“What can you tell me about the other dealers? I’m not worried about Trino’s guy. He’ll take care of him should his loyalties waver. But what of the other two? Three?” I asked.
Chen looked shocked about my statement about Trino. He looked at Sephie. “You told me the Colombian was a nice guy,” he said.
“He is. Super nice guy. Has a flair for the dramatic, which I greatly appreciate. Just don’t cross him or he’ll use that dramatic flair in ways you don’t want to see,” Sephie said.
Chen cursed under his breath. “Alright then. Gus is Trino’s guy. He’s the one that the other dealers defer to, so he’s kind of in charge of everything. The other three guys are DJ, Smith, and Chucky.”
Ivan and Sephie looked at each other. They both said, “shi t” at the same time. I could see Ivan bristle. Chen was about to pi ss himself.
“Tell me about Chucky. Is he an older guy? Is he a dealer or a pimp?” Ivan asked. His voice had an edge to it, but I could tell he was trying to rein in his intimidation as much as possible.
I glanced at Sephie, who was clearly worried, her entire body tense. I waited for Chen’s answer before I asked more questions.
“He’s both. He works for Niko. Been working for him for a long time, too. I’m not sure about that guy. The other two dealers are good, as far as I can tell, but I think Chucky might be a little off, if I’m being honest,” Chen said.
“He’s more than a little off,” Sephie said. She looked at me, her anger now clearly visible on her face. She said, in Russian, “he’s the one my uncle called the night of my forced procedure. He was a pimp back then, but he could’ve been my uncle’s dealer and I just didn’t know it. I never stayed around when he came to the house. He looked at me like he wanted me to be one of his girls. He could’ve changed his ways, but I doubt very seriously he has. I wouldn’t trust him. He’s the one who took me and my uncle to the doctor.” She said the last sentence quietly, her gaze dropping to the floor. I was immediately angry. It seemed like she couldn’t escape having to relive her past lately.
“Oh, shit. You can speak Russian too? Shi t just got so real.” Chen said quietly.
Ivan was also clearly angry. Chucky might not make it out of the apartment tonight. Stephen asked, “what does he look like. Seph? I can happily take care of him before he ever sees you.”
She looked to me, almost like she was asking permission. I nodded my head. Not only did I not want him to even see Sephie, I would never be able to trust him. She looked at Chen. “Does he still keep his hair longer? Like the doll he took his name from?”
“No shit? He for real named himself after a murderous doll?” Chen asked. “I can’t believe I never pieced that one together, but he totally has the same hair as that fuck ed up doll.”
She asked, in Russian, “do you know what doll I’m talking about, Stephen?”
“Yep. Is his hair red too?” he asked.
“Net. It was black the last time I saw him,” she said. She looked to Chen, asking in English, “is it still black?”
“Yeah, but he’s going gray too. Still same haircut though. Can’t believe I never caught that reference,” Chen said, shaking his head.
Stephen said, “I’ll take care of him.”
Adrik
I looked to Chen. “Chucky will not be joining us tonight, but tell me about the other two.”
His eyes went wide. “I mean, I just said he’s a little off. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“No, Chen. I know Chucky. I’ve known Chucky since I was 16. He was friends with my uncle. Chucky is not to be trusted,” Sephie said.
Chen looked at Sephie like he suddenly understood a little more. I didn’t know how much Chen knew about Sephie, but her explanation was all he needed to hear. “If you say he’s not to be trusted, then he’s not to be trusted,” he said. Chen looked at me, saying. “DJ works for Armando. He’s got a girl and two kids. He’s worried about keeping them safe, should the entire city get a hold of brawn. He’s kind of like me The dealing helps fill in the gaps. He’s got a regular job, but dealing helps him make ends meet. Smith works for Massimo. I think he’s okay, but he’s really quiet. Like serial killer quiet, so I can’t get a good read on him.”
We heard Stephen say, “someone is here.” Ivan stayed with Sephie while Andrei and Viktor moved to the door.
I looked at Chen, confirming, “you told them to come alone?” He nodded his head. “I told them multiple times to come alone. It’s not my fault if they’re too stu pid to listen.”
We waited for Stephen to give us more information. “One male, alone. Not Chucky,” he said. Viktor and Andrei stepped outside. closing the door behind them. Misha moved to the door, as backup should they need it. We heard them talking outside the door, then one knock on the door. Misha opened it, revealing one nervous man with Andrei and Viktor.
He walked into the apartment. I looked to Chen, hoping he would address this person. He caught on quickly. “DI. good to see you, man,” he said, walking up to him. They shook hands, then Chen stepped back Ivan and I were on either side of Sephie. standing just in front of her, mostly shielding her from view. D] looked at us, nervously. I took a step toward him. “DI, thank you for coming,” I said. I stepped back even with Ivan, partially in front of Sephie once more. I felt her hand in mine. I knew she was struggling with the revelation that someone else from her past was involved in this. I laced her fingers through mine, holding her hand firmly. I heard her sigh quietly behind me.
“Next,” Stephen said. We waited to hear more details. “Two, actually,” he said. “Neither is Chucky. Promptness is not his strong suit,” he said.
Viktor and Andrei stepped out once more. Chen looked past me and Ivan to Sephie, “how do they do that? Do they have bionic hearing and can hear when people get here?” he asked. Sephie laughed. “Something like that,” she said.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.