Chereads / TRUE CRIMINAL EMPIRE / Chapter 30 - Pushing Ricco Out

Chapter 30 - Pushing Ricco Out

Tyrone stepped out of the sleek black SUV with three of his guys, their Glocks tucked visibly in front of their jeans. They moved with confidence as they approached the entrance of the city's hottest nightclub. The bouncers, familiar with the game and knowing better than to ask questions, let them through without a word. Tyrone and his crew bypassed the crowded dance floor, where neon lights flashed and the bass of the music pulsed through the building. Instead, they headed straight to the VIP elevator that led up to the owner's office, a spot reserved for the elite.

As they entered the office, the owner, a nervous middle-aged man in a designer suit, glanced up from behind his desk. He knew why they were here. Tyrone wasted no time and tossed a duffel bag onto the desk with a heavy thud, the weight of the $3.6 million in cash obvious from the sound.

"That's your payout," Tyrone said coolly, taking a seat across from the owner. "I'm buyin' this place."

The owner swallowed hard, staring at the bag of cash. He knew he had no choice. This was more money than he'd see in years, and with Tyrone's reputation, refusing wasn't an option. After a few tense moments, he nodded, scribbling his signature on the transfer papers. Tyrone leaned back in his chair, satisfied. This nightclub would be one of many businesses in his growing empire—perfect for laundering the mountains of cash flooding in from the streets.

---

Across the city, another crew of six men strolled into a small but established casino. Like Tyrone's crew, they too had their Glocks tucked in plain sight, sending a clear message to anyone watching. The casino owner, a well-dressed man with a bit of a paunch, greeted them in the back office, his eyes narrowing as they presented a duffel bag filled with $5 million.

"What's this?" the owner asked, his voice strained.

"Your new reality," one of the men replied with a smirk. "The boss is buyin' this spot. We know you got plenty of land around here, and we plan to use it."

The owner hesitated for a moment, but like everyone else who dealt with Tyrone's organization, he knew better than to resist. He nodded slowly and reached for the documents, knowing that the deal was already sealed the moment the cash hit his desk.

---

With $30 million in profits from their booming drug operations, Tyrone was making swift moves to purchase legitimate businesses. The nightclub and the casino were just the beginning—key assets for laundering the enormous amounts of money flowing in. These businesses would give Tyrone the cover he needed, a clean front to wash his dirty cash and further solidify his presence in the city.

Back in his car, Tyrone lit a cigar, looking out over the city's skyline as they drove away. He was building an empire—one that stretched from the streets to the boardrooms. And with each new acquisition, he tightened his grip on the city's pulse, making sure no one could touch him. He glanced at his crew and smirked.

"This is just the start, fellas. We're takin' over."

Jamal stepped out of the car, leaving his weapon behind, flanked by three of his trusted, muscular men. They approached the lavish beachside mansion, a sprawling estate with manicured gardens and ocean views. As they reached the gate, the guards moved to frisk them thoroughly—Jamal knew the protocol, and he complied without fuss. His eyes were focused, knowing this meeting could shift the balance of power in his favor.

Once inside, they were led through the grandiose halls of the mansion, past luxury décor that hinted at immense wealth. Jamal finally reached the study, where Ricco's supplier—a sharp-dressed man in a silk gown—was waiting for him. The supplier exuded the confidence of someone who knew his place in the game, accustomed to negotiating deals that moved millions.

Jamal didn't waste any time. After the formalities were over, he got straight to the point.

"You need to cut Ricco off," Jamal said bluntly, locking eyes with the supplier. "His product ain't moving like it used to. My organization is the one dominating the market now. Ricco's weak, his distribution's collapsing."

The supplier, calm and collected, took a sip from his whiskey glass and leaned back in his chair. "I'm aware of your rise, Jamal. But Ricco has history with me. He still has a solid customer base, and loyalty doesn't fade overnight."

Jamal nodded, acknowledging the point but not backing down. "Sure, but let's talk numbers. My crew's got better margins. Ricco might have customers, but I got something he doesn't—consistent protection of goods and better distribution. You keep supplying him, your product's gonna sit on shelves. You back me, and I'll make sure it's everywhere. Plus, you'll be dealing with less risk."

The supplier raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not fully convinced yet. "Ricco's boys are a bit more… reliable, shall we say?"

Jamal smirked. "Maybe. But reliability doesn't matter when the product ain't moving, does it? Think about it—we're already controlling the streets. What good's loyalty when you're losing money? Work with me, and I'll make sure your profits don't just stay steady—they'll grow."

The supplier leaned forward, considering Jamal's words. He knew the market had shifted dramatically in recent months. Jamal's crew was taking over block by block, pushing Ricco out without much resistance. And while loyalty was important, profits were more so. Jamal was making an offer that was hard to refuse, especially with the promise of less risk and higher returns.

"I'll think about it," the supplier finally said, his tone indicating he was seriously leaning toward Jamal's offer. "But if I do cut Ricco off, I'll expect things to move fast. No disruptions, no drama."

"You have my word," Jamal said, standing up and extending his hand. "You'll be dealing with a professional operation."

The supplier shook Jamal's hand, a signal that this was more than just a consideration. It was the beginning of a major shift in the drug trade. As Jamal left the mansion, he felt the weight of victory already settling on his shoulders. Cutting Ricco off from his supplier would be the final nail in his coffin.

Jamal climbed back into the car, knowing that with this deal, Ricco's days were numbered. Now, it was only a matter of time before Ricco's entire operation crumbled under the pressure.

Jamal, standing outside the abandoned warehouse, made the call to his associate with a brief, cold message. The plan was in motion.

The crew of six men, dressed as delivery workers, loaded their SMGs into the trucks, hiding their firepower under blankets and boxes marked with fake company logos. They had their target: Ricco's stash house. The stash was said to be holding a significant amount of cocaine and at least $1.3 million in cash. This hit was designed not just to cripple Ricco financially, but to send a message that his reign was coming to an end.

As the trucks rolled up to the stash house, the men inside remained unsuspecting. Two guards, posted outside the entrance, were leaning against the wall, smoking, laughing, completely unaware of what was coming. The disguised crew pulled up in front of them, playing the part perfectly.

One of the crew, carrying a clipboard and grinning, waved at the guards. "Got a new TV for you guys," he said, gesturing to the box behind him. The guards exchanged a confused look but approached casually, distracted by the idea of new equipment for their hideout.

Just as the guards got close, the lead man pulled out his SMG from beneath the box, pressing it against the nearest guard's chest. "Don't move," he said quietly but firmly. The guard froze, fear spreading across his face as the others quickly followed, drawing their guns and pointing them at the second guard. Both guards were disarmed in seconds.

The crew moved with precision. One of them zip-tied the guards' wrists, shoving them to the ground. Another gave a nod, and the rest stormed inside the stash house.

The inside was chaotic. Ricco's men, oblivious to what was happening outside, were busy packing cocaine into bags and counting stacks of cash. One of them, sitting in a back room, was focused on a TV, feet up, completely at ease.

That was the last moment of calm.

The first shot rang out—a silenced round hitting one of the packers in the back of the head. He collapsed instantly, face down on the table. The other men in the room scrambled for cover, reaching for their weapons, but it was too late. The crew had the drop on them.

SMGs barked to life, spraying bullets across the room. Two men near the cash-counting table were gunned down before they could even pull their guns. Blood splattered against the walls as more shots followed, precision hits taking out anyone who tried to resist. The air filled with the acrid scent of gunfire and panic.

One of Ricco's lieutenants, a big guy with a shotgun, managed to fire off a shot from behind a couch, hitting one of Jamal's men in the leg. But it didn't matter—three of the crew turned on him at once, riddling him with bullets until he slumped down, lifeless, over the back of the couch.

Within minutes, it was over. The stash house had turned into a scene of carnage. Every last one of Ricco's men was either dead or dying. The crew moved quickly, gathering the cocaine into the trucks and collecting the cash. Jamal's operation was ruthless, efficient, and left no trace that could lead back to him.

As the trucks sped away from the scene, one of the crew casually tossed a match into the pile of cocaine residue and bullet-ridden furniture. Within moments, the stash house erupted into flames, a symbol of Ricco's dwindling power and Jamal's rise.

The hit had been perfect. Jamal had sent his message loud and clear—Ricco's empire was crumbling, and there was nothing left that could stop it.

The next day, Ricco's supplier, lounging in his luxurious penthouse, puffed on a thick cigar while two beautiful women sat beside him, giggling as they sipped on expensive champagne. The TV in the background was playing the news, and his attention drifted as he watched the anchor report the sudden surge in violence that had rocked the city's underworld. Five drug stash houses were hit in coordinated attacks, and authorities were baffled by the precision and the audacity of the strikes.

The supplier's relaxed demeanor faltered slightly as the news continued, but before he could dwell on it, his phone buzzed. He picked it up, recognizing the caller ID instantly. As he put the phone to his ear, the voice on the other end was unmistakable.

"Jamal," the supplier said cautiously, already knowing what this call was about.

"You've seen the news," Jamal's voice came through, smooth but with an edge that left little room for misunderstanding.

The supplier shifted in his seat, the carefree attitude from moments ago replaced with a tense awareness. "Yeah, I've seen it. Your work, I assume?"

Jamal didn't hesitate. "I made it clear, Ricco's operations were getting in my way. His stash houses were a problem for my business, so I handled it."

The supplier glanced at the TV again, watching as footage of burning stash houses played across the screen. He took a slow drag from his cigar, letting the smoke swirl above him. "You've made your point, Jamal. But you're hurting my pockets now. That product was mine too, you know."

Jamal's voice remained calm. "That wasn't my goal. I'm not here to burn your profits. Ricco needed to be slowed down, not you."

The supplier nodded to himself, understanding the weight of Jamal's words. This wasn't personal, and Jamal was too calculated to destroy the entire supply chain. Ricco was the problem, and Jamal was systematically dismantling him.

The supplier sighed, rubbing his temple. "Alright, Jamal. I get it. You've got no beef with me, and I've got no interest in playing this game any longer. You want Ricco out of the picture? Fine. I'll stop supplying him. But no more fires, no more hits. You're burning my profits, man."

Jamal's tone softened, almost amicable. "No more fires. No more hits. Ricco's finished anyway. His men can't fight back, and now that his supply is cut off, he's out of options. I just needed to make sure you knew where we stood."

The supplier exhaled slowly, letting go of the tension in his chest. "Alright, Jamal. We're good. I'll handle my end, just keep your boys from torching anything else."

Jamal chuckled slightly. "Deal. I'll send someone over soon to discuss new opportunities. We'll make sure your profits are safe."

As the call ended, the supplier sat back in his chair, staring at the screen. The city was changing, and Jamal's rise was inevitable. He wasn't the type of man to be crossed, and the supplier knew aligning with him was the best move he could make.

He took another puff of his cigar, motioning for one of the women to pour more champagne. Things were going to change, and it was better to be on the winning side.