Vendetta | Nicki Minaj & August Alsina

21. The End Of The Road

Third POV
The Man, The Legend
12:34 am

Under the Triborough Bridge, in the crisp fall, mass chaos had erupted for the third time in under two hours. Screaming matches due to failed cooperation, wrestled back-and-forth between two rival drug cartels. Thaddeus Costello and his admiring son TJ stood boldly across from money and business threats Adonis, Christopher, Jonas, and Trey. Adonis brought with him dozens of men with ample weapons; however, he could never amount to the hundred and some men in heavy artillery Thaddeus brought along.

"Usually," Thaddeus began. "I'd have a man in charge out here doing this for me while I stay at home in my study." He pulled a lighter from his white slacks and snapped his fingers. A man, big and dressed in all black walked up to him and opened a wooden box, in which he pulled out a fresh cigar.

"But this time," he continued. "I couldn't miss my son's first shootout." He chuckled darkly, lighting the cigar, and putting it to his lips. "Tonight symbolizes something, gents," he paused to take a long pull from his cigar. "Tonight symbolizes the fall of a business. Which one? Well, you be the judge. I've been in this game for quite a while, so I hope you aren't too confident in taking me down today." He took another pull. "I'll just be this way if you need me." Thaddeus turned his back to walk away only to hear a gun cock.

"Turn back around," Adonis said. Thaddeus laughed and slowly turned back around, his hands in the air in a mocking manner. "Now, I came here to settle a difference, not to be made an example out of." Adonis turned his gun sideways. "And I expect some cooperation." He smirked. "You don't scare me. I used to look up to you, but it seems that I'll be looking down at you before the night is over."

Thaddeus frowned hard. "TJ, go home."

"But dad, I-" he started.

"Go home!" His father yelled. He knew what would be in store, and having his son there was too risky. He put his cigar back into his mouth as TJ was escorted to a black Escalade.

"You threatening me, boy?" Thaddeus directed towards Adonis. He smirked, causing Costello to quickly slip a gun from the back of his waistband and take the safety off.

"You ain't big and bad like they say you is, boss. I'm not scared of a man who hide behind a desk and collect money while men getting his money for him." Adonis folded his hands in front of himself.

"YOU BETTER WATCH WHAT YOU SAY TO ME!" Thaddeus's voice boomed and echoed, causing everyone to raise their guns. "I'd be happy to end your life right now." He pointed his gun directly between Adonis's eyeballs. The gun shook in his hand as his trigger finger itched.

"Daddy, wait!" the fast paced clicking of heels ran into the direction of the tense scene.

"Raja, what the hell are you doing here?" He asked her, infuriated.

"Daddy, look. You don't understand." She put her hands on his chest pushing him backward. He stood there in awe, as though he was in deep thought.

"It's him... isn't it? The guy you were seeing?" She stared into his eyes apologetically. Adonis and everyone else was quiet and still with their guns still drawn.

"It's not what you thin-" he cut her off.

"You betrayed me. You betrayed your family Raja." He sounded more upset than angry.

"Dad, it's not like that. Look, you don't have to do this?"

"And why not? Not only was he stealing my business, but he was having relations with my own daughter? This gives me even bigger motive to do it." He pointed his gun back at Adonis.