Chapter 7: Chapter 6 - Meet Karkov

Raphael POV I wake up alone on my super king size bed and I put my hands behind my head looking at the sealing, I got a lot to do today, I have several meetings but I need to see her. It’s Saturday and I am always busy on Saturdays, it’s like mafia’s busiest day of the week.

I get up and walk down the corridor into the gym, “Alexa, play Papa Roach born for greatness” and within seconds Papa Roach was blasting through the speakers and I start the treadmill slowly walking and then increasing the speed start running. I could go out running but why bother when I have a massive gym inside my own penthouse. The gym has 3 walls that are all glass allowing me to see my city, to see everything that I own. I control this city and whoever says otherwise is wrong.

I was running for 45 min, when I finish I start lifting some weights and then I do some stretching. When I finish I walk into the bathroom inside my bedroom and turning the shower on cold. I needed to freshen up and calm down my erection. I woke up with morning glory and not even the exercise did it for me.

When I finished the shower I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my waist and walked towards the sink brushing my teeth and putting on some aftershave.

I walked into my walk-in wardrobe and picked up a pair of black ripped jeans from Levis and a black Adidas T-shirt, black socks, black Calvin Klein boxer shorts and my doc martens.

As I walked towards the kitchen I could smell fresh coffee. Maria is here and I smiled.

I walked silently into the kitchen and scared the living shit out of her.

“Do you want me dead boy?” – She asks me giving me a hard look.

I wrap her around my arms giving her a peck on her cheek.

“I would never, how could I survive without you taking care of me?” – Yeah Maria is like a mother to me, she cooks, hires cleaning staff and keeps my penthouse tidy. She even throws out my “trash”, yeah she kicks the sluts out of here if they try to overstay their welcome.

“I made coffee” – she says smiling “You are a lifesaver” – I say grabbing my big mug and pouring the coffee.

“Are you having lunch or dinner at home today?” – She asks “I honestly don’t know, leave something in the fridge and if I decide to come home I’ll just pop into the microwave” – I say looking at her “Oh no, I’m not letting you eat reheated food” – she looks at me frowning.

“Yes you will, because today was supposed to be your day off, so go out and visit your family, they need you almost as much as I do” – I wink at her “Okay, but I will leave you some good food”

“Yes, ma’am” – I say putting down my empty coffee mug on the kitchen island and walking out towards the lift grabbing my Ray-ban’s, wallet and car keys on the way.

I press the button for the garage while my phone stats ringing. “Here we go” – I say “Yes” – I bark “Boss, we need you on the hideout”

“I’m on my way”

I walk towards my black Cadillac Escalade and I jump in turning on the motor and the sound blasting some Linkin Park.

I drive and the traffic is horrific in NYC at this time, I drive all the way to Queens where we have our hideout and where all of my staff meet.

I park the car in the back of the big building and walk in, everyone tenses up as I pass them still with my sunglasses on.

Joseph is waiting for me outside my office, I give him a head signal to follow me inside “So, how have things been while I had to be the all mighty CEO?”

We both laugh and he puts his head down avoiding eye contact.

“Karkov is here”

“What do you mean?” – I tense “He is in NY, he arrived this morning with 20 guards plus the filth that work for him here”

“Fuck, double the security here and send one extra guard to each business”

“Sure thing boss”

Joseph starts walking towards the door and I call him “Leo, make sure Maria is safe, I don’t trust that fucker”

“Off course boss”

Joseph leaves the office and I pass my hand on my hair making it messier that usual.

My phone rings “Yes?”

“Boss, Karkov is going to a Gala tonight”

“What fucking Gala?”

“The annual spring Gala at NYU”

“GET ME INSIDE THAT FUCKING GALA”

“Sure thing boss” – and I hang up What the fuck does he want with NYU?

I focus my attention on the paperwork that needs to be dealt with and a couple of hours pass and Joseph walks in without knocking “BOSS”

“WHAT THE FUCK JOSEPH?”

“Karkov is outside boss”

“WHAT?” – I bark “HOW THE ACTUAL FUCK DID HE FIND US?”

I get up with the chair falling behind me, I grab my gun from my top drawer and walk towards the door. I see all of my men pointing their guns at Karkov’s men.

“Well well well if it isn’t the all mighty shark” – Karkov grins “What do you want?” – I bark “Truce” – he smiles and I don’t believe it “You want truce? And why should I do that and not blow your brains out here and now?”

“Oh my dear boy, because I came in peace, I just came for a Gala”

“I will give you 24 hours Karkov and You will have some of my men following you, if you do anything, and I mean anything related to business, all bets are off and I will take you down personally”

“Understood”

He turns his back walking towards his SUV and I Nod at Leandro and John to follow him.

I walk inside and my gut is telling me something is wrong, I grab my phone and dial Mya’s number “Mya, I need a black attire for a Gala tonight”

“Yes boss, I’ll have it delivered to you in 1 hour”

I hung up and walk towards my car, I can’t do anything as I am on Edge.

I drive almost in autopilot as I don’t remember how I got home, but I notice it had been more than 1 hour since I left the hideout. I park my car in the garage directing my attention to the lift. I leave the lift and walk into my penthouse and go straight to the bathroom, I have a shower, taking my time, I get out and wrap a towel around my waist and comb my hair back looking at my reflection in the mirror, I brush my teeth and put some aftershave.

I walk into the dressing room and my suit is there in all its glory. A black Armani 3 piece suit, a light grey bowtie and a dark grey shirt. There’s some Gucci shoes as well ready for me. I put on my Calvin Klein boxer shorts and put on the shirt doing the buttons covering all of my tattoos.

The suit is a 3 piece, I put the trousers on tucking the shirt in. “I hate this” - I moan putting the bowtie. I get the vest over my shoulders and do the buttons with a sight I put on the jacket looking at myself in the mirror. I sit on the chair in the corner putting the shoes on, “Fuck me, I look really fuckable” – I say looking in the mirror.

I walk towards the lift grabbing the keys to my Ferrari, I get in the Lift and my mind drifts. As I get in the car I look for my gun, I find it straight away and say to myself – “It’s show time”.

(Hey everyone, I added Maria and Karkov to the chapter "Introducing the characters", I hope it helps)