© Jojo B 2016

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*N.E.V* The Seven Deadly Simpson Brothers

22

(Picture is Phoenix)

"There are several levels to the drug networking system," Phoenix said. "Those in the top level are members of South American drug cartels. They produce massive amounts of pure illegal substances and smuggle it out, usually into the US."

I knew I shouldn't have been surprised, but hearing it like this from phoenix (who I knew was being completely serious) made everything feel so much more real and so much more dangerous. It wasn't just what happened in movies, it was happening in real life too. Walter and his brothers were really criminals.

"Those in the second level," Phoenix went on, "are regional distributors and consist of people who are linked to the cartels, more often than not, by blood. They are in charge of distributing the product within large cities, both within the US and overseas. Understand?"

I nodded, aware that all the brothers were watching me closely, seeing my expression as I discovered more of their dirty truths. Walter still looked upset, but he didn't stop Phoenix, he knew I wanted to know it all.

"Those in the third level, known as top dealers – "

"That's us," Gomez sent me a grin.

Phoenix cast him a glare and continued, "Tend to cut their product with other substances and sell it in bulk to make greater profits. All three of these top levels run like businesses. They rarely ever use the product they sell and they insulate themselves from the authorities by using others to do the dirty work for them. Although we work slightly differently, but I'll come back to that."

"Okay," I said quietly.

"The fourth level, called mid-level dealers are individuals who have been in the drug world for some time and often sell to support their own addictions.  They again cut their product so they can make more profit, but as they are more visible they are easily caught out by the law."

"The fifth level, made of your average dealers, have usually made their way up from users to dealers so that they can support their addictions. The products they sell have been cut multiple times."

I immediately pictured scruffy looking people, walking the streets and slipping small packets into their buyers' hands in return for decent amounts of cash.

"Those in the sixth and last level are small-time dealers and also users who are held so tight by their addictions that they always need a fix and will cut their product with anything they can get away with. They will also tend to deal to anyone, just so they can support their own addictions. They are so deep in it, it's almost impossible to get themselves out of that lifestyle and they can very easily fall prey to the authorities."

"So you get the gist of it?" Landon sent me a smile.

"Yeah," I breathed. "I think so."

"So back to what makes us different from most other top dealers," Phoenix didn't take time to pause.

"The third level?" I tried to remember.

"Yes," he nodded and I realised that this was the most Phoenix had ever said to me, and he wasn't exactly angry at me either. "Instead of dealing to other dealers, we deal to legitimate businesses."

"What?" I stared at him, forgetting to be afraid of holding his eye contact for more than a second.

"It's not that hard to understand," Phoenix snapped and Walter looked at him with a frown.

"We get the product from our supplier," he broke it down. "We cut it, we then give it to small businesses like cafes or pubs, such as the Dartfish, to sell it for us."

I widened my eyes as realisation struck.

"The Dartfish? I've been working the past two years for a pub who deals drugs to people?" I blinked at him.

Phoenix shrugged, "Yeah."

"Why would businesses agree to do that?" I blurted. "If they get caught...they'd get prosecuted. It would be all over the press! They'd lose everything, and so would their employees."

"All it takes are a few threats," Phoenix said with no care at all. "Of course they don't know they're working for me or that any of my brothers are involved. I use some of my men as messengers to pass it to them and collect the profit from them. The businesses get a small proportion to keep and all they have to do is not get caught and make sure I get all my money."

"So they really don't know you're behind it?" I frowned.

"Of course not," Phoenix replied. "All they know is that they are working for X. Most people in this area think I'm a thug who directly deals to my users. You probably thought the same, from all the rumours, but if that were really true, I would have most likely been arrested, charged and found guilty of a lot of shit a very long time ago.  My brothers and I are shielded by the people who work for us...and from the examples I set, they know never to cross me."

I didn't want to know what examples Phoenix was talking about. I didn't underestimate him, not one bit.

"Our method is a lot more sophisticated than the Santiagos who just get other dealers to deal for them the regular way," Phoenix said sounding a bit angry, "which is why it's going to be a big problem if they're catching onto us."

"We think they are trying to get the Dartfish to collaborate with them," Landon said, playing with his lip ring. "They've been going there a lot more often, we've heard from our sources and also from you."

It made sense now why Walter looked surprised when I'd first told him that I'd met Ario at work and how weird Eli acted when he'd found out this afternoon.

"So the Santiagos don't know that the Dartfish is already working for you?" I asked, my question sounding so unreal to my own ears.

"No," Phoenix said. "We don't make it as obvious as they are making it. The idiots."

It was true.

I had never seen any of the Simpsons at the pub throughout the time I had been working there and now I was suddenly seeing the Santiagos a lot. I froze as another thought popped into my mind. Which of my colleagues were in on it? I couldn't imagine any of them slipping packets of pills or powders to any of our 'customers'.

"So what do you want me to do?" I asked, feeling my stomach knot.

Walter fixed Phoenix with a hard look but Phoenix looked unfazed.

"All I want you to do is find out if that's what the Santiagos are really planning," he replied. "Get information out of Ario and report back to me. As soon as you get an answer, I'll do the rest."

"Okay," I nodded, letting it settle.

"Don't let it slip that we are already dealing to them," Phoenix spoke. "Can you do that?"

He had already told me that I didn't have a choice, once I was in, I couldn't get out. I only nodded, but it was a lot easier said than done.

"Good," his lips formed a very faint smile.

Where I thought he was going to say thank you, Phoenix only got up and walked out. Walter stood up too and headed out the living room, making me frowned and follow him out.

Walter was standing at the bottom of the stairs and Phoenix had already gone upstairs.

"At the beginning," I said quietly to Walter, "when I first met you...you pretended that you didn't know what The Dartfish was."

"I know," Walter mumbled.

"And that cafe," I spoke. "The cafe you took me to that one time. They work for you too, don't they?"

Walter had said that it was a fairly quiet place with not enough people to listen into our conversation. They seemed like the perfect partner, someone not as well-known, who wouldn't want to risk their reputation by working with criminals.

"They do," Walter sighed.

"You said you didn't want us to lie to each other," I said to him, a frown forming on my face.

Walter looked at me sharply, "I didn't lie....I just didn't tell you the whole truth. And that was because it's private and like Phoenix said, I couldn't just go around telling anyone."

"Anyone?" I looked at him blankly.

"You know what I mean," Walter creased his brows, looking surprisingly upset. "Coral, I didn't want any of this to happen, but you've made your choice...and Phoenix won't let you back out that easily."

Walter's words were worrying me and I wouldn't be able to help them if I was scared.

"I can do it," I said to him. "I'll help Phoenix and you and your brothers."

"Be careful," Walter said to me, hardening his jaw. "Don't let blue eyes do anything to you again."

"I won't Walter," I said firmly and took hold of his hand. "Trust me."

Walter looked down at me and I could see all the emotions whirling though his mind. I saw anger, worry and pride.

Even though he wouldn't admit it, he was proud of me.

Before I could even start to smile, Walter had crashed his lips against mine and he kissed me hard. I was breathless in seconds but Walter was fuelled with so much passion, he didn't notice.

"I don't know what to do with you Coral," Walter broke off and shoved a shaking hand through his hair as we both panted.

I looked at him with blazing eyes and pulled him back down, "Don't stop."

***

The next day was a Monday and I went to school knowing that I had work afterwards. I thought I would have a lot of time to prepare myself on how to approach Ario when I next saw him, but I clearly didn't.

"So how is Eli?" Hayley asked me as we sat together in class.

I'd told her that I was temporarily living with Walter and his brothers so there was no need for her to pick me up in the mornings anymore. She had been shocked at first but then thought of it as extremely sweet of Walter to suggest such a thing. I hadn't mentioned anything about Ario and the Santiagos, nor did I bring up how Phoenix had given me a death glare when Walter had discussed it with him.

"Showing interest in Eli, are we?" I perked up in excitement.

Hayley blushed, "No, I was only being polite."

"Sure," I grinned. "He's good. Good-looking huh?"

"You're not being very discrete with your hints," Hayley cocked an eyebrow at me as she smirked.

"Oops," I bit my lip and grinned. "Did you enjoy the snowball fight then?"

"It was...an interesting version," she tried not to laugh. "And the rumours are right, Landon is such a flirt."

"I know," I smiled, remembering how he almost touched me up the day before. "He can't help it."

"Well with a face and body like his," Hayley lowered her voice. "I wouldn't be able to help it either if I were him. I mean, who would say no?"

"He's a player Hayley," I said to her before she started getting funny ideas.

"I can tell," she murmured, playing with a strand of her hair. "I never said I was falling for it. He just seems like a nice guy. Anyway, how are you and Walter? It must be serious if you're moving in with him already."

I mentally sighed. It was more difficult trying to explain what the rush was for when I had to avoid the truth. It would be unnecessary if Hayley knew all about how I could someday be in danger just because of my relationship with Walter.

"I don't know how to define serious," I shrugged. "But I care about him a lot, and he does for me."

Hayley was giving me a sneaky smile.

"What?" I asked, pressing my lips together in an attempt not to grin.

    "You're blushing," her smile widened. "What else have you done with him?"

"Nothing!" I cried and then glanced around at the other students before lowering my voice. "Nothing at all."

In truth, Walter and I hadn't done more than kiss which was just fine for me. I loved kissing him, feeling so close to him as our tongues entwined. Thinking of it and daring myself to think of more made my cheeks burn and I covered my face.

"You're lying to me," Hayley started laughing. "Coral!"

"I'm not lying," I looked at her, still covering my cheeks. "He's really patient. We haven't even talked about...any of that stuff yet."

Hayley clasped her hands together, "That's so nice of him. Walter isn't as scary as I used to think."

"You're telling me!" I laughed. "I was terrified of him."

Hayley smiled, remembering the early days and I wondered if she had had any boyfriends in the past. I knew she was single now, but how much experience did she have?

"Hayley," I murmured, trying not to blush again. "Have you had any boyfriends?"

"Not any serious ones," she replied. "Only the thirteen year old crush kind of thing, you know?"

I didn't know. When I was thirteen I was still very afraid of men and didn't speak to anyone at school, let alone the boys. There was no such thing as early teen infatuations for me.

"Yeah," I lied, throwing in a shrug.

"I'd love to know what real love is," Hayley said sincerely.

"Me too," I said looking down at the desk.

"Well you're not far from it," she wiggled her eyebrows at me, dropping the serious tone."Now come on, let's actually do some work before the teacher notices."

***

Walter kissed me goodbye after school finished. He didn't say anything about Ario again, but I knew it was weighing heavily on his mind.

"Don't worry about it. I'll see you tonight," I said to him.

"See you later," he said, nodding.

I made my way to the pub in neutral territory thinking of ways to start conversation with Ario. How could I possibly find out what kind of illegal objective he and his gang were after at the Dartfish? Hey Ario, so is Carlos possibly trying to pass on drugs to this pub? I silently scoffed at myself. As if.

I was so busy thinking about it that I was completely thrown off when I arrived at work and saw Carlos and the twins: Miguel and Manuel, but no Ario. Thankfully someone else was already serving them, so I concentrated on avoiding their eyes at all times whilst checking the door each time it opened and people entered.

Ario never came.

I finished my shift and was about to head out the back door with bitter disappointment when I heard a familiar voice.

"Why the long face?" Ario was leaning on the bar in a dark jacket.

I blinked in pleasant surprise and then smiled at him. I wanted him to trust me. The faster I got information out of him, the more pleased I would make Phoenix.

"I'm just tired," I said to him.

"But you're finished right?" he arched a brow. "So you should be glad about that."

"I guess so," I replied. "It's been a while since I've seen you."

"Well I did say I wouldn't bother you again," Ario smiled, rubbing one of his blue eyes tiredly.

In fact, he didn't look so well. His eyes were rimmed red and he looked a little bit pale and clammy.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he wiped sweat off his forehead. "I'm fine."

He wasn't, but I didn't push it. Ario glanced back at the table where his older cousin and brothers were sitting and then he turned back to me.

"You wanna step outside?" he asked me. "It's hot in here."

"Sure," I replied, already with my bag in hand.

The both of us walked out into the cool, dark night and stood near the back doors where I'd bumped into him the very first time. It made me think of Walter and how similar it had been to the first time I'd met him too.

"So you like the Dartfish?" I asked Ario once we were outside. "You've been coming here quite often recently."

"Do we really catch your attention that much?" he smirked.

"Of course," I tried to play it cool even though I was panicking slightly.

"Well it's alright," Ario said neutrally. "Just another pub, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I nodded, mentally kicking myself. I had to be smoother than that.

"Do you like the Dartfish?" Ario turned my question back at me.

"Yeah, it's cool," I replied. "It's always got the right amount of people inside. Not too many, but it's never quite empty either. Do you know anyone who works there? Except me?"

"No?" Ario frowned. "Why would I?"

"I don't know," my palms started to sweat. "But some people...like Tiffany for example, you know Tiffany don't you?"

"I don't think I do," Ario looked at me with a dull face.

"Well I was going to say she really makes effort to get to know our customers," I was aware I was just rambling now. "And she tends to go for men...you know?"

Ario smiled, "I don't."

"Oh never mind then," I said, taking a deep breath. "Ignore me."

"What's with all the questions?" Ario looked amused and my heart started hammering. "You're acting weird."

Maybe he had sussed me out already. I was being terrible at trying to be sneaky. Phoenix would kill me if Ario worked out that the Simpsons were already selling to the Dartfish...and Ario would probably kill me if he found out I was helping the Simpsons.

"I found this," I said, delving my hand into my bag and changing the subject.

Ario's face instantly lit up like daybreak on a bleak morning and I grinned at him, handing him back his clearly loved knife.

"Graci – thank you," he caught himself, looking up from his knife to me.

"I knew it was yours," I looked at him.

"Yeah," he nodded, smiling at it in disbelief. "I thought I'd never get it back."

"You've got it now," I beamed at him. "So that means you owe me, right?"

Ario's happy expression faltered, "I owe you now?"

"Yeah," I said as confidently as I could. "I didn't have to give it back to you, but I did."

"Okay," he said slowly, slipping his switchblade into his pocket. "What do you want?"

"I want to know you," I made a point to look right into his bright blue eyes.

Ario seemed convinced by my act and he nodded slowly, "So you are interested in seeing two guys at once?"

"I guess," I looked down so he didn't see the lie through my eyes. It seemed to be working. "But for now, I just want to know you for you. You seem like an interesting guy, someone dangerous...and...I like dangerous."

I prayed that he didn't see right past those cringe-worthy lines and looked up at him through my lashes.

He'd taken the bait. I knew it as soon as I saw his expression.

"I'll see you around Ario," I turned to leave. "Make sure to have some dirty little secrets in mind the next time I see you."

"You too," he called lowly after me.

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Ooh, so what did you think of that?

J

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