Chapter 15: Chapter 15

The scene crackled with tension as Paul ended the call with Vladimir, a quiet exhale escaping his lips. The Russian had taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for Morgan to deliver the C4, the final piece of his brutal plan. The alley behind the Chinese restaurant was cloaked in shadow, the air thick with the stench of rotting garbage and soy sauce, the distant hum of Hell’s Kitchen a faint pulse under the starless sky.

Ten minutes dragged by, each second heavy with anticipation, before the low growl of an engine broke the silence. An old Mercedes S600 rolled into the alley, its sleek black frame glinting under a flickering streetlight, pulling up behind Paul’s Ford and sealing the narrow passage. The Mercedes flashed its high beams—three long, one short.

Jason nodded. “Looks good. Signal back.”

Paul complied, his foot tapping the brake pedal in the same pattern: three long, one short. The code was their safeguard, a ritual established over years of dealings with Morgan. One wrong move, and the deal was off, both sides vanishing into the night.

Satisfied, Jason stepped out of the Ford, his boots crunching on the gravel-strewn pavement. The Mercedes driver, a wiry man with a shaved head and a permanent scowl, exited and opened the rear door. An elderly figure emerged, leaning heavily on a cane, his white hair catching the dim light, gold-rimmed glasses perched on a face etched with wrinkles and age spots. Morgan, the black-market kingpin, moved slowly but with a sly grin, his eyes sharp despite his frail frame.

Jason approached, skipping pleasantries. He leaned in, sniffing the air around Morgan, his nose wrinkling. “Light perfume, sweet, floral—probably some young Asian college girl, huh?”

Morgan’s grin widened, impressed. “Damn, Jason, your nose for women’s scents is uncanny.”

Jason’s face twisted in mock disgust. “You dirty old bastard, chasing girls younger than your grandkids.”

Morgan chuckled, unashamed. “The older I get, the more I crave youth. Don’t judge—you’ll understand someday.”

Jason shrugged, his patience thin. “Enough chit-chat. Show me the goods.”

Morgan nodded to the driver, who popped the trunk and hefted a black briefcase onto the Mercedes’ hood, the metal groaning slightly under the weight. The case snapped open, revealing five dough-like blocks of C4 plastic explosive, wired together, alongside a remote detonator. Morgan gestured at the haul. “All linked up. Enough to level a house. Handle with care, kid.”

Jason ignored the warning, inspecting the C4 with practiced precision, his fingers tracing the wiring. The driver tensed, his hand drifting to his holster, but Morgan raised a hand, calm as ever. “Relax. Jason’s not stupid.”

Satisfied, Jason nodded. “Looks good. Let’s talk about payment.”

Morgan’s eyes narrowed. “You got the cash?”

Jason flashed a sheepish grin. “Come on, Morgan, I’m a loyal customer. How about a tab, just this once?”

“What?” Morgan’s face darkened, his cane tapping the ground. “You know the rules, Jason. No credit, no exceptions.”

Jason clasped his hands, feigning desperation. “One time, man. I’ll pay you back in a week, I swear.”

“Rules are rules,” Morgan snapped, signaling the driver to close the case.

“Wait!” Jason’s hand shot out, pinning the briefcase to the hood with a thud that echoed in the alley. The driver glared, tugging at the case, but it didn’t budge under Jason’s iron grip.

Morgan’s eyes glinted, his voice low. “You trying to play rough, kid?”

“Nah,” Jason said, his tone casual but firm. “If I did, every black-market dealer from here to California would blacklist me. I’m not that dumb.”

“Then what’s your game?” Morgan asked, suspicious.

“I want to change the drop-off spot,” Jason said. “If things go right, I’ll have plenty of cash to settle up.”

Morgan’s interest piqued, his eyes gleaming under the streetlight. “Where to? Kingpin’s place?”

Jason rolled his eyes. “God, no. His compound’s got fifty or sixty armed goons. I’m crazy, not suicidal. I’m hitting Vladimir.”

Morgan’s grin returned, predatory. “Blood for blood, huh? Classic Jason. Alright, give me some juicy intel, and I’ll make an exception—come with you myself.”

Jason raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I’ve got the intel you want?”

Morgan leaned closer, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. “Damn right. You and Kingpin falling out—it’s the talk of New York. From right-hand man to mortal enemy? Everyone’s dying to know what happened.”

Jason sighed, shaking his head. “You greedy bastard. That intel’s worth more than 300 grand.”

Morgan held up a bony hand. “I know someone who’d pay 500 grand for it.”

Jason blinked, caught off guard. ’The underworld’s got a gossip fetish now?’ “Fine,” He said. “I’ll tell you, but you eat the cost of the C4. Call it my commission.”

Morgan’s smile vanished. “Pay up, or I’m gone.”

“Alright, alright,” Jason relented, leaning in to whisper. “While Kingpin was in L.A. on business, I slept with Vanessa.”

Morgan’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping. “You madman! You actually fucked Kingpin’s woman?”

Jason shushed him, glancing around. “Keep it down, will you?”

The revelation hit Morgan like a shockwave, his cane trembling as he steadied himself, mind racing with the potential profit. ’This is worth a million, easy.’ Before he could process further, Jason’s phone buzzed—Vladimir.

Jason slid back into the Ford, answering. “All set?”

“Twenty-four men, including me,” Vladimir said, his voice tight with anticipation. “Weapons, ammo, heavy gear—everything’s ready.”

“Where?” Paul asked, his voice steady but strained.

“The warehouse Kingpin set us up in. You know it.”

“I’ll be there soon,” Paul said, hanging up.

Jason’s lips curled into a dark, satisfied smile. The trap was set. He motioned Paul out of the car, the C4 case in hand. Paul’s face was pale, his breathing shallow as he stared at the explosives. Jason began wiring the blocks to Paul’s body, his movements precise but clinical. “Breathe, relax,” He said, his voice almost soothing. “This’ll be quick. One flash, and you’re meeting God.”

Paul closed his eyes, drawing a shaky breath, then another, forcing calm. The C4 was secured, a deadly harness strapped to his chest. He climbed back into the Ford, his hands gripping the wheel like a lifeline, and drove toward the Russian mafia’s stronghold.

Jason hopped into Morgan’s Mercedes, the plush interior a stark contrast to the grim task ahead. They followed at a distance, the city’s neon lights blurring past. When Paul was two hundred meters from the warehouse, Jason dialed him. “Hide the phone in your suit pocket. Make sure I can hear everything. When the moment’s right, yell.”

“I got it,” Paul said, his voice hollow. “Jason… don’t forget your promise. Take care of my family.”

“You have my word,” Jason said, his tone cold but final.

—

The warehouse loomed ahead, a hulking shadow in Hell’s Kitchen’s industrial sprawl, its rusted walls lit by the faint glow of sodium streetlights. Paul parked, his heart pounding as he stepped out, the weight of the C4 pressing against his chest. Jason and Morgan watched from a safe distance, the Mercedes idling in the shadows.

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