Roy Glenn - Commit To Violence

"What type of businesses we talking about?"

Black thought back to the last meeting he had with Meka Brazil and tried to remember what she said about foreign investment in Russia. "There’s a company that makes multimedia switching gear for cable companies that just got certification for its product line in Russia. Communications infrastructure investment could represent a significant opportunity," Black said, trying to repeat what Meka said, but Oleg didn’t seem impressed. "Then there’s wind."

"Wind?"

"Are you familiar with The Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk region?

"Yes, it’s located in the northwestern part of Russia. It borders Finland and Norway. The Peninsula faces the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the south," Oleg said proudly.

"Did you know that area of Russia has the greatest capacity for wind power in the world?"

"I did not know that. I know that another oil and gas field had been found under the seabed of the Barents Sea. The Shtockmonovskoye gas field is considered to be the largest offshore deposit of natural gas in the world."

"Really? That might be something that my group should look into. But this wind thing is the future, Oleg. The problem is that a lot of the area available for wind power in Russia is far from major cities. But right now there are settlements, fishing villages, border stations and shit like that, that are far from the electrical grid."

"Most of them are powered mainly by diesel generator sets."

"Right. So wind power will make a substantial contribution to the power supply in these areas. And as the business capability and construction of new transmission lines moves forward, we can begin servicing some of the major cities."

"You sound just like a businessman, my friend."

"Too much, Oleg," Black said and wondered if he was a legitimate businessman playing gangster or a gangster playing legitimate businessman. "What do you think, Oleg? You ready to make some real money? ’Cause I’m sure that this will be far more lucrative for you than Ms. West’s little pussy business."

"Yes, yes, I can see where that would be much more lucrative-long term of course."

"Of course."

Oleg held out his hand. "I think we have an understanding."

"I’m glad to hear that," Black said and shook Oleg’s hand. All he had to do now was convince Martin Marshall and his Chinese partners that involving Oleg and the Izmaylovskaya mob was a good idea.

Oleg poured another round of drinks. "Come. We drink to our new partnership. To you, Mikhail."

"And to you, Oleg, but tell me something."

"What is that?"

"You said when Angelo called you that you had your suspicions about the reason I wanted to talk to you. What did you mean by that?"

"I have heard from some associates that you have big problems. That is what I thought you wanted to talk to me about."

"What kind of problems are we talking about?"

"Come," Oleg said and stood up. "We continue this conversation outside."

Black stood up and so did Victor.

"No," Oleg said. "We talk alone," Oleg said and Black followed him out the back door. The two men walked down the alley and out into the street before Oleg spoke. "One of your men was killed recently."

"Yes," Black said and looked at Oleg curiously. "But now I’m wondering why you would think I would want to talk to you about that. Unless you’re tellin’ me that you or your associates had something to do with it."

"No, no, I assure you that we had nothing to do with your man’s death, but as I said, I do hear things."

"What kind of things?"

Oleg took out a pack of cigarettes and offered Black one. When he refused, Oleg lit up and continued. "Are you familiar with a man named Cruz Villanueva?"

"Yes, Oleg. I’m very familiar with Mr. Villanueva."

"I hear that he is planning to make a move uptown?"

"I heard that, too."

"There are things going on in your organization, Mikhail. And it is more than just your man getting killed and Cruz planning to move uptown, although they are connected."

"Are you telling me that Cruz had him killed?"

"This I do not know. But what I can tell you, Mikhail, is that someone in your organization is doing business with my associates without your knowledge."

"Bo."

"I do not know what his name is, Mikhail," Oleg said and stopped walking. He turned to Black and put his hand on his shoulders. "I can only tell you that this man, he talks a lot about the way things will be once you are gone and he is in charge."

Black walked back to the restaurant with Oleg and thanked him for the information. "Where’s Bo?" he asked Victor as soon as they were back in the car. Once Black explained to Victor what Oleg had told him, Victor called Sabrina. As was their custom, he let the phone ring once and ended the call. Five minutes later, Sabrina called him back. She said that she didn’t know where Bo was and that he’d left earlier with Hank, and she hadn’t seen or heard from him since. Black told Victor to tell Sabrina that if she saw or heard from Bo that she could call him, and then get the fuck away from Bo.

"Where to now?" Victor asked as he drove back to the Bronx.

"Let’s go find Cruz," Black said. "And let me see your phone." Black tried Bobby’s cell again, and once again, it went straight to voicemail. Then he tried him again at the club before calling Nick on his cell phone.

"Nick, its Black. Where are you?"

"Me and Bobby are on our way to take care of something," Nick said.

"There are some things goin’ on that I need to talk to you two about. When you get done, y’all meet me at Cynt’s."

"We’ll meet you there when we’re done. We got some things that we need to let you know about."

"Am I gonna be happy about it?"

Nick looked at Bobby. "He wants to know if he’s gonna be happy about what we did," he said and handed Bobby the phone.

"What’s up, Mike? No, you’re not gonna be happy about it, but trust me, what me and Nick are doin’ tonight has to be done. Where you at?"

"Me and Victor are about to take care of something, so I’ll see you two later at Cynt’s," Black said and ended the call.

Black and Victor headed back to the Bronx and checked out the spots where they thought they might find Cruz until they got word that he was at his apartment.

When Black and Victor arrived at Cruz’s they got out and headed for the building. As soon as they got close to it, somebody began shooting at them. Both Black and Victor took out their guns and ran toward the building, firing shots as they ran until they made it to the building.

"Think that was meant for us?" Victor asked while he reloaded his weapon.

"Let’s go find out," Black said and went inside.

They got on the elevator and Black pressed the button for the fourth floor. "But Cruz is on six."

"Stick with me, kid, and learn something," Black said as the door closed. "Right now there’s at least two, maybe three mutha fuckas standing in front of the door. When the door opens on six they’re gonna start shooting. Do you really wanna be in here when that happens?"

"Not really," Victor replied and felt a little stupid.

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor and they stepped to either side as the door opened. Black stuck his head out of the elevator and looked in both directions. The hallway was clear. Black pressed the button for the sixth floor. "Come on."

They ran to the stairwell and made their way up the steps. When they got to the fifth floor they heard gunfire. "You were right," Victor said and continued up the steps behind Black.

"Stick with me, kid, and you just might learn a few things and live long enough to use them," Black said as he got to the door. "You ready?"