The Unknown

32

Dominic Hayes

A few days had passed since the charity event, and I was finally going to meet with Victor Moranos. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my chain for what felt like the hundredth time. Layton walked into the room, a look of amusement on her face.

"You nervous, Dom?" I shot her a look.

"Just making sure I look my best." Layton chuckled.

"Victor's not going to care about your chain, baby. He's going to care about what you can do for him." I nodded, my mind racing with the plan.

"I know. That's why we need to be careful. We need to find out what he's looking for without giving away too much." Layton nodded, her expression serious.

"I've been thinking about that. I think we should play it cool, and see what he's willing to share. We can always reveal more later if we need to." I nodded, agreeing.

"That's a good plan. Let's just hope he's willing to share something useful."

I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the meeting ahead. I was about to sit down with one of the most powerful men in the city, and I needed to be sharp.

"Alright, I'm heading out." I said, grabbing my keys. Layton nodded.

"Be careful, Dom. We don't know what he's capable of."

I nodded, heading out the door. I got in my car and headed to the address of the restaurant Victor had chosen.

As I drove through the city, I went over the plan in my head. We were going to play it cool, and see what Victor was willing to share. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this meeting than met the eye.

The restaurant came into view, and I felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it. This was the moment we had been waiting for. I parked the car, and I got out, taking a deep breath. It was time to face Victor Moranos.

As I walked into the restaurant, I could feel the weight of Victor's gaze on me. He was already seated at a table, sipping a glass of wine.

"Dom, good to see you." He said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. I took a seat across from him, my eyes locked on his.

"Victor, what's this meeting about? You said you wanted to discuss a potential partnership." Victor smiled.

"Yes, Dom. I think we could help each other out. But first, let's get down to business. What do you know about my family's operations?" I leaned back in my chair, trying to appear nonchalant.

"Not much, Victor. Just that you're involved in some shady shit." Victor laughed, a cold, mirthless sound.

"Shady shit? That's rich, coming from you, Dom. You're not exactly squeaky clean yourself." I shrugged, trying to keep my cool.

"Maybe not, but at least I don't fuck people over for a living." Victor leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

"So, Dom, I hear you're a man who can get things done. I must say, I'm impressed. You're either very brave or very fucking stupid." I shrugged.

"Just doing my thing, Victor. Trying to make a name for myself." Victor chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound.

"I like that about you, Dom. You're a straight shooter. And that's why I want to do business with you. I want to expand my family's operations, and I need someone with your skills to help me do it."

I raised an eyebrow, my mind racing with possibilities. What did Victor want from me? And how could I use this meeting to my advantage?

"What kind of expansion are we talking about, Victor?" I asked, my voice was steady. Victor smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement.