“I found out a few hours ago who ordered the hit that was supposed to kill me.I’m sure the master plan was to shoot me then storm the gates here and kill everyone inside my home.That’s just the way this guy does things,” Leon told them.“He and his father are old school.They admire the ways of Al Capone and the likes of Bugsy Malone...those idiots.He thinks that’s what the Familia should go back to.But those days were over many years ago.”
Julius stared at him.“If they were.Why did you strap us to these torture devices?”
Myron nodded.“Did you ever hear the story about that mobster guy who collected for loan sharks?Back in the 70’s.Then he was accused of ratting the mob out.What they did to him was so unspeakable that no one can even say it on YouTube.They hung him up on a meat hook and let’s just say it was by the seat of his pants and leave it at that.So, if the mob has changed from being that gruesome, why would you skin a man alive?”
Julius groaned.“Myron why the hell would you ask him that?”He looked up at Leon.“Please.You have to protect us.”
Leon stared at him then shook his head, wondering if this man was really that stupid.“And why is that?Why would I protect the same men that took two women by force and against their will?If these men get to you, they will kill you.I believe that was their plan from the beginning anyway.”
John scoffed.“And why would he protect you from a bullet someone else might shoot you with?”
Julius shook his head.“You don’t know that for sure.When we were told to cause a disruption or our loved ones would die, we felt like we had no choice.Except for Henry here.I don’t know what they promised him and I don’t care.”
Leon nodded.“But the man behind those orders would instruct his men to shoot you after the fact anyway.”He looked over at John and asked, “Were you able to ascertain anything about them taking his mother and Myron’s wife?”
John nodded.“They were telling the truth.”He slowly shook his head and added, “But...”
Julius looked up at him and asked with panic on his face, “But what?”
“One of the women was freed and the other...”
“What?”Myron shouted.“I-is my wife...”
“The older woman apparently died of a heart attack.”
Julius gasped.“My mom?”
John nodded.
Julius closed his eyes.
“Your wife is in the hospital being checked over,” John told Myron.
He looked so relieved.
Julius had tears leaking from his eyes as he exclaimed in disgust, “Just go ahead and kill me.I don’t care.I tried to save my mother in the only way I knew of.All because some Italian dickwad wanted power!”
Leon and John stared at him then looked at each other.
Leon glared at him, “Si, it was about power.You were supposed to cause a disturbance while a second set of men were supposed to shoot me down then come in and kill my family.The same scenario was supposed to happen in Italy.And after the dust settled, someone the family was never going to accept into their ranks, would have walked in and taken over.”
Myron released a long breath and shook his head.“And we would have been paid in bullets, right?”He’d accepted that fate.
“Si you and your friends would have been gunned down in the streets or a dirty alley with no one else to witness your deaths.They would have left your bodies where they laid and let the night animals feast on your remains.No one would have found enough of you to bury,” Leon assured them.He then locked gazes with Henry.“So yes, I would have ripped a few slices of skin off your back and I would have slept like a baby afterwards.I am Leon Vincinti.I am Familia that you know nothing about.I can be a bastard when it comes right down to it.These power grabbers will soon know that.”
“But you protect the innocent, right?”Julius asked.“I’ve lived here for years and I happen to know that is a fact.But my mom was innocent and she died because of this power grab.”He closed his eyes and cried silently.
