HOOKED (Never after series)

Chapter 2 (James) ~

"THERE'S A NEW PROPOSITON ON THE TABLE."

I pour two fingres of Basil Hayden into the crystal tumbler, adding one ice-cube and savoring the flavor before I turn to face Ru. "I wasn't aware we were taking any new prepositons."

He shrugs, lightening up the end of his cigar and puffing. "We aren't. But I'm a businessman, and this once massive potential."

His voive is muffled as he speaks around the roll of tabacco, but years of soaking up his words as gospel make his easy to understand.

Roofus--known to the world as Ru--is the only person my life worthy of my trust. He saved me from hell, and I'll never be able to repay that dept. But the coutesy only extends to him, which makes it difficult when he decides to bring new people into out operation.

He's grown reckless with age.

"One day, you inability to turn down potential will get you killed," I tell him.

His eyes narrows. "I have no intention of dying and leaving my legacy to a Brit."

I smirk. All this is mine anyway; he just deosn't like to say it out loud. Doesn't want to admit the student has supassed the master, that he only holds the reins because I allow him to. IT's been the truth since the moment my uncle's bl##d spilled under my hand eight years ago--the day I turned eighteen. I gutted him like that worthless fish he was, then used the same bl#de to cut into my steak at dinner, daring anyone to question why my fingers were stained with red.

Ru may have the title of the boss, but it's me they all fear.

Setting my glass on the edge of the desk, I sit down in one of the wingback chairs. "Your mortality is not something I particularly like to joke about."

Sometimes I truly believe Ru thinks he's untouchable. It makes him sloppy. Makes him trust too easily. Allows people to het too close. Luckily, he has me, and I'll slice my knife deep into the belly of anyone who tries, reveling at how the life drains from their eyes while their bl##d drips into my hands.

I guess when you're experienced the thing I have, you learn quickly that immortality is only granted theough people's memories.

Ru leans forwards, resting his cigar in the ornate ashtray on the corner of his desk. "Then pay attention. We have someone who's interested in being a new partner," Ru grins. "Wnats someone expand out distrubtion. Run our pixie to new corners of the univers."

"Facinating." I dust a of lint off my suit jacket. "Who is it?" I ask, purely to appease him. I have zero interest in bringing someone new. We've been using our current drug runner for the past three years, and I vetted him personally. Watched him sweat through his clothes while he watched our pixie dust get loaded on the plane, hidden inside crates of lobster. Sat next to him in the cockpit through the enitre flight, twirling my hood b#lde through my fingers as he pissed himself from the nerves.

If you want to enusre someone's loyality, you have to make sure they understand why you deserve it. And I've made sure that people understand the end of a bl#de hurts wrose when the person weilding it enjoys causing pain.

Ru wipes his hand over his mouth. "You've heard of NevAirLand place?"

I freeze in place, the blood in my veins icing over. I'm quite sure I've never mentioned that name to anyone, especially Ru.

"Can't say that I have." My jaws quivers.

"Well you must be the only one." Ru laughs. "The owner, Peter Michaels, just moved here."

My heart slams against my ribs. How could I have missed that? "Oh?"

Ru nods, "He's looking for a new adventure." He smiles his slightly crooked teeth gleaming. "It's only fair for us to welcome him in properly, let him know how things around here work."