Zane couldn't quite leave after chatting with the kid. The boy certainly held some interesting information though. Not quite all the pieces the young mafioso needed. Enough though to start developing a plan. One more thing needed to be dealt with before he could leave though.
The other kid who he'd determined to be quite a nuisance with his bad attitude. First, Zane got the kid on his way back home. He requested Clive to take care of this. Another day he could handle whoever the kid's dealer was.
"Now with that out of the way, you're the only thing left to be dealt with." Having grown tired of standing, the other shifted to lie down at some point.
"And in what way exactly do you intend to 'deal with me'? I thought you already got the answer to the question you were looking for."
"I only got one answer so far. I don't yet though have an answer as to what you're doing here. I don't believe for one second it just happened to be an accident." The other sook his head as Zane approached.
"You're really stuck on the fact that you can't be wrong. I don't have anything to do with your little problem. Hence, I don't see how anything outside of that is your business." Zane couldn't trace any hint of anger or annoyance in the other's voice. Just a flat neutral tone that sounded bored if anything.
"I'm just waiting here for you to figure that out yourself and to let me go. There are a number of other things I need to get on to." No matter how the young mafioso observed the other's face, he couldn't place it.
He knew almost everyone in his territory and those who passed through. His father taught him to be mindful of such things from a young age. No way would he somehow miss someone new coming into the area.
"How long have you been here for?" Zane demanded, lighting up a cigarette. Many thanks were given to Clive for providing them. The driver really did need a bonus starting the following year.
"Do you mean in terms of how long have I been existing on this mortal coil? Or in this exact area?" He tilted his head back to meet Zane's gaze. IT almost felt as though the kid was looking right through him.
"You already told me you're not underage. Beyond that, I don't care about how old you are. I want to know how long you have been around here."
"Would you be willing to give me a cigarette before I answer that question? You're not the only one around here dying for a smoke." The hand that reached up looked a little thin around the wrist. Very similar to that of the boy who just left. His skin also looked rather dirty. A choice or forced decision?
"You sure that it is wise to be smoking despite not eating for a while?" Despite the question, Zane handed him a cigarette only after lighting it.
"I didn't really take you for the caring type. I don't really appreciate it though. I'm more than capable of handling myself and know what my body needs." The unnamed kid took the cigarette and popped it into his mouth. He didn't bother sitting up yet the smoke didn't choke him.
"To answer your question, I have been here for quite some time. I take care of a lot of odd jobs. Most likely why you've not seen me before. Neither mafia nor mercenary. I just do whatever for whoever is willing to pay."
"And yet you say I don't have to worry about you. Sounds like someone who'd be willing to snatch drugs if it suited your needs." The kind snorted, blowing smoke up towards Zane's face.
"I value my life more than that. Only a fool would think to do such a thing. I would steal, yes. Only from smaller targets. I am well enough aware to know who's territory I am to watch what I do."
"That doesn't explain though how you ended up here. If you know how to keep your head down, you shouldn't be here." The other hummed in response to the comment.
"Indeed. Sometimes though people end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Your friends or men, however, you choose to address cost me some money."
"What kind of deal?" The other just looked up at the young mafioso, the strange look came back to his eyes again.
"Nothing that concerns you. Not anything that impacts your territory or would cause you problems. If you're done with your little game of interrogation, I would very much like to go before the night ends." Zane smirked. Leaning down, he managed to snatch the cigarette away from the other in one quick move.
"If that's how you're going to be, I don't think you need this anymore." For once, the neutral expression changed to something akin to annoyance. The kid's brows furrowed as he stared up at the other.
"And you claim that I am the kid yet here you are snatching things away from others for no good reason."
"Your attitude is plenty enough of a reason to take it away. Especially considering you haven't really answered my questions."
"I gave you the only answers that you'll be getting from me. Like you, I have my own code about not telling strangers things. It's called client confidentiality. Not something that's wise to be broken."
"Then you can expect to not be getting anything else from." Zane dropped the cigarette and snuffed it out under the sole of his shoe.
"I never asked you for anything in the first place. Not getting anything doesn't bother me in the slightest. The only thing I care about is for you to let me go." The young mafioso shook his head.
"Not at least until we make some progress with this. You can tell me your name or something else for me to hold onto."
"Do we really need to repeat ourselves on this matter? I already said that there is no reason for you to know such things. Unless you have something direly important for me to do or something against me, I want to leave."
Zane felt a strong urge to smack the other. Being stuck in the warehouse alone with the kid, no one was around to stop him from doing it either. It had been quite some time since he met someone so annoying. Zane couldn't even remember the name of the last person to put him in such a mood. Most likely, the man died by his hand for having such an attitude. Could he really get away with doing the same to the one before him?
As much as he annoyed the young mafioso, he also had a point. Zane didn't really have any reason to hold nor anything to use against him. Nor did any of his men. Did he have anything he could use against the other?
The immediate conclusion rested on no. Zane's stubbornness didn't want to let the other off the hook so easily. One way or another, he wanted the answers to his question. Bribery might've been the next best option. Something to give him the upper hand.
"How about if I feed you then? Perhaps you would be willing to cooperate a little better with a full stomach?" The expression that crossed the other's face wasn't the one Zane hoped to see.
"I would sooner die of starvation than take food from such a condescending human."