Chapter 31

Gray

"Where is my money old man?"

"I don't have it today, but I swear! I swear I'll have it by next week!"

"Come on amigo, I gave you two full years to have my money. Not one, but two."

A hand retracted from my pants pocket to scratch at my left cheek. A deep breath overcoming me as I tried to keep my cool in this situation.

The old man before me, who had multiple of my men around him, his men already having been put in their place before I got here began to cower in my presence. He looked as if his legs would give out beneath him at any moment as his hands shook while he spoke with them. Swaying them around with each, and every word.

His brows frowned as his face stressed in his attempt to convince me to give him more time.

"Give me a damn good reason why I should give you an extra week, for you to just waste my time and turn up empty like every time before now."

"I..."

The old man choked up, unable to find any reasoning that was as good as him paying me now. It eluded me as to why it was so complicated for him to just pay me. He was living a luxurious life, surely a million dollars was nothing to his bank.

It was only pocket change being taken out of mine when he asked for a loan. And he knew exactly what he was getting himself into.

"Were these not your words Vasquez? 'A million dollars? I'll have it back to you easy, don't even fret boss.' Hmm?"

"I swear to you, just one more week. One more week is a-"

*Bam*

I pulled my gun from my waist and shot him in the head. His body falling to the ground backwards in front of me instantly. I pointed my gun downwards, aiming at his chest now.

*Bam Bam Bam*

Three bullets to his chest. No doubt one went through his heart, I aimed for it, not that I needed to of course. A disappointed sigh left my barely parted lips after I had effortlessly killed a desperate man who owed me money. As a woman who was basically dragged out of the abandoned appearing building I, and my men stood before, Vasquez's body was dragged away by one of the five men who stood around him.

"Mariella, quit your bullshit squirming or I'll empty my fucking clip on you right now."

I eyed the woman who was dragged out not even a minute later after Vasquez fell to the floor. My cold stare caused for the woman to cease her terrible squirming and whining. Now, only desperate sobs left her mouth.

"B-boss, I swear I only did this because of the money! I needed it, you have to believe me. It was all for my son!"

"So, you put Angel in danger? when all you had to do was come to me. You know damn well that I would give you any amount of money you need to help keep you sustained, Mariella. You were family."

"Scar, please."

"What did cayla tell you?"

"She-she told me to be her messenger..."

Mariella began, looking off to the side at the gravel ground. Not wanting to meet eyes with me. I was sure she felt disgrace, and shame in the actions she commited.

"To help her keep tabs on Angel. At one time she even tried to convince me to poison the girls food. But that was until she said not to because she wanted to be the one that killed Angel."

"would you have poisoned her food for a lousy few thousand dollars, mi amor?"

Mariella hesitated, slowly she nodded her head. Tears staining her cheeks as she didn't dare to part her lips and say another word.

*Bam*

She fell limp, her back to the ground as she lay in a puddle of her own blood. It's putrid how even your own family can't be trusted. Really, and Mariella had so much potential in this way of life. It really saddens me.

"Boss, we are going to be late to the party."

Josh spoke, turning just barely to look me over. I nodded subtly before turning on my heel and waving for them to follow me as I headed back to the SUV and climbed into the back seat, where I found Angel scrolling through her phone boredly. Josh and Smiley quickly joined us in the car, the tinted window never rising.

"You looked didn't you, Hermosa?"

As the car pulled out onto the street the way we came, Josh looked into the rearview mirror at Angel. Angel, who grew what looked to be a *pleased* smile, slid her phone into her pocket and looked up, first at me, and then at josh.. This made me arch an eyebrow as my eyes only lingered on her frame. My body adjusting within my seat.

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious on the 'business' you guys needed to do."

"You watched me kill a man. How do you feel?"

"Surprisingly normal, if I am being completely honest."

"Are you not shocked? scared, frightened of me?"

"No. Like I said, I feel normal. I didn't watch long enough to see what happened to the woman. I thought I was in shock and wanted to give myself time to process in case I needed to."

"Smart girl. But next time, don't do stupid shit like that."

Angel only scoffed at me and brought her hands up into a fold under her breast through her shirt. As if she needed time to gather and pick her words.

"Geez, thanks for the good praise, Ms. Gray."

"Anytime cupcake."

We had made it to the front of the club, where this party is held. The doors unlocked, and I first got out of the car, rounded over to Angels side and opened the door for her.

"Don't you think opening the door for your sister might be suspicious?"

Angel asked in wonder, climbing out of the car as she adjusted the shades on her face. Her heels making sounded contact with the pavement.

"What's the harm in wanting to be a gentleman."

Taking in a deep breath, Angel led the way into the club. Me following close in pursuit. As we entered the club through the double doors, the club was bustling with men and women dancing on the dance floor, music flooded into the ears, and neon lights decorated the entire interior of the building.

"Listen to me with intent Angel. I understand that you are ups-"

Angel had raised and put her hand in my face to dismiss me from talking. She sucked her lip, before a grin devoured the line of her lips. Behind those dark glasses I could see the hidden mischief.

"Yeah, don't do that. Tonight, I'll be playing my sisterly role as I see fit. Understand?"

"Angel-"

"Have fun Gray."

Without an ounce of an ID on her, Angel strutted away as if she had been walking in heels everyday of her life. I didn't even know she actually knew how-to walk-in heels so well until tonight. On our first date she did pretty well, but she was so shy it was hard to tell that she was at model level when it came to walking in them. How the girl ceases to amaze me.

"Josh, Smiley. Get in the club now, Angel has gone rogue."

I pulled my phone from my pocket and called up Josh's number, which they answered immediately like usual.

"Damn, Hermosa is pulling one of those? You know how what's her fuckin name, Laura. Like Laura did to Massimo."

I heard Josh burst out into uncontrollable laughter on the other line. I rubbed my temples with my fingers, groaning in frustration.

"Get the fuck in here! now!"

I hung up the phone and shoved it into my pocket with much aggravated force. I didn't have time to go looking for Angel myself, since I had things I needed to attend to at the moment. Shuffling my way through a dancing crowd of people until I found and climbed a set of stairs. I went to the VIP section where I found one of the well-known Bosses, the man who had invited me to this so called 'party'.

"Victor!"

I said his name with much pretended envy as a wide, forced smile grew on my face. My wingspan showing itself as I walked over to the Caucasian male who had been seated between two strippers. Our hands came together in a firm shake.

"Scar, if it isn't my favorite brother."

The man could never tell if I were man or woman, so he has his mind made that I am a man with a feminine voice. Understandable, I've met my fair share of men with feminine voices.

"Nice of you to invite me, what is the occasion fratello?"

Victor overcame with a subtle laughter as he gestured for the women who had previously been on his lap to return to their spots. The old man has a nice young woman back home, so it disgusted me that he was out fondling other woman when he had a priceless one at home taking care of the house for him.

From my seat on the curved sofa next to Victor and his whores, that lined the wall, I had perfect view of the entire club. The only problem was that there were a lot of people, and finding Angel from here was going to be more difficult than I suspected. I didn't even know if Josh or Smiley had made it into the club yet, though I was sure they had.

I shouldn't worry too much.