411: Strike a Deal or Not

The phone's shrill ring sliced through the tense silence of Luke's apartment. He eyed it warily, a knot of dread tightening in his gut. With a shaky hand, he answered. "Luke," a gruff voice rasped through the receiver. "It's Henry." Luke's stomach lurched. You didn't want to hear from Henry, the ruthless leader of the Southside Serpents, especially when your pockets were brimming with worry and regret. "Henry," he managed, his voice tight. "What can I do for you?" A humorless chuckle crackled through the phone. "Funny, you should ask, Luke. We've been missing a little... contribution from you lately." Luke's mind raced. The meager savings he'd managed to squirrel away barely covered the rent, let alone the exorbitant protection money the Serpents demanded. "Henry, I—" "Don't bother with excuses," Henry cut him off, his voice hardening. "You know the deal. We keep you safe; you keep the pockets of the serpents lined. Simple as that." Shame burned in Luke's throat. He'd made a dea