NEW YORK

sometime after 8pm

It was another cold night in the big apple. Ten degrees tops, as I stood outside my auto shop, a mere three days after the war with Florida. I walked through the yard, checking inventory...also pondering a lot of things. After several minutes of walking the property, I returned inside to close for the night. Inside was a unexpected guest!, a well dressed African American man. As he seen me he removed his fedora, respectively placing it over his chest as he replied.

"You must be Mr. Sullivan?, my name is Charles Lynch!. I am here on behalf of Little Havana, but I am not here for retaliation!...can we speak in your office?."

Not knowing what to expect, I motion him into the office, patting him down for my own safety.

"You always treat guests this way Mr. Sullivan?". I take a seat before responding back to him calmly, "Only those I just meet Mr. Lynch!, don't take offense to it."

As he takes a seat he keeps eye contact while getting to the point. "No offense taken Mr. Sullivan!...Ill get to the point so I don't waste your time, or mine. I understand you had some...personal issues with Luciano. I understand those issues are now resolved!, I think its important for you to know I respect your decision in removing him. I am unaware on your plans for Little Havana, however I came to you so I could respectfully ask for you to let me run things down there the way I see fit. And I assure you that you will never have an issue with anyone from Luciano's crew again!."

I politely listened to Mr. Lynch before I spoke my peace.

"I respect you coming to me Mr. Lynch. shows you have more character then Luciano did!. That being said I need to be honest with you. I didn't have any plans on expanding business out in Little Havana. The issue with Luciano was a personal issue and nothing more!. However I am a man of business and seeing as I did you a big favor by removing Luciano, maybe you can return the favor?."

He locks eyes with me, placing his right hand on my desk. "So long as you let me claim Luciano's old territory as my own...you have a deal!, what can I do?."

I place both hands on my desk and lean back. "Simple!, we agree on a number. That number will then go to the person who suffered in this whole ordeal!." Lynch looks at me and asks curiously, "and who might that be?."

I keep my eyes on Lynch while replying to his question. "Names are irrelevant right now Mr. Lynch, all I will say is she is very important to me!."

Lynch immediately goes to negotiate.

Lynch: 50k?.

Me: 100k!.

Lynch : 75?

Me : 100!...that's my terms. And in return you have my word that Little Havana is yours.

Lynch reaches to shake hands, as he looks to finalize the deal. I reach across the other half of the desk, grasping onto Lynch's hand. "Appreciate you coming down and making things right Lynch!."

Charles Lynch then respectively leaves.

One day later an envelope arrives, which contained the agreed amount. I nod while looking at the bills inside the envelope. A sat for a minute then called Frankie into the office. Having no clue what was going on she sat down, her facial expression showed many different emotions. I slid the envelope to her while simply replying, "Compliments of Little Havana!."