I'm in Los Angeles, California.
Mateo street is on hold, the sound of the horns of each car presses through my ears. It's dark and cold and I can't see anything. But I'll manage, why? Because I'm running. And I can't look back.
Three men from the streets are right behind me with a gun. "Go left I'll catch up with you later," my brother was always the protective one. He never wanted me on the street but what choice do I have? "I won't let go. They'll kill you '' 21 years old me, hypertensive, short, dark, swift and the best. "You'll have to go now, or we'll both die," my brother yells, "I love you," I said looking him full in the face, "I love you too. Go left…left…left now?. Take the bag and run, get out of here". He unhanged the black colored cross bag and threw it to me
I went left, and he right, the wrong choice I know. But again, what choice do I have? Around here you don't fuck with the the streets or you'll be dead. I and my brother actually went on a dead wish and fucked with Lobos. No one fucks with Lobos, you fuck with him you die, for real man, for real, you die. It's that simple.
I finally found the way to IC's territory, two of IC men shot me from a distance and immediately discharged their weapons, steering the other folks. As usual, I walked into the dark room, the sensor bulb turned on after I walked pass the threshold. It was IC [Iron condemn] the man in charge of Marcello cartel. "So, what do you have for me? The money or a story," he said
"Both, I have both," I appeared frightened but regained confidence later because in the game of drugs women can't afford to look weak.
"I've seen you with the bag, so I assume that's the money. What's the story this time?"
"My brother is in danger and you need to help him now,"
"Your brother doesn't work for me anymore, he works for Lobos. I'm not Lobos and I don't mengle in business that don't concern me,"
"So what? We are going to leave him to die."
"I also want your brother dead," IC walked closer, "so if I'm the one who you want to save the unsteady pig. I'll just grab the opportunity and blow his brains out. Enough of this shit, drop the bag and get your payment, and get out of this State. Different name and passport as you said,"
"Give me the passport first," I tried the smart move
"Be wise for once, give me the bag or you're gonna have a problem with me,"
"I'm not," I pressed it handles closer to my ribs, grabbing it with all strength possible,"
"You give me the bag, I'll give you the passport and you'll walk free like we discussed,"
"We both know I'm useless without this money,"
"I'll hate to kill you at the very moment of your victory, give me the bag," I walked closer to the threshold holding the bag tight in my arms, IC pulled out his gun. I immediately ran through a tremendous shock. But I can handle it, I told myself.
"This is your last chance, no playing me," he went further to pull the hammer. "IC you shouldn't do this,"
"Then give me a reason not to. Because that's exactly what I'm going to do, blow your mother fuckin brains out,"
"If it's really my passport that's in there why not give the passport and here's your money,"
"Are you doubting me? Is this what this is now?"
"You tell me. Toss me the bag let me confirm and I hope to walk out of here without catching a bullet in my head," IC got more pissed and pulled the little iron on the other end of the gun, "drop the bag and run,"
"You didn't arrange the passport, did you?
"Drop the bag,"
"I won't, if you shot me, I die knowing that I served you well, and you didn't keep your own end of the bargain,"
Still arguing with IC, a slender guy, dark, tall, sneaks out of the dark from the top "Drop the gun IC. Now"
"He said it," I said, "Linc!! Is that you? How did you get in here?"
"Your brother told me to come, he knew IC will plan something messy. Where's he?"
"We ran into some trouble. Well we're in another now, so,"
"Look IC, I know there's many crabs running your brains right now. But I'm gonna blow it out if you don't drop the gun," Linc said dragging his little french made pistol closer to IC's occipod, "No messing around this time,"
"No one is leaving this room alive,"
"You talk like you're still in control,"
"Who said I'm not,"
"IC you'll be dead if you don't drop the gun. Don't worry if you kept your own end of the deal and brought the passport, I'll drop the bag on my way out. If you didn't, well I need something to trade for the passport you know,"
"What about my life?" IC said
"You're always a free man," we all stood steady for a moment no one talked or said anything, "are you gonna talk or you want us to move into the next stage of this incident,"
Surprisingly, IC raised his hands up and hung the gun, "give me that," Linc said, "where's the bag? Where's it?"
"There's the bag, confirm," I seemed afraid a moment, thought he is planning something messy as usual
"Don't worry, go check it out, I got the son of a bitch under my arms," I walked closer to the wall, dropping the moneybag on the floor. I unzip the other bag -black also- I filed my hands inside and shouted, "son of a bitch, nothing is inside here,"
"Congratulations, you've just earned your ticket to die,"
"No don't kill him, I gave him my promises and I'll keep my word,"
"You won't get out of here alive, my men are outside,"
"I'll die, I know, but I'll take someone with me. It may be your brother,"
"Don't you touch my family?"
"it's up to you now"
"Let's get out of here, Rina. We both walked pass the four IC men sitting in the little balcony on the outside, ran to the back and drove out in a blue old Benz.
My name is Rina, my brother's name is Pengman and we have a story to tell. Our life on the street, our life is on the line. My brother joined first and because I didn't have a choice I joined later. This is the Cradles of California, the drugs and how it all began,"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three men walked into the market downtown, slipped into a butcher shop. A man late thirties, wide arms, broad chest, African American suited on his hoodie sits solo in a nasty room. This man is Lobos, he controls the Lobos Cartel ``We lost Rina and the money boss,"
"Pathetic bitch ran away with my money," Lobos says, "I want her head on pike, I don't care how much just send the word across. Anyone who catches her should bring her to me, I'll do the killing myself,"
One of Lobos' soldier walks out the room from the back door, "Boss, the shipment has arrived, we need that money or it will be sold to the Marcelo's,"
"IC you mean," Lobos says, he takes a deep breath, "I want to know who's behind this? If Pengman stole from me someone sent him,"
"Talking about Pengman we have him in our possession," one of the three snaps his fingers and Pengman is brought crawling and blood gushing out his head and other parts of his body, hands held upfront by two guards.
"Good job…good job, if you miss the ball don't miss the leg," they all giggle, "bring the snake in the garden for questioning," Lobos says
Looking weak he says, "I won't tell you anything," Pengman is thrown on the floor. Lobos walks and holds his jaw tight, "then you'll be a dead man,"
"I'm not afraid to die,"
"That's total foolishness if you ask me," Lobos drops his jaw and throws a punch at his face, "no one said you'll die, but your sister will,"
"Don't you dare…"
"shuuu, you're not in any position to make claims. The position you are in right now is to make a decision. So what will it be, your sister dies or you tell me who sent you,"
Pengman stays quiet for a moment, "it's hard I know, she gets anyway, but don't worry…,"
"What's the guarantee you're gonna make me leave when I tell you the name?"
"Now you are talking. You're right, you're a walking corpse, but if you tell me the name we can work things out,"
"I don't believe you,"
"You don't have to, sometimes we just need to take a little leap of faith,"
"I don't believe in faith, I believe in the now, like right now. How will I walk out alive,"
"You come work for me and I'll protect you. A man with your skills…" Lobos leaks his tongue and sighs
"No one was talking about me here,"
"Your sister, when we kill the son of a bitch she's free. I don't need her I need my money and the thief behind it,"
"The Marcelo's run family. You kill IC his brother takes over. Whether or not you kill IC my sister's life is still in danger. How do I know my sis…"
"IC? IC is behind this, he stole my money and seized my shipments. He wants to take over the territory,"
"How I'm sure my sister is going to be safe,"
Lobos yells "I don't care about your sister. IC runs loyalty and family, I don't. I run my fuckin money in my fuckin bank account," he calms this time, "if you really wanna safe your sister. Take her and run, cuz the next time I see you it will be trouble in paradise," he says, "boys let's go get our shipments back," all Lobos soldiers moved rampantly around the two rooms, packed some supplies and moved out.
After sobbing a while on the floor Pengman picks his phone from his back pocket and dial a number, "officer Tancredi they've moved out. Shipment is at E 8th street,"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tancredi from the NYPD drops his call and turns towards his participants in the case. There are eight in total, sittee across a rectangular glass table Tencredi says, "A call from one of our sources has confirmed that shipments will be at E8th street. I believe we all know the street,"
"Yes sir," they all echoed
"Very good! Ria you're the one incharge of the operation. Harper you assist, I want everything you can get and don't fail to take in at least one convicts for questioning,"
"We all heard the man let's to work," Ria said
"That's the spirit," Harper says
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A spacious area behind one condemned building. Two trucks of fully loaded coke packed in the parking lot are examined by IC's men. IC arrived over 20 minutes ago, he's stuck with testing each bag of Cocaine for a fake product. "Are we done boys,"
"Last pack," one answered,
"So heard you were about delivering this product to Lobos," IC says
"Business is business, Lobos ordered for shipment. When we arrived he wasn't available but you are," both chuckled
"We are done boss, all the product have been been tested, positive," IC's brother shouted
"Release the payment we should be gone after a minute," IC says
"None of that is happening," Lobos and his men walk around the truck and point a gun at IC. His men with rifles stand facing IC men.
"Woo…calm down, Lobos, long time no see. Heard you're shipment went down bad,"
"Yeah, heard you were responsible," Lobos said
"Let me guess, I will be buried in the garden,"
"Jace, take the bag let's go,"
"That's not your money,"
"Yeah it was yours after Pengman and his sweet ass sister robbed me. The soft mother fucker sold you out after he went through a lot,"
IC looks unstable for a moment and says, "We can sort this out, me and you,"
"There's no sorting out, there's only a warning. Next time you cross the line, we will have a problem," Lobos says, still pointing his gun at IC's head. Moments later six police cars runs into them "drop your weapon now!!" Harper steps out of the car swiftly pointing her gun directly at Lobos,
"Feds…feds…feds kaos sets in and Lobos looks unlucky today. He's arrested by Ria and the drugs bag recovered, "You're under arrest for involvement in drugs and selling illegally. Anything you say or do shall be used against you at the court of law.