Family Ch. 04

"The rest of his men each pulled a bullet from their own shirts, each of them had a 9mm bullet. I think you made quite an impression on him, boss. I saw the young man a few weeks later, I almost didn't recognize him with his new clothes and his new vocabulary. He was walking around with a clipboard, organizing and planning neighborhood events. He is basically Casper's Edith." Francisco laughed as he finished his speech. I couldn't help but join him in his laughter.

"What's so fucking funny?" Edith walked in, the sheets in her hands had grown exponentially.

"Nothing swee..." I stopped myself midsentence, Edith blushed. Francisco laughed even louder.

"Don't stop on my account," Francisco said, "God knows you two are terrible secret keepers. If whatever the hell you two have going on is supposed to be a secret."

"You're still on my shit list," Edith said as she handed me the papers, "have fun reading this shit. I am going to have drinks with Anais."

"Edith," I said, "please keep whatever we discuss in this office to yourself."

"Ok," she replied, "I will." She leaned down and kissed me softly, "something I should know?" She whispered this in my ear, I shook my head slowly. Her smile reappeared as she pulled away from me.

"Anything I should know, boss?" Francisco said as the door closed behind Edith.

"I got the report from the investigators," I replied, "my suspicions were correct. I have everything I need, just have to find the money to get everything started. Has my brother finished his exams?"

"Just waiting on the results," he replied, "but he seems confident on what will come back."

"Good," I replied, "my brother has been away from his family long enough. Now, we go after the backers. This person could not have done all this by themselves, there is someone in the shadows pulling the strings."

"Why do I have a feeling of dread as you said that?"

"Because," I looked at him, "pretty soon we will be going to war."

...

"I had just gotten there," Angel said as he walked, Presley was walking beside him. "The weapons hadn't changed hands, shit I smelled a setup from the beginning but I thought it was one of the families, not from you guys. But even then, when the whole arrests came though, there is no way you guys respond so fast and with such force if you guys were just listening."

"Do you know who the other shooters were?"

"No," he replied, "they were from out of town for sure. There was nothing in their clothing or their vehicles that showed any allegiance to any family. There was no power moves by any of the families either, nothing to show who it could have been that ordered the hit."

"So D is here to...?

"To put our affairs in order," he interrupted, "I found out he was back in town when he visited."

"Who do you think called him then?"

"There is only one person that comes to mind that would have such blatant disrespect that she would believe herself to be above any rules or commands." Angel looked at Presley, "you should ask my mother why she felt that D needed to come back. He was making a life for himself, away from all of this. She brought him back for a reason, only she would know that reason, Agent."

"Is there anything you would like for me to tell your brother or anyone else in your family?" Presley said this over his shoulder as he started to walk away, he knew that this was a slippery slope, something that the higher ups would heavily frown upon.

"No need," he replied with a smile, "knowing my brothers, they are probably working on something to get me out of here. Thanks for the offer, though, Agent. You're not too bad," he said, "for a Fed." He smirked as he continued his walk, Presley couldn't help but smile at the similarities between the two brothers. He hoped that D could really help him escape the setup, but he could not turn his back on his position as a federal agent.

The drive to D's parent's house was hard on him, he had promised his dear friend that he would not involve his parents in their ongoing dispute, but if his brother was right, then he would need to speak with their mother. As he pulled up to the familiar home, Presley found a familiar sight, something that he had grown accustomed to over the past few weeks. For a while now, he and D's father had become fast friends, often enjoying a cup of coffee in the mornings as they spoke of everything and nothing in particular. There was something about that man that made Presley feel at ease, he could see a lot of his mannerisms had rubbed off on D.

"Agent Presley," the man greeted him as he walked up to the gate, "it has been a while since you stopped by to visit. I was beginning to wonder if you had moved on from teaching an old man gardening tricks."

"Of course not," Presley replied, "things have been busy down in the lineups. We have been filled to the gills with criminals signing confessions, making pleas for clemency, hell even giving up their fellow criminals."

"I think I read about that in the newspapers," the old man replied with a laugh, "you guys are certainly cleaning up the streets."

"We both know that I have very little to do with that," Presley laughed as he replied, "it seems like your son has quite a reputation that precedes him."

"No," the tone on the man's voice had suddenly gone from cheerful to one of complete seriousness, "that is where you are mistaken, Agent Presley, my son's reputation has been earned but it is not the reputation that you think. I am sure you have seen the hard corners of his personality, the brutality that he can inflict on his enemies. But you have also seen that deep love he has for those among his family. I know both of you were forced to do terrible things, Agent Presley, I can see it in my son's eyes every single time I speak with him.

"I have not known you for very long, but you too carry that same look with you. Neither one of you does a good job at hiding that deep pain that you both feel, but you do a magnificent job at trying to hide it in such different ways. You are more alike than he is with his brothers, the same personality, the same loyalty, even the same temperament. But while he aspires loyalty in those around him, you are more the quiet professional. Agent Presley, do you have any children?"

"No, sir," Presley replied, still stunned by the man's sudden candid answers.

"I watched my son grow up far too quickly," the man replied, "I heard his screams in the middle of the night as he fought terrible nightmares when he was a child. I stood there, in the doorway just outside his room, frozen in place, unable to make myself do anything that could comfort my son. But it was not nearly as heartbreaking as hearing his screams in the middle of the night as an adult, as I stood in that same doorway, listening to the screams of my child drown the night. Agent Presley, there is no worse feeling that a man can experience than the inability to protect his children.

"But that is where my son is best at, that is where he aspires such loyalty from everyone. When he is around, people feel protected by him, comforted, and they can smile freely. But even then, my son is still in some of his deepest sorrows, as you are. Both of you plunge yourselves into your own jobs so fiercely that everything outside of that just ceases to exist for the time being. You both grow afraid of not having enough in your hands and in your mind to drown out all the screams. Agent Presley, I truly wish I could tell you both that eventually those screams will fade out, that a day will come when you will stop hearing them. But that would be a lie, all you can do is try to find peace with yourself, and find your lot in life."

"I spoke to Angel," Presley continued, "he was not aware that D had returned."

"No," the old man replied, "that was his mother's doing. She reached out to D and brought him back," as he stared into Presley's eyes, he continued. "he had walked away from this life, had effectively turned his back on the family. But she brought him back here, and for that I will never forgive her."

"I was brought here to stop him if necessary," Presley replied, "if he crosses the line, I will be there to stop him with everything I have at my disposal."

...

"I take it you had a good night, ladies?" I asked as Edith and Anais stumbled into the room, both carried an empty pitcher in their hands.

"It..." Edith tried to reply, "awesome, times."

"We sat in her room and tried to see who could finish their pitcher the fastest," Anais added, "I think she won, or lost?" They both giggled.

"Well I am glad you two enjoyed yourselves so thoroughly," I replied, trying to snub a chuckle. As I looked at the two women, my heart felt heavy for the first time in a long time, "I am afraid I will be extremely busy in the next coming days. Things are moving a lot faster than I expected, far too many things have fallen into place and I still have Elvis' attention on me. That alone is enough to make me second guess my next course of action."

"Well," Anais said, "I am sure that Francisco will be there to help you out as much as he can." She moved close to me, her breath boiling my skin with every exhale. She reached to the side of my face, her skin soft and inviting. Carefully, she guided her own face toward my own, our lips following a path to collision. As they met for the first time, the softness of her lips completely overwhelmed me and wrapped me in a cocoon of silk undertones.

"We can't," I pried myself from Anais, my body demanding an explanation that I could not provide at that time. "It's not right," I continued.

"Edith said that she did not care," Anais whined, "and considering her current condition, I don't think she would protest much. Besides, I am a grown woman, and I think I am entitled to decide what is right and wrong when it involves me." She again reached for my head, this time my arms interrupted her travel.

"Perhaps later," I replied, trying to convince myself that I did not want to succumb to her lust. Every cell within my body reproached me, every fiber of my being demanded that I take this woman and plunge myself into her. To satiate my very desire to fill her with my seed.

"Am I interrupting?" I had never been more grateful to hear Francisco's voice; he stood in the doorway watching the scene. He glanced down to the sofa in the office and saw Edith passed out, then his eyes fixed on Anais, disappointment clearly defined behind that stare that threatened to penetrate even the thickest body armor.

"No," I gathered myself as I answered, "Anais, please help Edith to her room, and both of you get some rest. We all have had a very long day," I tried to regain the control that I had lost so swiftly.

"Casper is on his way," Francisco said, hoping that the revelation would help Anais move faster as she picked up Edith and left the room. His words had the desired effect. "Also your brother has some news that he will need to share with you," he continued, "I am guessing he has received his test results."

"Good," I replied, "also get cousin Armando on the phone, make sure he gets here to hear my brother's announcement. We are going to be moving pretty quick from this moment on," I looked at Francisco, "and thank you for coming in when you did. I almost lost myself there."

"Not that I mind, boss," he replied, looking at me with concern, "but I have never seen you lose control as you did with her. Is there something I should know?"

"There is nothing going on there," I replied, "that was the first and last time that Anais and I will be alone in the same room together. Please make sure of that," I added. As Francisco moved to gather drinks for both of us, I produced a pack of cigarettes from my desk, "I think its time that you learn a little more about what will be happening in the next days, my friend."

"Sure thing," Francisco said, his concern was obvious, "what's got you so rattled up?"

"I had hoped that Elvis would be far more occupied with other matters," I replied, "the sad fact is that apparently our earlier plan proved to be far too effective. He is not as distracted as I hoped he would be. So I am going to have to take a huge gamble on our plan," I looked at Francisco in a way I had never done before. Complete uncertainty veiled my eyes.

"This is not like you, D," Francisco said, "you're usually far more collected."

"You'll understand soon," I replied, "as soon as my brother and cousin arrive." We sat and made idle chat as we waited, Francisco filled me in with his relationship with Jessica and her son. I was truly content with my friend's recently found happiness, even as the minutes dragged on and moved like hours.

"Your guests have arrived," Francisco said, "Casper is bringing both your brother and Armando in."

"Let's get started," I replied, swallowing the last of the drink in my glass.

"Boss," Casper greeted me as he walked into the office, "things are moving outstandingly on my side of things."

"I got my results," Cesar said, "I am officially a licensed attorney."

"Good," I replied to both, "cousin, your information proved to be valuable and extremely accurate. I continue to be thankful to you for it." I shook his hand before gesturing everyone to sit, "now, let's begin with the latest events. Starting today, we are at war with the other families. Francisco here will continue to be my Chief of Security, but as of now he will gain the title of Capo Bastone." I looked at the men in my office, none protested.

"My brother will become Consigliere, and will of course serve as our closest advisor and legal representative. His first task will be to find a way to get Angel out of prison and back to the helm of the family where he belongs. He will have very little dealings with the actual inner workings of the family, and so he will work closely with our accountant." Again, there were no objections to my decision.

"Casper," I looked at the man that had quickly proven his loyalty through sheer hard work and determination, "you have earned yourself the title of Caporegime," I looked at my cousin, "as well as you, Armando. Both of you have displayed loyalty and understanding beyond all doubt, and I know that both of you can be called upon at a moment's notice and will keep the family's interests before personal gain. You each will maintain your titles until we are no longer in war."

"Thank you for your trust and confidence, Daemon," Armando said, reaching for my hand, "this is far more than I desired, but I will gladly follow your guidance."

"You honor me," Casper said, "I was just a thug when you met me, and have helped me learn far more than I ever hoped to learn about the world. My guns are behind you."

"Brother," Cesar said, "thank you for the opportunity to serve the family. I will do you proud."

Francisco looked at me, as our eyes met we both knew that no words were necessary, "each of you have earned your titles. I am proud to have you each stand beside me at this time. However, the main reason for this meeting, I am afraid, is far more pessimistic. The CIA and FBI are still sniffing around, and we have run out of time to keep them busy so they cannot pay attention to our upcoming movements. That, I am afraid, cannot be helped."

I reached into my jacket and produced an envelope, "Consigliere, here is your task, this envelope is to remain sealed until the time that I am unable to perform the duties as head of the family. If it is open before then, without my authorization, I will consider it as an act of betrayal and will respond accordingly." I looked at the men, Cesar grabbed the envelope and placed it in his own jacket. "In a few hours, I will meet with Elvis," I looked at the men before continuing, "and my intentions will be made perfectly clear to him. He will either back me up or I will join my brother behind bars. While I still stand conscious and breathe on my own, that envelope must remain sealed."

"What will we be doing?" Francisco broke the deadly silence that had loomed over us, "what will you need us to do?"

"There are three other major families, the Acostas, Salvatos, and the Russians." I took a long drag from the cigarette, "Armando, you will reach out to the Russians, let them know that we are about to make moves and that unfortunately some of their businesses will be affected by them. Francisco, you will do the same to the Salvatos. We will not offer compensation, nor will we offer restorations."

"Are you sure they will accept that?" Armando said, it was a fair question.

"We will not give them another option, we are simply giving them a courtesy, letting them know that they are not the target of our war, just collateral damage." I looked at Casper, "you will begin a quiet campaign against the Acosta, for every three of their businesses that you strike, you will hit one from each of the remaining families. Including ours." A sharp intake of air filled the room, "if either one of the families warns the Acostas about our moves, we will have another piece of the puzzle. If they do not, then we will know that the old alliances remain intact. I expect that I will hear from their own heads of family once you two approach them, a show of solidarity. Edith has found all the missing money," I revealed, this was something that not even Francisco was aware of, "Capo Bastone, make sure that your men are prepared, all those rock drills that they have been running are still fresh in their minds. They will come in handy in the next few weeks."

"Gentlemen," Francisco said, "we all have our tasks. Do your best, stand by your phones in case we will need to convene again, make no moves without discussing them with myself and Daemon. These next few days will be crucial, if the feds do not back off then our moves will have to be done with surgical precision. Armando, Casper, if you get resistance from your respective meetings, simply nod and leave. Notify me immediately. Do not make boasts or threats, there will be no need for any of that."

"If worst comes to worst and any of your associates become apprehended," Cesar replied, "inform them that they are not to speak with anyone without me being present. The feds will have a larger amount of pull regarding detention, but even they have to allow an attorney to be present during questioning. I am to be their first call."

"Good luck, gentlemen," I said, "may each of you have full canopies and soft landing zones."

...

"I must say that this is quite a surprise," Elvis said, "didn't think you would reach out in the middle of the greatest wave of organized crime violence in the last few years."

"What can I say," I replied, "I just can't seem to keep away from that ugly mug of yours."

"What do you need, D?" Elvis asked, "surely you didn't call me here just to make jokes. What's on your mind?"

"Have you spoken to Angel?"

"Not since you let loose that lawyer of yours," he laughed, "for a brand new lawyer, he is quite a fucking shark. You must be proud of him, he is doing a hell of a job keeping us out of Angel's cell. But before then, yes, your brother and I had a long conversation."

"My brother has always been a sharp tool," I replied with a chuckle, "and his interests are very well directed at this point. If it was you behind bars, you know I would go through the same lengths to protect you." I stared at my friend for a long time in complete silence, watching the truth of my words sink in slowly, "but that is not the reason why I asked to speak with you."

"There is a quiet war going on," he replied, "already, three families have completely collapsed. Some silent attacker is taking apart the remaining families, yours included. Of the families that are currently under attack, there is only one that is making active moves to defend themselves against the onslaught. The other three are quietly absorbing the damage of the attacks, again this includes yours." Elvis looked at me, "we both know that even though I can't prove it, you are behind it. This has Bagdad written all over it. Complete guerrilla warfare."