"My Dilemma," Part IV: "Monotonous Anticipation"

Leon’s house, early morning, the day after Johnny and Aaron were able to rob a Bank of America branch and get away successfully with a good amount of cash. Johnny had made the decision to continue with the big job despite already having the funds to pay off his debt with the drug lord Santiago. A foolish decision to some, however Johnny may see it as more noble than most might.

The entire crew sits patiently waiting in Leon’s study fidgeting with themselves in anticipation for the meeting they are about to embark on. They all wait for Leon to begin speaking. However, the wait is too much.

“So Leon,” Travis breaks the silence, “what is our salary looking like for this job?”

Leon does not even bat an eye toward Travis, “We’ll talk about it.” He says with little expression.

Aaron then enters the fray, “No need to be so irrational Travis, we’ll talk about it later.”

Travis stands up, “I just want my motivation,” Travis puts his hands on his chest, “I want to know what I’m about to risk my life for.”

“One point two-five million dollars.” Leon states out of nowhere. Leon then walks up to his presentation board with the many pictures and documents pasted about.

“Holy shit.” Johnny says under his breath at the thought of the money.

Leon then points his hand toward the board, “Alright boys, there is only one thing we need before our heist tomorrow.” Leon opens up, “We need to shop for some tools.”

Aaron then lifts up his wallet and smiles, “Hey, I got a Home Depot gift card.”

Leon glares at Aaron as Aaron places his wallet down in shame, “Do not act like such a clown Aaron. The last thing that is needed for this job are guns.”

Travis then looks at Leon, “I thought you already had guns.”

“I had the guns in mind, I know what I want for this job so I already placed an order.” Leon looks at the board, “I need all of you to go pick them up.”

“You’re asking for this now?” Travis states.

“Yes, I have an order for some high quality German carbines from the arms dealer known as Xiao Long. I want you to meet him here in Vernon.” Leon points toward the board where a map is laid, the map has a circle right at Vernon. “Take this map,” Leon unpins the paper from the board, “and burn it when you are done with it.” Leon then looks directly at the group, “Also destroy the car you use to get there.”

“Destroy the car we used to get there?” Aaron perks his head to the side as he leans toward Leon, “How the hell are we going to get back here, are we just going to walk home with four high powered rifles up our ass?”

“Don’t sass me Aaron,” Leon points his finger at Aaron, “If you look at the map, I have placed a car to return home from.”

“You just think of everything, don't you Leon?” Travis states with slurs in his speech.

Leon exchanges a dirty look with Travis, “I’m only trying to protect our asses from the feds.” Leon crosses his arms.

“Aren’t we protected by Bosphorus anyway?” Travis looks around the room with a nervous grin on his face, “We’re going to be fine, right?”

“I spoke with Nero,” Leon sighs, “he said he would help us, however, after the stunt that Aaron pulled, I have a feeling that this may become more complicated than I thought it would be.” Everyone then looks toward Aaron.

“What?” Aaron addresses the group in defense.

“Why did you kill Lavernius?” Travis asks.

“I was doing business.” Aaron states urgently.

“That ‘business’ you did could jeopardize our entire operation here.” Leon glares intensely at Aaron as Aaron stands back in defense.

“I know what I’m doing,” Aaron snaps back at the hostility, “We’re going to be fine, I got this covered alright. Nero will be no threat, the police will be no threat.”

“That better not be an empty promise Aaron.” Leon says.

“It won’t be alright, let’s just go pick up those guns.” Aaron says as he grabs the map from the table.

“Johnny, Jaredicus, let’s head out.” Travis stands up and says to Johnny and Jaredicus who have only been spectators to the drama that has unfolded thus far. They stand up as well and the entire group walks toward the front door and exits the house.

In the car the tension stays within the air. Johnny is driving with Jaredicus in the front seat while the other two sit in the back. Aaron and Travis sit in silence for the first couple of minutes of the drive, however soon the silence is broken once again.

“Why did you kill Lavernius?” Travis asks again.

“I told you,” Aaron looks at Travis, “it was only business.”

“The entire family observes business Aaron, if it were only business then nobody would freak out about the incident. If it were only business, then we would not have to worry about someone like Nero.” Travis does not look at Aaron, he keeps his eyes on the passenger seat in front of him.

Jaredicus then joins in, “He’s right you know.”

“It was a well paid job for an inconsequential deed.” Aaron looks at the window to his left.

“Inconsequential?!” Travis exclaims, “Because of your deed we no longer have allies at the police department!” Travis finally looks toward Aaron, but this time it is Aaron who looks away, “Bosphorus cannot protect us, Leon cannot protect us, I am now risking my life even further because of what you have done.”

Johnny continues to focus his attention on the road. Choosing to ignore the commotion of the back in worry that it might disrupt his driving or his knowledge of plan. Johnny keeps his mind level, to the best of his ability while the two men exchange their grief onto each other in the back seat of that four-door sedan.

Driving up to the location in which the men are to purchase the firearms, there is this sense of uneasiness among everyone. By this point, Aaron and Travis have dropped any attempt to understand each other, and they stay silent in the back. They pull up to an abandoned warehouse where men with rifles guard the entrance and guide the car inside. Inside the empty place, there are a few black trucks parked with a short Asian man standing on the trunk of the middle one. Other men in black suits stay near him with firearms.

Johnny then parks the car where the guards instruct him to, “Johnny, Jaredicus, stay here until we call for you.”

Aaron and Travis then exit the car to walk up the concrete path toward the man, “Greetings Gentlemen, Leon has sent you to pick up some groceries.”

“He has.” Aaron responds. The short man then jumps off the trunk of a truck and walks up to Aaron and Travis.

“Well, I have a crate of the four Carbines that you ordered.” The short man states, “Do you have my money?”

Aaron and Travis then look at each other with wide eyes, they then look at the man in front of them, “Yeah, we have your money.” Travis says with hesitation, “I’ll go get it.”

Travis then walks back to the car where he knocks on Jaredicus’ window. Jaredicus then opens the window, “What’s up?” Jaredicus asks.

“Do you by any chance know where Leon would hide money for a deal?” Travis asks.

“He would usually put a suitcase of cash in the trunk, he would place it under junk.” Jaredicus explains.

“Oh thank Christ.” Travis lets out a sigh of relief.

Travis then walks to the back of the car to pop open the trunk and dig through the many layers of junk that Leon owns. Finding a shining silver and black suitcase, Travis declares that the suitcase is what he was looking for. Grabbing the suitcase, Travis closes the trunk and heads back to the Asian man to finish the deal.

“Here’s the cash.” Travis hands over the case.

The man then signals for another man to come toward him. He hands the new man the suitcase and the new man opens to check the contents of the case. After nodding in confirmation, a group of men grab a crate from the trunk of one of the trucks and walk it over to the sedan.

“Just place it in the trunk.” The Asian man calls out to his assistants, “Well, this was splendid, it was a pleasure doing business with you.