9
NICOLI
I hated that I had to leave her alone right now. I could see something in her eyes, disappointment, hurt? Storming out of the house I punch Daveon's number into my phone. His text had come through upstairs interrupting my time with Liliana. Someone had hit another of our shipments. Daveon answers on the third ring. "You on your way boss?"
"Yes send me your coordinates. I'm taking the bike. Any idea who this fucker is?" I growl.
"He hasn't talked, well not yet at least." I can practically hear the smile on his lips.
Twisted fuck. He always did like to get his hands a little dirty. Daveon is my concierge and my brother, though not by blood. He became a part of my family when we were just young kids. He was an orphan living on the streets. One night when I was thirteen, I had just walked out of one of my fathers hotels that he used to launder money out of, when this kid jumped me from behind. Knocking me to the ground we scrappled with each other, by the time we were done we were both bloodied and could barely stand. I was impressed at his skills. He had not only snuck up on me but held his own in a fight. Not a lot of people could do that with me even at my young age. I told him if he swore an oath to me I would bring him in, make him a part of my family. Feed him, give him a home. We started as enemies but are now brothers. He is my most trusted ally, and most loyal soldier.
"Nico, did you hear me?" I hear as I'm pulled back to the present.
"Yes Daveon, keep working on him. I will be there shortly. I want to do this quickly, so make sure he is ready to talk by the time I get there."
"My pleasure boss." He hangs up and I hear my phone chime with the address. I climb on the bike and push down on the choke to start it. Feeling it roar to live underneath me I give it gas, darting out from the side of the house onto the road. Flying down the pavement, I follow the instructions on my GPS till I come to an industrial part of town.
Pulling up to a rusting beaten down warehouse I park the bike. Looking around as I get off making sure no one is around. I see one of my men step out of the shadow by the doorway as I get closer. I give him a nod of acknowledgement as I walk past him and through the door. Once inside I look around expecting to hear muffled screams when all I hear is silence. Going to the back office room where I know they will be, I open the door and take in the site in front of me.
Daveon is leaning back against the desk off to the side while the other men are talking in the far corner. The man tied to a chair is bloody and cut up pretty bad, his head hanging down from unconsciousness. Upon my entrance Daveon pushes off the desk.
“The little bitch passed out from the pain.” He walks over to me, stopping when he is standing beside me.
Looking back the the two men now silent, standing to my attention I bark out, “one of you go get some fucking ice water to wake him up. I don’t have all damn night!” They both rush out of the office clearly feeling my anger lashing around me. Daveon raises an eye at me but doesn’t question me.
When they get back with the water I flick my wrist, motioning them to hold his head up and dump the water over his face. Gasping and choking on the water he inhales as he starts to come to. Good now we can get this over with. I move to stand in front of him. Just as he moves his head to look at me, I reach out, wrapping my hand firmly around his neck. "Where is my shipment? Who else was with you?" I demand. The man gurgles as his airway is cut off. After several moments and a couple shades darker, I release his throat. The man gasps for air as he struggles to breathe normally again.
Apparently someone had stolen not only a part of my shipment as Antonio had done before but all of it, and this fucker was one of them. When he finally slows his ragged breathing as he looks up. He struggles to see me through his already swollen eyes.
"Do you know who I am?" I question. I am answered with silence as he tries to put together the pieces. I don't wait for a reply. "I am a very dangerous man with a business to run, and you stealing my shipment hinders that business. Do you know who you just stole from?" No reply again. "Didn't think so, because if you did that would make you either really fucking ballsy or really stupid. Based on your inability to talk I'm going to go with really stupid." I crouch down so I am eye level with the man. "Let me introduce myself, my name is Nicoli Black.” Not bothering to explain further as I know he will know who I am. “I hear you have a nickname for me here, what was it again…" I tap my finger to my chin as if deep in thought. "Ah yes, Diavolo." His eyes widen as much as his swollen face allows, as mine take
