James had shut down his laptop a long time ago.Then he frowned and gazed through the side window.He looked at the front seat and asked, “Do you feel that?”
Cane turned and stared at him.“Feel what?”
“That vibe, man.It feels like the whole city is holding its breath,” James muttered under his breath.“Like it knows that evil is coming and it doesn’t know what to expect.”Then he looked at the streets.They were devoid of people milling around, instead only the street people were out.”He shivered.“Even the citizens know enough to stay home.”
When they reached Leon’s front gate Bane studied the area for a moment then said, “Damn, someone did some damage here.”He rolled up to the speaker.When the voice asked who they were, Bane told him, “VIM is here.
The gate slowly opened and when he could, Bane drove through.
They headed down the driveway as the gate was already closing behind them.When they got to the front door, it opened.
John followed Leon out to the top of the steps.
Bane and James got out of their vehicle, quickly followed by everyone else.
Bane studied Leon and saw him smile.But even he could see Leon was tired.
Everyone grabbed their bags and followed Bane up the steps.
Leon greeted them, “Thank you for coming.Your rooms are ready.James, you can set up in the security room if you like.”
James nodded.“We have more information on the cartel you might find interesting,” he told them as they passed.
Leon and John nodded solemnly.
“We have no doubt about that.”Leon nodded at him.“That Paulo is sending an army against us.”
Bane scoffed.“Paulo isn’t in charge anymore.Looks like his sons stepped up and tossed him out of the seat of power and took over.”
Leon paused to ask, “Manuel is in charge?”
Bane nodded.“Yeah, Manuel, Trego and Juan.”
Leon shook his head.“Those sons of his are hot heated.They don’t see the bigger picture and they never have.All they see is today maybe tomorrow but not beyond that.And in this business you have to look to the next week, the next month, even the next year.They are fools.”
Cane nodded.“Perhaps one of them does.We heard Juan may not be fully onboard with his brothers.And some of the army is still loyal to Paulo.”He shrugged.“That may work with us not against us if we play this right.”
Leon agreed, “Si, it might but we also have more people working with us.We have the Sinners and some of the Sin’s Bastards.We also picked up a small group of some very skilled Street men living here.They sure saved our culos in the fight with Giovano’s men.They took the back door and kept my home safe.”
Bane nodded.“Good.I have a feeling we’re going to need all the help we can get against cartel men.”
“Si, I agree,” Leon said.“They are good men just looking for a place they can call home.”
James got set up in the security room and the first thing he did was contact Excaliber and asked, “Any idea where the Gonda is right now?”He expected no answer but he needed to ask.
Excaliber surprised him with good news, “They’re just crossing the border now.They are in vehicles and it will take them almost thirty hours to get to Boston.That will give you guys a day and half to get yourselves in place and come up with a plan of action.Don’t take these guys for granted.They are ruthless in their own country and plenty of my contacts say they will plow right through the front lines and they have no compassion.They will fight to the death.”
James sat back in his chair and steepled his finger together while he smiled coldly.“Don’t worry about us.We also know what we are doing and we will stomp their sorry asses right into the mud.Our girls and guys know how to fight.”
Excaliber scoffed.“I know that.I’ve seen Ari and Sheeba run circles around attackers.Doing back flips and taking names.”She snickered.“I’ve seen what we can do.I’ve also seen what Leon and his men can do as well.But someone told me Manuel is bringing an army with him.I checked the manifests and there are three buses on the road just for this army it seems.That’s a lot of bodies and it’s going to get bloody.Oh, and James?Stomp them so far into the mud, they’ll never find their way out.Despite being mafia, Leon is one of the good guys.”
“You got it,” James quipped.“That’s probably Bane’s plan.Yep, mudhole stomping.”
Excaliber laughed.“You are so funny sometimes.”
“Yeah?I am clever.”
Excaliber scoffed.“I saidsometimes, James, not necessarily today.”
