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.”

Mobster's Bet: Lascia che sia Dio a Decidere: Chapter 1 – Setting Up the Game

Chapter 1 – Setting Up the Game

Running a casino is harder than it may seem. You can’t just give people the exact games that are in every casino and let old and new addicts fund your business until the day you die. There’s competition. Some people get bored with what you offer. There’s politics and certain groups who want you shut down. The house may rig the odds in its favor, but it can also go bust if one aspect of the equation goes wrong.

My brother, Cesare, and I run the joint casinos, Peter and Paul, in the city of Amore Fraterno, along with a couple of others in the suburbs. We introduce new games and keep the old ones around. We bring back fan-favorite shows, musicians, and boxers to entertain the crowds and let new talent take the stage every once in a while. In my casino, Paul, I feature experimental and new games, host gaming competitions, and sponsor conventions. As for my brother’s casino, Peter, he has the reliable old slots, poker, and so on, hosts concerts, and showcases boxing competitions from newcomers to veterans.

Between our casinos, we also have a hotel, arcades, golf, mini golf, bowling, and some other things for the family, including an animatronic restaurant. We also have a mall with various restaurants and places to shop. Don turned corporate boss, Carlo Giocare, has been helping us arrange deals and contracts to get the best in the business to work with us and be at our casino. Today, he meets us at one of our best breakfast restaurants. He’s a pudgy guy who you wouldn’t know owned anything other than the clothes off his back, his car, house, and the little things that decorated it, because of how cheap everything he has is. His suit, pants, tie, and shoes are a dull brown, and his shirt is white. His dark brown hair looks like it was fixed with nothing more than water and his hands, but he has a healthy face.

In contrast, I have a white trench coat draped over my shoulders, a black fedora with red ribbon, a black and gold suit, a red tie, and black pants and shoes. As for my brother, Cesare wears a grey and blue version of the same outfit I have, except his trench coat is a dark grey, and he has a blue bowtie.

As we eat and talk business, Carlo seems to know what I was thinking about as he says, “You know I don’t buy myself fancy things because they do me any good. You boys need to dress well because you have to represent your casino business, so I don’t judge you for getting your fancy suits. Always make your money work for you. That’s what it’s for. Most people think that having more money will make them happier, but they’re wrong. Money sitting in a bank account collects dust; however, money given to a charity, to the Church, and to associates to help them out does wonders.”

“Are you asking for more money from our agreement then?” I ask.

“Hahaha, no, Vincenzo. What we agreed on is fine enough for me. Plus, the services and entertainment your brother and your casinos provide are to my exact tastes.”

“You were basically given full control of what went into it since you said your other partners didn’t let you do that to their casinos,” Cesare points out.

“Right, so, how is the business treating you? I know it’s still new to you, but it has to be easier than being a car mechanic, as you both used to be.”

“Yes and no,” I say. “There’s no physical work involved, but it requires us to use our heads more.”

“That shouldn’t be a big deal, given your strategic mind, Vincenzo.”

“Yeah, but being involved with business is something else entirely. It’s a huge headache to deal with people who want to give me bad deals, ally with horrible political ideologies, and the Karen-type customers who fake emergencies and problems so they can get more at a lower price or free and threaten to sue. I might as well be working in the criminal world for how shady the corporate deals seem and how people want to use loopholes in the law to make more money.”

“Ha! You’re right about that. Politics and business hardly run any differently than a criminal empire. The only difference is that the criminals have to appear legitimate, while those in power can have new laws written to cover their crimes.”

“This is why I’m not handling the business and planning aspect,” Cesare says as he kicks up his feet on the table.

“What about Mrs. Marin Campione? How’s your wife handling the business trade, Vincenzo?”

“A bit better than me, given that she’s more used to dealing with people than I am. She’s holding up despite also having to juggle being a mother of four.”

“Speaking about that, are we having a competition that I don’t know about?” Cesare asks. “It’s been a little over two and a half years, and you’ve managed to have four children, even though Okazaki and I had a child first.”

“No, we aren’t. It’s just that Marin wanted at least four children, and at this rate, she’ll want another one or two next year.”

“I hear you. Still, Okazaki feels like she has to catch up and wants us to have our fourth child by the end of this year.”

“You boys are still boys. My wife and I have ten children. By then, the number of children will mean nothing to you and your families, and your parents won’t be asking you to have any more,” Carlo says.

“Back to business. How was the walkthrough of the casinos and their amenities?” I ask.

“They’re all great and in good condition. What really matters to me is the condition of their bosses, and you boys seem to be doing well. You’re holding up your morals, still going to church, not giving in to bad deals, not compromising your beliefs for money, and giving to the family when needed, so you’re all good in my book. I’ll be enjoying the rest of my week’s long work-vacation here with my family, and I’ll let you know if there’s anything that needs fixing, okay?”

Cesare and I thank Carlo for his evaluation and tell him we hope he and his family enjoy their stay. Next on the agenda, we meet with a go-between for our family, Don Joseph Decoro, an old man and one of the first dons of the five families who still holds onto power as if it’s tied to his soul, just like Russell Tranquillo, the old man all the bosses listen to and the man my brother originally worked for as a car mechanic. As a veteran of the business, Joseph is here to make sure the backroom deals are going well. He wears an old-fashioned suit and has gray hair, and, like Carlo, looks like an old man you’d think is being taken care of by his children and grandkids rather than one of the most powerful men in the country. He sees the guns, the files on businessmen and politicians, and our closest clients receiving the best food and drinks while enjoying high-stakes games where millions and one-sided partnerships are on the line.

While admiring the guns, Joseph asks, “Aren’t some of these guns going overseas?”

“They will be leaving for the docks once the final arrangements are made, which is tonight. Many of the decision makers are here as we speak,” I say.

“Good. They better get us back our casinos in Cocodrilo and get rid of those Vorfahren bastards that run it. I want that supreme leader, commander, Fidel, or whatever his name is, dead. People are too quick to trust dictators who take power for themselves using others because they think they’ll get something out of it, but now look at Cocodrilo. It’s a third-world pigsty because Fidel and his people get all the riches and screw everyone else.”

“They’ll be taken care of. With our guns and the backing of the army, that island will be back under our control.”

“I only wish I could go myself,” Cesare says, offhand.

“No, you shouldn’t. You’re living like a true boss, so there’s no reason for you to do anything other than giving orders and keeping your hands completely clean,” Joseph says. “This is why you two worked so hard to get the newest president into office. He’ll handle Cocodrilo for us and the threat across the seas.”

“Yeah, I hope so,” I say.

After making his inspection, Joseph goes to talk to some people in legit businesses that he’s known for years. Since we’re here, Cesare and I go up to our next partner of interest. His name is Anthony “Joker” Ronaldo, and he’s enjoying playing poker with his friends. He’s from the Israeli mafia and a pro in the gambling scene who makes sure the odds are always in his favor. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and wears a simple black and white suit, tie, pants, bowtie, and shoes, and seems to be drinking a bit too much, given his behavior and all the bottles around him.

Joker looks at us and says, “My people usually involve hookers of various ages and drugs in their backrooms. It usually attracts more people and allows for a better time.”

“We’re not like that, Mr. Ronaldo,” I say.

“Ah, that’s right. You’re men of honor. I forgot. How goes that new pope of yours? I trust that he won’t give us trouble like the last and have to be dealt with, or have a meeting arranged with his God, as you people say.”

“No, he won’t. As far as we know, he isn’t compromised by the Vorfahren ideology, and they’re keeping off him as a way of showing they’re tolerant of opposing beliefs.”

“Ah, but they don’t do that to people of mine, eh?”

“And we aren’t tolerant of theirs.”

“Obviously. We wouldn’t be working together if we were.”

“Is there anything else you need, Mr. Ronaldo?”

“I could use another pretty face to keep me company. Your wives wouldn’t be a bad choice.”

“Son of a bitch,” Cesare says.

I hold my brother back as he aggressively approaches Joker, fists clenched.

Joker laughs and says, “I’m just saying you chose well! I wouldn’t want to spoil our business relationship by getting handsy with them. I promise! Marin has a wonderfully brilliant mind, and Okazaki always has interesting stories to tell because of her connection to the supernatural. We’d just talk business if I saw them. Nothing more.”

“We trust you, Mr. Ronaldo. Please, continue to enjoy yourself,” I say.

“Oh, I will!”

After Cesare and I leave the backroom, he asks me, “Do we really need to be associated with that guy? He’s such a creep.”

“He’s a friend of a friend, and as long as we can keep him happy, we’ll keep our relationship with the Israeli mafia stable. Besides, if he can fix the World Series like he said he did, then he can help us get ahead in sports betting,” I explain.

Cesare scoffs and walks ahead of me to our next meeting. We go to the Peter casino, where Fontaine Fontalloro is singing and his dancers twirl around him. This is a sort of free performance that comes with dinner for each person here. Fontaine is our special entertainment for this month, with other singers, bands, and performers lined up for the next year. Cesare and I call our wives to watch his performance just as it’s starting. Cesare’s wife, Okazaki, has puffy blonde hair that’s partially colored pink with black stripes on it; she wears a pink dress, white stockings, pink heel boots, and a gold miraculous medal, a gold cross, and a gold St. Benedict medal. My wife, Marin, has straightened out blonde and purple hair, a purple and black shoulder jacket, a spotted purple dress, black pantyhose, purple heels, a golden belt, and seven golden bracelets, three on one arm and four on another, each blessed with particular Scripture and saint quotes on them.

Our wives have been dressing this way ever since we got the casino to show both their wealth and their business side to dazzle us and everyone they meet. Some people think it’s weird that we married seemingly vain women, but they’re more virtuous than they seem, despite their lavish sense of fashion. It all serves a purpose to get people thinking a certain way towards them. Before they sit down, Cesare and I kiss and hug our respective wives and tell them how the day’s been going so far.

“It’s been going. How are you?” Okazaki asks Cesare.

“As fine as I can be,” Cesare says while wiping his face as if trying to get the tiredness and stress out of it, and then lights a cigar to smoke.

“Don’t let Ronaldo and the stresses of work get to you, baby. We just need to keep him happy, so he won’t bother us, and trust me when I say that he won’t make any moves on Marin or me.”

“Good. I needed to hear you say that. How are things going with the Church and your contacts?”

“They like the readings I give them, and the members of the Church are careful not to let any bad influences corrupt them from doing their duty.”

“That’s good. I’m tired of all this talk of business. Let’s dance.”

Cesare takes Okazaki’s hand, and the two have fun on the dance floor.

“How are the kids doing?” I ask.

“They’re doing well. Just wish I wasn’t so busy so I could properly care for them, rather than having to bring them to work and have our friends help me take care of them,” Marin says.

“I hope we’re raising them right. We can’t let this business or any kind of business get between our caring for our family.”

“We’re doing the best we can, Vincenzo. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“There’s a lot to worry about, and you should know that better than both of us.”

“The resources and people we have behind us make those worries seem like nothing.”

“I thought that having this casino and all the money and backing of our family would make me feel less worried, but more responsibilities mean more worries.”

“We have mostly everything under control, unless you see a problem, I don’t?”

“There’s dealing with the Vorfahren. Our president said he’d deal with them in Cocodrilo, but he’s not exactly a good Catholic man, despite his being a Knight and trying to present the image of being a Catholic leader who is impartial to all beliefs. He’s a womanizer, and his more left-leaning beliefs could steer him in the wrong direction. I’ve even heard one of his mistresses is a Vorfahren infiltrator.”

“My people are watching him and trying to steer him in the right direction. If he doesn’t do what we want, well… you and Cesare did get your foot in the door of the family business by overturning a corrupt election.”

“Pfft. Cesare would like nothing more than to do that. Don’t give him an excuse until we get to that point. We also have to make sure our Israeli friends continue to be friends, and don’t backstab us in any way.”

“Like Okazaki said, as long as Ronaldo is happy, and the rest of them get their cut of the business. We’ll be good.”

“Yeah. The gambling board gets its cut, and so does the government, the family, our family, the police, the secret service, and so on. It’s no wonder that a casino needs to make so much money to stay afloat.”

“The debts will be paid. With Fontaine on stage today, we should be getting ahead of them. Maybe we’ll even have enough time to go on vacation, just the two of us.”

“So we can make another kid, I’m assuming?”

Marin gives me a sly smile. I smile back and wave at Fontaine, who sings one of our favorite slow-motion songs that he sang at our wedding. I take Marin’s hand and dance with her. We embrace without saying another word about business or the current state of our lives, and simply enjoy this moment together. After the slow song, Cesare waves at Fontaine so he can sing a much faster song, so we can swing around, laugh, and have fun like kids. It’s enough to make me both tired and feel rejuvenated at the same time.

At the end of the day, Cesare, Okazaki, Marin, and I head home with all our children. We’ve gotten a bigger house for our entire family ever since we moved up in the world. The house sits outside the city in the suburbs, with a great view, and fits all three of our families. The house is decorated with expensive gifts from the government, the Church, corporate allies, the family, and other groups who might be called honest criminals like us. Even though I had fun dancing, the best time of day for me is when everyone is talking with one another, enjoying each other’s company, and seeing them smile and laugh. It reminds me what this is all for, and with everything that needs to be set in place, all that’s left for me to do is simply watch and wait for what happens next, hoping and praying to God that it’s to my family’s benefit.

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The newly married Campione brothers and their family are tasked by the government to get rid of the foreign influence and infiltration of the Vorfahren ideology in the country.  In exchange, the next president will treat their family favorably, so now, the men of honor must be defenders of their country from the strength and cunning of two dictatorial empires.

To Be an Honest Man: Dedizione All'Amore: Chapter 4 – Half-Satisfied

Chapter 4 – Half-Satisfied

“Do you think those bastards will do what he said?” James asks me in the hotel room where all the members of the family are.

“I think he will,” I say.

“What makes you think that?”

“He was impressed with my display of strength and bold insistence.”

“I was impressed you did it as well, but that doesn’t mean that other scumbags will listen to him. We need to make sure the rest of them follow suit, know it was us who did it, and know what will happen to those who try to corrupt the United States. My contacts are telling me the Lupa army itself is involved in this. Where else do you think they get their guns from?”

“What about Adler? You want us to go after them, too?”

“No. The homeland of our ancestors will be the example for the rest of them. We’ll give them a thrashing they’ll never forget.”

“What about what happened with the bosses that I talked to?”

“If they’re smart, they’ll stay out of this. From what my contacts told me, those men in the villa used to be men of honor until they sold out to Lupa’s dictator, this Il Luce. You want to secure our country’s, our family’s, your family’s security, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ll follow me and do as I say, unless you think I’m wrong. You’re the strategist like Russell, Angelo, and Vito. Tell me if there’s anything wrong with what I’m suggesting.”

“There isn’t.”

“Let’s get this done then and show those two stuck-up empires what real strength looks like from real Mediterranean men.”

For the next few days, Cesare, Marin, Okazaki, and I help James, our family members, and members of the anti-Vorfahren resistance sabotage the Lupa propaganda production facilities, their army’s supply depots, and end up threatening the leaders here at gunpoint if they choose to retaliate. When we think we’ve done enough damage, we prepare to go back home, only for a group of soldiers to attack the town where we were staying.

“Do we really think that their word meant anything?” I ask.

“You’d think so after everything of theirs that we destroyed, but it definitely was a possibility that they’d go back on their word,” James says.

“We can’t leave yet.”

“Why not? These people can take care of themselves, especially after they armed themselves with weapons we gave them from the army.”

“Because we started this problem for them, we have to solve it. Besides, if we get the army a thrashing they’ll never forget, it’ll disincentivize them in retaliating, right?”

“…You’re right.”

“Let’s get this done then and show these people what real men of honor look like.”

“Here I thought I was the boss and outranked you.”

We help the townspeople hurry to set up defenses and traps for the incoming army. Cesare and I, with the townspeople, hide up in the hills, and as soon as the enemy passes, we trigger the explosives, killing many and scaring the rest. After finishing them off, another wave of soldiers, aided by tanks, advances on us, forcing us back as we fire back at them with machine guns and rocket launchers. Further down the hill, Okazaki and Marin take potshots at advancing soldiers and activate explosives from their side to take out the damaged tanks. Still, more soldiers come at us, forcing us to take up defensive positions in the town.

Just as the soldiers push against our defensive line, men on horses arrive from behind the soldiers, firing at them and yelling at them to surrender. I recognize a few of them as the bosses at the villa I was at a few days ago.

“Surrender or face your maker!” one of the bosses says in Mediterranean, as the fighting dies down. “Those men and women from the United Chimaera States are real men of honor, unlike us, who easily gave in to the demands of our country’s new leader. What happened to the virtuous, rebellious spirit that this island is known for?  In our island’s history, we never let anyone rule over us that we didn’t allow, so why should we so easily give in now? When have numbers and the perceived strength of our enemy gotten us to back down from a fight?”

“Never!” the crowds of townspeople say.

“Then I say, we fight for our independence until our dying breath. If you wish to flee, then flee, but if you wish to fight against us, you’ll only be met with the overwhelming determination and ferocity of the people of Trinacria.”

The crowd loudly cheers, and the soldiers either cheer with them or lay down their arms. Going up to the bosses, they recognize and thank us for reigniting their fighting spirit.

“I know for a fact that you were the one who chose to stay and defend the townspeople rather than easily retreat to your country,” one of the bosses says while pointing at me.

“That’s true. Still, it was boss James who wanted to stay to do more damage, so he should get some of the credit,” I admit.

“Ah, you brownnoser. I ought to smack you in the face for being bolder than me,” James says.

“Whatever the case, we appreciate your support. We’ll be fine here while you head back home. You’ll get no more trouble from the people of Trinacria.”

“I assume there are no hard feelings for the lives we’ve taken?” Marin asks.

“None at all. In fact, you probably should’ve shot us instead for our cowardice. Such are the old ways.”

“But it was mercy that saved us all,” I say.

“All too true,” the boss says as he crosses himself.

We say our goodbyes to the people of the Trinacria, get everything we have on the plane, including the many gifts they gave us, and fly back home. Russell is back from his trip across the country, and we report our success to him and everything that happened.

“Good work, boys,” Russell says.

“Huh? That’s it? Did you not hear what happened? We fought a fricken army and got them to turn on their country,” James says.

“I expected these boys and you to win. What else should I say?” Russell says as he lovingly slaps our faces. “But you’re right. You should get more than my thanks. Cesare and Vincenzo will get charge of their own men and have control of the new casinos that are being built in the city.”

“And for me?”

“For you, James? You can have whatever you want for the state your family controls. What else could you want?”

“Hmm. You’re right. Guess I shouldn’t have asked.”

Cesare, Okazaki, Marin, and I are thankful to Russell for his many gifts, and he’s thankful we never let him down. We then celebrate at Angelo’s restaurant with everyone who helped fight back against the Vorfahren, including the Israeli bosses, to whom I give the old model pistol and some of the gifts the Trinacria people gave us. Donnie Parlarono tells us that the Mediterranean Empire and the Zeitloses Imperium are backing off from our country to focus on those closest to them. As far as we know, our deal with the government is done, but the Vorfahren are still a threat. Nevertheless, the next president will be more favorable to us and should help expunge all corrupting influences in the country.

“I see a bright future ahead for all of us,” Okazaki says.

“You always see that,” Cesare jokes with a cigarette in his mouth.

“Yes, but it’s even clearer and more certain than before.”

“Whatever the case is, I’m sure our strategists have a plan for us.”

“We do,” Marin and I say. We lift our wine glasses and say, “To God, family, and country.”

Cesare and Okazaki toast, and we enjoy our celebration, each other’s company, and the promise of even better times ahead.

 

The End

To Be an Honest Man: Dedizione All'Amore: Chapter 3 – Taking it Back Home

Chapter 3 – Taking it Back Home

What we’ve done has done a lot of good in getting rid of Vorfahren influence from the city, but not so much for the wider country, and hasn’t gotten rid of the more public supporters of the Mediterranean Empire and Zeitloses Imperium. It’s not illegal to say you believe in and support the Vorfahren ideology, yet their supporters are publicly counter-protesting against the recent Mediterranean, Israeli alliance, and say that the recent purge and deportation of Vorfahren was just the authorities getting rid of bad actors of their ideology and innocent people. The old man and heads of the Israeli mafia come up to us in Angelo’s restaurant and ask if anything is being done in politics to make the Vorfahren ideology one that is classified as hateful and illegal.

He asks, “Are the brothers, Frank and John Ministro, handling things well in the political scene?”

“They’re handling it as well as can be expected. Trust me when I say it’s a harder headache for them to be dealing with it than us with all the resistance they get from the opposite political parties and their own,” Vito says.

“Heh, and they call us slimy criminals. It is what it is, as you Mediterraneans say. I’m just happy that we got to comfortably strike against our enemies.”

“Don’t get too used to it because we have plans on ending this invasion from the Vorfahren.”

Vito waves over a friend of the family who’s sitting by the bar. The well-dressed man in a blue suit, black pants, and black shoes walks over. He has a large fedora on his head like other members of the family, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was one of us. He has brown hair and brown eyes; his face is the spitting image of an average Joe. His name is Donnie Parlarono, and he’s the head of the Secret Intelligence Bureau, or SIB.

“Donnie, please explain to our new friends our plan,” Vito says.

Sitting down, Donnie says, “Since the Vorfahren we have in custody aren’t telling us about who exactly is giving them orders, we’re going to deport them and follow them back home to their nests. From there, we should be able to strike at their leadership, and then give the Vorfahren a serious reason never to step foot in our country again.”

“What about the ones who remain here?” the old Israeli man asks.

“We’ll need people to stay here and handle things, keep them under control, and make them think we aren’t following their friends back home. Can you do that for us?”

“We’re not opposed to having all the fun here. We don’t speak the native language in the Mediterranean Empire’s held territories anyway, and they’ll immediately come after us on sight.”

“Thank you.”

“Good hunting, boys. If you can, bring me back something for me to hang on my wall. I wouldn’t even mind if you gave me their heads or a finger.”

The Israeli bosses laugh and walk out of Angelo’s restaurant.

Turning to me, Donnie says, “I’m surprised they didn’t ask for anything in return for their work.”

“If they don’t ask now, they may do so later. If not, I’m sure they have ways of getting what they want,” I say.

“I have my people keeping an eye on them in that regard,” Marin adds.

“I can foresee that they may be a problem in the future, but they won’t be right now since we did them a favor they won’t forget,” Okazaki says.

“Alrighty then. Who wants to go home to the old country?” Donnie asks.

Cesare and I volunteer along with our wives.

“I’ll stay here with my people to keep who and what’s coming in under control,” Vito says.

“I’m going over. I know some people who can help us, and I still haven’t had my fill of kicking their asses. The job isn’t done yet until it is, and the Vorfahren learn their lesson,” James says.

“Alright then. Gather your bags and people. You all leave tomorrow on a flight that will follow the deportation plane to Lupa.”

For the rest of the day, I pack my bags, make sure everything is in order here with my contacts, and spend time with my family. My parents and grandparents express both concern for my safety and assurance that I’ll come back alive. We pray and eat together one last time before we leave the next day, and everyone who’s going to Lupa boards the plane with everything and everyone they have.

“When’s the last time we visited the old country?” Cesare asks.

“I think when we were teenagers. It’s been a while since we last visited,” I say.

“I remember the cathedrals that are decorated with the bones of martyrs the most. What about you ladies? What are you excited to see?”

“This isn’t a vacation, and we won’t be staying long,” Marin states.

“There still have to be things that you want to see,” Okazaki says. “If we can, I want to visit the floating city and see the many hills of the countryside.”

“Sure. We can see them if we need to go there.”

After an eleven-hour flight, we land on the island of Trinacria. There, we see that Vorfahren propaganda litter the many buildings, and even churches of the area. We don’t have much time to sightsee as we follow the Vorfahren to see where they go. Meanwhile, James and his Sovrano family members go to establish contact with their other family members here to get us help and more information about what’s going on here. To stay within our targets' sightlines, we keep a safe distance and avoid being seen by ducking into alleys and hiding in crowds.

They talk to some people near some cabs, saying in Mediterranean, “We need to talk to the bosses.”

“Do you now?” a cab driver says in the same language. “As far as I know, you were supposed to be in Chimaera, making a difference over there.”

“Things got complicated, and we got kicked out.”

“Alright, fine. They want to talk to you anyway.”

The Vorfahren get into a cab and drive away. As we scramble to get a car of our own, a car pulls up to Cesare and me and offers to drive us. We pick up our wives and resume following the Vorfahren.

“Who are you anyway, a friend of the family?” I ask.

“You could say that,” the cab driver says. “I’m not an official friend, but a friend nonetheless. I’m tired of these Vorfahren saying that they’re faithful to both God and our ancestors' roots, but they shun everyone who doesn’t think like them. I hate to say it, but our empire was better under the control of the previous republic and its leaders.”

“Is there anything that can be done to change Lupa from within?” Cesare asks.

“Not at all, unless you want to be shot, deported, or sent to a re-education prison.”

“Have you thought about moving to another country?” Okazaki asks.

“Nope. This was my ancestors’ home, so it’ll be my home until the day I die. I refuse to move just because I hate the condition it's in right now. I still love it. It can always change, maybe not in my lifetime, but empires don’t last forever.”

“Your dedication is admirable,” Marin says. “We’ll be sure to do as much for you as possible.”

“Don’t worry about me. Worry about everyone else. Oh, and try to fix your accents. You sound like Medigans.”

The cab driver drops us off a little way away from a villa that overlooks a town. As we head toward the villa, the cab driver pulls away to gain some distance so as not to look suspicious and promises to come back if he hears shooting. The four of us sneak into the villa, using our knives and silenced pistols to take out the guards, and hide their bodies to push our way further in. Inside, we follow the Vorfahren we were originally until we see them enter a room. Busting our way in, we hold them and the people we presume to be their bosses at gunpoint.

Speaking in Mediterranean, they ask, “Who are these people?! Guards!”

Okazaki and Marin speak the same language as theirs.

“We got rid of your help. No one is coming to help you,” Okazaki says.

“If you don’t want to end up like them, you’d better stop sending people over to the Chimaera states,” Marin says.

“Can you please stop trying to speak Mediterranean?” one of the bosses says in English. “You dark pigs with makeup are Medigans and don’t know how to speak our language properly.”

Cesare shoots the leg of one of the bosses, and I shoot the arm of one of the other bosses.

“You’d better respect my wife. The way she speaks is the least of your concerns,” Cesare says.

“At least you both know to do the basics of protecting your wives’ honor,” one of the bosses says. “Still, we respect our country and the Vorfahren ideology more than you. It’s the one that’s brought us back to the strength and respect that the Roman Empire once had. We continue the faith and honor of our forefathers, and by going against us, you spit on that faith and tradition.”

“What you think is the true faith and tradition of the Mediterraneans is just your view of it. You bully the Church to accept your behavior and conquer those you think are better under your rule,” I say.

“What would you know? You were born in another country that doesn’t care for heritage or tradition.”

“We didn’t come here to talk philosophy,” Marin says. “We only want you to stop sending people over to influence our country.”

“What happened to freedom of religion and belief in your country? I thought that was a cornerstone to your country’s founding,” a boss says, spitting out the words as if they were disgusting.

“We only accept the beliefs that aren’t directly hostile to anyone, and can peacefully talk to one another to get others and the country to change rather than using violence as its primary tool,” Okazaki says.

“Heh, so you’re not so different from us.”

“Don’t give us that bullshit,” Cesare spits.

“You’re not entirely aware of what’s happening on this side of the world, are you? We’ve been trying to peacefully change people’s hearts, but the corrupt scum in government don’t allow it, forcing our hand to use violence. We simply draw the line for violence in different places.”

I shoot one of the men we were following in the leg. The other one tries to charge at me, only to take a bullet in the face and fall face down in front of me.

“Give me another answer other than your agreement, and none of you will get out of this room alive. This is my line for violence,” I say.

“Heh. Even if you don’t see us as two sides of the same coin, I recognize a true man of honor when I see one. Okay. We won’t be sending our own people over to your country, but don’t complain when our civilians go to your country to evangelize for us.”

“We’ll handle it when that happens.”

“God bless you, boy. Your country would be better under your leadership.”

I turn around and leave the room, ignoring what the boss said. While we are leaving, I take an old model pistol off the wall for the old Israeli boss, head out back to the cab driver, and go back to the hotel, where we’re supposed to meet James and his family members when they’re done on their end.