Page 114 of Tied to You
My head snaps to him on my left. “The fight?”
“Only way to show these cunts who runs this part of the north is to take them out.”
I look at Dean whose gaze locks with Rocco’s. A silent understanding passes between them. At twenty-three he’s only one year older than me, but I can see by the way he carries himself; he’s lived a lifetime. “But…” All other words fail me.
“We need you to work with Elvis and ensure that people keep buying from him.”
My heart starts to quicken its already rash pace. “How?”
Rocco huffs. “Do what you’ve been doing. Talk to the remaining buyers. We need a calm front end.”
“Front end?” Whilst they burn it all down at the other?
“Listen. Not too long ago, these bastards wiped out an entire charter of mine. That still hasn’t been paid for. They will not be allowed to sell within our borders. Not now. Not ever. It’s going to take all of us to make sure it stays that way. Now, as much as I can feel the fucking hatred at the idea of you being anywhere near this, actually, what we need is someone who can fucking talk to these men should the need arise.”
“Should the need arise?” I ask, only semi-following.
Dean leans forward in his chair. “You might have to use that charm of yours on some of the remaining buyers.”
“Thatcharm?” I repeat his words emphatically. “It’s not charm, Dean. It’s common fucking sense.” I look at Rocco. “What if they refuse to listen?”
“Then you find a way to make them. Isn’t that what you’re good at doing?” he replies.
I cross my arms, biting my lip. “I don’t want to be a part of this.”
Travis sighs. “Yes you do,” he says, leaning back in his chair when I look at him. The others don’t speak as he talks directly to me. “Baby, if it means you can help me, then you’ll do it. I don’t fucking like it, but we both know you’ll do it.”
I shake my head.
“You will never physically be there. Of that I’ve been assured. If Elvis needs you, you hit those bastards with that fire in your gut.”
My head drops. If they’re anything like Matthew, it means more violence. “Who’s left to get on board?”
“I’ll show you that when I get you home, but they’re big wigs.”
Jesus.“What if they refuse to switch buyer?”
Rocco pushes off his chair. “They have no reason to. But if like the cunt you saw earlier, it turns out another supplier is dealing near us, then we’ll do what we do best.”
None of this makes sense. “If it is the Saviours, you could end up being undercut or worse, they could find out how you run your entire operation. Current buyers could jump. You have to stop the Saviours imminently if you want to keep everyone. Failing that, you find another supplier.” I say it without thought. Everyone’s silent. Maybe I messed up again.
“We have a supplier. That isn’t what we need.”
“Then findtheirsupplier. Eliminate them as a priority.” Again, I say it without thought.
Travis’ face turns down, and Dean looks at Rocco. “Find their supplier?” Rocco repeats my words, lost in his own thoughts.
“Take that away from them, then they can’t deal. But—”
“How the fuck are we supposed to find their supplier?” Dean asks, cutting me off.
“Do you still have the coke?”
My head swings to Rocco. “I would—”
“Mop’s taking it to Elvis before coming here,” Travis says, not letting me get a word in. I look at him, wanting him to let me say my last piece. “Asked him to trace it already.”
“Good. Hurry him up. Then we can move.”
