The Austrian gang leader stared at him for a moment before suddenly saying, "You've got the makings of a gangster."

  Jon Hardy blinked, taken aback. Him? A gangster? He looked himself up and down. Was it his rugged face, his demeanor, or just his name that made them think so?

  "Jon Hardy," the leader mused, "sounds like the name of someone who's seen things. Someone who's ready to get his hands dirty."

  Bill tried hard to sit up in a dignified manner and seized the opportunity to promote his friend. "Boss, Jon's been a huge help to me. He's my closest ally. I'd trust him with my territory any day."

  Fred, the gang leader, nodded. "Alright, sounds good to me."

  Just like that, Hardy found himself becoming part of the Austrian gang, albeit as a fringe member.

  Bill then grabbed a thick envelope from the bed and handed it to Fred. "Boss, Hardy helped me recover the dues Cook owed us. I'm turning it over now."

  Fred's second-in-command, Alan Payne, took the envelope, opened it, and quickly thumbed through the cash.

  "Six thousand eight hundred dollars," Alan announced. "Five thousand was the owed amount. The rest, one thousand eight hundred, is extra."

  Fred took the stack of bills, peeled off a thousand, and handed it to Bill. "Here's your cut."

  Bill accepted the money with a broad grin. That amount wasn't just for him; by the gang's rules, Sean and Reid would get a share too.

  Fred then peeled off another thousand. "And this is for your medical expenses. You got injured while working for us; the gang takes care of its own."

  "Thank you, boss," Bill said, his voice filled with gratitude as he took the money.

  Next, Fred counted out eighteen hundred dollars and handed it to Hardy. Hardy hesitated, eyeing Fred with a mix of curiosity and caution.

  "Cook only owed us five thousand," Fred explained with a smile. "The rest is yours. You earned it."

  Hardy quickly realized that Fred knew how to take care of his people. Fair shares, compensation for injuries, and a bit extra here and there—it was all a calculated strategy to build loyalty and trust among his men.

  Not wanting to appear ungrateful, Hardy accepted the money without further hesitation.

  Fred seemed pleased with Hardy's straightforwardness. "Good," he said with a grin.

  Then Bill spoke up. "Boss, what about Cook's crew? The Spaniards won't let this slide, right?"

  Fred's face hardened. "Leave that to me. Cook broke our rules. If the Spaniards can't play by them, we can always find other suppliers. Our territory isn't short of options."

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  The Austrian gang was well aware of the competition. Even if the Spaniards had good, cheap merchandise, there were always others willing to sell.

  After a bit more discussion, Fred and Alan departed, leaving the rest of the gang members in the room. Bill turned to Hardy, clapping him on the shoulder. "I'm counting on you, brother."

  Then he turned to Sean and Reid. "You two, stick close to Hardy. Remember, he was my commanding officer in the Marines."

  Sean and Reid nodded in agreement, already impressed by Hardy. Taking on Cook and his group single-handedly was no small feat; such skill naturally commanded their respect.

  "Don't worry, boss. We've got his back," they replied in unison.

  Meanwhile, back at the villa, Fred and Alan had a quick discussion before Fred picked up the phone and dialed a number. On the other end was Dani, the Spanish gang leader.

  Dani's voice was filled with anger as soon as he picked up. "Fred, was it your men who killed Cook? He's one of my best! Six of my guys dead just like that!"

  Fred was calm but firm. "Dani, you crossed the line first. Did Cook act with your approval? Are the Spaniards looking to end our cooperation and start a war?"

  Dani hesitated. His bluster softened. "No, Cook acted on his own. This wasn't sanctioned."

  "Good," Fred continued. "If you want to keep doing business, stick to the rules. If you don't, you know there are consequences."

  Dani exhaled sharply, fighting to keep his composure. "Fine, Fred. Cook messed up, and he's paid for it. We'll consider this matter closed and continue our business."

  Fred had expected this outcome. He smirked slightly. "Just make sure there isn't a next time."

  "I understand," Dani replied tersely.

  He slammed the phone down, his face flushed with anger. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. He grabbed a cigar, taking a long, angry drag.

  "I'll crush the Austrian gang," he vowed, turning to his strategist, Bernstein. "Is the meeting with the Irish set for tonight?"

  "Yes, 8 PM at Hoffman's Bar," Bernstein confirmed.

  Dani nodded. "Make contact with the Mexicans, the French, the Russians, and every other gang in LA. We're not waiting."

  Bernstein left to make the calls, and Dani walked to the window, gazing out at the Beverly Hills skyline. His mind was racing with thoughts of power and conquest.

  "I'll rule the underworld of Los Angeles," he muttered. "Just like Al Capone did in Chicago. I'll be the king of this city."

  The night fell, and soon a sleek car pulled up outside Hoffman's Bar. Dani, Bernstein, and two of their men stepped out. They weren't there to make trouble, so they came unarmed, allowing themselves to be frisked at the entrance.

  Inside, they were led to a private room where two men waited—Hemi Weiss, the leader of the Irish North Shore gang, and his lieutenant, Bugs Moran.

  Hemi Weiss had a peculiar look about him, a long face accentuated by a traditional English haircut that seemed almost comical. But no one dared laugh. He was young, only twenty-eight, but he controlled several blocks in LA. His gang was known for its ruthless tactics.

  Hemi stood up, shaking Dani's hand with a sly grin. "You mentioned something important, Dani. I hope you're not planning to sell your goods on my turf. Remember, I've got my business to protect too."

  Dani's eyes narrowed. "How would you feel about taking over the Austrian gang's territory?"

  Hemi's grin faded. He studied Dani carefully. "What's your game here?"

  "I want revenge," Dani spat out, his voice cold.

  Hemi looked skeptical. "You want to start a war over Cook?"

  "It's more than just Cook," Dani replied, leaning forward. "It's about business. I'm tired of splitting profits with the Austrians when they contribute nothing but threats. They killed six of my men, and then Fred has the nerve to call me up and act like it's my fault."

  He continued, "If we join forces, we can eliminate the Austrian gang once and for all. My Red Dani crew will take forty percent of their territory and assets, and the rest is yours. What do you say?"

  Dani finished his pitch and waited for Hemi's response.