145. Opportunities
It didn’t take long before his phone buzzed, alerting him that the messenger for his package had arrived. He left his lovers and put his clothes on to get himself down to the lobby to pick up the package.
Rockford was on his way back when Ivan stopped in front of him and told him Max wanted to see him, and that his boss was waiting for him at the bar. He was escorted to one of the backrooms, a small office where Max was there waiting. It has been years since he saw the guy. He still looked the same. Hard, cold stare eyes were looking back at him before his lips tugged into a warm welcoming smile and told Rockford to sit down and let Ivan get back to his post.
“Don’t worry, I have someone watching your suite. Your lovers are safe within my walls.” Max poured himself a glass of vodka and put another one in front of him. Okay, looked like Rockford was going to skip his evening pills and he was fine with that. He had been wanting to take the edge off since the shootout but Rocco had been watching, making sure he took his pills and denying him of any alcohol. It was sweet of him to make Rockford follow through on his lover’s demands.
“I have been thinking and I’ve been talking to Nikolai, my cousin. You and I go a long way back, Rockford. I’m sure you know by now the nature of my family business. Nikolai and I… we’ve been discussing distribution and how the cartels needed to be strengthened.”
Rockford sat back and listened, he didn’t know where the conversation was going but he was keeping his mind open. One thing he knows is that Max is a man on his word and he has kept him safe all those years ago, until today. He owed the man at least that respect, though he knew that it was because Rockford had something that could be of use to him. No mob boss will be willing to help you without asking for something in return. Although Rockford did, save him about a million dollars worth of shipment back when he came to Max and told him that he was going to be screwed on his deal.
The day he came to Max, was the day he caught the attention of the mob boss.
“So, let me get this straight. You want me to help you run your logistics?” Rockford concluded when Max was laying the situation for him.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“When you put it that way, yes. I know you still have your old crew, but I am ready to support you to shred that biker club of yours and let you decide who gets to live to back you up on your future endeavors. I think it’s about time you take that title back. Or not, you can make your new logistics organization, pick and choose your men, and decide on how you’re going to operate. And for your first job, I want you to run on point for our next bust. We have a lead on human trafficking, and our fellow detective whom you are well acquainted told me that he would be crossing too many red tapes and the shipment would slip away from his hands. This is to reward him for helping us with your little bust a few days ago.”
Rockford stilled. He perfectly knew what logistics meant in their kind of organization. It was a very huge deal to be put in such a position. He felt overwhelmed. It was too much information, too little time, and he didn’t want to get too excited. Cause he was damn excited. He had been bored out of his mind for the last few years working security at Babes, though he never would complain, fuck… he wanted it. He wanted back on the action. He wanted his friends back. However, he needed to do some research about them first before taking back his crew.
“I need to think about this,” Rockford said after taking a good sip of the expensive vodka. Max nodded before he continued. “I need to talk to Dee and Rocco.”
“Of course. But I assure you, that you will be well compensated and supported, you will have the security that you need. You will never need to worry about their safety. Anyone who messes with my crew’s spouses will have our wrath. You know this. You won’t be left running like you once did before.”
“Damn it, Max, you’re really selling it aren’t you?”
“Well, I am never one to let a potential trustworthy man slip away from my hands. Why do you think I keep you at Babes all of these years?”
Rockford chuckled and Max grinned. Both toasted to their newfound interest. It looked like Rockford didn’t need to think, and Max was looking smug about it. The man ran a hard bargain and he knows it. He didn’t get to the top of the food chain without being able to make smart decisions for his organization.
“So how’s the bruise?” Max asked knowing that his men probably told him about Rockford getting shot while trying to help Demyan. Hell, that was probably why he was offering Rockford the new job. Loyalty has always first with these guys.
“Ugh, Rocco was telling me to check my stools for blood.” Rockford took another sip, before pulling up the hem of his shirt and showing Max his bruise.
He knew the man was one of the top surgeons in the city, but Rockford still didn’t know how he managed his time. He knew mob bosses had legal businesses on the side to cover their illegal ones, but he was not expecting someone working in medicine. Max sure has the brain and the drive to make it in this life. That got Rockford thinking that it’d be a damn waste to reject the man’s offer. It’s not like he had better things waiting for him back at Babes. This could be the break he needed in his future.
“Hmm… that looks bad,” Max was to his front, pressing his hand gently on Rockford’s bruise. “It’s a bit tender, but you can get Rocco to come with you to one of our clinics to get you checked out. Show him the benefits of you joining our organization. Medical, front of the line, no need to sit and wait. House call and all the works.”
Rockford laughed at another of Max’s attempts to lure him into joining them.
“Way too subtle Markov, but I like the idea. I need to talk it out with them first. But I’ll be taking your offer to get Rocco to come with me to the clinic just tell me when, and can you make sure the doctor there gives good words on my healing process?”
“Damn, man, you’re going to fit it just fine with me and the guys. Our spouses aren’t keen when we get home with blood stains on our clothes. This is why we keep extras in the car.” Max laughed and poured another glass, before refilling Rockford’s glass.
He hadn’t even joined their organization, but Max was already welcoming him into the fold.
“We will do lunch and get our spouses together, I knew my wife would dote on your Rocco and Dee. She loves ganging up us and getting the spouses to do her bid.”
Max wife sounded like an amazing strong woman. Rockford would think she was one badass person to be with someone like Max and have the guts to confront the man who probably killed and saved lives daily. Rockford shook his head, he still couldn’t imagine Max as a surgeon. Though he was definitely not envious of any enemy that would be under his interrogation technique. Doctors in the interrogation room… he shuddered even just imagining it.
Rockford left the small office behind the bar and let Ivan escort him back to his suite. Max had also told Ivan to get one of their drivers to take them to the small clinic a couple of blocks away from the hotel.
“Can we do it after dinner before we go back to our rooms? Dee would probably stay back. I just need to convince Rocco before he burst the door while I’m taking a dump.” Rockford explained without any shame in his words.
“Damn, man, I really don’t want to be in your shoes. And you have two of them,” Ivan slapped Rockford’s shoulder, laughing, shaking his head. He told Rockford that he was a brave man to have two lovers when his wife, Angelica, was all it took to keep him busy.
Yeah, Rockford thought about it for a second before he grinned at Ivan saying that he loved them. And sex of course, that got them both laughing until he finally reached his suite.
“Okay, good luck big guy, and welcome to the family.”
Family. It feels like a new beginning. And when Rockford locked the door behind him and saw Rocco making coffee, he knew the man was up and had been worrying about him again.
“Hey,”
“Where have you been? I can’t call you, I don’t have my phone! I’m so fucking worried!”
“Shh… Dee is still resting, but…” Rockford showed him the package he ordered and his lover blushed. He chuckled and pulled Rocco for a deep kiss until he finally forgot about his coffee.
“After dinner, I’m going to a clinic, get my bruise checked out and you can come with me,” Rockford said and his heart instantly thumped harder when he saw the smile blooming on Rocco’s face.
“Thank you. I love you.”
“And I love you too, baby, and there’s something I needed to talk about with both of you. But first,” Rockford pushed Rocco against the living area wall and held him possessively in his arms. He locked their lips and shoved his hand down the man’s briefs.
Yep, Rocco was going to come again before dinner.