Young Writers Society

Shujaa pushed the door open and entered the room. Sitting on Nia’s couches was a man and a woman. The man was larger than average dressed in a jacket with fur around the hood. He had tattoos on his neck and his hair was cut into a mohawk.

Next to him was a beautiful girl with pale white skin. She was wearing form-fitting clothing, leather pants and a white long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hair, her most unique feature, was pure white. It was shaved short on one side and long on the other tossed over to the side. Nia was standing by the window again, staring out at the city.

“Viktoriya, Matvei. What are you all doing here?” Shujaa asked, a hint of irritation in his voice. The man, Matvei, who had been sprawled out on the couch, sat up straight.

“You’re gonna have to ask her, chuvak,” he said, pointing at Viktoriya. “I’m just here for ‘moral support’”

Shujaa turned to Viktoriya. “Then what are you doing here?”

“Why so cold, detka? We just wanted to say hi,” Viktoriya said, giving Shujaa her signature half-deranged smile.

Shujaa rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure you did.”

Viktoriya sighed. “Fine. I have a message from the bosses.”

Nia nodded twice but didn’t look away from staring out the window. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“They wanna see Shujaa,” Viktoriya said, shrugging. “Something about his time in Xie Ping. Not sure. Didn’t really pay a lot of attention.”

Shujaa groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Well, that’s vague. When and where do they want to see me?”

Viktoriya smiled. “Avalon Gardens, tomorrow morning.”

Nia turned around to face her guests. “Do I need to be there?”

“Mom didn’t say anything about you. I mean, I guess you can come if you want,” Viktoriya said, giving Nia a quick glance.

Nia clenched her teeth and furrowed her eyebrows at the young Russian. “I see Valda didn’t bother to teach her children any manners.”

Shujaa raised a hand in an attempt to calm Nia. “Aight, I’ll be there. Who wants to see me?”

Viktoriya looked up at the ceiling, thinking. “I think it is just my mom and the Commander Garrison if I remember right. That young Chinese guy from the Three Tigers might show, not really sure.”

“Ok, tell them I’ll be there,” Shujaa said, rubbing his eyebrows.

“Excellent, I’ll see ya then, detka,” Viktoriya said, with a twisted smile.

“Oh, dear god,” Shujaa sighed, softly.

Matvei stood up from the couch. “Khorosho, Viktoriya. Vremya idti.”

Viktoriya gave a small frown. “Ok, Ok.”

Matvei walked out, Viktoriya close behind him. As she passed Shujaa she leaned in. “Don’t be a stranger, baby,” she whispered.

Shujaa chuckled. “Alright there, Viktoriya. See you tomorrow,” he responded.

Nia and Shujaa watched as the two Russians left the penthouse. When the door closed, Nia turned to face Shujaa directly.

“I don’t like it,” Nia grumbled.

“It’s just a meeting, Boss. They just wanna ask me a few questions,” Shujaa said, trying to be upbeat.

“I could care less about the meeting, Shujaa. It’s the Russians. They’ve been slowly expanding their influence while you were gone. Now they send to enforcers here, to my building, and make demands,” Nia growled, downing her drink. “They show no respect, no deference. It’s infuriating.”

Shujaa went over to the kitchen counter and poured himself a glass of whiskey. “It’s Viktoriya, Boss. She’s not the most tactful person in the city.”

Nia sat down on her couch and began rubbing her hands together. “It’s not that little Russian bitch that is the problem, Shujaa. It’s the fact they came here, to me, first. There is something off about it.”

“I don’t catch your meaning, Boss. What’s wrong with them coming here?” Shujaa asked, sipping on his drink.

“The Russians have been edging into my turf recently. Now they come here and start making demands of my enforcers. They don’t even bother to speak to Michael or Terrell first. They treat me like a common gang leader,” Nia said, agitated.

“I think you are blowing this out of proportion, Boss. That’s usually my job,” Shujaa joked.

Nia looked up at him, eyes full of anger and determination. “Not funny. I think it is time that they learned a little lesson.”

Shujaa sat down across from her. “What’s the plan? Need me to handle something?”

Nia sat there, staring at her hands, thinking. She finally looked up and stared Shujaa right in the eyes. “I need a display of force. Something that will remind them of my power.”

Shujaa finished his drink. “Something I can do?” he asked.

“There is a minor casino on the border of my territory with the Russians. The Golden Ram. I’ve heard that the Russians have been secretly funding them. I want it gone,” Nia said, nodding a few times.

“Discrete or shock and awe?” Shujaa asked, rubbing his chin.

Nia seemed to relax a little, leaning back. “Shock and awe. Send a message. A big one.”

Shujaa smiled. “You’re the boss. I’m gonna take Chrys with me, she’s been aching for something to do, from what I’ve heard.”

“Indeed, she has. Just promise me you can keep control over her,” Nia said, smirking.

Shujaa chuckled. “No problemo, mon Capitan.”

Nia stood up and walked towards the windows. “Now, get out of here and don’t come back till that place is burnt down.”

“Ya don’t need to tell me twice,” Shujaa mumbled. He rose from his seat on the couch and walked out the door of the penthouse into the antechamber. God, this is gonna be fun He thought, smiling.