บท 60: Doing some clean up(chapter 60)
previously in chapter 59
In the dimly lit warehouse in Hell's Kitchen, the air was thick with the stench of sweat and stale smoke. Flickering fluorescent lights cast long shadows on the cracked concrete floor. Twelve gang leaders and club owners, each a small-time tyrant in their own right, sat around a large wooden table. Their demeanor was a mix of boredom and irritation, clearly resenting the mandatory meeting called by Henry.
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Chapter 60
At the head of the table sat their supposed leader, Tony "The Snake" Salvatore, a wiry man with a serpent tattoo coiling up his neck. He wore a leather jacket and dark sunglasses, his expression one of constant distrust. Beside him was Maria "Red" Delgado, a fiery-haired woman with a reputation for her explosive temper. She was dressed in a red leather jacket, her nails painted blood-red to match.
Next to Maria was Ivan "The Bear" Petrov, a hulking Russian with a thick beard and tattoos covering his arms. He wore a tank top despite the chilly warehouse, showcasing his muscles and intimidating presence. Across from him sat Li Wei, a sleek, well-dressed man from the Triads, his suit impeccable and his gaze sharp.
Other members included, Jimmy "Slim" Callahan, a lanky man with a penchant for sleight of hand, wearing a worn-out trench coat.Carlos "Viper" Ramirez, a short but muscular man with a scar running down his face, dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans.Vanessa "Venom" Black, a tall, striking woman with jet-black hair, clad in a tight, black bodysuit.Frankie "Fists" Malone, a burly, bald man known for his brute strength, sporting a white tank top and cargo pants. Roxanne "Roxy" King, a punk-styled woman with vibrant blue hair and multiple piercings, wearing a studded leather vest. Derek "Devious" Jones, a slick, smooth-talking conman in a pinstripe suit.Gina "Grit" Thompson, a tough, gritty woman with a permanent scowl, dressed in a military-style jacket.Benny "Brains" Davis, a bespectacled man with a knack for technology, wearing a hoodie and jeans.
The tension was palpable as they awaited Henry's arrival. The warehouse was filled with the low hum of machinery and distant city sounds, but inside, the silence was almost deafening.
"Man, what's the point of this meeting anyway?" Frankie "Fists" Malone grumbled, leaning back in his chair. "We got business to run."
"I hear you," Roxanne "Roxy" King replied, blowing a bubble with her gum. "Henry's been MIA for months. Now he calls us all here like it's the end of the world."
"Maybe he's finally gonna show his face," Carlos "Viper" Ramirez added with a smirk. "About time he checked in on his little empire."
"Empire?" Maria "Red" Delgado scoffed. "He's got us doing all the dirty work while he hides out. What kind of leader is that?"
Laughter and murmurs of agreement rippled through the group. Ivan "The Bear" Petrov cracked his knuckles, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. "We should be running this ourselves. We don't need him."
Before anyone could respond, the warehouse door burst open, and Henry strode in wearing casual civilian clothes. His eyes were cold and piercing, a stark contrast to his unassuming attire. The gang leaders immediately stood up, pointing their guns at him in a moment of sheer panic.
"Aw, so this is what we're doing? Pointing guns at me?" Henry's voice was calm but carried a dangerous edge.
The subordinates hesitated, then quickly lowered their weapons, a few muttering apologies.
Henry wandered around the warehouse, his eyes scanning the room with a mixture of disappointment and fury. "You know, I expected more from you," he began, his voice echoing off the walls. "Tony, you and your crew took five grand from the stash. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
Tony "The Snake" Salvatore shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet Henry's gaze. "I... I thought we needed it for operations, boss."
"And Maria, the last shipment was supposed to be delivered last week. What happened? You decided a party was more important?"
Maria "Red" Delgado's cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment, but she remained silent. "It was a mistake. Won't happen again."
"Ivan, you and your boys have been skimming off the top. How much? Ten grand? Twenty? Do you think I'm blind?" Ivan "The Bear" Petrov clenched his fists but said nothing, his eyes burning with barely contained rage but much to everyone's surprise as single slab from the much lessly henry sent him flying back, to their absolute shoc.
Henry continued, listing their failures one by one. "Carlos, you were supposed to take care of the Steel Serpent competition. Instead, you let them gain ground," carlos galped as he sturred, "sir, the steel serpent is being supposrted by the rand industry" which made henry hm for a second as he turned his head, " Vanessa, your club has become a haven for freeloaders," venessa just looked down, " Frankie, you missed three meetings. Roxanne, your last batch didn't sell for shit. Derek, you failed to secure the new territory" derek immediately replied, "sir it was because of the masked man" which earned him a look from henry whom knew the reason why, "and you coulnt handle just a single man" causing derek to look down, " Gina, your intel has been worthless, which means that you are worthless" which had her whimper as he finally turned his attention to benny. "Benny, you crashed the surveillance system, twice."
Most of the accusation was met with silence, the gang leaders' faces growing paler by the minute. Henry's fury was palpable, and the room seemed to shrink under his intense gaze.
Finally, Henry stopped in front of Jimmy "Slim" Callahan, the most disrespectful and lazy of the group. "And you, Slim, you're the worst of them all. Always high, always late, always screwing up. Do you think I tolerate failure?"
Slim opened his mouth to protest, "Boss, I can explain—"
Before he could utter another word, Henry grabbed him by the head, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Slim's eyes widened in terror, his limbs flailing as he tried to break free. Henry's grip tightened, and with a sickening crunch, he crushed Slim's head like a watermelon. Blood and brain matter splattered across the floor, the gruesome sight freezing everyone in their tracks. The room was deathly silent, not one of them wanting to move a muscle, as they stared in horror at the lifeless body of their former comrade. Henry's expression remained cold and unfeeling as he wiped his hand on a nearby cloth.
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A/N Well, I know this chapter has its issues, but don't worry about remembering their names—they won't make another appearance. This is why you can't trust humans, unless you wipe out their consciousness. Yeah, that's a bit of a spoiler, but don't worry. He doesn't care about them much. As long as they make him money, they can do whatever they want. But these idiots don't make money and are disrespectful, so he kills them eventually, off-screen. Point is, they are not his army, he is not going to war with them.
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