year that the Network will be doing business with you for the coca. At the end of the year the Network will no longer be purchasing any forms of drugs. I am about to end all ties with drugs and move in a totally different direction. A direction that I feel will not only be beneficial for the Network long term but also for you if you wish to continue to do business with me.â
Jorge frowned and asked, âAnd what business is that, Taz?â
âArms. Everything from guns such as automatic assault rifles, missiles, RPGs, hand, everything. It is well known throughout our peers that you are always in need of some serious artillery. Though Iâm quite sure youâre already well equipped, Iâm positive that with the moves Iâm about to make you will have the very best prices on whatever you need as far as weapons are concerned.â
âIs this generosity because Iâm going to lose you as a client for my coca or because of our friendship?â
âBoth. My decision to stop all drugs trafficking within the Network is something that has been in the works for some time now. I feel that in the long run things will become wicked in America with the narcotics and I think now is the time to make the exit and move into something that can be just as profitable for the organization. This decision, I know, affects the men I deal with and by that I want to make sure that I do right by each.â
âSo I wonât be the only man receiving these benefits?â
âNo, you wonât. I will offer the same to Danny Orumutto in California and Señor Suarez in Miami. I respect each of you for the good business we have been able to conduct over the years and I hope that we will still be able to conduct even more good business with this new venture.â
Bob, Tari, and Wild Bill watched the small Colombian, trying to gauge whether he was feeling what Taz just told him. Taz sat there silently wondering if their lives were in any danger. Damn, I hope I havenât gotten us all murdered way the fuck out here in Colombia, he thought as he continued to wait for Jorge to speak.
Finally, after a few minutes of contemplating, the Colombian drug lord smiled and said, âWell, I think we should have another drink and toast.â He stood and went back to his bar and grabbed another bottle of red wine then stepped back and refilled everyoneâs glass. He raised his glass in the air and said, âTo the future. To new business and to more good business.â He downed his drink in one gulp and sighed. âYes, I think we will be able to do some good business with the arms dealing, Taz. I respect you and I think your visions are admirable. I do have some reservations, but thatâs only because of the major deductions I will have taken by losing your business with the coca. I appreciate you giving me a year in advance; that helps me tremendously. You are a fair man indeed, Taz.â
âThank you, Jorge.â
âAlso, I love the fact that I can do business for weapons with someone I can trust. My current situation concerning weapons is, as you say in America, dicey. So this will be an added benefit to me.â
Taz sighed with relief and wanted to smile but instead kept his face neutral. âI will make sure that you have the first action at the best that I have to offer as well as the best prices, Jorge.â
âGood, very good. If I may ask you, has this decision been approved within your organization? I ask this because I know some of your colleagues within your council very well and I donât think they would be too excited about ending their careers as distributors of the coca.â
âAs you well know I am in charge of the Network and all decisions are made through the council with my vote being the determining factor. I havenât brought this to the table yet because I wanted to make sure that I would not be offending any of our business associates with the
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