Seventeen must have used some of the more reliable gang members to investigate; this usually garners the most accurate information since they are all local gang members. Their network of contacts is far stronger locally than anything the FBI could assemble by simply asking around.

Jimmy flicked away his cigarette butt, got into the car to head back, when his phone rang. He glanced at it and answered the call.

Jimmy, "What's up, Razor?" Razor was the small-time leader of the Latin Kings that Jimmy had contacted twice before.

Razor, "Got a minute? Meet up?"

Jimmy glanced at his watch, "Thirty minutes, by the lake in Central Park." He hung up after speaking.

As a gang leader, Razor calling Jimmy usually meant trouble. Since Razor had helped Jimmy twice before, Jimmy owed him a favor. Regardless of the issue, it was only proper to meet and listen to his concerns.

Even though he decided to meet, Jimmy didn't want to give up the initiative letting Razor set the time and place. It was undoubtedly better to pick the location himself. Furthermore, Central Park was crowded and complicated, and this could prevent potential trouble, such as an ambush. As long as Jimmy arrived early to survey the surroundings, he could avoid a lot of danger.

Jimmy sat on a bench by the lake wearing sunglasses, having already scoped out the area. He was reasonably sure there was no one acting suspiciously around. He held a newspaper in front of him, pretending to read. In reality, he wasn't looking at the paper's content but was using it to continue observing the people around him.

Razor had changed into a new set of clothes, dress shoes, casual suit, and a hat to cover his hair, and frameless glasses. Judging by his current appearance, he hardly looked like a gang leader; more like an average office worker.

Jimmy set down the newspaper, looked towards Razor, and then raised his right hand. Razor approached and sat down beside him after seeing Jimmy.

Jimmy continued holding the newspaper in front of him and asked in a low voice, "Spit it out, what's so urgent that you had to see me?"

Leaning back in the bench, Razor stretched out his arms resting them on the bench's backrest, "Jimmy, I need help."

Jimmy, "Let's hear it."

Razor, "Someone wants to declare war on us, not on me, but on the Latin Kings. The other party is a new gang called Trinidad, established ten years ago."

Jimmy frowned and turned to look at Razor, "Are you out of your mind?"

Razor turned to Jimmy, then looked out across the lake. Jimmy continued, "Gang wars are your own business, I'm with the FBI, not your hitman. Remember who you are."

Razor, "I wouldn't come to you if there wasn't a reason."

Razor reached into his suit's inner pocket, pulling out a slip of paper and handing it to Jimmy, "We got word that Trinidad's big boss, Serra, has been in contact with some people recently. No one would pay attention to just Serra and his gang; they're small, not many members. But the people he's contacting belong to Azte, a gang on the Mexico-Texas border, I'm sure you can guess what their main business is."

Jimmy took the slip, which had only two names, Serra and Barrio.

Jimmy had no recollection of the gang named Azte, but what Razor mentioned about the gang at the Mexico border gave him an unpleasant feeling. He pocketed the slip, "Got any information on this Azte gang?"

Razor, "They started as a small gang in California, then expanded to New Mexico and Texas. Their main activities are smuggling and drug trafficking. They have many shooters, strong firepower, and made a name for themselves at the border in a very short time. Trinidad's contact with them might be about expanding their distribution channels. My guys can't get detailed information; we're just a small gang in New York and don't have the resources to gather that kind of intel."

Jimmy, "State your request."

Razor, "Just giving you a heads up, if..." He paused, leaning back in the bench to look up at the tree canopy, "just securing an escape route for myself."

Jimmy turned to gaze at Razor; his expression was complex, far from relaxed, "Your demand."

Razor dropped his arms and sat up to face Jimmy, "If things go south, I want to survive."

Jimmy, "I understand. Are you sure? Once we step in, you'll become a complete traitor in their eyes, and you might spend the rest of your life being hunted down."

Razor took a deep breath and exhaled, "I'm just a small fry; I can't worry too much about the future."

Gang wars, if it's just the grunts, it's not a big deal. After all, every gang needs its foot soldiers. But for various levels of leadership, defeat means either fleeing and living incognito or being treated as a huge thorn to be dealt with decisively.

The Latin Kings were different from gangs like the Mafia; they were comprised of many smaller gangs and lacked a tight hierarchical structure. It seems like Razor's gang was one of Trinidad's targets. Moreover, this Trinidad gang appears to have grown too quickly; a gang that was established just a few years ago now has the strength to absorb other gangs. They are dangerous. Jimmy needed to check with Ruiz for more information and also to verify the validity of Razor's claims.

Jimmy folded the newspaper and stood up, straightening his clothes, "Got it." He then turned and left the bench. Razor remained seated. As Jimmy moved farther away, he turned to look back. Razor had not yet left.

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