บท 7: Chapter 7: Set Sail from Here
"I see a trait in you that makes you well-suited for the underworld," Fred said to Hardy. Hardy felt a bit confused by this remark, and a particular movie scene flashed in his mind.
In the scene, an old fortune teller says, "Young man, I see from head to toe that there is no part of you that isn't like a beggar."
The young man responds, "So what?"
"It means you're destined to beg for a lifetime!" the fortune teller replies.
"So what?" the young man says, clearly annoyed. "I'm going to sleep now."
"Don't leave just yet; you will be the top pick. If I'm not mistaken, you'll be the overlord of beggars."
"The overlord of beggars? What does that mean?"
"Still a beggar!"
The Jewish gang leader in front of Hardy was suggesting that he had the characteristics of a gang member. Was it because of his name?
Tom Hardy.
Would he become the overlord of the gang?
Fred's offer to recruit Tom delighted Bill, who quickly added, "I want Tom to help me. He's my best brother, and I want him to handle my affairs."
"Yes, I agree," Fred said.
Without further discussion, Hardy officially joined the Jewish Gang as a peripheral member.
Bill picked up the envelope on the bed and said to Fred, "Boss, Tom helped me recover the share. Here it is."
He handed over the money.
Alan Payne, Fred's second-in-command, took the money, counted it, and said, "There's $6,800 here. The split should be $5,000, so there's an extra $1,800."
Fred took $1,000 from the money and handed it to Bill. "This $1,000 is your revenue share."
Bill accepted it with gratitude. This money was not only his but also due to Sean and Ryder according to the rules.
Fred took another $1,000 and handed it to Bill. "This is for your treatment. You were injured while working for the gang."
"Thank you, boss," Bill said, accepting the money gratefully.
Fred then handed $1,800 to Hardy. Hardy looked at the Jewish gangster with some surprise.
Fred smiled. "Cook only owed us $5,000. The extra is yours."
Hardy noted how fair and generous Fred was, dividing the funds reasonably. He accepted the money without hesitation.
Fred then said, "Don't worry about Cook or the Spaniards. I'll handle it. Cook was at fault, and if the Spaniards don't cooperate, we might consider shutting down their operations."
With that, Fred and Alan left, and Bill turned to Hardy. "Brother, I'll take care of you next."
He then addressed Sean and Ryder. "You two need to cooperate with Tom. Remember, he was my superior in the Marine Corps."
Sean and Ryder already respected Hardy. They had witnessed his prowess firsthand when he had disarmed and subdued them. The fact that Hardy had single-handedly taken out Cook and his gang only deepened their admiration.
"Don't worry, boss. We'll handle everything properly," they said in unison.
---
Fred and Alan returned to the villa, and Fred decided to call Dani, the leader of the Spanish gang.
Upon receiving the call, Dani's eyes narrowed. "Fred, did your people kill Cook?"
"Cook was one of my top men. Losing six at once is a significant blow," Dani replied, visibly distressed.
"Dani, you broke the rules first. I don't know if Cook acted on your orders, but if Red Dani is prepared to end our cooperation and become an enemy, we'll handle it accordingly," Fred said sternly.
Dani's posture stiffened. "This was not my instruction," he replied.
"If you want to continue working with us, you need to follow the rules. Those who break them know the consequences. If you want to play games, we have ways to address it," Fred warned.
Dani took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. "Alright, Fred. Cook's dead, the money's been returned. Let's consider this matter closed. How about we continue our cooperation?"
Fred, expecting this outcome, replied with a hint of amusement, "Dani, making money is crucial, but so are the rules. I hope there won't be a next time."
"I understand," Dani said in a low voice.
The call ended with a click as Dani slammed the handset down, his face a mask of fury.
No one had dared to speak to him like that since he became the boss of Red Dani. Today's encounter was a stark lesson.
Dani took a long drag from a cigar and said, "The Jews must be dealt with, no matter what."
He turned to Sergeant Burstein. "Are we meeting the Irish tonight?"
"Yes, at 8 o'clock in the Irish Hoffman Bar," Burstein confirmed.
Dani thought for a moment and instructed Burstein, "Continue contacting the Mexicans, Chinese, and other gangs in Los Angeles. I want no delays."
"Understood. I'll get in touch now."
After Burstein left, Dani walked to the window of his office on the 18th floor, overlooking Beverly Hills.
"I want to control the entire underground world of Los Angeles, just like Al Capone. I want to be the king of this city!"
Ambition, as the saying goes, drives people to extremes. Dani's ambitions were growing, and he was willing to take risks to achieve them.
---
As night fell, a new car pulled up in front of the bar. Dani and Sergeant Burstein, followed by two men, got out and looked up at the sign.
**Hoffman Bar**
As they entered, they were greeted and searched. Dani's men, displeased, tensed up, but Dani waved them down and let the search proceed.
They had no weapons, as their purpose was not to fight.
"Mr. Dani, Mr. Burstein, I'll take you to see the boss," a staff member said, leading the way.
They were taken to a private room where Hemi Weiss of the Irish gang and his deputy, Bougus Moran, were already seated.
Hemi Weiss, with his distinctive British haircut, was a commanding presence despite his young age of twenty-eight. In Los Angeles, he controlled several blocks with his ruthless reputation.
Weiss greeted Dani with a smile and a handshake. "Dani, you mentioned an important matter. Are you looking to sell cocoa powder on my turf? I have that business too."
"Wes, are you interested in taking over the Jewish gang's territory?" Dani asked directly.
Weiss's smile faltered as he assessed Dani. "What are you aiming for, Dani?"
"I want revenge," Dani said.
Weiss frowned. "Are you going to start a war with the Jewish gang just over Cook?"
Dani's smile faded as he said, "It's not just about Cook. My cocoa business is hugely profitable, but we have to share a significant portion with the Jewish gang. They do nothing, while we risk everything."
"It's unfair."
"Cook had a dispute, and they sent someone to kill six of my men. Then Fred called and threatened me, blaming everything on us."
"This enraged me."
"Wes, if we ally, we can eliminate the Jewish gang. Afterward, Red Dani will keep 40% of the territory and assets, with the rest going to the North Shore Gang. How about it?"
Dani looked at Weiss, awaiting his response.
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