I was sitting at my auto shop, bright and early about to get the day going. I was treated to Frankie barging in my office, and before I even had my morning coffee!.

Frankie rushed into the office with an expression of sheer panic. Apologizing rushedly to several of their customers, she drug James into his office and slammed the door behind them; the lock clicking sharply into place. "James, we have a problem," she whispered softly, handing him an exact replica of the postcard she'd sent him two weeks ago. The back read

 Mr. Sullivan, It has come to my attention that you are in possession of something that belongs to me. You’re a bright man, Mr. Sullivan. I’m sure you understand the implications of stealing another man’s marked assets. I’m giving you one week to return my property to Little Havana and make reparations for my nephew’s untimely end. Do this, and we will find a mutually beneficial solution to your little indiscretion. Fail to do so, and it will be the end of you and your “auto trade”. I encourage you to do the right thing, Mr. Sullivan. For yourself, for your customers, and for New York. See you in Miami, Don Luciano Bautista.

Wringing her bandana nervously between her hands, she paced the office as he read the letter, silently praying that he wouldn't ask too many questions. "What are we gonna do, Sully?".

I smiled at Frankie, hands folded on my desk. "Don't worry ok?. I have it all under control!." There was a sense of pure confidence in my voice, as Frankie looked at me like I was a lunatic.

I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote back to Don Bautista, as Frankie watched.

Dear Luciano

As you said I am not a stupid man, but walking into your territory is just that!. I seen how your family treats women, I can only imagine how you would welcome me. So here's what I am suggesting. Sense you are the one making demands, you come down to New York...we meet in a public place, unarmed! and the meeting will be you and I only. Two days, Patsy's dinner, 110th street downtown. If you don't agree to those terms then the deal is off!.

I seal an envelope containing the letter and have one of the associates from the shop run it to Carmine, who would have it in Havana in no time. Frankie looked worried, but confident in me at the same time.

"In two days I'm going to Patsy's!, If he shows, we'll talk. If not he can take that letter and stick it up his ass!."

Exactly two days later Frankie found herself sitting at a small table in the back corner of Patsy's Diner, feeling nervous and out of her element.  Her discomfort at the thought of meeting the man who demanded her back as property was clear in the pout on her face. James had insisted she come, despite her strong protest. So there she sat, looking very much like an overdressed child at Easter mass. Her curls were pinned up in pristine fashion, her makeup actually done for once, her supple bosom disguised demurely under a modest cap sleeve dress. It was just a touch overstated for the setting, but James wanted her to make an impression... to make a point. 

She stiffened with every soft tinkle of the bell above the diner door; expecting the fiend they were meeting to come in shooting at any moment. When he finally did enter it was with understated subtlety. He was a short, broad man with sharp features and keen eyes. His tailored suit accentuated his toned frame, bristling intimidatingly with each stride. His dark gaze fixed on Frankie as soon as he entered the diner. And she slid closer to James instinctually as he approached the table, holding her terror-stricken with an intense stare. 

"Mr. Sullivan, I presume," he crooned, taking a seat without offering his hand.  "Let's get right down to business. Have you given any further thought to my... requests?" The question was poignantly worded. His demands were far from requests. And the twisted contorted grimace on Frankie's face said as much. Turning her face away from the man, she reached for Jame's hand, remaining silent. 

To further comfort Frankie, I grab her hand from under the table before speaking out to Luciano.

"Mr. Bautista I-" Immediately interrupting me, he replies "Don Bautista!." Staring daggers at him, I pay no attention to his ego, and continue what I was saying.

"First of all, Frankie is not property!...and she will be stay-". Once again Bautista tries to chime in, this time I stick my hand up and continue to speak.

"You spoke your peace Luciano!, you made demands and now its my time to talk!." He gestures with his hand to continue, as well as a nod of agreement.

"As I was saying, Frankie is not property!, and is certainty not your property!. She makes her own decisions, and your nephew Matteo sealed his own fate when he put his hands on her!. That being said Frankie will not be coming with you. As for your other demands. You want some sort of compensation for your nephew's...death. Here is what I am offering you." I fold both hands on the table before replying. "I will offer you my condolences!, that's it...and ill reimburse you for the flight out here."

Frankie looked at me in a nervous look, while Luciano shot daggers in my direction. He speaks up and says "So I come out here to hear this shit?!...this is how you treat a guest?. I am the fucking Don of Little Havana!." This time I chime in and interrupt Luciano.

"As far as I'm concerned, your superiority disappeared the moment you left Little Havana!, you are in my home city, and to be perfectly honest I been very patient with you. So you can take my condolences, and a truce and leave it be!, or you can-"

Luciano stands to his feet and says "I think I got my answer!, no more warnings Sullivan!." He turns to walk away as I get one last thing in.

"Luciano!, just know this is on you...you sealed your own fate...and my only regret was not stabbing your nephew a few more times!. He fucked with someone I love!, now you make demands...I don't fucking think so. Were threw here!."

As Luciano stormed out Frankie stared at me with both a look of fear, and shock. I was assuming the shock was from me saying I loved her. But I was to pissed to care about what I had said. I calmly stood to my feet and walked over to the phone. I called Carmine who was down the street. when he picked up I simply said.  "Carmine...do it!."

After hanging up, I looked to Frankie with a smile, placing my right hand over my ear while saying to her, "Listen!."

Carmine hung up the payphone across the street from the meeting place that Sullivan was currently in. He was contacted asking for help in a situation with some family from outta town. He wasn't a particular fan of dealing with unknown elements and people especially with the sparse details about what exactly was going on. He'd demand further explanation from James later on when things weren't so hot. Considering what he was being asked to do it might be a little while before things weren't hot.

It would be a standard block and hit with a trailing car set up to possibly throw off the cops if they had a quick response to the bullets that would end up ringing out. There was one car filled with 3 shooters across the street from the diner, one car at the top of the street to cut off the targets car or tail them should they get out ahead of schedule, and one car parked down at the bottom a little bit away from the diner should they get cute and try to go back the other way. This car would also be used to block up the police if they followed so naturally there wouldn't be any shooters in that car since their job was to obstruct and they had the highest chances of getting pinched.

Carmine walked up to the lead car at the top of the street. As he passed by the car that was holding the shooters in it he gave them a quick nod to let them know it was on. As he walked to the lead car he also thought of how big a favor Sullivan was calling in. He'd own Carmine one after this and more than an explanation this was a lot of man power being used.

He arrived at the lead car and got into the passenger side seat. They'd have to haul ass out of here so it was best for his health if things went wrong to not be sitting in the back when this all went down. This car had two shooters in the back seat along with a driver, as long as everything went according to plan, and it would, this car shouldn't see any action but was just there to make sure the shooters did their job.

As he was able to see from his seat the target that Sullivan had described perfectly had just left the diner to get in his car. He was walking in a huff so things must've definitely gone wrong in there. He'd again have to get the details later. As he seen the man from out of town get into his car with a few of his people he must've brought for safety actually upon closer look there was indeed two cars there. One full and one not full. He counted about 6 people in the two cars in total. His boys should have enough ammo.

As the man began to get in his car, Carmine's boys were on the move. The car in the back was more aware than the car holding the out of town Don. They started reaching first so Carmine's guys were forced to start firing first. This would cause plans to change and it would seem like Carmine's car would indeed have to block the car trying to pull off carrying Luciano.

"Alright Sal, you move the car and get ready to cut them off, Jimmy you light that other car up and make sure you hit everything living inside. I'll be up the block, we're gonna have to haul ass outta here before anyone sees us so don't fuck about, understand?" Carmine said urgently as things were happening and they needed to move quickly.

Once he received nods of understanding he quickly hopped out the car and began walking up the street. He got out of the car just in time to see the car he was just in block Luciano's. He could hear the crash as the cars collided but not hard enough to take his car completely out of commission. Jimmy hopped out the back seat once they got over the contact from the crash and began shooting his tommy gun at the car. He had help as the guys who was shooting Luciano's second car had begun focusing their fire on his personal car.

This went on for about half a minute where they completely riddled the car with bullets. Carmine figured there was no way anybody in either of the cars was making it out alive. He nodded pleased with his boys work. They'd have to be rewarded handsomely for this piece of work. On Sullivan's dime of course. This would make a lot of noise so his people would need to lay low and it was good that he going out of town.

Once they were sure the job was done Carmine's car was put into drive and moved at quick speed to come meet him up the block where he was waiting. He quickly took one more look at the scene making sure all was still before hopping in the car himself and telling it to pull off and he and his boys were off with the other two cars soon following behind him up the street.

Frankie listened, as shots from the tommy gun rang out from down the street. The plan was executed perfectly by Carmine and his associates. I made a mental note to slip a lot more cash into the envelope during his wedding. I took Frankie's hand and walked outside, preparing to leave quick before the cops showed up. As I get Frankie in the passenger seat, she yells, "SULLY LOOK!."  I turn to see the back left door open on Luciano's car open, as the Little Havana Don falls to the pavement. He starts crawling on his belly, just barley able to drag his own weight. I look to Frankie and tell her,  "stay here ok? I'll be right back!." I shut the door and make my way down the street on foot.

As I was speed walking down to Luciano, I realized I had no gun!. I had kept my word on the unarmed meeting arrangement. I reached the car Luciano was in, circled it and opened the passenger door. I grabbed the pistol that the passenger had on him. He flinched!, causing me to jump a bit as it caught me off guard.

"You pricks don't like to die do you!?"

Aiming the pistol at him, I fire two shots which leaves the passenger motionless. Now concerned, I scan the cars quick to make sure there are no survivors. Once confirming everyone else was dead, I looked to the crawling Luciano, who had made it maybe 10 feet since he began to crawl.

Now hearing sirens in the far distance, I waste little time and walk over Luciano, who uses the last of his energy to turn to his back. And looks in my eyes and spits at me!.  "Asshole till the end huh?...Don!." He slowly raises his hand chucking me the bird, as I proceed to fire until the clip was empty!. Once hearing the gun click, and seeing that Luciano was dead for sure, I made my way back to my car.

Shutting the door, I start the car and haul out of there as quickly as possible. Looking to Frankie I say "Gonna lay low at my place ok?...Luciano, and Little Havana will never mess with you again!." She nods, but stays quiet. She had been through a lot, but it wasn't the first time she had seen shit like this go down. And it had to be done, for both her sake and mine. We continued to my house in silence.

MEANWHILE IN LITTLE HAVANA

The last of the plan was in affect, as a associate of mine was standing outside a tavern which was currently occupied by Luciano's key figures. It was a meeting to discuss there plans, had the meeting between me and Luciano went bad. Little did they know it was over before it began!.

Having no idea what was about to happen, they all sat at the table planning. My associate walked in calmly, hiding his tommy gun under his long overcoat. Once close enough to do damage he unloads!. Broken bottles, pieces of the table and just about anything that could be torn to shit was, as the bullets destroyed everyone at the table, and many objects that were around it.

BACK IN NY

After a short drive, we reached my home. Walking into the kitchen, I made me and Frankie coffee, hoping her silence would break soon. So there we were, sitting at the table. My eyes fixated on Frankie as I took my first sip of coffee. I could only hope she knew I did this more for her safety then my own.