Guns and Roses

Power

I didn’t need to ask. Nino could tell I was already spiraling into the kind of rage I only let out when someone decided to act stupid enough to get in my way.

“Get Malik,” I said, voice cold as ice. “Get him, and two more. We’re going to teach Rico a lesson. One he won’t forget.”

Nino nodded, turning to leave, but I caught him with a sharp glance. “And, Nino, make sure it’s quick. I don’t want any mistakes. This needs to be clean.”

He hesitated, but only for a moment. “You think Rico’s gonna try to fight back?”

“Doesn’t matter.” I leaned against the wall, cracking my knuckles, already feeling the tension build up in my chest. “Rico needs to learn his place. He needs to remember who the hell runs this city. I’ll make sure he never forgets again.”

Nino left quickly, as if he knew I wasn’t the kind of person who liked to wait around. But the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. It wasn’t just that Rico had double-crossed me, it was the fact that he had stepped out of line without even a second thought.

I had made him. He wasn’t even a real boss before I put him on. And now he was selling poison in my territory, getting innocent people killed, and putting all of us at risk.

The silence of the penthouse felt too quiet, too empty, as I stood there, planning my next steps. This wasn’t just a business problem. This was personal. Rico had crossed a line he didn’t even know existed. He needed a reminder. And if he didn’t get it, if I didn’t put my foot down now, this whole operation could fall apart faster than you could blink.

I pulled my jacket from the chair, fixing it in place, the weight of the gun on my side feeling heavier than usual. Nino returned moments later, Malik and the two others in tow. They were all business, but I could tell they felt the gravity of the situation.

“Ready?” I asked, my eyes cold, calculating.

“Always,” Malik responded, his voice low and steady.

Good. Malik wasn’t like the others. He had a sharp mind and an even sharper sense of loyalty. He knew what had to be done, and he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

“We’re going to remind Rico why you don’t cross me,” I said, my voice like steel. “I don’t care if I need to burn his whole world down. He needs to know who the f**k rules this place.”

We piled into the SUV, the air thick with tension. I could feel my pulse pounding in my neck as we drove through the dark streets of East Wilhelm. The city was quiet at night, but beneath the calm, there was always something waiting to ignite.

The further we got, the more my thoughts drifted back to her.

Genevieve.

How I couldn’t shake the feeling of her eyes on me. How much I wanted to see her again, even if she hated me. Even if she thought I was everything I wasn’t.

But right now, I needed to focus on Rico.

This was the kind of thing I did when I was forced to remind the streets that they belonged to me. It was business. It was never personal.

But I wasn’t sure if I believed that anymore.

The drive felt like hours even though it was barely twenty minutes. My mind raced, processing every scenario, every possible move. Rico was a dead man walking, but I needed to be strategic. I wasn’t just going to show up and shoot the man. I needed to send a message.

When we arrived at the warehouse, the faint sound of music and shouting from the street was the only thing that gave away the building’s location. This place was Rico’s—his hideout, his corner of the world. But tonight, it wasn’t just his. It was mine.

I stepped out of the car first, Malik and the others falling in line behind me like shadows. There were three of Rico’s men at the door, guns holstered but clearly ready for a fight. I didn’t flinch.

I walked up to them, my pace deliberate. They exchanged nervous glances, clearly unsure of what was going to happen. As I closed in, one of them stepped forward, trying to act tough. But there’s a difference between playing the part and living it.

He pulled his gun. I didn’t wait.

I was already moving, faster than he could process. The crack of the gunshot echoed in the night, but it wasn’t the sound of me firing. It was the sound of his shot missing, by a mile.

I’d already been to his side, my hand snaking out to knock the barrel of his gun to the ground, spinning him with a move so fast he didn’t have time to think. In one motion, I had his gun out of his hand and pressed against his chest.

“Let me give you some advice,” I whispered. “Next time, don’t point your gun at the wrong person.”

I didn’t wait for him to respond. The thud of him hitting the ground was all I needed to hear. My guys moved forward, securing the perimeter as I walked inside, the door creaking open with a satisfying snap.

Rico was sitting at his desk, his back to me, surrounded by his usual chaos, stacks of cash, bags of product, the usual stuff. But he froze the moment he heard the door creak.

“Thought you could pull something over on me?” I said, my voice low but sharp.

He turned slowly, a forced grin creeping across his face. “Saint Laurent. Always a pleasure.”

“Cut the s**t, Rico. You sold that combination. You know what happens next.” My eyes were cold, but my mind? It was a machine. Everything about this moment, every angle, every step was calculated.

Rico’s grin faltered. He was starting to realize that this wasn’t just some warning. This wasn’t a negotiation.

“You didn’t just sell drugs,” I continued, watching his discomfort grow. “You endangered my business, my people. And you did it behind my back. You’re lucky I didn’t kill you the second I heard.”

I watched his hands shake just the slightest bit as he reached for his desk drawer. In that moment, I knew he was thinking about pulling a gun. And I knew it would be his last move.

I moved before he could even draw it. My hand was on him, a blur of motion, knocking the drawer shut with the back of my hand. I grabbed him by the throat and pulled him up so he was standing, choking on his words.

“You really think I’m gonna let you get away with this?” I growled.

His eyes were wide now. He knew it was over. But he tried to play it out anyway. “You can’t just kill me. You need me, Laurent.”

“No, I don’t,” I said, voice eerily calm, like I was discussing the weather. “I was never desperate for your business. I can take it all without you. But you? You need me. You need my protection. You need the network I built from the ground up. Without me, you’re a nobody.”

I could see his mind racing, trying to think of a way out, but I had already mapped it out.

“I have nothing to lose,” he said finally, desperation creeping into his voice. “I’ll fight for this.”

“You think you’re in control of this situation?” I laughed, letting go of his throat and pushing him back onto his desk. He stumbled, gasping for air. “You’re not even close, Rico.”

I snapped my fingers, and Malik stepped forward, holding up a gun.

“Here’s the deal. You’ll go back to your little operation, and you’ll never, ever sell another thing on my turf. You’ll stay quiet, or I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly what you did with that girl. And I will make sure they know you were behind it. Got it?”

Rico didn’t answer, but the way his eyes shifted, I knew he understood.

He thought for a second, like he was considering his options, but his hesitation was enough for me to make up his mind for him.

A single shot rang out. His arm jerked as the bullet hit the desk right beside his hand.

“Let me make this crystal clear,” I said, watching him wince at the pain. “You’re gonna sit down, shut the hell up, and never double-cross me again. You don’t get to make decisions. I do.”

I smiled coldly, my eyes dark. “You’ve been warned.”

Rico looked up at me with fear in his eyes, but I didn’t care. This was business. This was power. This was who I was.

I turned and left, not even looking back.