1 Vol 1: Part 1

The cigar smoke curled into the ceilings as the silence persisted only the sound of lowered glasses, of whiskey, and soft breathing could be heard. "I hope everyone here had a pleasant trip." A cold voice said.

No one answered as they each held their breath as the tension heightened.

The man who spoke took a stiletto switchblade out flicking it open, then closing it, before continuing placing his free hand on the varnished mahogany conference table. "Usually these meetings are supposed to be a momentous occasion for the family."

He paused looking at everyone in the room one by one while he flicked the knife open again. "A time to speak about our greatest achievements, whilst helping others through their most pressing trials, and tribulations, but it seems some of you do not agree with how I treat you." The man never raised his voice, though as he went on an edge was beginning to sharpen like a blade being drawn from its sheath.

"What is this about, Boss?" Someone cautiously asked.

"This is about some people not knowing their place, and this saddens me." His voice now sounded dead, an unfeeling judges gavel on those he deemed guilty. "I seem to have been betrayed. This is nothing when you are this high in the game, but what disappoints me was how poorly it was done."

He began tapping his fingers on the table. "So I'm going to give this family a cleansing. It is time to remind everyone why the Martello family is the hammer of law in this city." The man growled as he clicked his fingers.

Before anyone could react multiple gunshots rang out. The smell of gun smoke, and blood danced in the air, as heads exploded in a shower of gore.

The man sat still undaunted like a rock, unmovable, timeless as he watched part of his family fall the crimson blood staining his white mask as one, by one they fell, the fear, and shock in their wide white eyes was almost comical to watch as they breathed their last.

Ultimately, It hurt. Some of them had been brothers, sisters, lifelong friends as they each pulled each other along in troubling times as they all forged an empire.

But the times were changing, and Dante Martello was more than happy to change with them. He accepted the towel a subordinate offered as he wiped off all the blood he could. It was time to give everyone a warning.

A journey of a thousand miles starts always starts with a single step so they say. The engine of the car roared as the rain battered against the windscreen.

The lights of the car battled against the darkness of the night, as I tapped my fingers rapidly on my knee. We had the money, all we needed was the handshake.

I soon found my hand reaching in to my suit jacket caressing the cold touch of my pistol grip.

Retracting my hands I watched as the abandoned warehouse came into sight. The car started to slow down as we rolled into the warehouse the rain soon just becoming an echo as we stopped, turning off the engine.

"Are you ready?" The driver asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I said taking in a deep breath wiping my sweaty hands on the seat before stepping out with the brief case.

"If your not out in an hour I'll send the signal." The driver said before disappearing back into the night.

Just like I had expected, there was nothing in the warehouse. Except a small table, and four chairs. The other party had already arrived, they were two guys wrapped in leather jackets.

One was rather average built, an accountant I would guess, the other was a large bald headed man with criss crossing scars across his scalp. The muscle.

I sat down gently placing the briefcase on the table.

The guy on my right, the large one, was getting twitchy his eyes darting between me, and his friend before moving to the puddle near the door. I kept staring straight ahead. Ignoring both of them, I really didn't want to be here.

I would rather be at home drinking, with a book in one hand, and playing cards with the other. "Let's take this quick shall we mister uh?" The one on my left broke the silence bringing me out of my fantasies.

"Jester." I replied curtly.

"Well Jester, allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Li Shan, and on my left, brother Li Gai." He lowered his raised hand. "Now that we have been introduced, let's get down to business."

I sighed. "Sure." Opening up the briefcase I turned it towards them. "Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars in cash."

"This isn't charitable donation from neighbor to neighbor, no?" Li Shan spoke slowly, whilst his brothers eyes lit up with greed. Maybe this wouldn't be as boring as I imagined.

"My boss likes to settle things as peaceful as possible, since you guys are new he's going to lay down some ground rules to help you. Shall we say adapt to the new culture of our city." I said splaying my palms out onto the table.

Li Gai tapped his brothers shoulder before speaking in their native tongue. The conversation went back, and forth quite quickly, their seemed to be a disagreement as their hand gestures got more, and more wild.

"Is there a problem?" I asked as I shut the lid on the briefcase.

Li Shan seemed a little hesitant before he replied motioning to the briefcase. "Too little."

My eyes narrowed. "I said my boss was peaceful not a pushover."

Li Gai who was definitely the brawn not the brains of the operation started raising his voice in the foreign language they both spoke. I turned my gaze towards him his chest had swollen in pride as he voice grew heated.

Gently, I clasped my hands together. "Could you please tell me what the fuck he is saying? I don't like his tone." I smiled.

"He is saying that the Lóng family cannot accept such insulting amount." Li Shan said his thin eyes quickly went from me to the briefcase back to me.

I exhaled. "I don't think you realize how things work here." My index fingers were getting a little itchy. "We can help each other out, or the Ashton family can make sure you end up in a body bag."

"And Lóng family can cut you up real good like we do back in old country." He spat back.

I stared at his angular face and slicked back jet black hair. An arrogant prick to be sure, since what kills faster a knife or a bullet?

I pushed my chair back as I got up to leave I placed a hand on the briefcase. Suddenly, a large calloused hand stopped me. "I need this money to stay clean, so would you kindly take your dirty fucking mitts off it?" I smiled, they were starting to piss me off now.

Li Gai smirked, before raising his hand.

I took the brief case back the soft, worn leather soothed my anger slightly as I turned around to leave. The bald bastard shouted something foreign.

"You cowardly dog whelp. Fuck you, and fuck your ancestors to the eighteenth generation!" Li Shan kindly translated for me.

I just shrugged my shoulders, whilst giving them the finger, if they somehow know my ancestors when I don't, then they can happily insult them as much as they like.

Stepping out of the warehouse, the rain had stopped earlier than forecast I mused as the car switched on its headlights blinding me for a second realizing who it was. It slowly rolled forwards then it came to a stop as I got in. "Keep your eyes peeled." I said slipping into the passengers seat.

"Anything else?" The other person in the car asked as he pulled away from the warehouse.

"Just let me rest my eyes for a moment." Yawning the lulling sway of the car soon made the world fade to black.