Alex sat in his office slowly drinking a glass of vodka as he pondered what was to be done. He angrily read the note in front of him once again. A small time hood had set up shop selling heroin in Downtown and Alex had sent one of his guys to remind the gentleman that to do business in Downtown meant you had to pay a tribute to RP, Inc. Rather than accepting the way of things, however, this idiot had pummeled Alex’s man. This, was unacceptable. Not only because he refused to pay the tribute but because he had put one of Alex’s men in the hospital – an offense that Alex could not simply overlook. Picking up his phone he dialed John_Daily and in a low voice said, “Come to my office immediately, we need to talk.”

John hadn't met Alex himself, a hard Russian bastard he'd heard and the stern voice over the phone clarified that. If the sentence had been any longer he wouldn't have caught a word but he got the gist of the message. Get to his office now. After a quick stop by his close friends apartment, Jackson Murphy, the duo headed straight for the downtown studio and upto Alex's office.

'Alright boss' he said with an awkward smile.'Pleasure to meet you' he said shaking the mans hand. 'Whats the story then?'

Alex eyed the man in front of him up and down. He hadn't met the man yet but he had heard he was reliable, and that is exactly what Alex needed right now. Signalling that John should sit he spoke, 

"Tell me John, is there anything you would not do for the family? Any line you would not cross? You have been a trusted associate of RP, Inc. for some time, and in that time you have proven yourself to be a dependable man who could be counted on to do what was needed. Until now, however, what has been needed has been limited; are you ready for that to change?"

John took a seat as inclined and listened to what Alex had to say. He'd never met a Russian personally but the way the man carried himself gave him a good insight. Stern and work oriented apparently. A slight smile crossed his face, not a smile that showed disrespect but more a smile as the nature of the question. It was clear what was been asked here, even from the mans first sentence. 

'I wouldn't do anything I haven't done before. So let's say no, theres nothing I wouldn't do. Who's the unlucky guy?' John cracked a small chuckle before continuing. 'Or girl'

Alex nodded and chuckled, "Your perceptive, good. He's a small time hood that goes by the name Luther. He started slinging heroin in downtown and decided to beat up one of my guys when I sent them to tax him. His actions signed his signed his death warrant. I leave to you how you want it done but I want a message sent. Call me when it's done."

Alex looked back down at his papers on his desk, clearly ending the meeting. 

John looked down at the papers on the table and picked them up without the say so to do so. Inside sat his last known location and an overview of the man plus his piss ant crew. Inside was the face of a yellow toothed, hood rat darker man. he chuckled before tossing the papers across the table and taking his leave.

'Peace of piss'

...

'Aye Johnny boy, he's not there' A cork man by the name of Jackson Murphy said from the passenger seat of the duo's car. John took a long drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out the window towards the two teenagers standing on the street corner. He padded his jacket feeling for his piece before calling the older looking lad over towards the car. The kid looked around sharply before strolling over the car and reaching into his jacket pocket. 

'What you after?' he said with a stern, well practiced face.

'Luther' John said looking at the road ahead of him, a relaxed tone. 'Want to lay a complaint about service actually' he said with a smile. The kid put his head through the window and followed through with a sharp prod to the chest. 

'Listen here white boy, I don't know who the fu-' his sentence was abruptly stopped by Johns hand on his collar and a sharp yank towards the man. 'Oh you fucking done it now' John said as he began to wind the window up tight around his neck. 'You've done it good and proper you piece of shit. Where the fuck is he?' The kid looked up best he could and sent a wallop of spit into Johns face. 

'Drive' John said to Jackson. 

'Wha-wha-what?'

'Fucking drive dammit' John said banging his fist on the dash. As the car began to slowly wheel forward the kid began to yell between the sound of the window tightening around his wind pipe.

'Wait, i-i'll tell you' The kid flew forward suspended by the neck as the car slammed to a stop.

'I said fucking drive Jackson, jesus christ were you born yesterday?' As the kid began to tail behind the car again John sparked a cigarette before posing the question one last time.

'He's' The kid was cut off as the car sped up a little before slowing down enough for the lad to talk. 'He's down Tyrone's pawn shop over at Leimert park' A swift elbow to the nose slumped the kid in the door frame and sent blood through the interior. As John put the window down the car slowly wheeled away.

...

John watched the doorway of the pawn shop keenly, judging the type of people walking in and out. Two men stood by the doorway handing around a playboy, checking everyone that went in and out between fits of laughter. John reached into the glove box and pulled out a handkerchief to cover his face before cocking his m1911 and tucking it tightly into his wasteband. 

'Park the car one street over, keep the engine running' he said to Jackson who replied with a small nod of the head. He hadn't pulled the trigger for a good year since the move to the states and the nerves started to kick in. Nothing game breaking but there all the same. As the two guards saw him approach the reached for their weapons but John made it there first.

'Hands up lads, no fucking around now' John said pointing a handgun at the doorway between the two men. 'Now I already had to bust one kid up getting here and in my view thats a shit day, don't make it any shitter for me, yah here?'

The men looked at eachother and nodded before turning back to John. 'What you after then white boy?' 

John smiled before continuing. 'I like the attitude. Now. Where exactly in this shit hole do I find Luther?' he said lowering his weapon slightly.

'Take the first door down the back the back motherfucker' the bigger of the two said before spitting on the floor. 'Now were gonna fuck off home to make a call, this won't end well for you boy'

John ignore them before yanking the door open and making a bee line towards a small wooden door down the back of the shop. People around him looked up from the shelves and shuffled nervously towards the exit when they realized what was going on. John raised his weapon and pointed it towards the exit signalling the shop keeper should do the same. He rested a hand on the door handle and waited for the shop to empty before slowly turning the handle. He swung the door open and bee lined straight towards the desk with the a man, undoubtedly Luther, seated behind it. Luther cracked a smile as John looked around the room at the needles and cash that littered the place.

'You made a mistake waltzing in here boy' Luther said before beginning to stand up. 'You here to rob me? This ain't even a quater of mu shit, i'd turn around now'

'No, you made the mistake' John replied. 'Operating on the Inc's turf is never a good idea' he said as he inspected one of the needles.

'Oh the Inc huh?' he said with a laugh. 'You ain't shi-' Before he could finish a shot rang out and Luther slumped back into his chair, a single hole between his eyes leaking blood.