The Flying Ivories had turned into quite the way for Brancer to acquire information. New York was something else at this point though. Brancer had been able to make some unbreakable bonds with quite a few of the elites in the private sector and city hall alike. Everyone had their vices and most of the socially allowed ones were not able to be found down at The Flying Ivories. No one liked their dirty laundry to be aired out in the public forum. Schmoozing with the men and women of New York who thought they ran the show was as entertaining as it were useful to Brancer. Its funny when lives came down to it, it was obvious who ran the town of New York. He intended to put that to good use.

Jacob Ruppert, a former congressman and owner of Yankee Stadium, just so happened to love to throw the dice and always seemed to have a new woman accompanying him each time. Brancer had made sure to have many chats with him and when the fight for Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling was to be held in his stadium, Brancer knew who he would be getting his ringside seats from on cue. The corrupt congressman, however good of a baseball owner he may be, was eager to give up the tickets lest the tabloids began to speak only of him these days.

Brancer loved boxing and was plenty eager for what was being touted as one of the biggest heavyweight championship bouts of all time. Though more importantly, he had wanted to get a chance to sit down with Jack_McGurn and have a talk with one of the newest members of The 7% Solution. Of course, Brancer wouldn’t dare be ringside without Briya there with them. Multiple reasons for that, besides they had important things to discuss at some point in the evening. Brancer and Briya had opted to not tell Jack where they were going exactly upon Brancer’s request to Briya. Brancer had sent word to Jack from his bodyguard Donovan to let Jack know there was something special planned and to dress to the nines. Brancer had gone so far as to arrange an appointment for Jack with his suit maker if he wished to utilize the courtesy.

He had taken Briya out the week before and had bought a dress that she seemed to have fallen in love with, and it was obvious why when Brancer’s driver, Danny, pulled up to  the outside doors to her Manhattan apartment as they had opened thanks to the doorman. Danny opened the door to the back of the Mercedes and let her in as Brancer greeted her. “You look beautiful as ever tonight. I believe we have one more stop before we head over to the Bronx, though.” Brancer said smiling at Briya taking her in for a moment. He had already poured two Negronis sans orange pinwheels for them. He offered her one of the glasses as they took off for Jack’s residence discussing the news they had recently heard about the newer member to their crew and his Valentine’s Day antics. It was agreed what better place to discuss the subject than at what was hopefully going to be an amazing fight.  

The door pulled up to Jack’s place and Danny made his way to the door to knock and retrieve Jack back to the car so that they could beat a bit of the traffic around the stadium that was surely to have been built up by now. Brancer checked his watched as Jack got into the car and looked over to him with a smile. “Can I get you a drink Jack?” He said with a gesture to the sizable ‘mini’ bar in the back of the small limo. “There will be plenty of drinks where we are going too. You know what tonight is, don’t you?” He said as he recognized that Jack had quite the look of bewilderment upon his face as he sat and looked over at his crew leader and her left hand man.

Jack was sitting in the dining room eating a little lunch before going back to the gun shack. He was taking a lunch break from a very interesting and productive day at the gun shack. As he was taking the last bite of his burger he heard the doorbell ring. It was a big man dressed in all black, He had seen this man with Brancer once or twice assuming he was Brancers bodyguard, Jack opened the door worried something may have happened to Brancer.

” Hello Jack, my name is Donovan I’m one of Brancers bodyguards, Brance sent me to tell you that him and Briya were planning something special for you tonight.  They will be here to pick you up around 6 o clock.  Oh yeah and the suit shop down the street has a order from Brance for you to come in and pick what you want, on the house. So go get spiffed up Man.”

Jack was so excited for tonight he decided not to even go back to the gun store.  He had to job in the shower and fix his hair still.  He decided to go get the suit first.  After walking 4 blocks to lavoni’s suit shop he stepped inside and seen the one he wanted instantly.  It was a light green Canali pin suit with a cream colored silk tie.  This suit reminded him of his old boss back in Chicago Al Capone.  Once Jack was sized and told not to worry about the price he headed back to his Home.

It was now 6 o clock and Jack was running late like normal. He criticized himself on the suit and tries to get his hair fixed up before his family arrived.  While in the middle of parting his hair there was a knock at the door. Jack rushed out to the limousine in a hurry because he was in such suspense on where they were going.  

“Yes Brancer I’ll take a gin straight on the rocks, now what is this all about you have kept me in suspense all day.  The champion ship fight how the hell did you manage to get a ticket to that let alone 3 of them.  Max Schmeling is a good fighter but lacks stamina, and Joe Lewis is ok but what makes him impressive is the way he can take hits, Lewis has this for sure.”

Briya was excited; she'd listened to countless fights broadcast over the radio over the years, but this would be her first time attending one. As the three were driven towards Yankee Stadium, the traffic intensified. Near the entrance, they were dropped off by Danny, who eased back out into the tangle of cars and disappeared. 

Presenting their tickets, they were escorted to some of the best seats in the house, ringside. The vibe coursing through the stadium was intense, and it was hard to stay seated as numerous celebrities and prominent figures passed within inches of them in search of their own seating. Briya, seated on Brancer's left, leaned over and smiled at Jack, who was on his right.

"Is it more exciting as a fighter, or a spectator, Jack?" she asked, but before he could answer, the noise level around them increased considerably as Joe Louis and his entourage made their way towards the ring. Schmeling had been bragging in interviews prior to the bout, but Briya was fairly certain that most of the crowd was indeed favoring the young up-and-comer. 

Three rounds into the fight, Schmeling was indeed taking advantage of a studied weakness. In the fourth, a blow to Lewis' chin sent a cascade of blood spray into the crowd, and Lewis to the canvas, for the first time in his fighting career. Looking down at the front of her new dress, Briya turned to Brancer and smirked. 

"If he wins, this dress just became more valuable." She was worried, though. Lewis didn't keen to what Schmeling already knew; Lewis kept dropping his left hand after the jabs.

“I can’t help but root for Louis as well. I always enjoyed seeing someone on the upswing of their career. I wouldn’t put it past Schmeling to pull anything out. Experience is always a factor if he can keep his stamina up as you say. ” Brancer said as he poured Jack a hefty gin on the rocks. “Of course we will get to make a real call for ourselves on his stamina when we see them ringside. As far as the tickets go I just asked for them. Amazing what a well worded question can get you sometimes.”  He let out a chuckle as the three of them continued their small talk on the way to the stadium.

As they showed their tickets time and time again to get past more security keeping most people out from the VIP seating area, the energy felt like it had began to build and build. Brancer saw quite a few familiar faces from The Flying Ivories. High rollers the whole lot of them this group down around the squared circle.

Brancer cheered loud with the spectators as Joe Louis made his way to the ring and cut off Briya’s quip towards Jack. He looked over to her and winked with a smirk upon his face. The match was soon underway once Schmeling had joined the ring.  The fight was turning out to be everything that it was touted to be, though to Brancer’s disappointment Louis was definitely on the receiving end of the worst of it all. It was impressive to see the obvious planning pay off for the German.

The blood splatter across Briya’s dress followed by her quick tongue caused Brancer to laugh. "Too bad you look stunning in that dress too." He shook his head looking at her and the ruined dress. As the count began and Louis made his way back to his feet the stadium was a in a full frenzy. The fight had really started to split the crowd. Louis was obviously the favorite, but Schmeling’s ruthless assault was winning over the masses. Louis somehow survived the round and the two professional bruisers made their way to their corners.

Brancer was watching Schmeling’s demeanor and he seemed still calm and calculated as he sat on the stool listening to the corner. “Where you always more the planner, or did you just give it all heart in the ring?” He said over to Jack as the bell rang and the two prizefighters began their assault at each other once more demanding all attention be put back to the ring with a great roar from the crowd. Brancer cheered along with the crowd not waiting to hear his reply. Schmeling had treated the start of the round just as the end of the other. He hadn’t gotten overly excited like a young fighter might after getting the knockdown. It was strictly back to the game plan and Brancer was having a growing respect for the man.

“Well I’d have to say a spectator Briya, because when you are actually fighting there is no room for emotions.  You have to be calm and collected if you get excited you are bound to make the mistake that will cost you the fight.  Holy shit I just noticed the blood splatter on your dress.  Well it will be worth more, Louis is known to come back from these kind of beatings, Schmeling is tiring himself out there is still a lot of fight left.”

Jack has seen this type of fight over and over again and 9 times out of 10 the fighter who saves his energy comes out with the win. It is a lot easier to know out a person that is fatigued than a person energized.  Jack was so interested in this fight he was sitting on the edge of his seat shaking his legs up and down.  Once he started to relax he leaned over to Brancer and yelled in his ear over the loud crowd.

” You see I was a very different kind of fighter, I didn’t care who I fought because it is a sport to me, I didn’t let people get to me with trash talk because no matter who it is or how big or small it was always fun.  Oh yeah to answer your question I was a conservative style fighter I tried to only throw punches that will land, my score cards were very impressive win or loose. I averaged a 86% accuracy on my punches.  I mostly was a defensive fighter, or should I say am a defensive fighter, you bringing me here just made my mind up I’m getting back into the ring.”

At this point in the fight the fatigue of Schmeling was dimming down, you could notice this because after each blow he would throw at Louis he was leaving his guard down.

Round after round, Louis sustained more injuries as Schmeling dominated each round. Briya watched with dismay as Louis was eventually knocked out at the end of the twelfth. Sighing heavily, she turned to Brancer and Jack.

"I sincerely hope you boys didn't bet on this match," she said, knowing they both most likely had, once she'd seen the quiet reaction on each of their faces.

"Hmm," she said as she smiled. Gamblers, the whole lot of her crew seemed to be. "Guess dinner's on me, then," she laughed as the trio made their slow exit out of the stadium. The driver found them in roughly fifteen minutes' time, and off they went to Delmonico's, where a reservation awaited them. As they neared the front door, Briya halted abruptly. 

"Shit," she murmured, then reached inside her purse and pulled out a scarf, which she did her best to drape around her neck in order to hide as much of the blood spatter as possible. Inside, they were seated immediately, and their drink orders were taken. Once the sommelier departed, Briya's demeanor changed from lighthearted politeness to serious business.

"Jack?" she said quizzically, leaning across the table and lowering her voice. Her hands needed something to do, so she folded them on the table before her. 

"After what happened, you know...in February? How do you know they're not going to come looking for you?"

Brancer had admired what Jack had to say about his boxing strategies. That said a lot about the man, and frankly they were qualities that any crew would seek in their members, that is to say the conservative style. If anything him being willing to fight anyone meant that he would never falter on a job or back down from a tough spot. Hearing that Jack was going to be getting back into the ring was exciting news to Brancer. He would enjoy getting to watch Jack in the ring. This night had proven one thing for Brancer for sure, he enjoyed watching the fights a hell of a lot more than he did listening to them.

The way Jack had spoken about his boxing was a lot like what Schmeling was doing to Louis in this bout. Brancer looked to Briya after Schmeling had dropped Louis in the 12th for the final time. He guessed his face showed the pain his bank account would feel for a bit after that fight by what she had said. He laughed when she offered dinner though, besides he was sure that The Flying Ivories would be able to make him back the cash pretty quick. “If there isn’t a rematch to that war it would be a damn shame.”

“What’s wrong you lose out on that fight too?” He joked before she retrieved the scarf and wrapped it to cover the blood stain. “Oh right, yeah this place is a bit on the fancier side I suppose. Ever been here, Jack? You’ll love it.” He chuckled. Brancer was eager to get that first round of drinks in and continue the night. He also knew what was coming next, and wondered where this conversation was going to leave them at the end of the night. Either way he could still feel the electricity of the match that would be talked about for ages.

As they all sat their waiting on their drinks. Brancer couldn’t help but catching himself watching Briya. It was hard not to for him it seemed. He knew what was coming next though and saw it in her demeanor. When she leaned forward to ask Jack about the Massacre back in Chicago, Brancer shifted his attention back towards Jack. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it anxious to hear what their friend had to say. He knew it must come as a shock that they had even known about this whole past of his.

When Louis hit the mat late in the twelfth round Jack threw his head back in disappointment.  “Let’s get out of here guys it’s over and yes Briya a lot of money is lost.”  Jack wasn’t mad about the money it was the fact that he believes he knows so much about boxing that he could never be wrong.  One the three got to Delmonico’s Jack ordered a gin on the rocks he loved those things.  Jack almost spit his drink when Briyas question came out.  He was so nervous he had no idea how to answer this question correctly.

” U-umm, well I guess I can’t tell you for sure that they won’t be after me.  I would love to tell you a lie that there is no way there would be pay back, but the truth is guys I left that situation open ended.  I am being hunted around the board.  First the FBI won’t let up, although they let me go due to lack of evidence.  They knew it was me and it’s just a matter of time before they come for a conviction.  Second is Bugs Moran,  he was supposed to be there and this problem wouldn’t be a problem.  My intel was off or he caught hind of it from my inside informant, what ever the case he’s still alive and that’s a problem. Lastly is my old boss Al Capone, now there are plenty of reasons why he could be coming for me.  The hit was never authorized by Al, now before you judge me I begged al to authorize it, these men killed my innocent stepfather in broad day, in front of my mother.

Jack now started to shed a tear thinking about the whole situation.

” Al also accused me of snitching on him, he says that is how I got out of jail. IM NOT A RAT!” Jack screamed as he banged the table.

”Do you know how many people I killed for that man Briya, more than you could ever imagine, all I wanted was Bugs Moran.  I was shot for Capone and the next day carried out a hit for him.”

Jack was now feeling very tipsey from the gin, he was slurring his words.

Brancer could see the instant change in Jack as the question hit him. Most of the story he had picked up by chance from a man in from Chicgao playing dice at his Philadelphia location of The Flying Ivories. He ended up drinking the night away with the man when he heard him talking about ole Jack_McGurn, and how it would someday catch up to him. That man met his end that night as he was leaving via a round between the ears a few blocks down the road. Loose lips like that can’t be spilling information about his family around town.

The only thing is Brancer had no idea to what extent the loose ends had been. He had figured from the drunk at the ivories that Bugs Moran was at least looking for him. That and well from the way it had sounded maybe the FBI would still be looking into him. Brancer took a drink from the Eyeore’s Requiem that the waiter had brought as he scanned the room. He didn’t like getting this into the conversation here, because Jack was getting louder. Perhaps he wasn’t used to drinking the way that Briya and Brancer had been known to do.

If there was one thing certain it was that Brancer believed Jack in his words. He was being very honest and open with them, if not a bit too much in the restaurant. When he slammed his fist down and screamed Brancer looked to Briya then to the waiter who was making his way over. Brancer gave the man a look and shook his head ‘no.’

“Jack no one here thinks you a rat. If so we wouldn’t be out to dinner together right now. Things would have been going much differently. Also, I’m deeply sorry for the loss of your step father..” Brancer was speaking in a calm and relaxed manner. His voice was lowering slightly with each word to kind of naturally bring back the emotions of the table. “This night has been too great an evening to have to relive such things right now. How about we talk this over later in a bit more private of a setting? We can work this all out for now let’s enjoy this wonderful food headed our way I see.”

Brancer gave Briya a smile and a raise of his eyebrows as if in a shrug. It seems they had quite a bit of business to take care of in the windy city soon enough. As the waiter placed their meals before them Brancer pointed to his glass and then held up two fingers giving the waiter a wink. He was stressing on the inside. Jack had become a good friend, and he didn’t want any of this business to catch up with him. For that matter it wouldn’t be a good look for the family if anything were to bring its way to New York.

The rest of the evening was spent speaking upon the delicious meal and how great the fight was tonight. They all couldn’t come to agreement on whether Louis would have a chance in the rematch. Brancer was leaning towards Schmeling having admiration for his planning and work to wear down his opponent with willpower and strategy.

The evening ended in Jack_McGurn being helped back into his apartment a bit tipsy from all the favors that night. When Brancer got back into the limo with Briya he smiled and opened a bottle of champagne pouring them both a glass. “How about we head somewhere for a nightcap?” Brancer said as he leaned in and kissed Briya passionately. They didn't get to that glass of champagne as the car sped away back to Brancer's apartment.