clients or the jobs we do for them. You know that.â
âJust make sure you kill the one they call Vegas too. Otherwise weâll all have to sleep with one eye open. Heâs a very dangerous man.â Bernie got up from his chair with a little help from one of his bodyguards. âLet me know when the job is done.â
I