Emine: I'm still cleaning up the mess of spectre on my jacket.
Emine: I have shit to do. Have fun.
Kerem: Are you trying to get us all killed? Because it fucking seems like you're trying to get us all killed.
Kerem: I'm sure as fuck pissed about what happened to spectre too, but we have to be smart about this. You can't just go around shooting people who are important to our enemies, it'll just put a bigger target on our back. Which I fucking told you.
Kerem: We already were on thin fucking ice, we had to be smart about it. But we have less than 100 people so when the Rutherfords throw everyone they have into Haringey, what do you suggest we do? Because that's the question that I need to now figure out. That is the mess.
Setting: In Tandem with Nevra and Melissaâs thread HERE
Mentions: @msmelissalin @erdogan-nevra @emine--yalazÂ
Triggers: THE DOG DIESÂ
The text from Melissa Lin that she was coming was one that Kerem had feared for so long.Â
Something that he had been expecting for so long. He was still convinced that she was going to murder him - that she wanted to make it public so that everyone could see. Maybe heâd be lucky and itâd be quick. Maybe itâd make people want to fight them. But it hadnât stopped him from doing what he figured would be his lasts.Â
His last call to his mom - who insisted she was bringing over food for him and Emine that night because she knew that they werenât feeding themselves properly.Â
His last time messing with all of his sisters.Â
His last time having coffee with his Dad - and while Kerem could tell that his father knew that something was going on (the older man had been in the game far too long to not know something was up even if he was retired) the two of them ignored it. To have a last moment of piece.Â
His last time kissing Emine.Â
His last time taking Spectre for a walk. Heâd been at the park across from his flat when he saw the limo come up, and he figured that he would take the dog inside if he could. There was only one person who would come to Haringey in a limo and the least he could do was make sure that the dog didnât have to witness whatever was about to go down. He figured he could get Emine to bring Spectre in - and he truly hoped that whatever was going to happenÂ
He had made up his mind a long time ago that he would die for Haringey.Â
When Benjamin came up to him, it was everything that Kerem could do not to roll his eyes. He knew the type - the too violent, too psychotic, and yet still managed to be a lapdog type. He barely paid the man attention, his eyes fixed on the limo - on the woman............women inside of it.Â
He had expected Melissa, but he hadnât expected Nevra. His eyes narrowed at the sight of his ex-fiancĂŠe.Â
It wasnât that long ago that she was trying to talk him out of fight club, trying to say that she wanted him to stay safe. He had suspected at the time that she was just trying to play with his emotions, to bring him back to when they were together, to when she had him believing that she cared more about him, about their life in Haringey, than she did about money. But this only confirmed the suspicions that he had then - she had been trying to play him. And now here she was, sitting right next to Melissa Lin. Looking like she belonged there.Â
Like she was the traitor that she continually proved herself to be.Â
If Nevra wanted him to see her, he wasnât going to giveÂ
He saw the gun move, he prepared himself for the punishment that he knew was coming - but when the shot rang in his ears, it was the scream from Spectre that caught him by surprise. Death for himself? That he had expected to be a given. Death to his dog? That was an special type of evil that he truly didnât think that the woman would have come up with.Â
Clearly he had underestimated her.Â
ââThis is a message from Melissa.ââ Benjaminâs words barely comprehended as Kerem was on his knees, nursing his dog as she slowly ââThis was a warning. Double cross the Rutherfordâs again, and itâll cause for more meetings like this.ââÂ
He knew it was a warning, and Kerem was well aware that she meant it - he had seen it in her glare. But where Melissa probably thought it would subdue him - make him once again want to worship the slavery that she had âso graciouslyâ allowed them - it did the opposite. His anger was going to be a part of him.Â
It wasnât just the Rutherfords who were going to pay now. It was Melissa. He was going to find a way to make her hurt the same way.Â
The truth was, the Turk had been subtly avoiding his best friend sinceâŚwell.Â
After whatâd happened with the Rutherfords, his sister, and Keremâs dog, however, he knew he could no longer justify maintaining distance in hopes his guilt would eventually subside. Maybe he had been a selfish piece of shit (surprised were none) but this was still his brother. The man came above almost everyone else, family until the very end, and this time was no different. When heâd stepped through the front door of the familiar home, heâd left the stress thatâd plagued him for months right outside.
There were more pressing issues that required his timeâŚ
âLook, I know Iâve been a liability when it comes to the Rutherfords, but you need to talk to me. Why would you reach out to Melissa of all people, man?â
âI didnât, she reached out to me,â Kerem said, a sigh as he thought back to it. âShe wanted to know who killed the head Ruthabitch, I had no fucking clue so I blamed the Russians. Figured that if we got those two fighting each other, itâd be easier to take back what was ours. It was a gamble, and it backfired when Lara showed up. If the bitch had stayed dead, it probably would have worked. But sheâd been pressing on me before that point anyway. Figured that if she kept her sight on me, it meant that nobody else would have to deal with her.âÂ
Kerem truly wasnât sure if it was all of the competition in the borough, or if all the addicts suddenly got clean, went broke, or died all at once - but sales were down for the month. Which meant a new strategy was needed, one where he outsold the French. And Hasan. And the Russians (or were they just guns, he couldnât keep track). And truthfully he wouldnât have been surprised if the Rutherfords were still dealing here themselves while taking their money.Â
So as usual whenever he needed to think, to strategize, to try to figure out what would come next (in a nightmare of trying to figure out what could come next) he found himself walking through Haringey. His home, the place that he loved most not just in London, but in the world. So when he saw someone about to walk into one of the Russian owned places, he couldnât help himself. âYou know, I wouldnât go there, the foodâs shit,â he said, âthereâs a better place around the corner. Better food and atmosphere.â And people, he almost added. And barely held his tongue. Barely.
âI think we are disagreeing about less than we thought.â
Hasan laughed shaking his head.
âIf youâll allow it, at least as far as weâre concerned, we are no longer separated, but it could be to our advantage for people to still think we are at odds. I think it would let us work individually to get allies. Promise things without stepping on each otherâs toes. Though we should try to keep those promises centered around protecting Haringey as much as possible.â
Hasan put a hand to his head going silent for a moment.
âThere are at least two sides to this and more coming in and youâre already stuck with one publicly. You should be careful trying to cause chaos too obviously. If anything can be tied back to you thatâs not too good. A bit of opposition you can blame situationally might help. Please donât get me killed for nothing, We both have enough enemies.â
He was quiet for a moment.
âHaving the money Iâve gathered and not having to pay tithes to the Rutherfords or the Russians on it will help us in the long run. I havenât gotten high enough with any of the allies I have made, but itâs only a matter of time. What about you, is there anything I should know about or avoid interfering with?â
Hasan couldnât help smirking, his excitement showing a little. He didnât think it was a trap, and even if it was maybe it was one he could use. It would be nice if Kerem was as good as his word, an ally he could trust because his fat was as much in the fire as Hasanâs was if things went badly.
â
âI think so too.â And while Kerem hoped that eventually it would mean reconciliation, he wasnât foolish enough to expect it. In fact, he was well aware that the more probable outcome was that Hasan would stab him in the back - both figuratively and literally. But Hasan was offering to be a scapegoat, and that was an opportunity that Kerem was going to take.Â
The two of them could trade intel for as long as it lasted, fight on the same side until they couldnât anymore. Because eventually he would turn. Hasan already showed that he was too impulsive, too impatient, and too willing to make terrible decisions. It was only a matter of time before those traits started coming out again. And Kerem would be forced to clean up that mess too.Â
âI think that I have Jean Palfroix almost willing to work with me. I fucking hate the French, and I fucking hate that theyâre here. But I think that using their hatred towards the Russians as a weapon to get them out, might be enough for him to leave after. So donât fuck that up.âÂ
