Thieves Stealing From Thieves: Chapter 2 – For the Love of It

Chapter 2 – For the Love of It

Back in the dark room of the Hydra Roundtable, we are given an anonymous report stating that we were one of the most successful groups to go out during the week of the bank job. Other groups either had non-criminal casualties, didn’t fully complete the objective, or had members of their group killed or arrested.

“Guess that means we got providence on our side,” Kelly says.

“I hope we do. Still, I wonder why the Hydra Roundtable allows this kind of failure for jobs they want done,” I say.

“What do you mean?” Suzuki asks.

“If you’re offering people a job and allowing them to do it, why do you allow failure? This mysterious group must have a deeper reason for gathering people like us and giving us specific targets to go after. I mean, look at the TV. Those previous jobs that weren’t fulfilled completely or that others failed are back on the map. I hope that the more we do for them, the greater we’ll understand them. Maybe we’ll even meet its shadowy masters.”

“You gotta have a lot of hope then, my friend. Groups like this have us at arms' length and don’t directly interact with us for a reason,” Al says.

“Then I’m going to keep on hoping. To business. What should be our next job?”

“How about I give it a go since Suzuki picked last time?” Kelly asks.

We agree, and Kelly gets up and considers her selection before picking a purely loud, high-profile assignment. We’re meant to dress up as Vorfahren “extremists” and shoot up a gathering of Slav criminals to get the two groups fighting one another. The additional objects gathering intel about the plans of the Slavs, such as which political or business leaders they are influencing and any underworld dealings they have. Kelly looks over to Suzuki and me as if expecting a reaction.

“What? No reaction to my choice?” Kelly asks.

“Why would I? Like I said before, I have no loyalty or affection for the Vorfahren,” I say.

“I agree with Ace. Though they did much good for Tatsu, the evils they brought upon the world make me see them as the lesser of two evils. We’re also sparking an open conflict between them and the Slavs, so they’ll be hurt by this sudden attack as well,” Suzuki explains.

Kelly turns to Al, who shrugs and says, “All I see this as is us enforcing justice on unpunished criminals who the law can’t directly go after yet.”

“What do you think of the risk factor?” Kelly asks.

“Acceptable. I have heavy gear for false flag attacks such as this,” I say.

“Assignments like these are what I thrive in,” Al says.

“This won’t be the first time I’ve gone into a place, guns blazing, such as the time I entered a tea house and gunned down an entire crime family of sixteen people,” Suzuki says.

“Pfft. You think that’s badass? There was one time I had to defend a mansion against twenty people all on my own with just my assault rifle and its underbarrel grenade launcher,” Al says.

“Heh. Try fighting a bunch of armed guards in prison after assassinating a group of inmates your family sent you into jail to kill. I only managed to get out of it alive because of my family’s connections to people in the justice system.”

“Well, there was the one time-”

“Guys, we can share stories later,” I say. “Go ahead and sign us up for this job, Kelly.”

Kelly taps the screen and accepts the job for us. We consider the help the Hydra Roundtable can offer, choose what’s most appropriate and helpful, and make our final decision. We’re given two days to prepare this time. In the meantime, we stay at a nearby hotel and wait for the targets and our help to arrive. We also enjoy the rooftop pool, bar, and good weather. Al and Suzuki are having swim races with one another, while Kelly is sunbathing in a frilly black one-piece swimsuit and sunglasses.

“Mind if I sit with you?” I ask.

“I don’t see why not,” Kelly says. As I sit down, Kelly continues, saying, “What have you been up to since our last job?”

“Just preparing for the next. I really have nothing better to do.”

“What? No family, no other jobs or hobbies?”

“Nothing besides prayer and planning.”

“That sounds sad.”

“It’s what happens when you feel like you have a lot to make up for.”

“Because of what you were doing at that bank job for the Israelis?”

“Yup. I feel like if I make enough of an impact through these jobs we’re doing that I’ll somehow help the people I’ve wronged and others like them.”

“Take it from a woman who's seen what change brings. The world never changes, no matter what ideology is in charge or how fast countries change hands. There will always be people who take advantage of others and people like us who have to fix their mistakes, over and over again.”

“There’s nothing new under the sun.”

“Exactly, and this’ll keep going on until God comes again and puts an end to it.”

“…I know.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. A never-ending penance until the day I die is what a guy like me deserves.”

“Oh, stop it with the pity party. You’re a good guy, despite what you do and what you’ve done, Ace. Not many people put their lives on the line for others as you do.”

Suzuki and Al invite Kelly and me over to eat and drink with them since the food we ordered is here.

“Now this is real food and drinks, not like that mix of good and bad foods from that bar we went to,” Suzuki says.

We’ve ordered a spread of food and drinks from different regions, such as Tatsu, Lupa, and the Slav Federation. We both criticize and compliment food from each of our native countries, except for me, since I didn’t order anything particular to me.

“I identify more with the United Chimaera States than anywhere else. You basically had the food and drink of my culture at the previous bar we were at,” I say.

“So, the quality of your country is mixed then. Huh. Makes sense given its politics and culture,” Suzuki says.

“Can’t argue with that.”

Eating, drinking, and joking around like this makes me feel like our group is more like a group of friends than business partners. It’s a feeling I haven’t had in a while, and I am thankful to God for feeling it once more. The next day is much of the same, with bar games and Kelly showing off how she and Suzuki can drink more than Al and I. The next day is the day of the job. The help we got from the Hydra Roundtable has given us an insider among the Slavs to carry their important receipts and records of activities to one of their secure locations, in fear of the Vorfahren, whom the Hydra Roundtable has anonymously paid to go after the Slavs as well, adding to the image that this is a real attack from them.

For this job, we wear suits with ballistic weave for minor protection, and given masks with the signature spiked golden cross on them, so we don’t have to use our usual masks. Still, Suzuki has fixed his up so he can fit one of his revolvers in the mask’s mouth.

Pointing this out, Kelly says, “I should’ve asked you earlier, but why do you carry a revolver in your mask’s mouth, two inside your suit, and another two at your hip?”

“It’s how my family taught me how to fight. It’s one of our many gun-fighting styles. This one with revolvers is inspired by one that the samurai came up with after seeing what the Western cowboys were capable of with their revolvers, and as one of the modern samurai, I thought I should carry on their legacy,” Suzuki explains.

“Sounds like they were just trying to be show-offs and that they can handle revolvers better than the Westerns,” Al says.

“Tell me, have you ever seen a gunslinger use pistols or revolvers as I do? Thought so. The Tatsu are second to none in all aspects of life.”

“You’re going to have to show him that you’re the actual better cowboy, Ace,” Kelly says.

“I’ll do my best.”

“As for me, my dual hot pink mini machine guns are the best in keeping people down and/or dead. My baby girls can outdo the both of you.”

“And for me,” Al says as he finishes putting together his light machine gun from the pieces he keeps in his suitcase, “This is my little friend. He doesn’t need to show off to outclass other guns. He just lets his actions speak for him.”

Al’s machine gun is comprised of the parts of many other assault rifles and light machine guns, including a red dot sight, drum mag, and grip to keep it under control.

“Now that a style challenge has been added to our job, are we ready to go?” I ask the others. They say they’re ready, so I say, “Let’s get this done.”

The Slavs get set up in their secure location, which is a series of apartments they own. It’s a poor house that they say they own and manage for the sake of the poor, but it’s also a meeting and safe house for them and a place to convert the poor to their side. If the poor who want to stay there reject their beliefs, they are kicked out due to “ideological violence” and “being unneighborly and inciting conflict”. The Vorfahren arrive on time in an alleyway, put on masks similar to ours to hide their identity, arm up, and head into the poor house. They hold up the workers there, telling them to bring them to their bosses. The workers do so, and the Vorfahren are brought to where the Slavs are.

As my friends and I are sneaking around and gathering the information we need for the bonus, we hear their conversation through the bugs placed in the poor house, thanks to the Hydra Roundtable’s help.

“Let the poor go from this brainwashing so-called poor house of yours,” one of the Vorfahren says.

“Is that what you’re after us for? Is that why you’ve been chasing after us? To make the poor, homeless? You people truly are monsters,” one of the Slavs says.

“We don’t want them to be homeless. We’re telling you that we’re taking over,” another of the Vorfahren says.

“Pfft. As if you people are known to treat the poor well,” another of the Slavs says, as different people from both sides start arguing with one another.

“You people this, you people that. You Slavs say you’re not racist, but demean whites, and say that blacks who aren’t on your side are race traitors. You say you treat the poor well, but kick out the poor who don’t embrace your cult and kill the unborn and disabled as a so-called act of kindness so they don’t suffer when suffering is what makes people strong.”

“Don’t go around quoting your leader in Adler because you aren’t as well spoken as him. He isn’t the saint that you think he is.”

“Yours in the Slav Federation is no saint either because of how he kills those closest to him who he thinks are becoming more famous or powerful than him. He’s just a glorified mob boss.”

“Those people were detractors, trying to become more powerful for their own sake.”

“We can say the same about you and your lavish lifestyles because of all the donations that go to your causes that you mostly spend on yourselves rather than the people you’re meant to help, this poor house being a prime example.”

“The funds go where they need to, and you’ll get this poor house over our dead bodies.”

“You don’t need to tell us twice.”

The Slavs and Vorfahren start shooting at one another as my friends and I finish gathering the info we need. The other Slavs in the building start heading up to help their friends, but my friends and I stop them in their tracks and attract some of the attention to us. Even some of the poor people they indoctrinated start firing on us, forcing us to kill them as well.

“What kind of scum forces the poor to fight? I pray for their souls,” Suzuki says.

“Focus, Byakko,” I say.

“I’m more than focused now, Cowboy.”

Suzuki advances on the Slavs, dancing in the gunfight as if he’s in a swordfight, each shot of his revolver landing in the chest or skull of his target. Instead of reloading, he switches to another revolver and doesn’t take cover to reload until they’re all empty. Not wanting him to get shot or take all the fame, Al and Kelly advance with Suzuki and cover his blind spots by clearing the nearby rooms of any shooters or people with knives or makeshift weapons. Meanwhile, I cover our rear where more Slavs come after us. My friends and I go up to where the Vorfahren are to help them out, and when all the Slavs are dead, we go to talk to them.

“Thank you for tipping us off to what the Slavs were doing here. Without you, we would’ve lost more good people,” one of the Vorfahren says.

“Thank you, but you being here was most valuable to us,” I say.

“Ah! We don’t deserve any credit. Now, we should care for the dead and get out of here.”

“We’ll take care of them, and you.”

Saying the code word, my friends and I gun down the Vorfahren. As part of the Vorfahren help, the Hydra Roundtable allowed us to kill our own help, using their dead bodies to prove to the Slavs and wider world that they were responsible for what happened here, rather than us marking the walls with Vorfahren marks and sayings.

“That was a bit cold, but necessary,” Kelly says.

“Now people will really think that the Vorfahren were the ones responsible for all this. Come on, let’s get out of here,” I say.

One of the poor people here who was our Slav insider guides us to a secret exit that we use to get out just as the police arrive. With another job done, we head back to the Hydra Roundtable hideout and give them what we found at the Slav poor house, and we are each given a payout of ten thousand. Celebrating our deed, we go to a Tatsu bar restaurant. We hear about our deeds on the news, and besides the Slav and Vorfahren fighting each other in public in our country, our own police force is going after both groups, and both groups are fighting each other on the other side of the world even more than usual.

As we are eating, I ask everyone, “Did you see anything that was in those documents and receipts we took?”

“Not at all. I didn’t care to,” Kelly says.

“Me neither,” Suzuki says.

“I think I glanced at something about the Israeli mafia and the Golden Coast, but that’s it. Why?” Al says.

“I wanted to know why our employers wanted the information. The bonus for getting it paid just as much as getting the job done. They obviously really wanted to know what the Slavs are up to,” I say.

“It’s really none of our business,” Kelly says as she finishes her drink and orders another.

“Kelly is right. We got our job done well and got a better paycheck than last time out of it. Don’t let it bother you,” Al says.

Turning to Suzuki, he nods in agreement. I guess I’m the only one that’s curious. I don’t even know what I would do with the information if I knew it. Maybe I should just keep my curiosities in the back of my head and just do the job I’m being paid for. We are just guns for hire after all, but I do feel like we can have a greater impact on the world, given what’s happening across the world.

Thieves Stealing from Thieves: Chapter 1 – A Posse of Virtuous Thieves

Chapter 1 – A Posse of Virtuous Thieves

Four of us sit quietly in a room with our masks on, rules of the shadowy organization printed on papers in front of the circular table in front of us, and a widescreen touch TV listing all the possible jobs for us to take, some of which are disappearing and slowly being replaced by new ones. I’m wearing a basic black-and-white suit, tie, and shoes, and a clown mask with the blue and red flag of the United Chimaera States on it with its golden cross and red X. A muscle man with a golden cross wears a similar suit to mine and wears an orange tiger mask. The only woman in the room wears a colorful, pink suit with golden tassels on it, a red tie, and an orange shirt underneath, a black skirt, and pink boots. She wears a clown mask like mine, except she has red hair in pigtails and a pink flower on it. Lastly, the other man in the room wears a frilly butler-type suit, and his mask has weird black strips near each eye and his mouth.

Not wanting to waste any time, I say, “We were all paired together for some reason. I assume you all said you wanted to be in a four-man group?”

They all nod their heads.

“I’m assuming they told you to wear a mask here. You spoke to a masked individual for your interview for this organization, and they told you not to stop wearing your mask or reveal your name until you met your group, so since no one else wants to move things along, I’ll go first.”  I take off my mask. “My name is Ace Argentum, and my codename is Cowboy.”

The well-dressed man with a creepy mask takes his off. He has long black hair and green eyes. His appearance reminds me a lot of myself when I didn’t have a goatee and graying black hair as I do now.

“My name is Al Jarrett, code name Cappuccino,” he says.

“Pfft. What a funny codename,” the girl says as she takes off her clown mask, revealing a young adult female’s face with half dark blue, half black hair, dark blue eyeshadow, dark blue eyes, and black lipstick. “You gave yourself a code name after your favorite coffee?”

“Yes,” Al says with a straight face.

Surprised by his unhumorous honesty, the girl shrugs her shoulders and then says, “The name’s Kelly McGhee. Code name is Rosebud. What’s yours, tiger?”

The man with a tiger mask takes it off, revealing a man with stubby facial hair, long black hair, and soft brown slanted eyes.

“Suzuki Koyama. You can call me Byakko in the field,” Suzuki says.

“Well, that’s what the codenames and masks are for. No one can know who is robbing or killing for this strange organization of thieves and mercenaries that we’ve joined, and if someone does find out, the organization cuts off all contact with us,” Kelly says.

“It’s called the Hydra Roundtable, and it’s not just another shadowy organization,” I say, pointing at the papers. “They don’t recruit just anyone off the streets. They’re looking for men and women of honor who want to do more than make money in less-than-legal ways. They want people with a good reason to risk their lives for a cause greater than themselves. Since we’re all supposed to get to know and trust each other, do you mind telling me your motives for joining?”

“I’m from the Slav Federation, and I’m just here to cause some good trouble. I don’t even care if we make a difference. All I want to do is make sure corrupt people in all areas of society get what they deserve,” Kelly says.

“The Slav Federation? Tch. Of course someone from there just wants to cause senseless chaos,” Suzuki scoffs.

“I know the reputation of my homeland, its people, and the primary ideology they worship, but I am not one of them. That’s why I’m here. If anything, I prefer we take the contracts that hurt the adherents of the Slavic political ideology.”

“Heh, sure. I just find it hard to believe because the Slavs say they overthrew their governments to help the people, particularly the poor and middle class, and distribute the riches of the wealthy to those who need it, but when they got into power, they only helped themselves, and either killed, jailed, or exiled everyone else.”

“If we’re talking about the hypocrisies of our countries, what about those that embrace the Von Menschen und Vorfahren? The two founding countries, Adler and Lupa, did much the same thing, saying they were using force and the powers of the state to return their countries to their former glory and bring them to greater heights. I’m assuming you’re from Tatsu, Suzuki?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then let’s not fail to mention how they put many of the people from the Loog Dynasty into camps like Adler did and committed unspeakable acts of rape, murder, and inhuman experimentation on an Asiatic people that they considered less than them.”

“The glory of the Tatsu Empire is restored. It’s a shame what happened to its detractors, but I’m glad that other nations take us seriously again and foreigners will no longer take advantage of us.”

“So, you’re saying your country is justified in the same atrocities that mine are guilty of?”

“No.”

“How about we agree to disagree?” I interject. “I said in my interview that I wanted to work with people of the same belief. Don’t we all worship the same suffering God?”

“I am part of the suffering Church, the Patiens Ecclesia,” Suzuki says, and the rest agree.

“Then let’s agree to disagree. I myself can attest to the evils of both sides. I used to work for a bank to help people with their finances, but I worked for some greedy Israeli bankers and was screwing over more people than anything. It’s why I’ve been mostly a bank robber ever since. As for the Slavs, I’ve been taking from their underground businesses and using it to actually help the poor.”

“It sounds like you might like the Vorfahren more than Slavs, given their hatred of Israelis,” Kelly says.

“Just because I might like one enemy more than the other doesn’t mean I’ll ever consider working for them. They’re both sides of the same wretched coin as far as I’m concerned.”

Al says, “I agree with Ace. Both sides are hunted by my family, and we’re trying to influence our country’s leaders to classify their beliefs as hateful and illegal.”

“Your family? The terminology is familiar to me. You must mean you’re part of a crime family,” Suzuki says.

“Do I?”

“Yes. I recognize it because I’m part of my own family in Tatsu, doing our own thing to influence the government and keeping it in our pocket.”

“That’s the only way to control the government: make sure it does the will of the right people.”

Suzuki and Al smile at one another as if instantly forming a brotherhood over shared experiences in crime families. I look over to Kelly, and she looks at me.

“I don’t care if I’m the odd one out. I know what it’s like in my own home,” she says.

“We’re all odd in our own way. You’re among like-minded people, whether you know it or not,” I say.

“Since introductions are out of the way, how about we get to work? I keep seeing jobs disappear from the TV screen.”

“Right. Which would you all like to take?”

“Since you mentioned banks, I think we can get the best payday and boost in reputation with the Hydra Roundtable if we hit one of those. No one is really taking any of them either,” Al says.

“It’s high risk, high reward,” I say.

“Just the way I like it,” Kelly says.

“Suzuki?”

“I agree with Kelly. Nothing easy is worth doing. May I pick the particular bank?” Suzuki says.

“Go ahead.”

Suzuki goes up to the TV and taps the bank job to accept it for us. The details spread out and tell us that the bank is held by members of the Israeli mafia to launder and keep their money in, and give needy people loans with high interest. It’s not the same place I worked at, but I recognize the names of the special targets who run the organization.

“Looks like we got some targets who we can get a bonus from if we take them out and confirm the kill. I’m surprised to see them, given that the Hydra Roundtable is strict on its killing rule,” I say.

“We can only kill criminals and special targets. Everyone else, from civilians to cops, greatly reduces our pay and reputation,” Al says.

“The Hydra Roundtable is also offering to provide us with more information and ways into the bank at the cost of a percentage of our score. What do you think we should take, if anything at all?”

“Hmm. Keycard, interference with the police to allow us more time to get out if things get hairy, insider assistance, special weapons and tools to get into the bank. It’s all very tempting,” Kelly says. “I don’t see why we shouldn’t take what we think is necessary. I’m not in this for the money. Just the fun and virtue of it.”

“I say we should,” Al says.

“Again, I have to agree with Kelly,” Suzuki says.

“I guess we do have more things in common than we think,” Kelly says.

“Yes. If you are truly a noble, then we should never seriously disagree on anything and work together well,” Suzuki says.

Kelly nods and smiles. With that set, we choose what the Hydra Roundtable can help us with and are given three days to prepare as our assets are gathered for us. During that time, my group and I take stock of what we need, study the blueprints of the bank, make a plan to get the requested amount of cash and to fulfill the secondary objectives, and take walks around the bank to become familiar with it and what happens in it. The day of the robbery arrives, and we all begin to play our parts.

Over the radio, I say, “How’s the floor look, Rosebud?”

“Busy and smelling of desperation and greed as always, Cowboy,” Kelly says. “Cappuccino. Is the coffee brewing?”

“Yes. We’re about to have a nice, rich drink soon,” Al says as he hacks into the bank doors thanks to the codes provided by the Hydra Roundtable. “How are our VIPs, Byakko?”

“Some are strapped, and others are none the wiser that they’re about to have their pictures taken with their new crowns,” Suzuki says, referring to the charges planted in the bank and the members of the Israeli mafia we’re meant to kill and take pictures of to confirm the kill. “I think it’s about time to act, Ace.”

“I think so too,” I say. “Is everyone ready?”

Everyone agrees, so I say, “Mask up. Let’s get this done.”

Putting on my mask and drawing my pistols, both long and capable of firing rifle rounds, and currently loaded with non-lethal rounds. We’re aided by five disgruntled workers and civilians who have been taken advantage of by the people who ran this bank, each of whom has their own mask and rifle loaded with non-lethal rubber bullets. We shout at everyone to get down, shoot the guards with the non-lethal rounds to knock them out, and make sure no one leaves the bank yet or hits any of the alarms. From below, we can see Suzuki kick in the doors of the office and gun down all our targets. Another group of five masked helpers comes in and goes down to the vault to help Al with a specialized drill to open parts of the vault we don’t have a key for.

While all this is happening, I’m saying to the crowds, “Stay down and stay calm! We want the bank’s money, not yours. Yours is insured by the government, so you’ll lose nothing. Don’t be a hero because it’d be wasted on the scum that runs this bank.”

None of the civilians move for the duration that it takes Al and our helpers to get the money. Suzuki comes down to help with the money, and before we set off the explosives, we yell at the civilians to leave and let them know what we’re doing. They all sprint out of the bank, screaming, not even stopping to carry out the unconscious guards as we tell them to, forcing us to carry the guards to a safe location on our way out. Once we’re far enough, Suzuki activates the explosives, leveling the bank and destroying everything else we didn’t take. Our ten helpers take the money in an armored car, while Suzuki, Kelly, Al, and I take a separate, unassuming four-door car.

Thanks to the Hydra Roundtable’s help, the police don’t arrive until after we start driving away, and by then, they don’t see us get into our separate cars, and don’t know that the people they’re looking for have already driven past them. We don’t celebrate until we’re back at the Hydra Roundtable’s hideout, where we’re paid a meager five thousand each for our work. None of us look bothered by our paycheck, but I still ask them if they are.

“Pfft. No. Why? How much did you usually make during bank robberies, Ace?” Kelly asks.

“Eh. About the same. I don’t like keeping dirty money with me, so I donate most of it either to Church or people in need,” I say.

“That’s what I’m planning to do with this,” Al says while waving the packet of money around.

“Agreed. I have plenty of money from my work with my family to get by for the next few years,” Suzuki says.

“I guess that means you’ll be the one buying for tonight’s celebration,” Kelly says.

Suzuki shrugs his shoulders and says, “I don’t see why not, especially after making some new friends.”

The four of us go out, changed into different suits, and go to a bar that’s outside the city where the bank was. We recommend each other our favorite drinks, some of which aren’t palatable to some of us, like Suzuki, who spits out a lot of what he drinks, and sticks to Sakae and Mediterranean red wine. News of what we did shows up on the bar’s TV, and we make a toast to it.

“To our future success,” I say.

The four of us clink our glasses and enjoy the fruits of our work, hoping that it continues for many jobs to come.

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Faith, Family, and Fortune

The Campione brothers aspire to be more than just car mechanics. Their chance comes when Great War veterans overturn a corrupt election, protected by dishonest cops. They put their lives on the line for the neighborhood and are inducted into Casa Della Notte, a clandestine brotherhood of men bound by honor, loyalty to God, and family. Together, they'll safeguard law enforcement, defend their homeland against foreign influences, run a casino, and plot against their rivals, including targeting a high-profile political figure.

This book includes: The Good Neighbor Boys Quartiere Cavalieri, To Be an Honest Man: Dedizione All'Amore, and Mobster's Bet: Lascia che sia Dio a Decidere, along with Behind the Story trivia for each story.

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Since taking over several casinos, the Campione brothers have successfully navigated a wealthy, legitimate business while simultaneously maintaining their underworld activities through their connections and people they command. The priority now is addressing a president whose failures threaten their nation and foreigners with corrupting ideologies, both of whom will be dealt with severely.

Mobster's Bet: Lascia che sia Dio a Decidere: Epilogue – A Rigged Result

Epilogue – A Rigged Result

A few weeks have passed since our major decision, and the country has changed as a result. The president was shot and killed, and there’s a civil conflict between the Vorfahren and adherents of the Slavs. For the first week, we staged murders to look like it was coming from the other side, and because both sides already hated one another, it wasn’t hard for them to completely turn their attention to them. In the second week, we arranged for them to meet one another, making them think they were going to get revenge on their ideological enemy through arresting or killing them, and during the meeting, we fired shots from both sides. Because of what was previously mentioned, the two sides had no problem killing one another, leaving us only the job of cleaning them up.

By the third week, our friends of the family in the media spin the story as rising tensions between both ideologies, and now both are focusing more on tearing each other down than on the country they reside in. The rest of our family cleaned up the other people of interest who didn’t show up at the meeting, and by now, it’s just chalked up as more violence between the two groups, and not looked into beyond that. The one bad thing that came about our plans is that the said violence between the two groups has engulfed the cities and towns where they chose to fight, but both James Sovrano and my brother see it as an opportunity to beat both sides up or outright kill them with the excuse being that they’re just defending the community, adding to the public’s view of the family as just being a collection of people who love their families and country and want to protect it.

It’s a huge win all around, and today, we’re celebrating in a private dining hall with all the members of the family and friends of  All the members of the public part of the family, Casa Della Luce, and the shadowy part, Casa Della Notte, that are here happily drinking, eating, joking around, and continue to scheme and make plans, but as for my related family and I, we simply enjoy each other’s company and the festivities.

Coming back with drinks and a cigar in his mouth, Cesare distributes the drinks and says, “What’s the serious face, Vincenzo? There’s nothing much left to scheme about.”

“There’s always something to plan for,” Marin says.

“But then there are times to party, let loose, and let God take care of the rest,” Okazaki says as she clinks glasses and drinks with Cesare, who agrees.

“I plan to become the next president,” I say.

Cesare and Okazaki spit out what they drank. Marin isn’t so surprised since I talked it over with her already in the days leading up to today.

Continuing, I say, “It’s the only way to solidify protection for our family for generations to come.”

“I figured that, but also, I have no idea why I’m so surprised. This is great, brother! I have to go get us more drinks!”

Cesare leaps up out of his seat and runs to the bar.

“What do you think the rest of the family thinks?” Marin asks.

“They approve of it, or at least are waiting to see what I’ll do. I’m sure they already know about it. I passed the idea by Russell, and he seemed proud of me and was approving,” I say.

“I don’t know why they wouldn’t be. You’ve proven yourself to be loyal to God and the family, especially our own.”

“You’ve done your fair share to help as well. You too, Okazaki. I’m proud to call you a sister-in-law.”

“Aww, thanks! I can’t wait for the day I can say that my brother-in-law is the president of the United Chimera States. The future remains bright for us,” Okazaki says.

“God willing it is,” I say. “But what am I saying? I bet everyone on relying on God’s providence and have gotten richer in many ways because of it.”

Cesare brings us drinks, and with him are a bunch of people who congratulate me on my decision. Some of them even joke about rigging the election in my favor, something I won’t exactly argue with, unless I’m running against someone else whom I trust with the country.

With all our glasses raised high, I say, “To faith, family, and fortune.”

Everyone says the same, drinks, and goes back to celebrating even harder now because of what may happen in the future, but like I said, what am I saying? God is on our side, so the game is rigged in our favor, just how we like it.

 

The End

Mobster's Bet: Lascia che sia Dio a Decidere: Chapter 3 – Decisive Moves

Chapter 3 – Decisive Moves

It’s been another few weeks since our own employees turned on us. Every possible traitor who sympathizes with our enemies has been fired or has already run for the hills. Foreign influences continue to sow chaos, division, and the destruction and corruption of our country, the United Chimera States. An emergency meeting is being held in a private dining room at the Paul casino with the family heads and important friends to figure out what we should do.

“We can’t keep this president in charge!” Joker says as he stands up and slams the table, shaking all our drinks. “There are Vorfahren in all areas of the country within the government, in the schools, in the businesses, everywhere! They’re in more places than you people and your allies are! Something must be done about him!”

“Donnie, something has to be done, or we will do something ourselves,” James Sovrano, the well-dressed don of the Garden State, says.

Donnie Parlarono, our contact in the Secret Intelligence Bureau or SIB, ponders the pressure from powerful men telling him what to do. Given the severity of what’s suggested, it’s surprising that he doesn’t outright deny it. Russell and Angelo are here today, still dressed as honest, middle-class men, despite the power and influence they wield; Russell still looking like a tired old man, and Angelo looking like a gentle man who owns a restaurant and nothing more. Vito is here and looks the same as Angelo and Vito, all three men not saying anything and simply looking at Donnie as if pressuring him to decide simply with their gaze.

“Any thoughts, Ministro brothers?” Donnie finally says.

Frank and John Ministro are dressed in black, white, and red suits as if they both worked in the government, and even though they do in one way of looking at it, given that one brother is a political mobster, while the other is a mobster in politics.

“The VP is a decent man and should lead the country better when he gets the message. He did serve in the Great War after all, and a man who puts his life on the line for others will always be a decent man in my book,” Frank Ministro says.

“My ties to Johnson are tight, and will become tighter after what we do,” John Ministro says.

“How will it happen, though? It’s not a simple task.”

“I already have that planned out,” Russell says. “We know of a marine who defected to the Slav Federation, who we can use to do the deed. If you don’t trust him to do the job, then bring one of your men to watch him or fire another shot, and then bring him in.”

“You’re planning on hiring a man, just to betray him?” Donnie asks.

“He’ll do it if he thinks he’s doing it for the right reasons. Afterward, he won’t talk about who hired him and why he did what we did.”

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t do anything if I wasn’t sure it would work out.”

Donnie is silent for a second before saying, “You may not always approve a sentence, Russell, but when you do, you become scarier than James over here.”

“It’s necessary to put the fear of God into people at all times.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Vito says.

“We should be putting the fear of God into the Slav Federation next, those godless dogs,” Cesare says. “We should’ve never allied with them during the war.”

“I’m already dealing with their kind in my state, so you don’t have to worry about them from my side,” James says with a satisfied smirk.

“My man,” Cesare says as the two shake hands.

“Whatever it is, the past is in the past. We made our mistake trusting the president to do what we helped him get into office for, and soon, he’ll be nothing more than a memory. Donnie, is there anything you need us to do to help you out on your side?”

“There is one thing. This room may not be bugged, and there’s no one here who will betray us, but when I bring our plan to the shooter, I want for this…let’s just say the Bureau has thin, glass walls. People from both sides are there trying to influence it. They like having a president in office who makes us weak, so they won’t agree with our plan. I’ve been trying to get them fired, but haven’t managed to since both of their ideologies aren’t classified as illegal or hateful and destructive to our country yet, despite obviously being so.”

“We get where this is going. They’ll get their firing notices a different way,” Marin says.

“Those people think they’re safe, but we’ll show them otherwise,” Okazaki comments.

“We still have to make sure to catch them off guard and do this as quietly as possible, while also making sure that it doesn’t look like the house is being cleaned,” Angelo says.

“I agree,” Vito says. “We need to come up with a strategy. Maybe have them fight each other since the Slav Federation and their allies are the furthest thing from friends with the Zeitloses Imperium, Lupa, and those who associate themselves with the Vorfahren.”

“Good thinking, but it’ll take some time to arrange. I think I know of a way to push it along, though,” Joseph Decoro says.

“Then let’s do it then!” James says. “I don’t care if they’re the ones killing one another or if it’s us. Let’s get it done. They’ve been a pain in our ass for too long.”

“I have to ask you again because of the weight of our decision. Are you truly all okay with this? We can get into real legal trouble if it doesn’t work out,” Donnie asks.

I say, “Men make laws, but God decides what’s right and wrong. We do things that we know to be right despite the consequences, so I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’re ready to do this.”

Russell smiles and nods his head like an approving father. Everyone else agrees and nods their heads, especially Joker, who seems to have sobered up a bit.

“Alright then. Here’s everything we need to do.”

“You already knew we’d go along with this plan, didn’t you?” Russell asks.

“It’s always good to be prepared,” Donnie says with a smirk.

Donnie lays out the profiles of the people we need to take out and their general daily schedules, as compiled by the SIB. We plan how we’re going to reach them, identify the right people for the job, and set backup plans that include James Sovrano’s and Cesare’s people to clean up whatever mess is made. With that done, we let our families in, and Fontaine Fontalloro sings for us. We eat, dance, and drink as if what we planned has already succeeded and we’re enjoying its fruits. Given the power, influence, and intelligence of the people in this room, it might as well be true.

I sing on stage with Marin, then Cesare sings with Okazaki, and then we all sing together with our kids. The good times of it all make me hopeful this will all work out in the end, and God willing, it will.

Mobster's Bet: Lascia che sia Dio a Decidere: Chapter 2 – Letting it Play Out

Chapter 2 – Letting it Play Out

It’s been a few weeks since our backers visited our casinos, and they’re coming back today for their bi-monthly visit and certain concerns of theirs. Cesare and I are practicing our shooting at my casino with our favorite pistols. Cesare is using his favorite revolver that is loaded with shotgun shells, while I’m using my golden pistol that uses rifle rounds.

“I still can’t believe they messed up the invasion of Cocodrilo so badly,” Cesare says as he aggressively reloads his revolver and fires it at a rapid pace. “That dictator is showing off what the invading force did wrong and telling us what we should’ve done. I mean, what happened?”

“Marin is figuring that out,” I say as I steadily shoot my pistol one shot after another. “What does it matter if we figure it out anyway? It’s over and done with.”

“We managed to liberate Trinacria with less than half the firepower of our country and less planning, but they decided to go in, guns blazing, with backup from the rebels on Cocodrilo, and they horribly lost.”

“That just goes to show how much better we are than they are.”

“Tch. That’s true. Do you still want to work within the government?”

“Maybe. If it’s more headache-inducing than working in business, then I may not.”

“Do you remember what Russell and the other old men said before? If you feel a pull towards a certain place, then it’s probably the will of God. I think we should get into politics just so we can prevent something like this from happening again.”

“Frank Ministro and his brother in politics didn’t manage to do much with the power they had. Donnie Parlarono of the Secret Intelligence Bureau couldn’t get enough info to help the invading force and rebels either, so what hope do we have in changing anything from inside the government?”

“We need to be in a higher position than they are. Maybe you should become president, and I’ll be vice president.”

“Ha. Like that’ll ever happen.”

“We can only hope to do so, and I’m saying we should do it.”

“Hey, hey!” Joseph Decoro says as he enters the firing range and over to us. “Campione brothers, what are you doing here?”

“Practicing our shooting. We need to keep them sharp just in case,” Cesare says.

“Where should we be, sir?” I ask.

“Quelling the riots and protests outside and getting those Vorfahren idiots a taste of the concrete.”

“It’s not done yet. Hold on.”

I go to the nearby computer and access the outside cameras. On the cameras, we see riots and protests happening outside the casinos of the Vorfahren, who are protesting because of our business and support of anti-Vorfahren politicians. Before Joseph says anything else, a fight breaks out among the rioters, consisting of Marin’s people beating on people with bats, brass knuckles, crowbars, and other blunt objects. The cops soon arrive, but don’t arrest Marin’s people and just go after the rioters and protesters.

“There we go. What took so long?” Joseph asks.

“We had Marin and Okazaki’s people focus on preventing other riots from around the city, and thought that it’d be better if we let the riots happen outside the casinos so the rioters would pay for the damages, have them arrested in public, and have the senseless violence of their ideology shown so that we can criticize them for it,” I explain.

“Ah! I get it now. It was a very Russell plan of yours. He’d be proud of you.”

“How’s he and the other bosses handling the situation?”

“Russell is moving his people around, doing his usual four-dimensional chess moves, James Sovrano is cracking heads in the Garden State, Angelo Delicato is protecting the old neighborhood from the Vorfahren, Vito D’Accordo is still protecting the ports and airports from foreign invaders, even as the snakes slip through the cracks, and Frank Ministro is tearing the president and related politicians and generals a new one with his brother over the Cocodrilo disaster.”

“What are you doing?”

“Helping to quell the violence that’s happening around the city and making sure everyone is doing their part. I guess you boys have everything under control.”

“Yeah. I wish we could do more, like busting heads out there ourselves,” Cesare says.

“I’d suggest it if your people weren’t doing their part. Leading by example is always the best motivator for the people under you.”

“Now you’re giving me an excuse to go out there and get my hands dirty.”

“We will if we see the need. For now, we’ll stay here and finish up our new meetings for the day,” I say.

“Keep up the good work, boys. You do the family proud,” Joseph says as he lovingly taps our faces and leaves.

Going back to shooting, Cesare asks, “Are you sure we shouldn’t go out there now?”

“Our people have the situation under control. We’ll be fine,” I say.

“I hope so.”

After letting out some steam, Cesare and I go up to meet Carlo Giocare at one of the brunch restaurant bars. He’s writing in his journal and talking to the chief of police, Umberto  Destro, more than eating and drinking his cappuccino. A rarity for him, meaning he’s in his serious business mode.

Sitting down with him and Umberto, I say, “Good morning, gentlemen. Is there anything we can help you with?”

“Vincenzo, always the one who knows what to say,” Carlo says. “We were going to ask you to help us get rid of the less-than-reputable members of the city, people who are worse than us, but it seems like you have that under control. What’s left to do is keep their faces down in dirt, and their people in the hospital with a bill so large that it’ll give them a reason never to accept money for protesting.”

“That’s why people are rioting and protesting? Because they were paid to?” Cesare says, surprised.

Umberto clarifies that, “Some of them are by members of their political party and allied beliefs, or at least that’s what my officers have found. Not all of them, though. Some are just too stupid to realize that people of their ideology are stringing them along so they can protest and be hurt or even martyred for their cause.”

“I think I really should go out there and get a piece of the action then.”

“You’re going to tell that to the chief of police like me?”

“Call it helping the authorities to make citizens’ arrests. What? You don’t need the help.”

“Not right now. I need you here coordinating your people more than out there.”

“They’re coordinated now. Vincenzo and Marin have a handle on that. I don’t want to sit around while innocent people get hurt, the city gets trashed, and our way of life is affected because of a bunch of butthurt yuppies and extremists.”

“I get it, Cesare, I really do. I feel the same way, and as a man in a similar position to you, I know that you’d rather force the results you want and get hurt rather than let others get hurt; however, your direct help isn’t needed right now.”

“Yes, sir,” Cesare says with a salute and a roll of his eyes.

“If you want to do something, then help us plan out our attack and areas of investigation. Here. I have a map of the city with the areas of interest marked.”

“Okay, fine.”

Carlo, Cesare, Umberto, and I go over the map, the marked locations, the plan of attack, and the list of suspects to pursue. Of course, Cesare wants to be on the front lines and use direct, brute force, but I go against that in certain instances. Given that we want the Vorfahren out of the country and their ideology classified as illegal, we do need them to show their violent side, so we allow Cesare to goad them into attacking us, so we can, in turn, arrest them or have a good reason to beat them to a pulp. For the most part, Umberto, Carlo, and I suggest more tactical maneuvers, like using our people to infiltrate these areas to either gather evidence or question the people there to get the information we need to expose their plans and give the police a reason to make arrests.

“Alright. I like what we have so far. I’ll relay what we’ve discussed with your wives, and we’ll get together at night to finalize them. You should go tell Arnold Ronaldo the Israeli’s part in this plan and make sure he isn’t misbehaving,” Carlo says.

“We will. I also hope that the chaos outside isn’t spoiling both of your stays,” I say.

“They did spoil the day a bit, but seeing those thugs outside lose their teeth and eat the curb made it better,” Umberto says.

“I have to agree with the chief here. Nothing is more satisfying to watch than divine justice on those who deserve it the most,” Carlo adds.

Cesare and I agree with the bosses and leave them. Going to the exclusive rooms where Arnold “Joker” Ronaldo is, we see him drinking more and playing more dangerously with more money than he usually does. He’s hardly paying attention to the women he came into the casino with, all of whom are standing back from him. I can’t blame them for doing so since he’s looking a little disheveled and out of his element. With each roll of the dice and each win followed by two or more losses, Joker gets less and less sure of himself and more and more hesitant and paranoid to make any sort of bet.

Looking up to us, he says, “My favorite two Mediterranean brothers are here, and just in time too! Could you spot me a thousand for my next bet?”

“A thousand?” Cesare asks while trying not to laugh. “You still owe us for some of your other bets that we loaned you money for.”

 “Come on, you know I’m good for it and pay you back on the bets I’ve helped you make.”

“We’ve also lost money because of it.”

Interrupting them, I say, “If this is a bet with our money, then we decide what we’re betting on.”

“Vincenzo, always the voice of reason. No offense, Cesare,” Joker says while Cesare grunts. “What do you think is going to be the result of the dice, my friends? High, low, or ace?”

Cesare looks to me, and I say, “Ace.”

“It’s an Ace then!”

When the dice are rolled, the results are an Ace. We get our thousand back, and Joker gets the rest of the winnings.

“It’s always a sure bet to bet on you, brothers. Come on, let’s continue our streak,” Joker says.

“I’d rather we talk business,” I say.

“Eh, business is why I’m like this right now. I bet too much on the Chimera States overtaking Cocodrilo.”

“We have a way of improving our situation. You can get your lost money back in a different way.”

“Alright, fine.”

Joker walks away from the gambling tables, and we sit in a private booth, his women still distant from him and him still drinking. Cesare and I tell him the plan we came up with and the Israeli mafia’s part that we want to play with them.

“I personally like to get some quick cash and get back at the Vorfahren, but our mutual friends aren’t going to do it just because you tell them to do it,” Joker says.

“I know. That’s why you have to tell them to meet us to finalize our plans and ensure their cooperation,” I say.

“Hmm. Alright. As long as we get our cut. What are you going to do about the president?”

Cesare and I look at one another.

“What do you mean, what are we going to do about him?” Cesare asks.

“If the family can arrange a meeting between a pope and his creator, then why can’t they do the same with a president?”

“Huh? Why should we? Because of his failure,” I ask.

“You could call it that. My sources tell me he’s compromised by a mistress of his that’s aligned with the Vorfahren. They confirmed it. Did you really think he wasn’t? Good Catholic men aren’t promiscuous like he is, right?”

“The family and the friends of the family are already having it out with the president and his influences. It’ll be handled, but not in that way. It’s too extreme right now.”

“Right now it is, but it won’t be later. You people bet and bleed a lot for the government to help them get him into office. He was supposed to do a lot for you, but let us all down. Who knows what’ll happen in the future?”

“We’ll consider it.”

“Please do.”

Cesare and I walk out of the room. My brother pulls me aside as we walk to our next meeting, and he says, “Should we really keep this drunk around? He’s talking about a bad bet that is bleeding us, while he’s just the same.”

“We’ll figure it out. Also, we should inform the Israeli mafia of our plans ourselves, just in case Joker forgets because of his drunkenness,” I say.

“I’ll make the call for our people to do so. I’ll also have our people watch Joker and drive him home when he’s ready to leave or should leave. I don’t trust him in the condition he’s in.”

“Good call.”

Cesare calls our family members and makes the arrangements for Joker and the Israelis. Because Fontaine Fontalloro is such a big hit every time he’s in our casinos, we meet him in an empty dining hall to arrange a contract before his next performance starts today. He’s dressed in an all-white suit, fedora, pants, a long tie, and shoes, all of which are so shiny that I feel like I need sunglasses to look at him. Sitting down with him and being served bread, water, and wine, we start our meeting with a handshake and friendly banter on topics about our actual family and what’s going on with them.

“Besides that and the usual drama of convincing my wife that I’m not seeing other women, my family is excited to see my new prospects in films and different venues. It’s all set in stone, right?” Fontaine says.

“It is thanks to our contacts in Hollywood and other entertainment industries,” I say.

“I’ve been telling Russell for years to make this official, and I’m glad that he’s giving it his full support, meaning we also get the full support of the family and its friends. Our way of life should be viewed positively in all forms of media and entertainment, like movies, books, video games, TV shows, and music, the whole nine yards. It attracts people to us and makes us look more favorable in the eyes of the public.”

“I thought this thing of ours was supposed to be more secretive. Don’t get me wrong. I know that people have an idea of our existence, so it’s good to give them a positive view of us, but still,” Cesare points out.

“It’s just to ensure that the parts of our way of life that are exposed are viewed as positively as possible so that the law and public don’t turn on us,” I say.

“I see. If that’s the case, can I write my own autobiography or a fictional tale about my life? I’ll be sure not to include things that the public shouldn’t know.”

“If you can, I don’t see why not,” Fontaine says.

“You’ll need the family’s approval on that. They have to review to make sure that there are no secrets revealed and that we are portrayed correctly. It’s the process taken for every bit of media about us.”

“Well, if Joseph Decoro, a major boss, can do it, I can do it too.”

Fontaine smiles and says, “Good, good! The most profitable part of entertainment is not the money that can be made through it, but the influence that it has on the public, and I’m so glad that people are seeing things the way I do. Of course, I will always make room for you in my schedule if I have any.”

“Thank you, Fontaine.”

Suddenly, Okazaki and Marin, with our people, burst into the room with their guns drawn and pointed behind us.

“Get down!” Okazaki says.

Instinctually trusting Okazaki, Cesare, and me get down with Fontaine, even though we don’t know what’s going on. The reason becomes obvious as people with submachine guns come out shooting from the stage at the table we’re sitting at. Peeking my head up with my pistol, I see that they’re people who work for us. I don’t give it another thought as Cesare and I return fire at the traitors. We gun them down, but also make sure to try not to shoot anything vital, so we can question them. Running up to them, my people, Cesare and I make sure the shooters don’t try to take their own lives with their guns or a hidden cyanide pill in their mouths, and thankfully, they don’t do anything or have any cyanide on them.

The only problem we have is Okazaki, who relentlessly beats one of the shooters with her hands. Marin has to restrain her as Okazaki says, “My family and I paid and treated you well! Why did you betray us for your stupid fucking foreign friends?!”

I restrain Cesare before he starts beating on the half-dead shooters as he says, “Is this what this is about? These people worked for us? Now that I’m getting a good look at them, I think I recognize a few-what, Vincenzo? I’m not going to kill them.”

“I know you’ll do worse, just like your other half. Let’s let the cops handle the questioning,” I say.

Speaking of cops, Umberto comes down with his cops to arrest all the shooters, gives us basic questions to put on the record, and promises to chop this all up to another in the list of crimes of those who follow the Vorfahren ideology. To calm things down, Fontaine sings for us, as we all sit down to eat and talk.

“God gave my guardian angel a message that you were in danger because of traitors in our ranks,” Okazaki says.

“We should go through everyone who works here to make sure we don’t have traitors in our ranks anymore. What happened today won’t be enough to send them a message. I guarantee it,” Cesare says.

“We’re planning on it,” Marin says.

“Yeah…it’s what we have to do,” I say.

Marin holds my hand and asks, “Are you okay, Vincenzo?”

“Yeah, it’s just that I can’t believe we let this happen.”

“They were loyal to us to begin with, and let an evil influence take hold of their mind because they thought the Vorfahren are doing the right thing, while also thinking we’re holding back the country and turning against our own,” Okazaki explains.

“We’ll figure this out and clean it up. It’s going to be okay,” Marin says as she caresses my hand.

“I know,” I say as I cross myself. “I know.”