Cuboyd tilted his head a little at the building with the chain and padlock over it. This had better be bigger on the inside, it couldn't be any smaller than what he'd dreaded. The asking price was far more than what it looked like it was worth. He'd seen this place a few times before and never thought much of it until he'd heard there were a few bidders for the empty shell of what was supposedly one of the nicest spots in town. Ruined by thug owners with no idea how to run a bath, let alone run a business. Vicious bouncer thugs seemed to punch well and truly above their weight, that was until they fucked with the wrong guy. All it took was a Caddy filled with mobsters to cause a bloodbath outside the club for it to be shut down permanently. The thug owners were chased out of town, city and country, rumour has it. That was years ago but this was now. Cuboyd had a fascination with owning a nightclub, maybe even a chain if it would all click together like he'd hoped. A scraggly man appeared with his somehow less scraggly dog. 

"Eh so you know the price, you looking to take this key off me now?" The scraggly man grumbled while scratching his beard.

"I want a tour first, I have to know what I'm buying don't I?" Cuboyd firmly responded.

"Eh oh yes you'll be wanting to see around the place won't you? Ehm yes follow me." The man stumbled as he unlocked the pad lock with his key. The dog maintained even more eye contact with Cuboyd than the man, maybe the dog was the one to talk to here, maybe the conversation would have been smoother.

Cuboyd followed the man and his dog into the facility, there was a narrow corridor after the entrance which looked like it wouldn't take much to bottleneck. The space opened up as they arrive at the top platform of the former nightclub. Cuboyd's eyes expanded as he realised he was looking at a goldmine. The place was huge, the ground opened up so much it had two further levels underground. The perfect dugout. Cuboyd looked at the man as he was getting antsy, his moving around had Cuboyd on edge. 

"Do you mind if I take a wander around the rest of the place? If you have somewhere to be?" Cuboyd asked suspiciously 

"Yes yes ehm..no problem at all I just need to take this one out to do his business." The old man replied. If the dog was anymore laid back, it would have been easy to have mistaken it for being dead.

The man and his dog walked out the front entrance and Cuboyd was left to wander around himself. There was so much potential with this place. The asking price was much more fair now, in fact, Cuboyd was sure it could be perfect. After wandering about for a bit longer, inspecting and theoretically placing things he'd like for it, it was already bought in his mind. 

The old man returned with his dog looking as relaxed as ever. Cuboyd looked the old man up and down. He couldn't figure him out, Cuboyd was a great judge of character but for this guy he was a blip. An anomaly. He took out the envelope from his coat pocket and handed it to the old man who dropped his dogs leash to inspect the money. Bingo. That's what kind of man he was.

"That enough for you?" Cuboyd asked.

"Ehm yeah yeah that's great here's your key." The man passed over the key and just like that, him and his dog were gone. Man that was a creepy experience Cuboyd thought to himself. He didn't think for long before remembering what was in his hand. Cash money cash. This place would boom quickly. Now the real hard work began.

A few days had passed since Cuboyd got the keys for this shithole-soon-to-be-paradise. A few guys from the HQ recommended some companies known for refurbishing old, beaten down places into palaces. He picked the most expensive one, after all, you've got to speculate to accumulate. He had his first meeting with the head guy, Ally. Ally had been in the refurb business for 30+ years, built a great base of regular customers and contracts. He was the man to turn this place around. Ally walked into a run-down office Cuboyd had set up, it wasn't great but for now it would do. Cuboyd shook Ally's hand, it was rough. Perfect. 

"Hello my friend, I've heard you're the man to call to turn this shithole upside down?" Cuboyd said while offering Ally a cigarette.

Ally accepted the cigarette, put it up to his mouth and accepted the already lit match from Cuboyd.

"Yeah that'd be me, I ain't cheap you know that right?" Ally explained firmly, making sure Cuboyd knew what he was getting into before business really started.

"Yeah I'm aware, I don't want you to be cheap. You and your boys have a blank cheque to get this place the way I want it, in the time frame I want it. I need this place running like a Swiss watch as quickly as physically possible so that means I want guys working here mornings, noons and nights to get the place spick and span ready to rock and roll." Cuboyd clarified firmly too, perhaps more firmly than Ally was at first. 

Cuboyd took a well-packed brown envelope from his pocket and put it in front of Ally. Ally took an inhale of his cigarette while looking at Cuboyd up and down. He opened the envelope and flicked through the wads of cash.

"Dare I ask?" Ally smirked at Cuboyd.

"You dare not." Cuboyd smirked back.

Both men shook hands and from there on it was a deal. A few meetings took place after this one, Ally brought in his top guys to help design the place the way Cuboyd wanted it, down to the last minute detail. There was a plan for the main hall, it would be grand, There would be a space for a live band which would play all night long. There would be a bar as long and even more packed with booze as anyone had ever seen it before. The mens and ladies room would look as grandeur as anyone had ever been to before. Ally would call in a few extra bodies to make sure the demand was met.

In the meantime, there was other business for the club to attend to..

While the refurbishment was in progress, now would be a great time to start looking at personnel. We needed bar staff, bouncers, a band or two to alternate between. Cuboyd wanted to start with the bouncers. He didn't want to hire the anything like the same thugs that slammed the previous place shut down. No. He needed security, eyes and ears. People to shut shit down ten minutes before it begins. He needed Sonny. 

Sonny was a champion underground bare knuckled fighter, of old Irish blood, he was the man Cuboyd needed. Cuboyd helped Sonny with a little "thing" back in prison, it was time to call for the return favour. He made a few phone calls and managed to arrange a sit down with Sonny. Sonny was very well known in the Detroit clubs scene, he was already employed at one of the other clubs in Corktown. Cuboyd didn't care who his current employer was or how much he was paying Sonny, because after all, one owed is one owed.

Sonny trudged through the doorway of Cuboyd's makeshift office. He smiled and opened his arms.

"Cuboyd my friend, you're looking well. Life after prison has certainly been kind to you." Sonny sniggered while looking around at the place. Cuboyd embraced Sonny back.

"Not too badly my old friend, you're not looking too bad yourself." The pair released from their embrace. 

They got on very well in prison, always looked out for each other. In doing the "thing" in prison for Sonny, Cuboyd's sentence passed as comfortably as possible. Sonny was a very well connected man, renowned for running a top tier security team. Cuboyd wanted the lot, he spoke with Sonny for a while, reminiscing about prison life for much of the conversation. That wouldn't last too long as Cuboyd once again pulled out a stacked brown envelope.

"Ah there it is, and there was me thinking we were getting together to talk about old times." Sonny couldn't help but laugh.

Cuboyd laughed with Sonny. "Yeah I wish it was as simple as that. I'll get right down to it. I won't beat around the bush. I want you and your team at this club. Not three, four, five of you. I want the full team. I need you to be my eyes and ears, I need you to fizzle trouble out before it even sparks. I'm serious about this, paying you and the team is no problem. In fact, think of this as a down payment to prove i have the capital to back this move. All that plus you do owe me one." Cuboyd sat back and grinned confidently. 

Sonny smirked back, he didn't say a word. Never even checked the envelope. He thought to himself for a second, stood up and put his hand out to Cuboyd. 

"Consider it done my old friend, we've got your back." Sonny agreed. Hands were shook and as quick as the envelope came out of Sonny's pocket, it was stashed in Sonny's pocket. A deal was made. 

Cuboyd spent the rest of the day speaking with potential bar staff and bands. He took more of an effort with the bar staff, he wanted to vet these people himself. The trustworthy ones got the jobs, ironically they were the ones with the most experience so that worked out well. Cuboyd hired two bands based on great recommendations for a few of the guys at HQ. The club was coming together well, just the refurb to do now. 

A few days had past. Ally and his team were well ahead of schedule, that envelope and the thought of the several that would follow after the job seemed to have done the trick. Ally had Cuboyd's eyes covered from the car to the front door. He lifted his hands and Cuboyd opened his eyes. The first thing he seen was Sonny and his team, what he saw next would shock him. The once shitty front door with a chain and padlock on it was replaced with a set of golden double doors with two white marble pillars at each side. It was the perfect first impression, absolutely perfect. He looked above the doors, an overwhelm of emotions hit him and once:

Bricktown Boogey Nightclub

A name, how in the fuck could he forget the name. Better yet, how the fuck did it get one?! He looked confused until he seen Sonny's big grin. Of course! Sonny and Cuboyd regularly spoke about what they would do when they get out of that shithole. For all of Sonny's muscles and brawn, the fucker had a memory like an elephant. Cuboyd embraced Sonny again, thanking him profusely. The tour continued inside. The confined walls after the entrance had been widened big time. It was enough for people to actually walk through and back. Ally and his team had built a cloakroom for coats, handbags, you name it. The main floor had been renovated within an inch of it's life. Everything was absolutely perfect. The tour continued to the next two floors, there was a stage built for bands and singers to perform their hearts out. There was a golden bar which stretched from one side of the room to the other. Booze shelves had been implemented across the back of the bar. Inbetween the shelves were huge mirrors, allowing the clientele a front seat to the damage they were creating. There were more booths, tables and seats than Cuboyd could count. Ally and his team had truly outdone themselves. They weren't done yet. All and his team had completely renovated the bottom floor and used it as a storage space for booze. Wine, gin, whiskey, ale. You name it, there was about one hundred boxes of it and that was on top of what was already on the top deck.

As everyone made their way to the top deck, Cuboyd politely asked one of the bar staff to pull down a bottle of whiskey from the top shelf. He asked the barman to pour every person in attendance a drink, including themselves. Cuboyd started handing out drinks as they were poured fully. One for Ally and his team, one for each of the band members, one for each of the bar staff, one for Sonny and his team and one for Cuboyd. 

"I'd like to make a toast, to each and everyone of you. Ally and your team, without you this place would not be the best looking club in the damn country. To each of the band members, without you there would be no "boogey" in "Bricktown Boogey", to each of the bar staff, without you the conversation, good times and good service will not flow as easy as the drinks go down. To Sonny and your team, without you, the clientele will not feel the relaxation, safety and security they need to enjoy their night and come back again. Last but not least, to the Bricktown Boogey!"

Everyone cheered at Cuboyd's speech, the drinks went down well, so well, too well in fact as there were another two rounds poured and drank before it was time to call it a day. Cuboyd had a lot of brown envelopes stacked at the cashiers table next to the entrance/exit. He asked the team to for an orderly single file queue. He shook hands and passed out envelopes to everyone in making the clubs what it was. Tomorrow night would be opening night and it would prove to be a special night. As the last of everyone left. Cuboyd looked around in awe, could this get any better? We'd find out tomorrow night. 

It was opening night. Cuboyd couldn't sleep the night before. He never could when there was something like this happening, which seemed to be very often. He was at the club early, long before anyone else would be there. He mainly wanted to spend some time and look around the place, marvelling in it's excellence. The club was shining, and shine on it would. The hours passed and the team began arriving, much earlier than they should have too. Cuboyd appreciated this, it showed dedication and determination to make this work. Seeing his team clock in and get to work immediately gave him the confidence he needed and squashed any doubts of this working the way he wanted it to. 

Opening time was imminent, his worst fear was no one showing up. He drew a deep breath as he peeked outside. He made eye contact with Sonny who smiled back at him. 

"Full queue already boss, better get them doors opened soon" He sniggered. 

Cuboyd closed the door and jumped in the air, punching his fists along with it. He'd made it. Tonight would be another dream come true. He walked back up to the top platform and gathered the team around for one last team talk before opening. 

"Ok everyone, this is the moment we've been waiting for. There's a full queue of thirsty people who want to get pissed and dance, let's get them on their merry way. Good luck everyone!" Cuboyd gleefully shouted.

Cuboyd walked out the front door, Sonny wasn't lying. There was a queue all the way down the street and round the corner. Cuboyd gave Sonny the signal and Sonny nodded, he took the red rope off the front and had people enter the club in an orderly fashion. If it wasn't orderly there would be trouble. Cuboyd retreated so his office which was went from shit to the shit. The most comfortable chair you could ever have sat on with a golden marble work desk. He sat in the chair, closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths in and out. He took a few minutes to himself before coming back out his office and standing on the top platform. The place was absolutely packed. Drink and conversation was already flowing, people were already up and dancing. There could not have been a better start than this. Cuboyd took a sip of a drink he poured in the office as he went downstairs to join the clientele. Let's do this.

Cuboyd could hardly move through the crowd without being recognised, thanked and offered a drink. The latter proved to be the most common question, as much as he would have liked to drink with the clientele, there was business to be had. Cuboyd spotted Joe Melizzano, a FBN agent. He and Cuboyd had a decent enough relationship, mostly bonded by brown envelopes. He'd received his monthly envelope and it was just as thick as ever so Cuboyd wanted to know the reason for the visit. Was it just a friendly visit? It never could have been with Joe.

"Joe, great to see you my friend. How's tricks?" Cuboyd asked while offering his hand out to shake. 

"Cuboyd, all good here. I must say the club is looking surperb." Joe returned, accepting Cuboyd's handshake before turning serious. "You got somewhere more private we can talk?"

Cuboyd nodded and gestured to Joe to follow him. They both made their way through the buzzing crowds up the platform stairs towards his new and improved office. Luckily the place was in working order so Joe had a comfortable seat at the opposite side of Cuboyd's work desk. Cuboyd poured both himself and Joe a drink and the pair sat down. 

"So.." Cuboyd started curiously, taking a quick drink of his whiskey. "What's this about, Joe?"

"The place is lovely Cuboyd, but you got some eyes on you. No one's heard of ya and now you've suddenly popped up with a nightclub and the best security team in Detroit. Sonny's well known enough to not fuck around with who he works for but all of a sudden he ditches his last employer, who we know was paying him a fuck tonne of cash to do what he and his team do. You're beginning to attract attention from people you don't wanna be attracting attention from." Joe explained as he took a sip of his own drink.

Cuboyd hesitated for a moment, processing what Joe was saying. He foolishly never thought about whose toes he would have been treading on when building his dream club. He certainly never intended to tread on anyone's toes but this would have to come part in parcel of what he's doing. 

"So I see you here with a problem or three, can I also assume that you've also come with a solution or three too? You know, seeing as that's what our agreement covers." Cuboyd sat back and tried to scan Joe, was he trying to come here to give friendly advice? Or was he here to try and justify a bigger envelope all the while there's no issues in the first place?

"As luck has it, I am here with solutions. You can either tackle this with brute force head on with the eyes on you now. You can pay them what they want and it'll be done.." Joe explained as he was interrupted by Cuboyd.

"Yeah until the next time they want paid." Cuboyd rashly stated. 

"Yeah until the next time..Or I have can have my guy look into them, see if he can dig up some dirt and use that against them? It would be the smart move, it's what I would do." Joe explained and sat back to allow Cuboyd to review his options.

Yeah that would the the smart move you money grabbing motherfucker. Cuboyd thought to himself at first, but the more he thought about it, the more he agreed with Joe that it was the right way to go. He looked back at Joe.

"Ok have your guy look into it and get back to me with what he finds." Cuboyd ordered.

"Consider it done, oh and by the way, I'll need a few more envelopes to organise this thing" Joe slyly added, knowing he would get what he asked for here.

"Yeah, yeah just get it done and make it quick." Cuboyd smarked as he finished the rest of his drink. "The guys will show you out."

Joe finished his drink, put his coat and hat back on and tipped it before being escorted out by one of the security team. Cuboyd called over one of the other security team and demanded he tail Joe, he wanted to see if this motherfucker was full of shit or if he really was looking out for him. One way or another, he'd find out. 

Cuboyd stayed in his seat for the next half hour, unable to make heads nor tails of Joe's information. "Time would tell" he eventually thought to himself. He couldn't let this ruin his big night. Back to the clientele it was. Cuboyd finished off the rest of his drink knowing he was unable to do anymore than what he has done. He put his own coat back on and exited his office, one of the security team pulled Cuboyd to the side just as he was leaving. What now?

"Sonny needs to see you boss, in the basement." The security guard quickly spurted.

Cuboyd sighed and nodded, what a night already. 

Cuboyd would take the back staircase down, he didn't want to attract any unwanted attention for what this situation could mean for business. He opened the doors of the basement and began laughing. Sonny had a young guy, maybe early twenties, tied up to an overhead pipe. The young guy had a few bruises and cuts, some blood spluttered down his chest and arms. Sonny wiped his knuckles and walked over to Cuboyd. 

"Found this little fucker trying to dip his hands in our cash flow. Not to mention the two bottles of gin we found in his coat pockets too. Little shit obviously trying his hand at a new club but not realising whose it was." Sonny explained softly.

Cuboyd told Sonny about what Joe Melizzano wanted a sit down for, the pair discussed how this affected the situation. Was the young man involved or not? Cuboyd walked over to the main, begging and pleading for his life while staring at the floor. Cuboyd grabbed his hair so the young man could make eye contact with him. 

"So how do you operate kid, someone send you here?" Cuboyd calmly asked. 

"I don't know!...No!...I done this myself!...I'm alone!! Please just let me go!." The young man began crying for his life. Cuboyd didn't have a great feeling about this, something was awry here. Cuboyd signalled to Sonny to come back over.

"I don't trust it, find out what you can about this fucker and who he works for." Cuboyd demanded.

"Understood boss, what if he doesn't tell us anything?" Sonny enquired.

Cuboyd thought to himself for a second, he glanced and the young guy and thought of a way to get a bite out of him, he raised his voice loud enough for the young guy to hear but without making eye contact. 

"If he's no one, then no one will come looking for him will they? He's a loose end, you know what we do to loose ends." Cuboyd baited and was shortly proven right.

"No..NO GOD NO. OK I'll tell you, I'll tell you just don't kill me please!!". Bingo, Cuboyd turned around to the young guy, lifting his chin up, staring him in the eyes.

"Sonny, get a pen, paper and a bible. I get the feeling this young man is looking to make a confession. Spare absolutely no detail and you too shall be spared, understand?" Cuboyd explained to the young guy, who gave a helpless and defenseless nod. Cuboyd turned to Sonny once more.

"Let me know how this goes as soon as possible. Once he's spilled about everything, and I mean everything, get him cleaned up and get him some food. If he is working for who Joe says has been eyeing us up then the young man could come in handy once more." Cuboyd ordered while patting Sonny on the back.

"Sure, Boss. Go and head back to your evening, I hear it's going very well." Sonny chuckled before heading back to the young man.

Cuboyd exited the room and as the door shut he let out a massive exhale. God this was hard work already.

Cuboyd regained his composure and walked back up the stairs. He was absolutely shattered and the club had only opened tonight, he could be doing with letting loose and enjoying his night which is what he planned to do. He continued his journey upstairs to the main hall.. The muffled music began to get louder, it started to take Cuboyd's mind off the nights events. He opened the doors to jubilation. There was even more laughter, drinking and good times being had. At least that was going well. Cuboyd walked up to the bar where a drink was already being poured for him. 

"How's everything going here guys, you all good?" Cuboyd asked whilst taking a sip of his drink. 

"All good here boss, the nights taking will be even more than projected." Donnie, the bar manager, replied smilingly. 

Cuboyd raised his glass and smiled back at Donnie before turning around to look at the place, it was magical. You could be whoever you wanted to in here and that's what it was all about. Not one person was sitting on their own looking downtrodden. Everyone contributed to the atmosphere of the club and it was an incredible feeling. Cuboyd made his way over to the band who were playing some fantastic music.

"Good evening ladies and gents, how's everything going? Is there anything I can do to help?" Cuboyd asked whist giving a thumbs up.

"We're good, people are really digging the music. You've done a great job with the place, boss." The lead singer of the band replied. It made Cuboyd feel warm inside, the clientele were having a great night. The staff and bands were happy. Face value the place was a success. The only issues were from below. Cuboyd wanted to fast forward time so badly to see what the revelations from the young man downstairs and the tail of Joe Melizzano would reveal. Only time would tell.

What an opening night it proved to be. Ups and downs as high and low as life itself. Cuboyd shook the hands of the last of the clientele to leave, they almost had to be helped out but they were happy nonetheless. Just as Cuboyd was about to close the doors, he heard a deep voice which he could only recognise as Sonny. Cuboyd somehow almost forgot about what would be happening in the drinks basement. Sonny signalled Cuboyd by pointing upwards towards Cuboyd's office, and off the two went.

Cuboyd poured both he and Sonny a triple, believe you me they both deserved it. They clinked glasses and finished the lot, Cuboyd brought the bottle from the drinks cabinet, it was that kind of night.

"So what information did our friend below reveal?" Cuboyd enquired while topping up both he and Sonny's glasses.

"Well, he ain't alone that much is true. Our friend is a former cop, got fired for being dirty and he's been struggling ever since." Sonny explained before taking a sip of his drink.

Cuboyd sat back in his seat. "Former cop eh? You believe him?"

"Yeah his story checks out, we called our guy in the force and he vouched, said he used to be close to Joe or something." Sonny said.

Cuboyd sat back in his chair, twiddling his thumbs. A few thoughts crossed his mind - Do we wack him? Might he tell his former/current associates and seek revenge? Could we put him to work? What would he know about Joe Melizzano?

"Hmm..talk to me Sonny, you've got quiet one me." Cuboyd asked.

"Dunno boss, I have a weird feeling about him." Sonny muttered

"Where is he now?" Cuboyd enquired. 

"Downstairs, got him cleaned up and a meal in him, let's go see him." Sonny answered as he stood up finishing his drink.

The pair walked downstairs, one million and one thoughts raced through Cuboyd's tired mind. He wanted to question this young man further. Sonny opened the door where the young man was sitting down. He jumped out his chair at the sight of Sonny and Cuboyd. 

"Relax pal, you're alright now but I've got more questions for you. My first one, who is Joe Melizzano to you? And remember, Sonny here knows when you're lying now." Cuboyd enforced as Sonny grinned at the young man, who took a large sigh.

The morning after the night before. Cuboyd rarely work up with a hangover, but the lack of sleep and the lack of water inbetween bourbons certainly never helped. Cuboyd recalled all of the nights events; laughter, torture, good times rolling, revelations. 

Cuboyd walked into the bathroom of his apartment, looked into the mirror chuckled to himself. This young punk, named Robbie, just so happened to be Joe Melizzano's younger cousin. Shakespeare himself couldn't have written this better. Cuboyd had leverage. He'd kept Robbie in the basement and decided to detail a member of security to watch the Robbie overnight. He had a plan to determine whether Joe Melizzano was full of shit or not. 

Night two was quickly approaching and it was business as usual. The staff once again turning up early to ensure everything ran as smoothly as physically possible. The bar was restocked, the place was scrubbed from top to bottom and back to the top again. You could eat your dinner off the floor if you really wanted to. The place somehow had more of a glow about it, perhaps because it had been christened the night before, who knew? It looked beautiful though. Cuboyd made sure the staff and the band were all good, he split the profits of the evening between all of them for a job well done. "Keep this momentum going" was the message, the staff and band would surely oblige. Cuboyd took care of that business before taking care of dirty business. Robbie was still in the basement. Aware of this, Cuboyd called for Joe Melizzano to come to his office again to let him know what he managed to find out. There was a plan in place. 

Word must have spread about town like wildfire, the place was even more busy that last night. This would be perfect for business. Cuboyd watched it all unfold from the top platform, waving and toasting whenever he made eye contact with anyone who done it first. Cuboyd noticed Sonny guide Joe Melizzano through the crowded main hall. Cuboyd signalled to Sonny who pointed Joe up to Cuboyd. Sonny appeared to go back to the doors to monitor but took a detour. Joe walked up the stairs to Cuboyd's office where he had a drink waiting on him. He put his coat and hat on the stand next to the main entrance to the office. Cuboyd and Joe shook hands and clinked glasses.

"So, what have you got for me?" Cuboyd smirked.

"Oh yeah you've got eyes on you alright, the former owners are pissed. Couple of Brothers out of Corktown not happy you've got this place booming. What I would say, is that they aren't angels themselves as you'll be aware, but finding the devil in them ain't cheap. It's gonna cost a heavy bit more for me to do this." Joe said confidently. 

As Joe explained this, Cuboyd noticed one of the security team twitch, specifically when he was talking about the Corktown brothers. Cuboyd raised his eyebrows but continued to drink. He forcefully jumped up after checking his time piece.

"Shit, I forgot there was that actress coming down tonight, what'sherfuckingname. Ah who cares, I've gotta handle this, can you wait here five minutes?" Cuboyd asked Joe. 

Cuboyd walked behind Joe, in doing so he silently signalled the security team member to follow him discreetly. The two left and as soon as they got out the office, Cuboyd questioned him. 

"I saw that in there, what did you hear that I didn't?" Cuboyd grilled. 

"Sorry sir, it's just...The brothers he's talking about, one of them died not long after the nightclub incident and the other one hasn't been seen since. Someone said he got on the first boat to Europe he could get him and his family on." The security guard meekly admitted.

"Ok..Ok, go down there and tell Sonny to bring him up. This motherfucker is trying to extort the wrong guy." Cuboyd ired.

Cuboyd stood to think for a few minutes before heading back into the office to see Joe. He refilled both their drinks before sitting back down in his desk. 

"Sorry about that, cracking personality." Cuboyd said, regaining his composure. "So, these brothers, they both still grinding these streets?"

"Yeah Cuboyd, both of them are bad bastards, you really do not want to be fucking with them." Joe re-enforced, this time with a slight voice crack. Cuboyd stayed silent and stared him down. 

"You wouldn't be bullshitting me here, would you Joe?" Cuboyd quizzed Joe. 

"Phew, of course not Cuboyd, that ain't how we do business. You know that." Joe gave a weak, forced laugh.

"Last chance, no going back after this one, Joe." Cuboyd said without blinking. 

"No, not at all." Joe weakly stuttered. 

"Sonny!" Cuboyd shouted as Sonny bursts through the door with a gagged Robbie, Joe looked liked he'd seen a ghost, every single spec of colour draining from his face as he realised his predicament. 

Cuboyd watched the sweat run down Joe's forehead. He realised he was in the deepest shit he could possibly be in. Joe pleaded with Sonny and Cuboyd to let Robbie go, he never meant to lie, he needed a bigger envelope for his family. Every plead meant as much of fuck all as the previous ten. He realised he fucked up big time. 

"So Joe, you were telling me; these two big scary fuckers from Corktown, when are they coming to get me?" Cuboyd sarcastically beamed.

"I didn't mean it, I need the money, you don't understand." Joe pleaded for both his and Robbie's lives.

Cuboyd and Sonny piled the pressure, building it up as much as they both possibly could. "You're both gonna die right here right now and it's all your fault" was the repeated cry from Sonny. 

"Please stop! I beg you both! We'll do anything! PLEASE!" The tears marched down both Joe and Robbie's faces, they believe this was the very end. 

Cuboyd took the gag out of Robbie's mouth and replaced the gag with his revolver. 

"Look what you've done Joe, fucking look at your cousin in the eyes as he takes his last breaths!" Cuboyd laughed maniacally as he lightly squeezed on the trigger tighter and tighter. 

"NO PLEASE DON'T, I'LL OWE YOU EVERYTHING, YOU NAME IT, I'LL DO IT. PLEASE!" Joe desperately yelped. 

Click.

The revolver was empty. No bullets fired. Cuboyd picked up Joe from the floor, smiling from ear to ear, Cuboyd looked like a psychopath. Maybe he was.

"You're damn right you owe everything. From now on, you belong to me. First order of business is getting your cousin here back on the force. We could be doing with his corrupt ass back on our side in an official capacity. As for you, you will continue to receive the same envelope but you better never ever lie to me or my associates again. I swear to fuck, Joe. I'll empty the chamber in Robbie's skull and make you clean it up and bury him piece by piece. Do you understand me?" Cuboyd remained calm, it was the silent tone that really put the fear of God into Joe. Joe nodded and whimpered.  

"I said do you fucking understand me!" Cuboyd yelled.

"Yes Cuboyd I understand." Joe delivered more clearly. 

"Get the fuck out my sight, both of you. Come and see tomorrow when you have a clean pair of underwear on." Cuboyd joked before sitting back down at his desk. Sonny sat opposite. 

"Probably couldn't have went better that boss, well played with the revolver thing, I thought you were going to do it." Sonny approved.

"That was the idea my friend, that was the idea." Cuboyd sat back in his seat once more, exhaling deeply. The fun never stops at Bricktown Boogey.

Cuboyd woke up later than normal the following morning, he'd never slept in this late so he must have needed it after the past two nights. He got up out of bed and made himself a coffee to wake himself up. Yawning before taking a sip, the audacity after having slept in, he looked out the window of his apartment. He looked out at Bricktown, it was a lovely district of Detroit, not the safest but the sense of community was unmatched. He was reminded of the incident with Joe Melizzano and his cousin, Robbie. Did he take it too far? Is this what he has become now? The life of a mobster was hard without a conscience, let alone having one. He had to brush it to the side, it was necessary work that had to be done, otherwise Joe would have spent the next while riding Cuboyd for every cent I had over a false threat. Tonight would hopefully be a night more focused on the club itself. What could be done to improve everything? What could be done to make more money? After all, that's what it was all about.

A stroll down to the club would suffice this afternoon, the weather looked good for it and it would be good to clear the mind. The walk took roughly half an hour. It was a very long and boring with the only event being Cuboyd stopping in at the jewellers to collect multiple orders he placed the night of opening. Just what the doctor ordered. Cuboyd walked through the doors of his club, knowing it was opening in two hours, he noticed he was the first one to work which is what he'd wanted. He looked around and noticed the place looked incredibly clean and tidy, the floor and the bar sparkled when you looked at it in a certain light. The only thing to be done would be to top up the bar stock. Cuboyd took off his coat and placed it over the back of the closest booth along with the brown bag he had from the jewellers. He rolled up his sleeves and headed down to the basement to top up. He walked up and down the stairs at least four or five times, he was tired from it but kept remembering why he was doing it.

Everything was in fine order as it was, but Cuboyd ensured that everything would be sorted before the staff came in. When they did come in, in their usual early fashion, Cuboyd gathered the team around the bar. He had a line of whiskeys and gins already poured at the bar. The bar staff, the band and security looked confused, was there a celebration?

"What's going on here boss?" Sonny enquired from the back of the gathered crowd.

"Good question Sonny, I'm glad you asked." Cuboyd replied before revealing the brown bag. "Every single one of you standing here have made this place tick on in a fashion and order I could have only ever dreamed of. For that I wanted to give you all a special something."

Cuboyd pulled out the first of the items in the bag. It was an engraved, personalised pocket watch with every member of staffs name on it and BBN at the bottom. He passed them out as they were named in the bag until everyone had them. The bar staff, band and security team couldn't believe their eyes. "You didn't need to do that" and "This would have cost too much" cried out from the crowd. Cuboyd brought the crowd to silence again before encouraging everyone to raise their glass and raising his own.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please believe me when I say this is the absolute least I could do. You have all been incredible from the first night and I wanted to reward you all. I know it's not been running long but it will if I can keep every single one of you. Please don't think for a second I am trying to buy you, this is purely a reward for your hard efforts over the last few days. I appreciate every single one of you. So now, please let's drink to another night of success." Cuboyd bellowed to the staff before finishing his drink along with everyone else. 

"Let's get it cracking again team" Cuboyd clapped before the staff dispersed to prepare for opening.

There was even more of a buzz around the air in the club tonight. The bar staff, band and security were all performing like their lives depended on it, just like Cuboyd needed but more so, wanted.

"You've got this all sussed out don't you boss?" Sonny grinned while sneaking up on Cuboyd. 

"Trying to pal, trying to. How's the place looking tonight?" Cuboyd said while staring at the busy main hall.

"All good here. Couple of drunkards in the queue who got told to fuck off but apart from that, all good." Sonny responded.

Cuboyd's right eye twitched a little, it usually meant something was bothering him. He thought about a few things going on, but he knew exactly what it was that was haunting him a bit. The revolver incident with Joe and Robbie. It was further than he'd ever taken things before. 

"Sonny, have you got ten minutes to chat?" Cuboyd asked curiously

"Sure boss, for you I've got twelve." He said with a battered smirk.

Cuboyd and Sonny both trudged through to the office. Cuboyd poured them both a drink and sat down along with Sonny, they both cheered and took a drink. 

"What's plaguing you boss? You look like you're going through it." Sonny asked.

"Do you think I went too far last night? With Joe and Robbie I mean." Cuboyd guiltily responded.

"Oh boy.." Sonny exclaimed while pouring them both another drink. "Personally I don't think so boss, you've gotta stamp your authority on they dirty motherfuckers. Think about it, he was willing to grease you for as much money as he could and he would have squeezed every last cent from you if you didn't do what you done. You saved the club, and yourself, a helluva lot of bother." Sonny attempted to reassure Cuboyd. 

"Yeah that makes sense, it still feels shitty. I know the life is what it is, but it's not even what happened. I actually enjoyed it. I spent my whole life being bullied by people that are just like Joe. It was satisfying. I want to do it to every person who has bullied me before in my life." Cuboyd reminisced before crashing back to reality. 

"You don't have to do it to anyone from before, you just have to do it to people that try fuck with you in the future. Don't stand for anyone's shit. You're above all that now boss." Sonny calmly encouraged. 

"You know what Sonny, I think you're right. I can't change who's fucked with me in the past, but I can sure as fuck ensure it doesn't happen again in the future. Thanks Sonny I appreciate it." Cuboyd almost felt a full tonne clear off his shoulders. This was the clarity he needed. 

One of the security team came to the door, another drunkard trying to get in the club. Sonny gave Cuboyd a pat on the shoulder before leaving to attend the incident. Cuboyd sat back in his chair with a new found freedom. Content with his conversation with Sonny.

A week or so had passed since Cuboyd confided in Sonny about the recent happenings and methods used to get his way. Business was good, in fact it was better than ever. There was far more demand than there has been before. The bar staff, band and security team were all very happy indeed. Everything seemed to be going just the way Cuboyd had planned. The doors had opened about an hour ago and the place was packed to the rafters. Cuboyd was in his office sorting paperwork when he got a knock at the door. 

"Hey boss, got a guy here saying he's got a business proposition for you." Sonny said while poking his head in the door. 

"What kinda business proposition we talking?" Cuboyd responded while maintaining eye contact with the documents in front of him. 

"Beats me boss, he sounds serious though. We've checked him for weapons and he's clean." Sonny added.

Cuboyd nodded and signalled for Sonny to let the man in. A few moments passed before this middle-aged, well-dressed man entered the room. He had an aura about him which suggested he meant business while also suggesting that he was business. An expensive overcoat, suit and shoes backed this up. The man approached Cuboyd, offering his hand out towards him.

"Good evening sir, good of you to take the time to see me while you are so clearly busy. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Tom Havers and I would like to speak with you about a potential business move." The man now known as Tom Havers introduced with his hand out. 

"Good evening Mr Havers, it's nice to meet you. You can call me Cuboyd. I must say I don't get these very often so I am intrigued to see what you have to say." Cuboyd replied. "Can I get you a drink Mr Havers?" 

Tom smiled and nodded. "Cuboyd, I like it. Unorthodox. You can call me Tom. 

Cuboyd smiled as he poured two glasses of whiskey from his favoured bottle. He sat back in his seat and toasted to new friends before both men took a sip of the whiskey. 

"Now Tom, how can I help you today?" Cuboyd enquired. 

"Well Cuboyd, you don't need to be Einstein to know business downstairs is booming. I don't need to tell you that. What I do need to tell you is you have to keep the place current and relevant. You have to do what all the big clubs do otherwise you'll fizzle out into the common void of irrelevance." Tom explained before taking a sip of his whiskey.

"And how do you propose I keep it relevant?" Cuboyd curiously asked. 

Before he finished his sentence fully. Tom pulled out a vial with a white power inside and placed it on Cuboyd's desk. 

"By pushing this through your club." Tom stated with a smug grin.

Cocaine. Of course it would be fucking cocaine. Cuboyd didn't touch the stuff but was more than familiar with it. It suddenly made sense, the expensive overcoat, the suit, the shoes. All worth more than what most of the city could afford. Cuboyd picked up the vial and shrugged his shoulders before handing it back to Tom. 

"I can't do that. I always wanted this business to be legit." Cuboyd firmly explained. 

"I had a feeling you would say that but let me explain. I see you have a top security firm here. I would send a few of my girls through, they'll wear a certain type of bracelet. It will alternate but we'll keep in communication so you team knows how to identify them in the queue. They come through and they flirt with all the big bucked-fucks of the city and they get them hooked on this. They eventually buy after a little try or two and the money kicks back to us. If any of the girls get caught then it's external factors, you didn't know shit about it. None of this blows back on you or your club. I mean it happens in every club, the difference is we control it this way and we share the spoils. What do you say?" Tom pitched, Cuboyd wasn't entirely convinced he wanted to catch. 

"Do you reckon you could give me the night to think about it, Tom?" Cuboyd asked.

"Course I can, Cuboyd. Have a think on it and let me know what you wanna do. I can come back round tomorrow night at the same time if that would suit you?" Tom enquired back.

"Sounds good, Tom." Cuboyd replied before shaking Tom's hand and walking him to the door. 

Sonny was still there, Cuboyd shoogled his head indicating he wanted to see Sonny, who followed him back into the office. 

"What was that all about boss?" Sonny asked curiously.

Cuboyd pulled out the vial to show Sonny. He explained through Tom's proposition and pitch with Sonny. Sonny pondered the idea for a little before being honest with Cuboyd.

"Listen boss this is your club and you do what you want with it. I think it's smart controlling the drugs in the club, saves it being done when you don't know it's happening and what's more is you'll be paid directly for it. My only concern would be the trouble. I've seen what this does to men, it's powered paranoia and can spark fights in an instant. It could end up being more erratic is all I'm tryna say. We would have it handled, but we might need a few more guys on security detail on the floor and we don't wanna be scaring the clientele." Sonny quite rightfully advised.

Cuboyd pondered the idea himself, he would definitely need the night to think on this one. 

Cuboyd spent half the night debating Tom's offer. He even wrote down the pro's and con's of it while remembering Sonny's advice. It would certainly mean more men needing hired. Was there any real profit if the overheads from the drugs being pushed through the club were going directly so additional security. Cuboyd would have to confirm numbers with Tom if he had even thought about going ahead. But where did this man come from? How did he become as successful a drug dealer as he is without Cuboyd recognising the name at least. A bit of investigating would be required, and as luck so had it, Cuboyd had just the pair. 

A bitter, cold morning meant the usual coffee run. These pricks were far too predictable. Joe Melizzano and his little cousin Robbie stood in line to get a warm cup of caffeine. They got their cups and instead of coming back out of the shop to get some work done, they sat in one of the booths. Lazy fuckers. Cuboyd walked into the shop and order a coffee unseen before sitting down in the booth next to Robbie. The laughing stopped and the smiles dropped.

"So my taxes go up and it means you two assholes can sit around on the job? Not very democratic is it?" Cuboyd smirked before taking a sip of his coffee. "Damn this shit is good. Anyway, I need a favour. Ever heard of a guy called Tom Havers?" Cuboyd enquired.

"Hey Cuboyd, how's it going?...eh...Tom Havers? Yeah the guy has come up on our radar a few times, why the sudden interest?" Robbie stuttered.

"Now now Joe, don't be asking questions you don't need to know the answer to. I need you both to look into him, past and current connections, crimes, associations and I need it yesterday, that gonna work for you?" Cuboyd demandingly asked.

"Yeah sure Cuboyd no problem just uhh..give us a couple of hours and we'll have it to you. Will you be in the club later on? Joe piped up. 

"Yeah I'll be there about two hours before open, swing buy and we can have a drink to discuss this." Cuboyd stated while reaching into his coat pocket. Both Joe and Robbie flinched and reached for their pieces.

"Chill the fuck out guys you think I am gonna have you done here? While I need you both for something? Man lay off the coffee, crack, the sweet mary jane whatever the fuck you guys are on." Cuboyd joked while bringing out two brown envelopes and handing to both Joe and Robbie. "I will see you both later." Cuboyd finished while walking away laughing. 

Furio was in Detroit on business. He had heard of a great opportunity to earn a buck out here but this was not his patch. You could not, as a matter of respect, earn on somebody else's turf without their permission and giving them a cut. It was one of the core principles of La Cosa Nostra.

Furio planned to look up an old acquaintance, Cuboyd owned an extremely successful club in Bricktown. If there was a score to be taken, he was the man to talk to. He rode the street car to the edge of the block before walking through the neighbourhood. Furio was taken aback as he approached the door to the club. The golden doors and marble columns were opulent. This was a classy joint. Furio spoke to the guy on the door, he was squat and had a boxers nose. Reserved but emanating danger, not the sort of guy to be fucked with.

"Scusi, am looking for Cuboyd, he is a friend of mine." The bouncer eyed him with suspicion and gestured to one side.

Furio stepped aside and put his arms up. "There is a piece in my waistband."

The bouncer removed the S&W model 10 from Furio's waist band before patting him down.

"Follow me."

As they stepped through the doorway Furio sensed somebody drop in behind him, a second minder. These guys were clearly good at their job. The passed through the club and Furio was astounded by how busy it was. People from all walks of life dancing away. As they passed the bar Furio noticed how well stocked it was, this was a serious outfit. As they climbed the stairs towards the top deck, Furio could see someone who had clearly had too much trying to accost a young lady. He was quickly escorted out of a side door with his face used as the key. Delightful. As they reached the top they were confronted by an even more dangerous looking individual. Furio could see Cuboyd in the back and shouted to get his attention.

"Cuboyd, my old friend!"

Business was booming, it became the norm nowadays. The queue for the club just seemed to get longer and longer every night and this was great for business. It would likely mean extra work for renovations to somehow get all of these people in to spend their hard earned cash, this would also mean working overtime in the office to try and make that work. Cuboyd sat back in his chair and took a drink of his whiskey, he stared at the ceiling and waited for it to come to life and solves his problems. As he procrastinated, he heard his name being called and recognised the voice. It was his old pal, Furio. Cuboyd stood up and grinned with his arms wide open.

"Furio! My god it's good to see you again my friend, you're looking in great shape." Cuboyd shook hands with Furio and invited him into his office. He made a nodding gesture to Sonny to let him know everything was all good before closing the door. 

The pair walked into the heart of the office and Cuboyd poured both he and Furio a whiskey each. They both sat down and took a sip of their whiskey. Once the burning throats wore off, Cuboyd gave his full attention to Furio.

"Now my friend, what brings you to Detroit?" Cuboyd curiously asked his his hands clasped.

The car pulled up outside of the establishment and stopped right in the middle of the road. Other cars were also traveling in the same direction, but the driver apparently did not notice them, or he simply did not care. A well-dressed man of average height and brown hair opened the rear driver side door and stepped out. He was of average build with blue eyes and ruggedly handsome. His thick eyebrows rested flatly over two eyes as blue as the Western sky. Doogle looked at the queue, straining his neck as he twisted nearly 90 degrees to the right. He placed his fedora on his, put his left hand in his suit pocket and walked right up to the door.

With a nod, the security staff opened the door for doogle as he approached, he didn't even need to break his stride. This was his first time visiting the establishment but the staff clearly knew who he was and respected his status among the city's elite. This both made doogle proud and nervous. Proud that he was being treated with the respect he deserved, though nervous that he was so easily recognized in a public space. Still, he was on home turf and among friends and associates.

While BeefStroganoffer wasn't very much a club goer, he had some business to do with an associate here. He had heard his friend Elkmik had been favoriting  this club lately during the mens only nights. He was surprised to hear that, but perhaps it was just lies perpetrated by Elkmilk. Regardless, he wasn't sure how or who was doing what, only that there would be here soon with some information that he needed.

As he went inside, the club was loud with all the party goers. He looked around and couldn't find his compatriot Elkmik, so he decided to sit down at a table near the bar, opposite a woman sitting down enjoying herself. While she began chatting to the Stroganoffer, he just simply ignored her, Beef loved women, but he was a man for his job at the end of the day and would do his job to the fullest.

He watched the club get more crowded as time went on and he decided after some time he'd finally order a drink while waiting for his friend Elkmik, wherever he may be.