“If I may, I would like to speak to you in private,” I requested.
“Yes.” He turned to his guests and said, “Gentlemen, please continue to make yourselves at home. I shall return with our guest of honor.” He motioned for me to come with him, and we exited the room.
Guest of honor?
Once in his private office, I marveled at the cases of swords and expensive jade vases and paintings. “Those are ancient artifacts and have been in my family for generations.” He walked over and sat behind his big desk and motioned for me to sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “So, Mr. Santos, how may I assist you?”
“We did your work, and you said that you were very satisfied.”
“Indeed, I am. I was very impressed. So much so that you are my guest of honor. And again, I want you to remain on board with us. Have you thought about my offer?”
“That’s what I need to talk to you about. I’m honored that you even would consider me. But I have to decline. My allegiance is with Don Carlos. He has become like a second father to me. But I came to humbly request that you release my partner, Trae Macklin, of all business ties that he has with your organization. I give you my word that Mr. Macklin is leaving the business for good. He’s agreed to leave town and have no future dealings with you or any members of your organization. We are requesting a clean slate and no more ties. With all due respect, Mr. Li, I need you to be a man of your word and let my partner go, free and clear, honoring your word that no harm will come to him or his family.”
He paused, took a deep breath, then reached forward and took a cigar from the box directly across from him. “That I cannot do. Not yet,” he said, lighting it and taking a deep pull. “However, it surprises me that you would think that it would be that easy to get out of a business that we have put our sweat and blood into . . . literally.”
“You said that your honor was all that you had. Yet you don’t stand by your word? I’m confused.”
“I respect you, Mr. Santos. You are not like Mr. Macklin. You are led by your mind and your spirit. But Mr. Macklin, much like my daughter, can be led by carnal desires.”
“What does carnal desire have to do with this? You said if we completed the job for you, my partner would be released. We delivered. And then you asked us to do it again. We did.”
“Again, Mr. Santos, I’m amazed that you believe that leaving this lifestyle would be as simple as a verbal request. One would say that if it took blood to enter this business, it will take blood to exit.” Those words rolled off his tongue effortlessly, and then he took another pull of his cigar.
“A wise man once said your honor is all that you have. Were those not your words, Mr. Li? Do you not stand by that statement? Are you not a man of your word?”
“Don’t lecture me about keeping my word. Did Mr. Macklin keep his word when I told him to stay away from my daughter? Where was the honor in having a man come into your house, do business, and disrespect the head of the household? I’ve had men killed for lesser transgressions. Your partner should be thanking me for allowing him to see the light of day, Mr. Santos. Wouldn’t you agree? Think about it.”
I was trying hard to keep a level head. This muthafucka was really pressing his luck. He was going back on his word as if it was nothing and acting as if we were a bunch of pussy-ass muthafuckas. “Mr. Li, man to man, what would you do if you were constantly served pussy on a plate crafted of fine china that you didn’t order? Wouldn’t you agree that eventually you’re going to eat it?”
He chuckled. “Do you think insulting me will help your friend, Mr. Santos?”
“What? You can dish it, but you can’t take it? You see, men like you will milk a nigga until you are done with him and then dispose of the carcass. But you underestimated these niggas. However, I was simply trying to prove a point, especially since we seem to be mixing business with pleasure.”