CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Salvatore
Cut off the head and the body is weak.
Dead.
Just like the Fontaines would be if we cut their power source.
I’m on the streets with Nick, Gabe, udius and his guys. We’ve started the search for this underground facility.
We’re in the worse part of town anybody could be, scouting out ces with ess to the underground.
I figured there was no time like the present and we can’t afford to lose any more time than we have.
I called the men back out and we’re on the case. udius has been extremely helpful with ideas so we’re hitting up the worse part of town. I fucking hate this area. It’s the slums. The kind of ce you can go to get the hook up on the ck market.
It starts just beyond the stretch of the mall . There’s a noticeable distinction. One street runs across it like a marker . t feels more like a warning though no to venture any further, or if you are shady as shit and looking for trouble like we are, then it’s like an arrow pointing the way.
We’ve already checked out a few ces but they were clean. Now we’re walking together down the market style road passing a lot of bars and clubs. There are people outside. They see me, Nick and Gabe and they look wary. Some go inside. One look at udius though and fuck some of them run away and he fucking loves it.
It’s all good and well to be so revered because mostly people cough up information if their too afraid. Sometimes though-like we’ve been experiencingtely –it’s the reverse. The other guys have paid them more. The other guys have more power than us and see us as street rats.
It’s a tell of who’s hanging the de over their heads.
udius nudges into me and I nce at him.
“Salvatore we’re just walking past potential spots,” he states quirking a brow.
“I don’t think it will be any of these,” I answer and nce at Gabe who’s started talking to Nick.
I’ve been walking ahead looking at the bars. The one’s we’ve passed so far and the people won’t be what we’re looking for.
I know from the look of the exterior. The ces we’ve passed on this road are either too small, or not important enough.
udius likes to scour the ce, leave no stone unturned but I feel like we don’t have time for that. The past few days have just been shit and I have that sensation again that it’s too fucking quiet.
“Okay capo. I’m following your orders tonight.” udius answers with a smirk and shakes his head.
“udius, if you think otherwise say it,” I impart. He’s telling me he’s following my orders but no one here is more skilled than him and his guys. I’m man enough to acknowledge that he’s the Chicago boss. Everyone epts that. even the enemies. I nce back at them and they’re not even afraid to reveal their guns. Gio, Dante and Alex walk behind us with their guns exposed. They don’t care who is watching them.
udius chuckles. “We just do things a little different. I trust that you’re going with instinct and I’m following. However, I will say if I see something that looks off.” He tucks a lock of his hair behind his ear.
From as long as I’ve known him he’s always had long hair, and he’s grown it longer too. It’s so long it’s swishing over his elbows. Long hair and long ck leather coat billowing out in the wind like the angel of death.
I haven’t always known him with the cross on his cheek though. I knew him before that happened. It’s for his first wife. His enemies blew her up.
Him and his crew have been through a lot. We have too and as we grow in assets it just gets worse. That’s my take on things.
Doesn’t matter what it is that’s happening it always seems toe back to that.
The Fontaines never came for udius though, not like they have with us. It’s like fucking high school when you pick on specific people and leave others alone.
“udius,” I begin and he looks to me. “The Fontaines, what the hell is your take on them?”
Heughs. “I don’t know where to start with that answer. What exactly do you mean? Do you want me to tell you what I think about their government links or them in general.”
I sigh. “Both. They got to feds. Mobsters don’t deal with feds.”
“Salvatore I don’t even like that word, but I have fed associates who are useful. I hated it like nothing else when I first took over business but I understood. Anyway, that’s not the point here. I agree that the problem with the Fontaines is the government link. It’s their support system. What would be good for everyone is to find out who the fuck it is.”
“Don’t I know it. udius …” My voice trails off. I’ve been thinking about it all since Vincent’s speech. Thinking about everything in its entirety. “It feels more like this n with Stephanou is more them. I mean only them, without the government link. It’s too borate and well thought out.”
So much got me thinking about it all.
“I agree. I have been thinking about that too. We don’t tend to go after the guys who leave us alone but realistically it’s those ones you have to worry about. Never know what it is their nning or who they’re making their ns with.” He surmises.
I nod agreeing and that’s the part that’s making me think.
Who is the government link? The Fontaines only tend to surface when they can pack a punch, other than that their sneaky bastards who worm their way around toe up with the shit like what’s happening now.
I agree that when you have government on your side it’s power, but if the government link they had was so powerful wouldn’t they have been able to crush us already?
“udius it feels to me like the link they have might just have some power. Not a lot though. Enough to keep them doing what they’re doing with business and covering their backs, but when ites to the streets it’s a different story.”
He looks to me with that smirk and nods. “Salvatore, consider this. If we were dealing with the Antones, we’d all be dead. Everyst one of us.”
I nce at him and blow out a breath.
The Antones are what we call an assassin family who are far worse than the Fontaines. Stephanou and his crew are sick fucks but the whole Antone n are psychotic. All of them.
That’s not what gives them the power though. It’s their own government ties. A few years back udius and his men had a run in with them and it was revealed that they were working with the governor. We knew from back then that that was just a piece of the puzzle.
udius smiles again. “Salvatore. Whoever the Fontaines are working with just want money. Rest assured it’s that. Money and power and they’re happy with their association with their mobster friends as the bitches that do the dirty work. I don’t think they’re interested in starting a mafia war. Government don’t get down like that. they don’t need to sneak around unless they can’t do shit and they’re few who can’t do shit.”
“So you think it’s more the case of them not wanting to have any trouble with us?”
“Maybe. I feel like it could be a bit of both. This situation though.” He spreads his fingers. “I think it’s the Fontaines using theirpany benefits to get shit down. Shit they want done. Rest assured though if you can rock the fucking nest and cause a stir you take them out and down and they can’t do anything anymore.”
That would be really good. Again it’s the question of how. How do we do that?
And really now’s not the time. it’s a separate issue. Another thorn in our sides that needs to be pulled out.
Stephanou and his assholes are the priority.
A bullet whizzes past my ear, I swear I hear it before I see it hit the ground in front of me.
Like fuck, do we all snap to into action though.
The people around start screaming and running into the buildings, taking cover.
I get behind one of the empty market stalls and Gabe and Nick both cover me.
There ahead of us on the roof of the Chinese takeaway is Davide and Rardo. They both have machine guns and like us they didn’te alone.
Motherfuckers. There’s ten mean, thuggish looking men with them and they all jump down ready for war.
That’s fine we are too.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.
While seven of the men go for udius and his crew, the rest follow Davide and Rardo. Heading for us.
Theye for us guns zing, ready to take us down.
“Looking for us?” Davide snarls as he starts shooting up the ce.
“Salvatore, this fucker needs to be stopped.” Gabe shouts to me.
“Leave him to me, you two get rid of the others and round back so we can deal with Rardo.” I order. Rardo is more dangerous than Davide, and cunning. I nce at him and see the broad smile on his face. A smile like we’re already lying dead on the ground and he’s going to haul us back to Stephanou and present us as the catch of the evening.
Asshole, let him think that.
“Ready boys,” I shout and like we’re unit we move knowing exactly what to do.
Gabe and Nick run out from my left and start firing at the back up guys. One goes down.
That’s all I see because as soon as Davide is getting ready to load up and fire off another round I shoot him in the arm.
I get him and step out shooting at both him and Ricardo who rush over to a wide pir to take cover.
I just love when people underestimate me. It’s clear that’s what these two have done. Clear as fuck. They saw Vincent wasn’t with us and though they’d try to wipe us out.
I don’t hide anymore I head straight for then running with the rage of everything that’s happened.
More shotse my way but I see someone’s covering me. I don’t look back though to see who.
When I get to the pir I only see Davide. No Ricardo.
Where the fuck is he?
Davide drops his gun and flies at me like a feral animal his teeth a nightmare.
Before he can make contact with me I send a kick to his face that makes him snap backwards from his speed and the impact of my kick. I put my gun back in my pocket then because I don’t want to lose it. It’s all about timing when dealing with guys like this. I won’t have time to fire a bullet but I can use my fists.
When hees again I’m ready to fight this fucker. This fucking dog is definitely gonna get it tonight.
I unleash my psycho too and we punch each other giving blow for blow.
This is not like the rage filled punches I gave Gabe the other week.
Every hit I give this fucker is designed to kill and as such it weakens him.
I headbutt him, stunning him and he staggers backwards. I use that moment to whip out my gun and shot him straight in his chest.
He grabs his chest and cries out in the pain but he still tries toe for me.
It’s a loss cause though.
I got him good, near his heart. He doesn’t have long left.
He drops to his knees inplete disbelief and looks up at me. the asshole smiles. Smiles wide.
“Where are you meeting?” I demand. I know he’s not going to tell me shit but I’m trying here.
Heughs and blood runs down the side of his mouth.
“Really? You seriously think I’m going to tell you that Giordano?”
“Motherfucker, you shouldn’t havee out tonight.” I shake my head.
“That’s the difference between us and you people. we always try no matter the loss. It’s fine though. I’m just one down. Stephanou’s going to butcher you and yours. You people have taken too much away from us this time. Too much. You’re all dead.”
“Fuckinge for us, we’ll deal with you and yours,” I counter and heughs.
“And we’ll just keep taking from you. That girl didn’t even know she was dead when I cut off her head.” He wobbles but stillughs. These assholes always know how to strike a nerve. “Got a good fuck from her first though. Got her good when she bent down to pull on her panties. Her head just came right off. Fresh and ready to gift wrap. Hot girl, although I would have loved to start with Mimi what a cute name. Your babygirl….”
His eyes close and he drops to the ground.
Gabees back with Nick and udius.
“Ricardo got away,” I tell them.
There’s nothing more to say. I don’t bother to talk about the guilt I feel or the worry over Mimi.
I’m an asshole for thinking I’m lucky it wasn’t her. I’m a prick for even contemting it.
I push the guilt and worry to the back. They’re both emotions I can’t afford.