Page 27 of Dom
I had always been proud of this place. It was one of my most sacred possessions and couldn’t be tracked because it wasn’t in my name. It was damn near like identity central in my unit. I went to the black file cabinets which always held everything Dom and I ever needed to disappear or help someone else disappear. I pulled the drawer open and dug through until I found a folder labeled, ‘Valerie Mercado’, a new alias I had for a while that I never got to use. It took me a little over two hours to prep that file for Victoria to become Valerie, but I did it.
The file had everything from birth certificate, social, driver’s license, credit cards, fake work history, even a LinkedIn page that painted her as a spa coordinator who relocated from Denver. I ran my fingers along the edge of the manila envelope before sliding it into my Chanel tote bag. I stood there for a second as my eyes bounced around the unit with nothing but the cold air around me. That damn stomach of mine did it again and even harder this time. Something deep and low in my gut that made me lean against the file cabinet. My mind screamed tea, stress, maybe hormones… but my body whispered something else. I ignored it once again. There was no room for weakness in my life. I locked the unit, slid my shades back on, and stepped into the Miami heat all calm, cool, collected, and ready to handle anything else that I needed to do.
Ilit the joint as the flame from my lighter flickered against the tinted glass of the Escalade as I leaned back in the seat, watching the condo come into view. Victoria was in the truck behind me with two of my hittas, and her bags were packed and ready too. She was about to get her own place. It wasn’t gon’ be no more hovering around my damn penthouse like a lost lil’ puppy with too much lip and not enough experience.
Carmen was already inside waiting to pass off the documents that would make Victoria a new woman on paper. That was the only way she could survive in Miami now. El Blanca had made her a target the second he disowned her. When I stepped out the truck, I adjusted my chain, tucked the strap at my waist, and walked up to the condo lobby. My face stayed stone cold. Carmen held the folder in one hand and her other hand was holding a tote bag as she leaned against the marble front desk. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and even in her chill fit, she looked like money.
Victoria stepped in behind me, with her eyes scanning the place. The lobby was bougie with plush velvet seats, designer art, and a scent of fresh lavender lingering in the air. Carmen handed over the documents and gave Victoria a quick rundown of her new name, new social, and new ID. “Don’t flash it unless you have to and if anyone asks, you were born in Denver and, moved down here.”
Victoria took it all in, but I caught the hesitation behind her eyes with that fear of uncertainty. She was finally standing on her own two feet, and the reality of what that meant was written all over her pretty face. She was afraid, and I knew the look.
“What’s wrong, you good?” I asked her.
“I will be,” she replied in a soft voice.
Carmen turned to me then to her and her expression was a little off. I could see it all in her eyes, she was tired and might’ve been overworked. She moved like a machine and her brain never rested.
“How you feelin’ wifey?” I asked her, stepping into her space. I slid my hand around her waist.
She gave a weak smile, shaking her head. “I’m just... not feeling too well. I think I’m coming down with something. I’m heading home after this to lie down.”
I kissed her on the lips right in front of Victoria… tongue and all. I ain’t have shit to hide from her. That was all me and I didn’t give a fuck if it made Victoria uncomfortable. This wasn’t a show. This was real life…. my life, and Carmen had earned more respect from me with her position at my side tenfold. Victoria looked away, clutching the folder, looking awkward as hell, but she didn’t say nothing. Once Carmen dipped, I walked Victoria through the condo. It was modern, clean, and minimal, just enough for her. It was two bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, luxury kitchen, and it was fully secured. I had my people alreadyassigned. Two would be on the roof, one in the garage, and another on the hallway surveillance rotation.
“It’s yours,” I told her. “But listen, you don’t leave outta here unless it’s work related. And even then, you’ll be with a shadow. This ain’t a vacation. You fuck around and get comfortable, you gon’ end up dead. Ain’t nobody gon’ cry over that but you.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
“Good.” I turned to walk out but paused before I hit-the-door. “And Victoria... you do good, I’ll move you up. But one wrong move and I’ll know about it. You’re not untouchable. Don’t forget that.”
I hit the button for the elevator and pulled out my phone when I got the call from one of my soldiers. “Yo, King. It’s the shipment.”
My heart slightly dropped. “What shipment?” I asked with a raised brow.
“The overseas whip drop to the Miami port. We saved half, but El Blanca’s crew got the rest. The estimated value of what we lost... was a lil over a mil.”
I clenched my jaw as I pinched the bridge of my nose. The whole damn shipment was worth ten million. We salvaged maybe five, but it still burned my fuckin’ chest. “Anybody dead?” I asked.
“Nah... but they was ready. We got ‘em back, and lit they side up.”
“Alright,” I said in a calm voice. “Time to push the next hit forward then. I want El Blanca bleedin’ more than money. I want him to feel it in his fuckin’ soul.” I hung up and dialed Carmen next, but she didn’t answer. I knew she was probably knocked out at home. I stared at the screen for a minute before calling another number.
“Dom,” he snarled when he answered.
“El Blanca…” I said in a cool ass unfazed tone.
“You’ve got balls calling me, perro. What, do you want, more bodies in your street?”
I smirked as I paced in front of the condo entrance. “Just wanted to hear you cry about that lil’ hit I put on yo’ port. You losin’ money fast, old man.”
“You think this is over?”
“I think you better pick which casket you wanna die in muhfucka,” I said coldly. “You turned yo’ back on yo’ own blood. That tells me all I need to know.”
“Victoria is dead to me.”
I didn’t say shit else. I enjoyed taunting his bitch ass. He started this shit and I damn sure was gon’ finish it. He was worried about me having too much power, and now he left me no choice but to show him that power. We could’ve continued to eat together but no, just like a snake he wanted me out the game. El Blanca hated to see a black man in the cartel having grown more powerful, richer, and respected day by day. I slid my phone back in my pocket. Before I left the condo, I reached in my jacket and pulled out two phones. One was a black iPhone fresh out the box with a new SIM and a number only my people would know. The other was an encrypted cartel burner with a GPS override, backdoor message mirroring, and signal clocking. My tech guys made sure of that just so I could see her every move, her every text, or call. I set them both on the counter in front of Victoria.
“This one…” I said tapping the iPhone, “is for business and basic shit. This other one... is for emergency contact only. If it rings, you answer. Don’t lose it, and don’t fuck with it and most importantly don’t ask no questions about it.”
