Tested And Tried

To collect the payment means that I have to go to their locations. Thankfully they were mostly on Coleman and East Brooks. I went to the much nicer neighborhood first. Told them what they wanted to hear and if they didn't believe me. They'll answer to the Madam.

Madam Sofiya had told everyone that someone was coming to collect. Four of the folks that I met were cooperative while the two that followed were paranoid about some newcomer coming in and taking them. They called the Madam, got a scolding because of how someone might be listening on the phone.

After a while I managed to get the two's payment. Stored them inside a duffel bag and placed them in one of my inventory slots. I kept a lookout of the wanted level and at the same time looked at the radar of mine. There were many folks who appeared red on my radar and I knew the folks who'd talk amiably like decent people. Probably why the first four were easy to convince while the two who wore red weren't.

My next stop was the place where Roxi was staying. It was that club that I delivered the goods to back then. It's strange how far I've come in regards to who's paying. Nonetheless it was all the same. I needed to keep my act so I swaggered to the front of the club, keeping a steely gaze. They were expecting me so they let me in and patted me down. No way they can find the pistol and hook-bracer that could be equipped and unequipped if I want to.

The club was the same. Full of young and old folks trying to hit on one another. The glaring and blinking lights. The barely dressed women. And the stench of alcohol and cigarettes spoiled the air. Entered the back of this club. Headed to where Roxy was and the noises that made it clear what the back place was.

Her office was in the back. This time she wasn't so drugged up like the other day that I met the Madam. Seeing me enter she looked at me through squinted eyes before looking at me. Her eyes evaluated. It went on the duffel that I was holding.

"Sounds like you have risen far, eh?"

"Madam," I said while keeping a good distance. "Madam Sofiya sent me to take care of business."

"I know. Biz has been slow and hellish. The law has been rather abusive because many idiots have stolen from the rich and powerful. Gangs and Syndicates are a tier below the Corporations polluting this city. Families like us are rather spare. And there are only a few we can trust."

She said as if she was thinking of something. Her color remained blue. I 'tapped' on my radar and there were no valuables detected other than the ones I was holding. I grew suspicious of her. It was also that I detected yellow ones who are at the brink of being hostile.

"You came here at the order of the Madam. That is good. But do you know that even the honest ones have something to hide? Your survival and your dealings with the Lintons. And even your quick rise, forgive me, but isn't it all… convenient?"

My vision slowed down almost to a halt. My body reacted immediately upon feeling the sense of danger. My reflexes acted before my mind could. I drew the hook-bracer to my left arm and then plunged it on the ceiling. Pulling myself up while also drawing the pistol on my right. I planted my legs on the ceiling while pointing my pistol on her head.

The folks who were about to rush in stopped on their tracks. They looked at me as if I was insane or a fool.

"I don't miss so easily," I said to Madam Roxi. "So would you mind explaining to me, Madam? Or should I take this as some provocation towards the Madam?"

"Where the hell did you get that?"

"I got it from an idiot who didn't know what he was doing. An explanation, please?"

"You're a suspicious man, Nikolai Orlov."

"That so? If anything, this shit you're doing right now. I got no beef. I'm here to collect so would you mind explaining to me."

I saw her try to signal one of her folks. I shot the tip of her finger as a warning. The shot should have been isolated seeing that the club was so fucking loud. The others who heard it drew their piece.

"I told you. I don't miss my shots so easily."

She glared at me while looking at the nail that almost got plucked. It'll hurt like a bitch, but at times like these, I don't know what they are planning to do. Better act tough than let myself get intimidated. But she knew that I was someone don't kill. She took a step forward giving that smug look.

"Get down there now."

"I don't kill, Madam. But I sure can injure you and your boys enough to keep you down and bleeding long enough till you get help. The question is would you like to spend time in a hospital or would you kindly hand over the payment for Madam Sofiya? That's all I asked."

She glared. Her folks have their finger in the trigger. I was steady like a rock and even if they shoot at this range. My bullet time can help me greatly if it comes down to it. Madam Roxi continued her glare before raising a hand. The folks stand down. They were about to say something when Roxi demanded all of them to get out.

I unhooked myself from the ceiling and hid the pistol inside of my coat. I tugged my tie and kept a stare at her.

"This shit makes you suspicious as hell, Nikolai Orlov. Tell me, what are your previous affiliates?"

"A college student?"

"A college student can do this shit?"

"Let's just say that there were many circumstances that led me into having this. So are you going to pay Madam?"

"My nails hurt like a bitch," she spat. "You shouldn't have done that."

"You were threatening me, Madam. Damn be the consequences. I'm not letting you touch me while I'm carrying valuables for Madam Sofiya."

"Guess there's a reason you got to rise quickly. I like this attitude of yours. I'm forgiving, Nikolai since she herself asked me this. But if you try this shit again. Then I hope that you have a place to hide."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Madam Roxi snorted. She pressed a button on her desk before someone came in with the payment. I placed the payment inside and hung the duffel bag on my shoulder.

"You better be careful. That is a lot of responsibility that you have."

I kept a hand on my duffel bag.

"It's nothing personal, Madam."

"You shot at me. I ain't forgetting this sooner or later."

"That so?"

She leaned back and then took her time to wrap her finger up. "I got to say I understand why they'd let you do this. Guess the bullet that grazed your head made you numb and focused. Shredded all kinds of emotions on you."

"Perhaps," I said to her. "I'll hold to your words."

I left the club while feeling the glare of the many folks that knew what I did. She didn't let her goons on me so I assumed that it was really nothing more than a test to scare me into revealing whatever interest that I have in me. If this is their way of hazing. It made no sense to me. If anything it made me blacklist this place. Never going to enter this shithole of a club. Not when Roxi and the others were in the fucking club.

I entered my car and hid the duffel bag in my inventory slot. I rode from East Brooks and then went straight to Brooks when I heard a siren and a loud shout demanding me to stop.

The police officer had the "I am corrupt" look on his face and started shouting and yelling at me.

"That lazy eye boy? Get out of here before I push your teeth in for disrespecting an officer of the law."

I got out. I crossed my arms and let him pat me. Then he searched my car and saw nothing. He was looking for something and I could tell that he knew about what my dealings were. Tried to intimidate me about how I should fess up and give him what he wants and let me off.

I raised my hands and pleaded my rights. It was loud enough to attract the attention of the folks who started staring and plausibly recording at us. He was smart enough to know that I did it. He probably wasn't expecting that I didn't have the stuff he wanted me to have.

"Tsk, go away now, boy. You're clean."

Rode my car back to where Madam Sofiya was. Before I got out I pulled the duffel bag out of my inventory slot and walked into the building. I hated the fact that my escort turned into like this. I don't know what the Solomons or the Madam wants from me. But I know that I want nothing to do with it. It was bringing heat to me. And I dislike having to use my gun if I can.

I walked up to the top floor. When I arrived into the Madam's room. She had changed her clothes and Ingrid wasn't wearing her dress. There was a look of exhaustion on both of their faces that they could barely hide. Seeing me carrying the duffel bag. Madam Sofiya raised her head and laughed.

"I was told that you made problems for Roxi?"

"They tried to intimidate me instead of paying up. I have everything here, Madam."

"Let me see."

I passed the duffel bag to her. She inspected the contents and smiled.

"An excellent job. I heard no law coming and although I did hear reports that you got patted down. Nothing came out of it. You're good at hiding things. Your mood at the bottom however. Even your blank face tells me that."

"I was only hired to be a driver, Madam. I'm no good at doing others."

"That ain't true and you know it. I don't understand when you have shown profitable skills. Could have stayed away from them, but you liked the pay. Because it is easy for you to do it."

"It is. But I don't like being tested, especially when I didn't ask for this. Miss Ingrid," I directed my voice to her. "I don't know what the Solomons want, but I am only a driver and nothing more. So please, I hope I don't have to do this again."

Madam Sofiya showed amusement. She probably thinks of me as strange for saying all of this. Nonetheless, I couldn't allow myself to fall more into whatever they have. I want to steer clear from their activities and it also made me realize that I was starting to be very dependable to them. I hated the thought of them thinking that I am very useful.

"You did a good job nonetheless. The girls were right about you. Hmm, if you want to be paid well, then come knocking will you? I always appreciate good workers. Ingrid, are you done?"

"I am."

Ingrid took her bag with her. We walked out of the office and entered the elevator. I leaned on the elevator's walls before kneading my scalp.

"Looks like you hated doing the work."

I've already switched back to first person. For once I showed emotions towards my peers to make them know that I was feeling annoyed. Ingrid found my expression somewhat surprising and amusing. It felt like she actually enjoys seeing me like this.

"What was all of this for?"

"You'll know. Madam Sofiya is an important business partner of the Solomons. If anything you should be grateful, Nik. This means that you aren't just another associate of the family and her family."

I didn't like that at all.