Dave and Malik were stretched out on a chaise lounge in the back corner, taking it easy. The noon was quiet—Boss and Tyler had already flown out to Amsterdam. Before leaving, they told them to move the rest of the stash. It wasn't real coke anyway, just lidocaine—close enough to fool buyers and still get paid.
Still, Dave couldn't shake the feeling. Some people were sharp. Too sharp. The kind who could spot a fake in seconds. He kept that thought to himself, hoping everything would go smoothly.
Malik flicked his lighter and lit a cigarette, exhaling slow, careless clouds into the air.
"Here, man," he said, offering Dave one.
Dave waved it off. "Too light for me."
Malik smirked. "Oh, so you're trying to get super high tonight?"
Dave just sighed, staring off.
"What's eating you?" Malik pressed.
"The coke," Dave muttered. "If this goes sideways, Boss isn't hearing excuses. Not one."
Malik shrugged. "Relax, man. We're not idiots."
Dave let out a dry laugh. "Boss doesn't think you're smarter than Tyler."
Malik paused, then chuckled under his breath. "Man, that Tyler dude…" His voice trailed before he shook his head. "Honestly, Boss should just make him his personal guy. Kid saved his life, D."
Dave sat up, irritation flashing across his face. "Man, cut the crap. What are you trying to say? That I was never his right-hand? That I don't matter now?"
His glare hit hard. Malik pressed his lips together, backing off a little.
"Look, can we just chill for one night?" Malik said, hands raised slightly. "Forget about Tyler. Dude clearly gets under your skin."
Dave scoffed. "You keep talking about him like he's some kind of god or something."
"Boss is back," Jasmine announced appearing from inside.
Dave and Malik straightened immediately and hurried in. They moved fast, grabbing Diego's luggage and carrying it into the living room. Everything about their movements screamed urgency and respect.
They set the bags down and gave slight nods. "Welcome back, boss."
Diego barely acknowledged them. He dropped onto the sofa like a man who owned everything in sight. One of his guards was already on it—uncorking a bottle of brandy and pouring a glass. Diego took it without a word, brought it to his lips, and sipped.
Across the room, the rest of the crew hauled the luggage toward the elevator, heading upstairs. Tyler was among them, dragging his feet, exhaustion written all over him.
"Hold up."
Diego's voice cut through the room.
Everyone froze.
"Yes, boss," they answered in unison, turning back.
"Tonight… be smart. Be sharp."
"Yes, sir."
Diego's eyes shifted. "Tyler, you're going with them. Dave—hang back. Let him handle the delivery. You stay outside. If anything goes sideways, you step in."
Dave's jaw tightened for a split second, but he forced it down. "Yes, boss."
They turned and headed upstairs.
Tyler looked like he was about to collapse. His eyes were heavy, his face drained, his whole body dragging behind him. All he could think about was a cold shower and a long, uninterrupted sleep.
He rubbed his temple—
—and suddenly, a hand yanked him back.
Dave.
Tyler blinked, thrown off balance. "What?"
Dave pulled him aside, his grip tight, his stare burning with something ugly.
"What the hell is your problem?" Dave snapped.
Tyler frowned, already irritated. "Man, cut the crap. I'm not in the mood."
He tried to shrug him off, but Dave grabbed him again.
"Oh, I get it," Dave said, voice low and dangerous. "No respect now? You think you're above everybody?"
Tyler's patience snapped. "You're the one acting like a kid right now."
Dave stepped closer. "Watch your mouth. I brought you in here. Don't forget that. You're here to work—not to mess things up, not to act like you run anything."
Tyler let out a dry laugh. "Funny. A grown man getting threatened by someone younger than him."
That did it.
Dave's hand shot up, ready to slap him—
—but Tyler caught it mid-air.
The two locked eyes.
For a second, the tension was thick enough to choke on.
Dave's face twisted with rage. He yanked his hand free, turned sharply, and stormed off without another word.
Inside him, something darker burned.
It wasn't just anger.
It was envy.
Deep, bitter, and impossible to ignore.
He didn't understand it—didn't want to. All he knew was that ever since Tyler showed up, everything had shifted.
Dave used to be the one. The trusted one. The right-hand man. He'd earned his place beside Diego over the years—built that loyalty from the ground up.
Now?
Now some kid walks in and suddenly becomes the favorite.
Tyler was everywhere—people talking about him, watching him, backing him up. The guys treated him like a little brother. The streets already knew his name. Girls couldn't stop looking at him.
And worst of all…
Diego saw something in him.
Something Dave couldn't compete with.
Tyler had this presence—quiet but powerful. The way he spoke, the way he carried himself—it didn't make sense.
It pissed Dave off.
Bad.
He wasn't about to sit back and watch this kid take everything he worked for.
No.
There had to be a way.
Maybe not now… but soon.
One way or another, Dave would find it.