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Vile, grotesque creature.
"I have not, but I know I should." He pauses as he continues to roll the now empty glass, his eyes never leaving mine. "Do you think that this could be Augustus Luna and his lackeys?"
I had not considered that, though it is quite possible. Augustus Luna, the head of a high-powered gang in California, runs and basically owns the entire Bay Area including San Francisco. He holds no blood in his body of any value. Has no familial relations with anyone in power, but he has made certain connections over the years that make him a worthy and cunning enemy.
Three months ago, he attacked Matteo's Las Vegas compound, damn near reducing it to ash. Eleven of Matteo's men perished, but he and his four personal guards were able to escape by way of helicopter. Matteo's main source of income is the weapons trade. He was given the job by Francesco, to soften his exile, and surprisingly, he did well with the task. However, a few years back, he made a deal to supply and sell his weapons to Augustus, allowing him to be the only one he worked with on the West Coast.
The problem is, Augustus Luna is a piece of shit. He is just as despicable as Matteo and Francesco. He is a stain on this world and needs to be eliminated. The fact that Matteo was offering him more power, advancing his plans and profit, just would not do. We became close friends with Augustus's two sons, Gage and Maddox, as well as their two non-blood brothers. The group despises Augustus and wishes to see him dead. We made a bargain. They help us to rid the world of Renz's father, ensuring it could not be traced back to us, and we will help to bring Augustus and his empire down before they can take him out once and for all.
The first thing we did to aid them was to convince Matteo to sever his weapons deal with Augustus and sell solely to us. We pay him more, gave him some perks in Vegas to sweeten the deal, and leave him to his self-imposed destruction. It was simple and it worked. Gus's empire is crumbling as we speak, leaving his sons that much closer to ending him. However, Matteo clearly pissed the California gangster off, and his attack was retribution. The man was caught on camera that day at Matteo's compound, looking smug beyond words for getting past the defenses in his own city.
After the attack, Matteo made many threats of beginning a war, but he did not and still does not, have the backing or manpower to do so. He has no sizable army or allies, beyond us, and while technically, Renz being the head of the family, should have eliminated Gus considering the fact that any attack on a member of the Cosa Nostra should be taken personally, it did not fit our agenda. Not to mention, we are still trying to find our own allies in this world.
The attacks on Renz began shortly after that so it makes sense that it could be Luna. "The timing fits," I agree, drumming my fingers on the wooden armchair. "The fact that the men last night have no identifying features does not though. Augustus brands all of his men, does he not?"
Renz nods. "Maybe a call to Gage should occur before bringing Matteo into this?" he ponders aloud, stroking that fucking beard. "Perhaps Stone can utilize his skills to do some digging for us, though, I hate to bring them into this. They've got a lot going on right now."
I nod in understanding. The men are not only dealing with Gus, but they are also waging their own war on the world of sex trafficking in their state as well as some sort of situation with their woman. Gage, Maddox, Nyxon, and Stone found a woman to love and despite the fact that they are all alpha-possessive, they seem to have figured out a way to share her. I would say I feel bad for her, knowing the men personally, but I know how it feels to share a beautiful woman so truly, I understand. Still, she deserves some sort of award for putting up with their surly asses.
"I think this situation warrants a call, Renz. They will help, or they won't. We won't survive in this world if you are afraid to bridge alliances and friendships. They are good men, and they are on our side. Call them." I jut my chin at his phone. Now is as good a time as any.
Renz makes a noise of protest in the back of his throat, more than likely at my command, but picks up the phone anyways. I bite my tongue to keep from saying,good boy, knowing it won't go over well.
The thought brings me back to Eli and I check my watch. He's been gone for hours and has yet to return any of my texts. I would like to say it's unlike him, but he often does this. Goes off on his own, whether to battle his own demons mentally, gaining the space he requires to do so, or off on some sort of half-assed, hair-brained scheme. Today is the latter but knowing that does not make me feel any better. With as many threats on our lives as there are, he knows better than to go off on his own.
His ass will be raw by the time I'm done punishing him tonight.
Renz places the phone on speaker and sets it between us. The sound of the other line ringing fills the room only briefly before the deep, very slightly accented voice of Gage takes over. "Renz," he drawls, "I would say it's nice of you to call but considering the fact that you only call when something is wrong—." His voice trails off and though I'm sure that comment has Renz regretting dialing this number, I smile. He's not wrong. Gage chuckles at Renz's resounding silence. If I could kick my cousin beneath the desk, I would.
When he finally composes himself, he groans and leans back in his chair. "Unfortunately, you are correct in that assessment. I wish I could bring you good news every once in a while, but it seems that's not in the cards for either of us."
"Yet," Gage supplies, not missing a beat. How the man is still an optimist after his hellacious life, I will never know. I envy that of him. "What is it?"
"Do you have any reason to believe that Augustus is furthering his vendetta against the Travinos?" I don't miss the show of respect that Renz offers by referring to Gus by his name instead of theearnedtitle of father. Gage pauses, silence filling the room once more. A door clicks, and then footsteps, before another door.
"Has something happened?" he asks brusquely.
"Myself, as well as my two officers, have been under a damn near constant slew of attacks recently. It seems they began shortly after Las Vegas. We have been unable to capture and question any of the men sent." He goes into detail about the attack last night and the way it differed from the previous ones. The drug used, the untrained men. Gage offers nothing, just listens.
When Renz finally finishes, Gage sighs. I can hear the sound of something like a pen tapping aggressively from the other end and I smirk, knowing he's with his brother. Sure enough, "Were there any marks or tattoos on the bodies?" Maddox, the youngest of their group asks.
Renz looks at me, his jaw ticking. "No, nothing. Gus brands his men, yes?"
"Yes. Every single one, no exceptions." I don't miss the grit and anger in Madd's voice at that. I assume that means the four of them bear the Los Diablos gang sigil as well.
"Honestly, I don't know Renz. It's possible that it's our father. My gut tells me that it's not, but I have no way of proving it. Things right now are—" he sighs, again pausing mid-sentence. I can hear the heaviness and exhaustion in Gage's voice. Another man cuts into the silence and from the eloquent and yet bland cadence of his voice, I recognize it to be Stone, the tech guru.
"I do not believe it is Augustus. He does not have the manpower or support right now to achieve multiple attacks on the East Coast, nor do I believe that the issue with Matteo and the weapons are his biggest concern anymore. He has morepressingmatters to attend to at the moment. He was able to sneak behind our backs with the situation in Las Vegas, however, he is in a significantly different position now."
"Not to mention," Gage adds, "he has no qualms with you specifically, Renz. The way you describe the attacks, ranging from random one-man snipers to a group of unorganized and untrained men in the middle of the city gunning you down,” he sighs, long and frustrated. “It just—it doesn't fit with anyone that I can think of, and that includes my father."
"And the fact that these fuckers keep failing at their shotty attempts says that it's not likely someone with a shit ton of money. A mercenary or trained assassin wouldn't miss once, let alone, what? Did you say seven attacks in three months?" Maddox whistles. "I sure as fuck wouldn't miss a shot to your big ass dome."
Maddox falls into a fit of laughter. Gage chuckles quietly in the background but the ever stoic Stone remains quiet. Looking up, I see Renz’s cheeks, barely visible beneath his hideous beard, pinken slightly. I grin. “Where is the fourth member of your raggle-taggle bunch? Should I hold my breath in anticipation of his grumpy ass remark?”
Gage barks a laugh. “Nyxon is with Isabella.” He offers nothing more, but I don’t miss the love and softness in his voice when he speaks her name. I feel a wave of jealousy pass through me before I push it away, ignoring it completely.
When everyone settles, I speak for the first time. "I am inclined to agree with you all. Vasily Belov," I say, speaking of the head of the Bratva, "has incredibly well-trained armies. He is precise in his attacks, and I have never heard of anyone surviving once Belov has set his sights on him."
