The mob men exchanged apprehensive glances, then they all gathered around the meeting table. Everyone squeezed together to give enough room for all the guys.
Taking a standing position at the head of the table, Bruno was silent for a long time, mentally preparing for his audience.
Marco came to stand beside his cousin.
Everyone watched the two formidable men. Both silent, both composed. Their composure wasn’t for the men, though. It was for them to keep a clear mind.
Bruno took one look at them and cleared his throat. His steely eyes angry as hell.
The men shrunk in their seats under his gaze.
De Luca had no idea what he was going to say, but he knew the message he needed to send.
Before the big man could even say a word, Bones spoke, “No word on who shot Antonio yet, eh?”
Bruno turned his eyes on the man. “Nope,” he answered, voice casual.
A tense quiet pulled out over the room for several minutes until Bruno’s composure finally snapped. “That does it! I’ve been patient with you no-goods long enough. When each and every one of you was taken into this family, you took an oath that you are prepared to live and die by the family. To do what you must for the good of the family. And when I look into your ugly faces, that’s not something I see anymore.”
Everyone stared back at him looking shocked.
“Oh, now you’re fucking speechless.” Bruno kept his eyes on his brothers, awaiting a response. Something. Anything. Face stern, eyes penetrating, he raised a brow.
Everyone silently jerked a nod at the big man.
“Everyone has a job to do. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you guys have become a hell of a lot more relaxed since Castillo went down. And I’m here to tell you, this ain’t gonna fly.”
He glanced at his cousin.
Marco nodded. “You listening, fellas?” Marco’s baritone rumbled. “You disobey the boss’ rules, you don’t toe the line and you’ll suffer the consequences.”
Snapping his head around, Bruno gave his men a swift, piercing look. “Listen, we all miss Bobby….we all miss Castillo….we all miss Antonio but what do you want me to do? Tell you it’s over? Tell you it’s finished? Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but this ain’t the end of the road. It’s only the beginning.”
As he spoke it was as if a magical current threaded swiftly through him. A long, invisible wire had pulled him from the guilt and ripped off his sombre feeling.
“All that I do, I do for you. And how do you repay me? With laziness and trouble. I won’t have it. Not anymore. This is a test of strength that I refuse to fail. And if any of you have a problem with that….if this ain’t’ what you want...you got one chance to walk out that door.”
Everyone looked at each other, dumbfounded, but no one moved.
“Alright then. It seems we got a solid understanding.” From within his jacket he produced a fresh bottle of champagne, popping the cork he raised the bottle high. “For all the sacrifices. For all the hurt. We’ll come back stronger.”
Cheers filled the common room.
Bruno took a swig, then handed the bottle to Bones at his right, who also took a swig, and passed the bottle on.
“You got the rest of the day to get the shit from this year outta your system, then I’ll see you ALL here at 7 am tomorrow morning. Capiche?”
“Capiche,” his men grumbled in unison.
“Alright then, everybody out! Have a merry-fucking-Christmas,” Bruno called out.
The place cleared quickly, then Bruno and Marco were alone at the bar in the common room.
Marco polished off his drink. “You about ready to make a move?”
Bruno glanced at his phone feeling the growing count of missed calls from his Annie. “Yep.” He hopped down from his stool and marched over to the stairs to the basement, the metallic chink of his keys in hand sounding as he moved.
Downstairs, he crossed the gym towards the office door and checked to see if it was locked.
