58

Ivan

The place I was walking into was an abandoned portion of the park where an old rollercoaster used to be. I walked into the operating room which was no longer in use and heard some laughter coming from inside so I headed in that direction.

They heard my footstep and all of the men present got out their guns and pointed at me so I raised my hands up so they could see who it was.

"Ivan! My boy!" I heard Igor Romanov praise like I was one of his people.

"Don't call me that." I told him and walked towards where he sat.

"Put your gun down idiots," he ordered and all guns went down.

"You wanted to see me." I wanted us to go straight to the point with why I was there to meet him.

"Ah, yes." He smiled."I actually wanted to meet Don Oleg but I can't get to him so I asked for you."

"And I am yet to know why?" I said to facilitate our words to why he wanted me here.

"The guns, they are worth nine million," he said and I decided to act like I had no idea of what he was saying just to get his next action.

"What guns?" I asked and heard him laugh loudly.

"He is asking me that, can you believe it?" He laughed more as he turned to his right hand man who was sitting beside him. I sighed to control myself because his laughter was annoying.

"What is so funny?"

"I am not a fool, Ivan!" His laughter stopped as he growled at me."Did Oleg tell you that I am a stupid man? If he did then he lied to you. Why do you think I asked to meet you here? I know about the guns and where they have been kept, I know the good's worth and If you say something else to annoy me, I swear, I will my people blow the place up. Don't think I'm joking when I say I will do it. It will a big loss, both the men protecting the warehouse and the people presently at the park, all could go boom!"

I wanted to be sure he really knew what he said he knew and now I am sure. I put both my hands in my trouser pocket and inhaled quietly.

"What do you want?"

"Now, you are asking what I want you to." His arrogant smile returned. His voice was calmer now."Like I said earlier, I know the guns are worth nine million. I could act blind and you can proceed with the deal but after it's complete, I want half the price of it's profit."

"You are joking, aren't you?" I snorted out a laugh even if I knew verily that he wasn't joking a bit with his words, I just didn't want to believe that he was serious with what he was asking for.

"Four and a half million, I want it In cash," he continued with his demand to assure me that he wasn't joking.

"We are not going to give you four and a half. We won't even give you one million if it were what you asked. This is crazy, Igor, this is madness, you are not going to raze the place, this is a goddamn amusement park..."

"Say I cannot do it again and I will give the order over the phone." He cut me short.

"If the government notices any unfamiliar activity at the location, it could build up an investigation, do you want that?" I asked him because he mustn't have thought of that before trying to threaten me about setting the goods on fire.

"If the government starts an investigation, it will trace to the brotherhood and it's partners."

"And also to the Strelka gang." I added, maybe he would have a rethink.

"If so, I could be charged for arson of government property. They won't have any other clue to my gang's other works but it will harm the brotherhood more than anything, that I know. Your gang owns the guns, your gang has the guns stored at an amusement park and it suddenly goes up in flames, the government will surely be on your neck, they will want to know about the other businesses related to the brotherhood aside the guns, so think wisely and make a decision Ivan." I listened to Igor explain and blinked in realization that all of what he just said we're accurate. Bombing my gang's warehouse would cost him but it will cost my people more.

"Four and a half is much, we can't give you that."  I decided to try and negotiate with him.

"It's that or nothing. I'm just asking for half the profit, it's not too much, is it? Oleg is more than that, I know, talk to him and get back to me with a decision."

"I want to decide everything now with you, not later." I told him and saw that annoying smile come up on his face again.

"Without your boss?"

"I will let him know after a decision is concluded here."

"Okay. I have no objections, he trusts you after all."

"Let's give you two million and you get eyes off the warehouse till the sale is completed." I made my offer but he laughed loudly and uncontrollably.

"Ivan, don't do that, don't make me laugh like that, I might choke." He stopped laughing after some seconds.

"How about two and a half million," I changed the price and his right hand man came up to me with a gun and pointed it to my head. The gun was so close I could feel the cold muzzle against my forehead.

"Didn't you hear him? He said four and a half million, that or the warehouse is exploded."

"Mikhail!" Igor yelled his name and he lowered the gun but didn't move back from where be stood.

"Two and a half?" I still propelled my offer to Igor despite what just happened.

"Four point five million, Ivan." He was being stubborn.

"I will make it three, that's the highest you can get from us." I let him know. Mikhail raised his gun again and cocked it while it pointed at my forehead.

I put my hand in my jacket pocket and touched my gun, things could get bloody salty in the matter of seconds.

"Mikhail!" Igor called him like the last time but he didn't budge, I saw his index finger press on the trigger lightly so I tightened my grip on mine which was still in my jacket pocket.

I smiled when I saw how red Mikhail's eyes had gotten. He always did this, he always attempted to shoot me whenever he got a chance. He hated me, I knew he did but it was funny that he didn't hate me for being a member of his rival gang but rather hated me because his boss, Igor had once tried to convince me to join his gang and take his(Mikhail's) place as his right hand man.

Mikhail and eyes still had our eyes glaring at each other's when the sound of a gunshot shook the tense atmosphere that had suddenly risen.