Page 36 of Retribution
“We got six bouncers for fight night, but they are paid security for that night only. We haven’t been able to recruit anyone for the team.”
“What’s the head count now?”
“Eighty-three, but seven of them are visiting families.”
“Have them return immediately. Tell them it’s an emergency!”
“Yes Boss.”
I sighed and nodded. “Eighty-three is good, right? How many soldiers can Ferdinand have? Most of Mercado men have disappeared or deserted. Can we recruit any of them?”
“Sir, most of them have rejoined Ferdinand’s team.”
That was disappointing to hear. However, I felt that I had enough men who were well trained and armed. We knew our domain well enough to protect it and not allow someone to come in and destroy what I built from scratch.
Ciara
Three large Ford Transits drove into the factory yard, a few dozen armed soldiers jumped out. Luca was right. These men were no ordinary fighters. They looked as though they’d been training for the apocalypse.
A few minutes later a dark sedan drove in. Nando and another man, older and even more gorgeous than Luca or Nando also alighted the vehicle. There was something about this man that told me he was Blaze. His deep blue eyes were piercing as they settled on me. He had an almost scary aura about him.
Damn, if I wasn’t a part of the organization I would have bolted. Makeba you’re one brave lady. I heard that the lady pulled a gun on him. Just the way he looked at me made me want to shit my panties.
I gripped Luca’s hand. “That’s Blaze isn’t it? He looks hella scary, yet completely gorgeous!”
“I had no idea you could be scared of anything,” he chuckled. “No one gets on his bad side.”
“That’s who Makeba pulled a gun on?”
“Trust me, they are made for each other. She ain’t scared of shit. He’s the one scared of her.”
Blaze reached where we were and held out his hand. “Hello, you must be Ciara.”
Tentatively, I took it and he gave me a firm shake. “Hello Mr. Blaze. Good to meet you.”
“Hey Cuz.” Luca greeted.
“You good?” Blaze asked Luca who replied with an affirmative nod.
While Blaze greeted us, Nando spoke with Sam and a few others. Blaze, Luca, and I proceeded to go inside. Once inside, one of Blaze’s men took out a map of the tunnel which Blaze spread across the largest table in the room. By this time Nando also came inside, and we gathered around the table.
“That bastard Santiago is killing our kids,” Blaze announced. “The drugs he pushes on the street is contaminated with nitazenes. Five people, including high school kids have died during the past week and countless others before that.”
“That’s why you brought in the cavalry,” Luca commented.
“Yeah, the police are useless. I want to keep the streets clean of this drug. So let’s do this.”
It was nice to know what Blaze cared about what happened to kids on the streets, and not just care about money. He had rebuilt the school they had closed in Strident. That’s how he met the infamous Makeba.
“This is where the fight club is,” he said, pointing at a particular spot on the map. “And this is where his entrance is. What he doesn’t know is that there is a secret entryway that was created by the Ebony Blades before they were wiped out. That entry is here.”
“So, we’ll enter from there?” Sam asked.
I hadn’t seen Sam in a minute and his presence took me by surprise. I waited for Blaze to answer.
“What do you think Ciara?” Blaze asked, looking directly at me. “Should we enter there.”
“Well, even though it’s supposed to be a secret entryway, Santiago’s been down there so long we don’t know if he knows about it. Moreover, if we enter from all directions, it will probably throw them off.”