CROSSROADS

CHAPTER 6 - The Invitation

BRAD

28 January, 2020

19:25 Euphoria

~~~~~

He did it in five days.

I turned off the tele. I watched the news to verify the information that keeps on popping all over the internet.

Ten bodies found in an abandoned yacht at Manila Bay. Fishermen who found the yacht around 4 in the morning saw red painted signs all over the yacht saying CANCER TO SOCIETY. They reported it immediately to the marina and that's when they found ten unidentified dead bodies with signs hanging around their necks with Kidnappers and Drug Pushers written with blood on it. Police investigating the crime scene believed this to be connected with the case of missing minors and selling of drugs around high schools in and around Chinatown. They are still looking for the people responsible for the killings but the people around the vicinity are not cooperating with the police and are thankful to the vigilantes who did the mass murder.

He even stayed true to his Pied Piper persona that brought a smirk to my face. Leading the rats to their doom in the water. Cheeky bastard.

The inside of the nightclub is getting busy. They're getting the place ready to be opened at 9. The janitors cleaning the whole place, the kitchen staff starting to prepare the menu for the night, the bartenders sorting the glasses and drinks in the bar, the dancers doing their makeup and outfit in the dressing room before their show, the DJ checking and testing the sound system, and the security double checking the safety and protection.

Euphoria is one of the top luxury nightclubs in Manila. This is the favourite hangout of famous celebrities and rich brats. We have their privacy covered. This is where they get free and wild. VIP rooms are always booked and we don't question what they do there. What happens in Euphoria stays in Euphoria.

Knock knock! The door swings open.

"Boss, Nate is here," one of my security said.

"Let him in," he closed the door as he left. I leaned on the one-way glass mirror as I lit a ciggy while waiting for my guest. It's time for me to let the Vipers join the Dragons. A deal is a deal.

"I'm baaaack," Nate sing-songs as the door widely opens. "Did yah miss me your highness?" He closed it with his foot and sat comfortably on one of the sofas. He takes off his black leather jacket and lays it on his manspread lap.

This fucking cunt's arrogance will get him killed one day.

"I saw the news," as I blew the smoke out.

"Pied Piper style," he pretends to play an imaginary pipe, his tattooed biceps flexing.

"Good job Nate. And you did it before seven days, impressive."

"I don't wanna brag but the job only took two days to finish. I just need to stage it perfectly for the drama." I raised an eyebrow at him while he shrugged, "what?! We need to show off our masterpiece in style. And the reporters eat this kind of shit. You know, front page material." I really can't with this fucking cunt but he gets the job done.

"I'll hold a meeting soon with the others so we can welcome you and your gang. On behalf of all the Dragons, we are glad to have you join our side." There was a long pause. The room was silent. Nate doesn't look impressed, "strange, you don't look excited. You found out something from those rats?"

He smirks evilly as he rest his leg on his other thigh loosely and drums his fingers on it, "you got good instincts your highness. That's one of the reasons why I asked for this meeting. And you won't like what you're gonna hear."

"Spill," as I put out my ciggy.

"Before I tell you what I found out, I would like to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Do the other gangs under your mafia knows that Vipers will be joining you guys? Does anyone know what our deal is?"

"I haven't told them yet. Why?" I asked curiously.

"Coz one of your subordinates is doing something behind your back."

"You have proof?" I lit another ciggy as I stare at him, trying to see if he's lying or not.

He fished out a flash drive out of his jacket pocket, "all in here." He stood up and slings his jacket on his shoulder as he walked towards me. He slowly puts the flash drive on my table, "the rats were only following orders. Maybe one of your dogs is going bankrupt. You'll hear everything in there."

I stared at the flash drive then to Nate. "so they aren't a new gang?"

"Nope. Just a bunch of desperate people who were hired to do the dirty work for Him," he raised an eyebrow at me. "If this same person has been feeding you the updates then I guess he's trying to cover up for himself that's why you weren't updated as I were."

I puffed another smoke as I sat on my swivel chair.

"I had him followed by one of my trusted boys," I looked at Nate seriously. "I wanna make sure before I hand that flash drive to you."

"Who is it? Just tell me."

"Frederick. He hired those rats to kidnap minors so he can sell them to his rich pedo clients. They get drugs as commission if they brought him virgins."

Bloody hell! That sick old fart.

White noise has been one of the oldest gangs under the Dragons and Frederick is friends with my dad. I never liked him. The way he looked at girls especially minors is disgustingly annoying me. So what I'm hearing now just verifies that gut feeling I felt all along. If it wasn't for his connection with dad, I wouldn't do business with him.

"Up to you what you wanna do with that info that I just gave you. And before I forget, here." He put a gold envelope on the table. "It's an invitation for the ModTech Annual Gala. Just a thank you from the Vipers for letting us join you guys. FYI, Rick always attends that party."

"Why would he go there? And why d'you have an invitation?" Nate smirks.

"Expanding his network or looking for new clients I guess. That Gala is a great venue for it because a lot of loaded businessmen attend it. And he's trying to convince one of ModTech's favourite artists who will perform at that event to help his sister. I know he's only using his sister as an excuse to talk to her. He's obsessing with that beauty," then he mumbles silently, "I would too."

"How do you know this?"

"I'm always that woman's plus one," he smiles proudly.

That's probably Iris Dominguez he's talking about.

He starts walking away towards the door. "Just attend the gala. You should unwind a bit, relax. You always get your panties in a twist, I think you need some entertainment. You might find a partner or two who wants to do," he finger quotes, "Business, with you." He shrugs, "Who knows right?"

"If you're the plus one then why do you have this?"

"Pffft. Too many questions. Chill bro. You'll need a down time before shit hits the fan." He opens the door, "and you better visit your old man. Looks like he knows something about Rick that we don't."