Beware The Water

Forbidden

Five days had passed and there was still no word on Hook's release. The gang had become anxious to say the least, but Smiley and Sunshine assured that any evidence that could have been left behind of their involvement was torched in the fire. Their presence was untraceable and they all had alibis from people in Chinatown that were paid off to confirm their whereabouts incase they were questioned.

Lux was at the door of her and Shorter's apartment when Khan walked up to her with a folded, white note in his hand. "Hey, sorry to bother but this is for you."

Lux took the piece of paper, "What is it?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. Made its way to me and I was told to give it to you." Lux began to open the note only for Khan to stop her. "I'd read it inside. You never know."

"Well thank you." She said.

Before she could close the door behind her Khan spoke again, hesitantly. "Hey, uh-" he scratched his shaved head. "Is everything okay with Shorter? He looked really bad when I last saw him. Bruises and shit."

"Yeah. Just business. He's been focused on how to help Hook."

Khan nodded. He and his brother weren't too close to Shorter. They were foot soldiers. Ones that were expendable and sent out to do basic runs or to be extra bodies on a task or hit if needed. He was aware of his position, as was his brother Khing. They didn't mind. They'd proudly die for the mafia. It gave them a home and although they weren't in the inner circle like Shorter's main crew, they still felt cared about. Shorter always made sure to let his guys know that they could come to him for anything, that's how he kept them so loyal and in line.

"That's good. Hook's a good guy. But anyways, burn that note when you're done."

Lux simply nodded and gave a smile. She placed her bag down and looked around the apartment to make sure it was vacant before opening the note. She tilted her head, confused and went over to the stove and held the corner of the note to the orange flame before grabbing her coat and leaving the complex.
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"The guys know you're dealing for Dino?" Fang asked, with a cigarette hanging from her lips.

Kairi rolled her eyes and shoved her hands deep into her pockets to keep warm. "You insane? No, I just need some extra cash. It's not long term."

"Don't Shorter and his sister let the whores waitress at their restaurant for legit cash?"

"Yeah but I'm not a waitress and I'm not a whore." She reminded.

"Yup, just an ex junkie who sells dope for a rival gang."

"Whatever." Kairi rolled her eyes. "Your boyfriend's the one that got me the gig." Arthur debated on letting Shorter's ex run drugs for his crew, but there was no harm. She was just a nothing drug dealer who was in charge of two blocks.

"Only cuz he's short on guys. This terf war with Ash's gang has really nuked us." Fang informed, handing over her cigarette for Kairi to bum off of. "Thankfully the Chinese Mafia hasn't chosen sides, then we'd really be fucked."

"They can't afford a war right now." Kairi blew the hot smoke out of her nose and took another drag before passing the cigarette back. "Shorter has his own battles to take care of before fighting someone else's."

"Heard he's been in Wu Lie's dog fights."

"Yeah." Kairi shook her head, trying not to think about her time there. "They get pretty gnarly." Her hand grazed the spot above her black coat that covered the scar from where Gregor's knife had cut her.

"Must be really desperate for cash if he's lowering himself to that bullshit." Fang said, scoping the corner briefly for regular and new customers. The girls stopped on a block and waited, keeping their hands warm and secure in the pockets of their coats and having a firm grip on their dope. "Arthur fought there before." Kairi turned, surprised. "A few years ago. He was pretty good at it but Wu likes to keep the fights interesting and will surprise the crowd and the fighters with crazy stips." She explained. Wu Lie would sometimes have random weapons around the ring, or keep the guys in a cage to use that as a weapon, and every so often have the on lookers bring in weapons of their own, excluding firearms, in hopes the fighter they bet on would take what they brought in. "When I used to go watch, I saw a guys head get bludgeoned with a lead pipe." Fang sucked on her bottom lip and rolled it under her teeth, nibbling on the piercing. It was a nervous tick that only Arthur knew about. She could still hear the sloshing of blood and skull, being mashed into a soupy puddle until the guys head was anything but that. The flinging pipe managed to even splash a few droplets of blood onto her denim jacket that night. She never wore it again after that. "That was the last time I let him fight there."