Vegas Underground Collection: Books 1-4

Chapter 4-2

Nico

“The f**k you are,” I snarl at my oldest brother, Junior, through the phone. He’s just informed me he’s sending ten guys to Vegas to take over the cocaine scene here.

“You wanna try that again?”

“We had an agreement. I keep things on the up and up here so your money can be laundered through. I do not need the Vegas police or the Feds breathing down my neck because you want to increase your share of street d**g sales. It’s not worth it.”

“I decide what’s worth it and what’s not.”

I go silent with my disagreement. Junior doesn’t run the outfit. Our father is boss, but he’s currently sitting in a federal prison for four more years on a tax fraud charge.

“No, Junior,” I say after the pause. “I have enough to deal with here. I know this city. I know the cops. I know the mayor. The risk does not outweigh the reward.”

“Maybe you need me to come help you run your business better, then.”

“f**k you.” I squeeze my eyes shut, because I really shouldn’t talk to my brother that way, and if I don’t de-escalate things, I’m going to be pulling my balls out of my a*s. “Listen, J—I’m sorry. That was disrespectful. I didn’t mean it.”

Junior makes a sound in his throat.

“You’re happy with the way I run things here, right? I make La Famiglia a lot of money, no?” There can be no doubt of his answer. I make four times what all their illegal operations make in Chicago, and everything I do here is on the up and up.

He makes another affirmative sound.

“So please trust me on this. I’m sorry I was being a prick. I get too used to being my own bossman here. But I know what’s gonna work in my city. Cocaine dealing is too risky. Too dominated by the Latin American gangs. And it could threaten everything I have going here, ah?”

“You’re being a pussy.”

I have to work to keep my temper in check. I don’t dignify his taunt with an answer.

Junior waits another moment, then he says, “We’ll talk about it when I come out there.”

I stiffen. “When is that?”

“Next week. Ma wants to move out for the winter. Says she misses you too much. I figure I’ll come along and find her a house.”

I’m about to snap that I can find her a house, but I manage to put a cork in it. He wants to come here and throw around his weight. I’d better get my head on straight before he gets here. Keeping his s**t out of Vegas is my number one priority.