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Chapter 21: Planning A Robbery

"And thirdly," Fred continued, raising his last finger, "the split from your independent operations is being adjusted from a 40-60 to a 30-70 ratio in favor of the gang."

The leaders seated below couldn\'t hide their delight at this news.

The Austrian gang\'s daily operations encompassed underground gambling, loan sharking, smuggling, control of nightlife venues, and a significant stake in the drug trade controlled by the Spanish. Beyond these, members were free to engage in various other illicit ventures—everything from theft, robbery, and kidnapping to arms dealing and black market activities. Essentially, they dabbled in nearly every unlawful enterprise imaginable. With an additional 10% share, this was undeniably good news.

Fred concluded, "With the current gang tensions, we must bolster our ranks and ensure more profits for everyone. This means recruiting more members. Our strength is vital to navigating these turbulent times."

On the drive back, Reid was behind the wheel while Hardy sat silently in the backseat, deep in thought. He saw the present turmoil among the gangs as a golden opportunity—a perfect moment for expansion and growth.

As the car cruised through the lively streets lined with high-rise buildings, Los Angeles in the 1940s was a bustling hub of activity, already thriving with its ports, oil, population, and the globally renowned Hollywood. To Hardy, Los Angeles was a vast, untapped goldmine.

Back at Bill\'s residence, Hardy called a meeting with his closest associates in the living room.

"Henry, Matthew, Neil, Leo—after a week of investigation, what have you uncovered?" Hardy asked.

Henry exchanged a look with the others. "I\'ll go first. Matthew and I scoped out the Irish territory. They hold considerable power there, and the local residents are clearly intimidated by them. They\'re involved in multiple illegal businesses—drug trafficking, gambling, smuggling, loan sharking, debt collection, theft, extortion, protection rackets, arms trafficking, human trafficking, and more."

"The Irish have over 300 core members and even more associates. They are a formidable force. Due to time constraints, Matthew and I only managed to get close to a few of their businesses, like their bars, nightclubs, and a couple of casinos."

"Did you learn anything about the ongoing gang disputes?" Hardy asked.

"Yes," Henry confirmed.

"As for the Spanish gang, we managed to gather some intel as well. A few days back, Dani, the leader of the Spanish gang, along with his advisor, paid a visit to the Irish\'s Hoffman Bar and met with their boss, Hemi Weiss."

Hardy\'s interest was piqued. The timing Henry mentioned coincided with shortly after Hardy had eliminated Cook. Since then, troubles had escalated in Austrian gang territories. It was clear the Spaniards were stirring things up, sending provocateurs like Big Ivan and his crew to cause disturbances at places like the Bunny Bar.

Turning to Neil and Leo, Hardy asked, "What did you find on the Spaniards?"

Neil promptly reported, "The Spaniards\' primary operations revolve around cocaine distribution, underground casinos, illegal boxing matches, and loan sharking. Their drug trade is the largest in Los Angeles, surpassing even the Irish and Mexican gangs."

"We also confirmed some of what Henry mentioned. Dani, the Spanish boss, has been meeting with the Irish and Mexican leaders, and his advisor has had discussions with Russian and Polish contacts. They even tried reaching out to the French, but the French seem keen on staying out of any conflict."

Hardy felt more certain than ever: the recent gang clashes in Los Angeles were likely sparked by the Spaniards. And he knew this situation had roots in his own actions—namely, the killing of Cook. This event had set off a chain reaction, escalating tensions and prompting the Spaniards to ally with other gangs against the Austrians. But Hardy doubted Dani\'s motives were about avenging Cook; it was more about seizing opportunities for profit.

Having organized his thoughts, Hardy declared, "Brothers, we\'re in a tough spot financially. I\'ve decided it\'s time for a major move."

The room immediately buzzed with anticipation. They were all feeling the financial squeeze.

Delivering liquor to local bars was bringing in only about $1,000 a week—not nearly enough to cover all their needs. Neil\'s wife was still in the hospital, with medical bills piling up. Hardy had already sold his gold watch to cover some of those costs, but more expenses loomed.

Richard needed a prosthetic eye, and the ongoing medication wasn\'t cheap. Matthew, still on bail, was dealing with an unresolved case, where the best outcome would likely involve a hefty settlement to the aggrieved party.

Each of them had their own reasons for needing money, and Hardy\'s plan to make a big move had them all on edge with excitement.

"Are we going to hit a bank or an armored truck?" Matthew asked eagerly.

To many, a "big job" typically meant robbing a bank or a cash transport.

"No, we won\'t be robbing a bank or an armored truck," Hardy said, shaking his head.

"The banks have tight security, and their vaults are a nightmare to crack. As for armored trucks, they usually carry no more than $20,000 to $30,000 at a time. While that\'s a decent sum, especially for 1945, it\'s not enough to justify the risk. The attention it would draw from the authorities would be massive."

"So, what\'s the plan?" someone asked.

A grin spread across Hardy\'s face. "We\'re going to rob the Spaniards."

"An armored truck might have a limited haul, but the Spanish casinos and loan shark outfits are flush with cash—far more than any armored truck. Plus, their security is much laxer than a bank vault or a cash truck."

Given their current adversarial stance, Hardy knew this was the perfect opportunity to strike against the Spaniards. In a world where criminals preyed on criminals, the police and authorities would likely turn a blind eye to such a move.

Hardy turned to his team, giving orders: "Richard, Henry, Matthew, Neil, Leo, Kerry—you\'re all relatively unknown faces. I want you to find out exactly where the Spaniards keep their money. Get me precise information. We\'ll devise our plan once we have all the details."

"Got it!" they responded in unison, their voices charged with excitement.

Robbing rival gangsters didn\'t scare them. On the contrary, it thrilled them.