Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Preparing To Strike Back (Part 2)
Don sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed for a moment. "Well," he muttered to himself, "time to get reading."
He didn't want to be disturbed, so he flicked off the light, letting the faint glow of his phone illuminate the room as he changed out of his clothes and got comfortable on the bed. Slipping his contact lenses in, he pulled up the database and began scrolling through the information Gary had compiled.
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**Information Profile: Johnny Black**
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Don's eyes narrowed as he read the details about Johnny Black, the middleman whose name had come up during his earlier confrontation.
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- **Role:** Middleman between local gangsters and the wealthy elite, Johnny Black connects those who need dirty work done with those willing to do it. He keeps a low profile but has enough influence in the underworld to be considered untouchable by most in Santos City.
- **Personality:** Johnny operates with a mixture of charm and intimidation. While he presents himself as a man of business, his alliances are fluid, and he is known for being ruthless if crossed. He's always aware of debts and favors owed to him, making him a dangerous player to deal with.
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Don leaned back against the headboard, rubbing his chin. 'A man of business, huh?' he thought. 'I guess that could work to my advantage.'
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**Primary Hangouts:**
- *Deadly Damsels*: This is Johnny's base of operations, where he's often found schmoozing with high-profile gang members or meeting clients. He has a private room in the back where he handles business away from prying eyes.
- *The Black Smoke Lounge*: A high-end cigar bar on the Upper Eastside, where he meets his wealthy clientele, often masked as simple business meetings.
- **Key Associates:**
- *Valerie "Viper" Kross*: Johnny's right-hand woman and enforcer. She handles the physical side of things, ensuring debts are paid and people stay in line.
- *Roderick Langston*: A corrupt real estate mogul who frequently uses Johnny's services to take care of "business competitors."
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Don paused. 'This Valerie sounds like trouble, but Roderick? A corrupt businessman could be useful.'
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**Weaknesses:**
- Johnny is highly secretive about his personal life, but rumors suggest he has a sister living under a false identity. If found, she could be used as leverage.
- His greed also makes him vulnerable to bribes or betrayals by higher-paying clients.
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Don raise his eyebrow in interest to that information. 'This sister route seems tricky. But greed, huh? Maybe I can use that.'
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He scrolled down to the next section, now focusing on the key location.
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**Information Profile: Deadly Damsels**
- **Location:** 5th Street Downtown, a notorious hotspot for criminal activity. The club operates as a strip club on the surface, but it's also a front for illicit deals and a place where connections between criminals are made.
- **Reputation and Operations:**
- Invitations to *Deadly Damsels* are strictly limited to elite gang members and their close associates. Entry is a sign of status within the underworld, making it difficult for outsiders to access.
- The club is run by *Madam Lily*, a former gang leader herself. She maintains control through fear and blackmail, holding secrets about most of her clients.
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Don tapped his fingers lightly against the back of his phone, contemplating the idea of infiltrating such a place.
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**Recruitment and Blackmail:**
- Most of the dancers are not there by choice. *Deadly Damsels* recruits its performers by exploiting women in debt or with criminal records, offering them a way out but keeping them under control through coercion and threats.
- Some women are blackmailed into working for the club after getting involved in illegal activities or being filmed in compromising situations, ensuring their loyalty to Madam Lily.
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- **Weaknesses:**
- The strippers themselves could provide vital information if their loyalty to Lily is broken. Many of them have grievances but fear retribution.
- The bouncers are notoriously corrupt, and some have been known to be susceptible to bribes, making infiltration possible with the right offer.
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'No surprise it's more than just a strip club.' Don made a mental note of Madam Lily's stranglehold on the club.
Next, Don came across the details about the Hell Riders gang, the group he had tangled with earlier.
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**Information Profile: The Hell Riders Gang**
- **Background:** The Hell Riders are a ruthless gang known for their violent methods and small-scale but large criminal empire. Their former leader, *Grimm*, met a brutal end at your hands, creating a power vacuum in the gang.
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Don smirked slightly at the memory of Grimm's final moments. 'That was satisfying,' he thought before scrolling down.
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- **New Leadership:**
- In the aftermath of Grimm's demise, there's a power struggle within the Hell Riders. The most likely successor is *Victor "Vicious" Kane*, Grimm's former lieutenant. Vicious is known for his explosive temper and lack of strategic thinking, which could make him easier to manipulate. He's more about brute force than brains.
- *Ashlyn "Ash" Pierce*, another high-ranking member and daughter of Grimm himself, also poses a threat. She's smarter than Vicious and has the support of the more cunning and loyal members of the gang. However, she's not interested in taking over the gang herself—she wants out.
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Don frowned. 'Ashlyn might be the key here,' he thought. She was clearly a wildcard, and getting her out of the game could either stabilize or further fracture the gang. Both options were useful.
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- **Operations:**
- The Hell Riders control several drug and gun-running routes between Santos City and the outskirts. Their main hub is an old, rundown garage on the edge of the city, where they store contraband and hold meetings.
- They're notorious for running protection rackets as well, particularly in the industrial districts, and their influence stretches into some of the city's more corrupt law enforcement officers.
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Don's eyes lingered on the mention of their drug routes. 'Disrupting those could weaken them significantly,' he thought, already considering ways to hit them where it hurt.
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- **Weaknesses:**
- With the gang in disarray after Grimm's death, internal loyalty is shaky at best.
- Their drug routes are a critical part of their operation.
- The gang's finances are managed by an accountant, *Luke "The Numbers" Ross*, who could be leveraged if he can be found.
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Don raised his brow again. 'Luke "The Numbers" Ross? I'll have to try and find him.'
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Finally, Don scrolled down to the list of key locations associated with Johnny Black's movements.
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**Buildings of Interest (Johnny's Visits)**
- **Fifth Avenue Apartments:** This luxury building is owned by one of Johnny's wealthiest client, *Nathaniel Cross*, a shady politician with deep ties to the underworld. Johnny often visits here when brokering larger deals between the elite and gang leaders. Surveillance here could provide insight into his interactions with more high-profile individuals.
- **The Red Velvet Casino:** Johnny frequents this place, not for gambling, but to meet with out-of-town gang leaders and mercenaries. The casino has private rooms that are used for shady dealings, and Johnny uses these to negotiate terms for large-scale jobs.
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Don made a mental note of both places. They could be potential targets for surveillance or future infiltration if needed.
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Finally, after several hours of reading and processing all the data, Don tossed his phone onto the dresser with a heavy sigh.
His brain was buzzing with information and plans forming in the back of his mind.
He stared up at the ceiling, contemplating his next move.