บท 41: Deal
"Tell me, kid. What's your dream in life?" asked Xavier.
"I want to be rich," he answered without hesitation.
"It's the same for everyone. But I'm asking further than that. What do you want the money for?"
Feeling compelled to answer, the youth responded, "My younger brother. I don't want him to have it rough like I did, which is why I am working for the Wolf Gang. My junkie parents barely take care of themselves, so I have to be responsible for my brother."
Nodding his head, Xavier asked, "What's your name?"
"K-Karim," he answered hesitantly, unsure what the mysterious fellow had in store for him.
Stopping, Xavier grabbed his arms and looked him straight in the eye
"You're a smart guy and should have realised by now that we are both in quite a tricky predicament. If I let you go now, you could get me into a lot of trouble with your bosses. So I have no choice but to kill you right here and now. Dead men can't speak."
Karim felt a chill run down his spine and was frozen in place.
Despite holding a knife in his hands, he felt as though defying Xavier was impossible and as though he was being pierced by his icy blue eyes.
"But, I don't want to have to kill you..." he continued after a pause, causing Karim to let out a sigh of relief as he wiped the droplet of sweat that trickled down his face and the blood leaking from his nose.
Karim plucked up the courage to speak his mind, "Let me guess, you want me to work for you?"
Xavier smiled, "I told you, you're a smart guy, but how do I know I can trust you?"
"How do I know I can trust you after I help you?"
"I like that. Answering my question with a question. Well, let's just say that I have seen your face, know your name, and what high school you are in. So it won't be too hard to find where you live, then soon after, get to your little brother," Xavier threatened with a menacing smile.
In all honesty, he would never stoop so low as to do such things and if anyone dared to go after his mother, he would go crazy, but he needed to make sure he could trust Karim.
Unlike Connor, Achara, and Zack, he was unpredictable and could be a big help to him, or a big thorn in his side.
"And I've seen your face and the face of all of your other members, and can also get to Zack and his grandmother anytime I, please. So, let's stop this and I don't think you would go after my brother or kill me. You're just bluffing. And even if you are such a cruel person, kidnapping a child is like asking to get arrested."
Once again, just smiling, Xavier liked him more and more by the second, but also knew that he would have to keep an eye on him.
"You're right to an extent, so let's keep it simple. You work for me and act as if nothing happened today and secretly join my gang. Work your way up the Wolf Gang, which I am sure you can do, and start making contact with the other small subsidiary gangs for me."
Xavier's proposal was exactly what Karim was expecting, but hearing it from him and what else he wanted to do, he couldn't help but think that the man before him was insane.
"I will offer you support and eventually, you can take over the drug business that I want no part in. Splitting profits, you will be a part of the Outlaw Gang and you've already seen what my members and I are capable of. The Wolf Gang will be dealt with by us within a few months with your help, and Brooklyn will be ours for the taking."
Karim was lost for words, but something about Xavier made him actually believe that he could accomplish his wild claims.
"So, what do you say, Karim? Want to continue living like a little bitch, or join me?" asked Xavier as he put his hand out.
He didn't take long to think about it, and shook his hand.
"But, my group now. Even if you don't let them join you, they will stick with me. They are like brothers to me and I grew up with them, so they'll always stick with me," he stated.
Nodding his head, impressed by his loyalty, Xavier responded, "Just don't tell them about our plans just yet and I will trust in your judgement and decisions."
"Deal."
After exchanging numbers and Xavier made it clear that anything important needed to be reported to him, they had finalised their alliance.
Walking back over with Karim, Xavier added, "One last thing. Don't mess with Zack or his grandmother again. He's a member just like you, and will prove to be useful to the gang just as much as you, so be sure to get along."
"I don't know about getting along, but we'll leave him be. We'll just have to find another smartass to be our errand boy."
With that, Xavier had recruited a fourth member into his gang and had found the first piece of the puzzle that would help him in crushing the Wolf Gang and taking over Brooklyn.
Once he did, Brooklyn would become a safe haven for him, his members, and those that he cared about, but at the same time, he knew that the more powerful his gang became, the more trouble there would be.
And things were rarely as easy as they seemed.
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