“But I signed the marriage contract with the other tribe when you were seven.”Julian growled.
“Well, that’s too bad, isn’t it?”Charli snapped.“You may think you did everything right but here’s where we have a problem,uncle.You failed to mention any of this to me until it was too late.I don’t even know this joker.In fact, you never told me a lot of things, did you?”
“Like what?”another member of the Council asked.
“I grew up under Ben’s guidance, not the tribes.I never was told about how the family lived, how they made the blades or anything about them.I grew up right here on this farm in the good ole USA.The only time I ever spent with Julian and his family was about fourteen years ago.Hell, when they left here, they never even let me know they left the states and were living in Italy.Mario told me this when he arrived here the other day.That was the same day he told me I had to go with him back to Italy to marry a man I didn’t know.”
“But child, the family paid money for your expenses all those years you were growing up,” the first member of the Council assured her.
Charli glared at him.“No, they did not.Ray took that money and set himself up as a gunrunner under the guidance of Jedidiah Whittaker.They sold stolen guns to the enemies of this nation.He went under the name of Tirade and no one knew where he was for the longest time.And that’s when he made his biggest mistake.”
“And what was that?’Julian asked.
Charli crossed her arms and glared at him.“Ray came here to kill me yesterday, before you and these men got here.You see, he didn’t want Gypsy justice coming after him for breaking all the rules you people live by.”
The members of the Council looked at one another then they turned to Julian.One of them asked, “Were you aware of this Julian?The fact your brother was running guns.”
Julian licked his dry lips and began to shake his head.
“Stop Papa...just stop.”Mario glared at him.
Everyone turned to look at Mario.
He literally shook with rage.His hands were clenched into fists and he was glaring at his father.“Just stop the lying.For years, you lied.Not only to me and to Charli but everyone else in the tribe too.Ray never checked on her and those reports he was sending back were nothing but a bunch of lies.Ray took the money, every nickel and dime, he took it and he used it to buy his place in Whittaker’s empire.He stopped making the blades and began running guns.And I believe that you've known that for years, Papa.”
Julian opened his mouth but he couldn’t make any words come out to deny the challenge of his son’s accusations.He knew it and so did Mario.
“Can you deny these challenges Julian?”The leader of the Council called out.“These are damning words.”
Julian just stared at Mario for the longest time.Then he turned to the Council and said, “No, I cannot deny them.”
The Council members were shocked by his admission.
“Do you know what you are saying here?”The leader asked him quietly.
Julian exhaled and nodded slowly.“Si, I know what I am saying.I’ve known for fourteen years what my brother was doing.I may not have encouraged it but I knew.”
“You did more than just know.”Mario shook his head.Then he looked at Shay and asked, “You said my Uncle Ray was one of Whittaker’s gunrunners, you called him Tirade, did you not?”
Shay nodded.
“Didn’t you also say there was another man out there you were looking for?”Mario asked.“Someone you didn’t know by his legal name but by another name?”
Shay glanced at Ace then he looked back at Mario.“Yeah kid, we know him by another name.Hammer and we know he might not live here in the states but he could live in Europe somewhere.”
Julian snapped his gaze over to stare at Shay then he slowly turned to look at Mario.He just stared at his son for a long moment then shook his head.“No, no, no,” he murmured as he took a step back.
Ace looked over at Charli.He saw tears filling her eyes but he could see she wasn’t letting them fall.Then he turned back to Julian.“Are you the one they call Hammer?”Ace growled harshly.
Julian shook his head.“No, I am not.”
Just then, Joker and Jack dragged Ray into the living room.
His hands were still secured behind his back but he heard Julian deny Ace’s accusation.Ray scoffed then sneered.“Oh, come now, brother.You know better than to deny the truth.”
Julian snapped his head up.When he saw Ray, his eyes widened and he took another step back.
Ray leaned his head back and laughed loudly.Then he looked at Julian as he grinned at him.“Dang Julian, you just have to bethebiggest fool I’ve ever met.You think you’re so worldly but you’re so gullible.You know you can’t deny the truth.”Ray swung his gaze over to Ace and Shay.“Yeah, you caught me.I’m Tirade and knowing you, you’ll find the guns.I realize that I’m not going anywhere.I know that I’m probably going to go to prison for the rest of my life.”He turned to the Council.“You may think you have the right to judge me but these jokers tell me they don’t think you do.And Shay got here first.”Ray turned to his brother again.“But I won’t be going to prison alone.You are just as guilty as I am,Hammer.”
