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Jesus… what the fuck? What the hell is this now?
Vincent blows out a ragged sigh. “I think somebody set me up. Me specifically. Lawrence worked with a number of people. It was a big company with international connections that have all been shut down or seized. Somebody played the cards right so that I’d get blamed. Blamed in such a way that it drags everybody in.”
Pa snarls again and cracks his knuckles. “Who… that’s what we need to figure out. Who would do this and how?”
“What about the Fontaines? They’re the only people gunning for us,” I say. “The shifty as fuck shit from the other week. What if this was about that?”
Vincent raises his shoulders and grits his teeth. “As far as I know they aren’t in any form of alliance with Stephanou. They hate each other just as much as they hate us.”
I think about it.
Stephanou Portaleu and the Fontaines do hate each other, but they behave the same. Both families operate on their own, and if they have any alliances they’re few and far between.
The only differences between them are that Stephanou and his family are raw assed gangsters who will come for you not caring who they kill in the process. They’re strong on their own and men of conquest who will take matters into their own hands. They don’t need anybody besides themselves to get a job done.
The Fontaines on the other hand are linked to government. That makes them strong in other ways but there are limits depending on who the government link is. Nobody has ever known the answer to that. Who they’re tied to. All top secret and that means the Fontaines have to tread softly when it comes to eliminating their enemies.
The Fontaines can’t just come for us. They have to sneak around to do it. They’re mobsters alright with their set up of people who do their dirty dealings, but really they’re businessmen who carry guns. They’re into international prostitution and drug trafficking. Shit that makes you rich like a god, but shit you can’t come out in the open and reveal.
The last saga with them a few years back showed how much stronger we are than them on the streets. We expected retaliation because Joey Fontaine was killed, but nothing happened. You can’t just kill a crime boss and expect nothing to happen.
Nothing happened. Until now.
I straighten up. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” I say more to myself but they look to me. Everyone looks to me.
“What’s that son?” Pa says.
“The… enemy of my enemy is my friend. We’re enemies with the Fontaines and Stephanou. With our alliances with the Morientz and other crime families they can’t fight us the way they want without a bloodbath on their side. It disrupts everything. So the next best thing is to send someone for us who can take us down. I think they’re working together to do just that.” I’m thinking as I go along and trying to make sense of it all. I could be wrong. I could be way off but I’ve learned to think on my feet quickly. Think fast and try to guess the next move before I get caught in a trap. That’s what this feels like. Some kind of trap.
“Stephanou can take us down even when he’s been closed for business. He doesn’t need money,” Vincent adds and darkness settles in the pit of my stomach.
“Jesus Christ…” Pa breathes and runs a hand over his beard. “This is about power. Like always it’s about power. I agree it could be the Fontaine’s doing. And I wholeheartedly agree they have someone working with them who works with us.”
“Yeah, there’s more to it though Pa. There’s the whole aspect of the feds. This person working both sides is more than dangerous to be able to pull those types of strings. And on me.” Vincent balls his fists. “Our men have been with us for years. But rest assured I will find this person and they’ll pay with their life.
Pa looks to all of us. “Boys we’re in a state of war. If Stephanou is here expect his crew too.”
My stomach actually churns at the mention of that. I’m very well aware of Stephanou’s crew. There’s Stephanou’s two brothers, Diego and Riccardo and his cousin Davide. All a bunch of psychos who are notorious for the way they kill and the crimes they commit. You name it, they’ve done it. Rape, murder, everything. Their lack of humanity is what makes Stephanou so strong.
Pa looks to Vincent and continues giving his orders. “Vincent get everybody on this. All the muscle. Contact all our alliances, mobsters and cops alike. Everybody. We find Stephanou and flush him out. Stop him. We focus on him first because rest assured after what happened today he’ll be plotting for us.”
Vincent nods. “On it.”
Pa focuses on me, Gabe and Nick. “You three are to have protection with you at all times. Men with you and your families. But most importantly, leave this to us. Lay low. Lay fucking low at Giordano’s Inc. and that damn club. Stay out of it.” Pa’s nostrils flare like he’s already angry at us.
It’s because he knows what we’re like and what we’ve done in the past.
I tense. This is the same shit I have a problem with. Leaving things alone.
We’re targets and the situation is next level bad with fucking psychos after us but I’m supposed to just sit tight and watch.
* * *
I decidedI needed a one on one with Vincent so I went to his house the next night.
He answered the door with his baby.
I can always see the look of pride on his face when he’s holding Timothy.
