My phone started buzzing. I groaned, reaching for it, barely awake.
"Hello," I answered, my voice rough.
"It's time," Malik's voice came through, sharp and awake.
I sat up instantly. "Time for what?"
"For you to meet Vigo," he said. "Today."
I blinked. "Today?"
"This morning," Malik corrected. "Come to my place before ten. Don't be late."
I ran a hand over my face, trying to shake off the sleep. "That's kinda sudden, don't you think?"
Malik chuckled. "You think Vigo waits for anybody? He wants to see you now, so you're seeing him now. Be ready."
The call ended, leaving me sitting there, heart pounding.
There was no time to overthink it. I jumped out of bed and went straight into my routine, checking on my mom, making sure she had her medicine, cooking breakfast for her and Emilio.
"Why are you in such a rush?" my mom asked as I set a plate in front of her.
"Got a long day ahead," I said, forcing a smile. "Boss at the site needs me early."
She nodded, accepting the answer, and I quickly turned to Emilio, who was rubbing his eyes at the table.
"Come on, man, eat fast. Don't wanna be late for school."
Emilio yawned. "You in a hurry or something?"
"Yeah, something like that."
After getting him dressed and out the door, I walked him to school, keeping my pace steady even though my mind was reeling.
As he disappeared into the schoolyard, I took a deep breath and muttered to myself:
"This is it. This is what I've been waiting for. Let's see how it goes."
At Malik's Place
I knocked twice before pushing the door open.
The smell hit me first, alcohol, weed, and leftover food. The place was a mess. Pizza boxes stacked on the table, empty bottles rolling on the floor. Music blasted from the speakers, some heavy bass drill track shaking the walls.
Malik was on the couch, smoking, looking way too relaxed for someone about to introduce me to a kingpin.
Duke was there too, along with a couple of girls and some dudes I didn't recognize.
"Luis!" Malik grinned, throwing his arms out like I was some long-lost brother. "Come in, man. You want a drink?"
I glanced around. "You throwing a party or something?"
Duke laughed. "We did. Last night. Guess we forgot to clean up."
I shook my head, stepping over a pile of clothes on the floor. "And you got me meeting a drug lord after this?"
Malik exhaled smoke, smirking. "That's why I'm chilling now. Balance, my guy."
I sat down for a bit, trying to ignore the chaos around me. Some of the guys were arguing over a video game, one of the girls was dancing, and Duke was rolling another joint.
Then Malik stood up, stretching. "Alright, let's go."
Duke stayed behind, waving a lazy hand. "I gotta keep this place from getting wrecked. Y'all have fun."
We stepped outside, and Malik's car was parked right there, a sleek black Dodge Charger, looking mean.
I slid into the passenger seat, my leg bouncing slightly. Malik noticed.
"Nervous?" he asked, pulling out of the driveway.
I Snorted. "I'd be stupid if I wasn't."
Malik nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. "Good. Means you respect the situation."
We drove in silence for a minute before he spoke again.
"Listen, working for a dude like Vigo… it's not the same as selling in clubs. This is serious."
I nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"When we get there, don't speak unless spoken to. Don't try to act tougher than you are. Vigo doesn't like fake confidence, he likes control. Show respect, but don't look weak."
I swallowed hard, absorbing every word.
"And whatever you do, don't lie to him," Malik added. "If he asks you something, answer straight. Even if you don't know something, just say you don't know. He'd rather deal with someone honest than someone who thinks they're slick."
I nodded again, gripping my knee.
Malik glanced at me. "You good?"
I forced a smirk. "Yeah. Just wondering if I should've brought flowers or something."
He chuckled. "Nah, man. Just bring your best self. And don't screw this up."
I looked out the window as we pulled deeper into the city, my pulse steady but my mind reeling.
This is it, I said to myself.
As we got closer to Vigo's place, the city around us started changing.
The streets were cleaner, the buildings taller, and the cars on the road looked like they belonged in magazines.
Then, we turned onto a private road lined with tall palm trees, leading to a massive iron gate.
The gate opened smoothly as we approached, no hesitation. Security cameras moved with us, watching every angle.
Beyond the gate, a long driveway stretched ahead, leading to the mansion. A marble fountain stood in the center of a circular driveway, water cascading down in layers.
The house itself was something out of a movie, huge, with tall glass windows, white stone walls, and massive pillars holding up a second-floor balcony.
As we drove in, I noticed men in suits standing at different points, security, no doubt.
Some were talking into earpieces, others just watching, but all of them were armed. The place was quiet, too quiet, like nothing happened here unless Vigo wanted it to.
"This was real. This wasn't just club level anymore."
Malik parked near the entrance and turned to me. "Ready?"
I nodded, even though my palms were slightly sweaty. "Let's do this."
As soon as we stepped out, a woman was already waiting for us. She was in her late twenties, tall, dressed in a sleek black outfit. Not smiling.
"Follow me," she said, turning before we could respond.
We followed her through the grand entrance, stepping onto polished marble floors.
The inside of the mansion was just as impressive, modern art on the walls, chandeliers hanging from high ceilings, and furniture that looked expensive enough to buy a whole block.
She led us down a hallway and into a large sitting room where Vigo was waiting.
To Be honest, I had been expecting a big, scary guy covered in tattoos, or a cold blooded killer in a suit.
But he just looked like a rich businessman.
He was in his late forties, wearing a fitted blue dress shirt, slacks, and a gold watch. No chains, no flashy jewelry.
He sat comfortably on a leather couch, sipping from a glass of whiskey. When he saw us, he smiled. "Malik."
Malik nodded. "Vigo."
Vigo's eyes shifted to me. "And this must be Luis."
"Yeah," I said, keeping my voice steady.
Vigo gestured to the seats across from him. "Sit."
We sat down. A moment later, a woman dressed in a sleek black outfit. walked in and placed two glasses of whiskey on the table in front of us.
Vigo leaned back. "Drink?"
I hesitated for half a second before picking up the glass. Malik did too. I took a small sip, smooth, expensive, not something I was used to.
"So," Vigo said, resting his glass on his knee, "Malik tells me you're a hard worker."
I glanced at Malik, who gave me a small nod. "I try," I said.
Vigo chuckled. "Good answer." He took another sip. "I don't do business with just anyone, Luis. I have a system, and the people in that system have to be reliable. Trust is everything."
I nodded. "I understand."
Vigo's eyes were sharp, analyzing me. "I trust Malik. He's been doing fine since he started working for me. That's why I'm willing to give you a shot."
I exhaled slowly, keeping my expression neutral.
Vigo reached into a drawer beside him and pulled out a small, sealed package, placing it on the table. "One kilo of cocaine. Move it fast, move it clean, Make sure the returns are good, and you'll work for me."
I stared at the package. One kilo. This was way bigger than what I was expecting, I was not expecting him to trust me with Cocaine the first time we met.
"You think you can handle that?" Vigo asked.
I looked up, meeting his gaze. "Yeah. I can."
Vigo smiled. "Good. Then don't disappoint me."
After some more conversation, mostly Vigo giving advice and warnings.
Malik and I left the mansion. As we walked back to the car, Malik clapped me on the shoulder.
"Congrats," he said. "You're in."
I exhaled. "Yeah."
We got to the car, and Malik carefully placed the package under the seat, making sure it was secure.
We drove back out the way we came.