"Well then, I have a proposition for you."
The bold words that James had spoken hung in the air like a cloud of cigarette smoke for a brief, pregnant second, before dissipating into silence.
"You have my curiosity." Jose said, shifting in his seat to an upright posture.
"Between friends and trusted confidantes, it's like this," James began, "It is my aim to infiltrate and take over the Organization."
Jose interrupted with a snort of laughter.
"Sorry amigo, please go on." Jose said, after he had blinked away a couple of mirth induced tears.
"As part of my plans, there may be occasions where I require, shall I say, the disposal of some of my adversaries. While it may be a long stretch, I had hoped to make contact with one such as you, that I may partner with on my endeavors." James elaborated.
"Well, my young friend, how do I say." Jose started.
"I do not doubt your cojones. Clearly, to say what you have to me so far, shows either a great deal of naivety, trust, or balls." Jose said.
"If I do not find myself a trusted resource and ally, so as to remove the roadblocks later on, why do it at all?" James explained logically.
"As you say, as you say. Still, I will not deny that I and my compatriots have, politely put, found ourselves familiar with this line of business in the past, and I will not doubt that we will continue to do in the future." Jose said.
"Excellent. It is as I had hoped. Would you consider taking me on as a client of sorts?" James said.
"It is highly unusual. From what we know, people of your ilk usually resort to the plumbers." Jose said cryptically.
"The plumbers?" James asked.
"Yes, King Plumbing, for example, is well known for their expertise in wet work. It was my understanding that they would be the partners of choice for someone in your shoes." Jose said.
"Ah, here I must beg to differ. I am looking not for a hired hand, but for a partner and friend I may trust." James explained.
"How do you know you can trust me?" Jose asked delicately.
James gestured to the top of the stairs, and then to the empty seat where Victor had been, "We speak the same sort of language. Besides, one must cast a die at some point in time."
"Fair enough. What about in exchange? Quid pro quo, and all that." Jose said.
"I will be the first to admit that my talents, enigmatically numerous, far outweigh my current resources." James said.
Jose let loose another bellyful of laughter, before clinking his glass against James' and taking another swig once more.
"You had my curiosity, now you have my interest. I cannot wait to hear the next words out of your mouth." Jose grinned.
"Let me first expose my lack of knowledge, what is the accepted form of exchange these days?" James asked.
"At it's most basic, it is a life for a life. Sometimes, we may conduct business in exchange for hard currency, or other business opportunities, but at it's heart, it is the principle of equivalent exchange." Jose explained.
"Very well. I am willing to mortgage my future against my current needs. In exchange for your support now, I will engage the organization on your behalf as a trusted ally once I have enveloped myself in a position of power. If I am to succeed and control it entirely, I, along with the full resources I control, will be at your disposal once." James offered.
"You are asking for rice now, in exchange for the hope of beef later." Jose summarized, leaning back in his seat once more.
"That is true. I hope to be able to convince you that I am a risk worth investing in." James said.
"What if I do not require the help of the organization? What then?" Jose asked.
"You will have my personal friendship." James responded.
Jose laughed loudly again.
"Your balls, your brain, and your guts, my friend. You have the balls of a lion, the brain of a wise owl, and the guts of an alligator. To come here and seek the help of El Jefe with nothing but a promise." Jose said admiringly.
"Last week, I had nothing. Today, I am in front of you. Where will the both of us boast of being tomorrow? Or a year from now?" James said succinctly.
"Very well. I am almost convinced. There is just one last small thing." Jose said.
"What is that?" James asked, hiding his anticipation.
"You have all you need to succeed, bar one. That is lady luck. I will not enter a partnership, especially one this fraught with risk and with so little apparent reward, with one who is unlucky." Jose said simply.
"I think you will find I am a most puissant gambler. What shall we play? Poker?" James stated confidently.
"Perhaps." Jose said, "A second please."
Jose walked towards the door and opened it, before sending a few rapid-fire sentences in Spanish to the guards outside.
A minute later, one of the waiters could be heard sprinting towards the room. Seconds later, he appeared, out of breath, with a finely carved wooden box in his hands.
Jose took the box and shut the door without a word, before making his way back to the couch.
"I have here an old revolver," Jose said as he placed the box down carefully and opened it lovingly, "It is the very same one with which I made my challenge and won my place as El Jefe."
James paused a little, he had an uncomfortable feeling about where this was going.
Jose opened the box and took out a small pistol with a wooden stock. The metal had been carefully polished to a shine, and the wood looked newly restored. Jose swung the cylinder out and showed James that all of the chambers were empty.
Then, he reached towards the box and produced three bullets, placing them into the cylinder carefully, alternating between a filled and an empty chamber.
"Six chambers, three bullets, each perfectly spaced out." Jose said, before giving the cylinder a spin and locking it back into place.
"Have you heard of the game Russian Roulette?"
"I believe I understand the gist of it." James said, before continuing in a puzzled tone, "But if we play this, only one of us will leave here alive. I do not believe that serves either of our goals."
Jose laughed again.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand, my young friend. It is like this. I will spin as many times as you like before I pull the trigger, but each time, it will be pointed at you. Survive one pull, and you may leave here with nothing but my well-wishes, the memory of Angel, and my admiration. That is the life that you have had before." Jose said.
"Two pulls, and I will grant you my friendship and protection wherever and whenever you are in my territory. This is a new life that you will have."
"Three pulls, and I will grant you a life in addition that you may claim from any person."
"Survive four, and I will enter a partnership with you as you seek."
"Unfortunately, I will require you to make at least one pull to show your sincerity. You must understand, in my position, I can afford to take no idle risk." Jose said.
"May I have a moment please?" James asked.
"For the next half-hour, consider myself at your disposal. If you require a last meal, liquid courage, or another round with Angel, or even another taste of first blood, all you have to do is ask, and it will be delivered." Jose said graciously.
James considered his options internally. He would have to take one shot at least. That was a fifty-fifty chance. For every shot thereafter, those odds would reduce by half. For three pulls of the trigger, the bare minimum he would need, it was a one in eight chance of success. For four pulls, which would set up the foundation for his future success, it was a one in sixteen chance.
A sudden flash in the pan came into his mind.
System, can I peek into the gun and see where the bullets are? James thought inwardly
[ Not right now, but if you grant me your blood, and the blood of another, it can be done. ]
"Jose, might I trouble you for another roll in the hay?" James asked delicately.
"Hahaha, you are a true ubermensch. Even in the face of death, you laugh and spit. Very well. I will grant you this request." Jose said in mirth.
---
Minutes later, another young lady was delivered to the room.
Unlike Angel, this one looked fresher and less experienced, and the fear in her eyes was evident.
James hardened his heart and took her hand, leading her up the stairs.
Hidden deep in a corner of James' mind, System licked its metaphorical lips in anticipation.
First blood was always the sweetest.