Enzo is awoken by a knock on his apartment door before he hears running down the hallway and a car speed off, he turns on his light and notices a letter slid under his door. He picks it up and notices the front has 'Isabella Luciano' scribed on it... confused as to why he received a letter meant for the Don....a Don that he'd not even been properly introduced to yet.. it just didn't make sense. Maybe it had been delivered in error? Or maybe it was meant to be given to Enzo, so he could use this letter as an ice-breaker to finally speak with his Don Luciano.. either way, little did Enzo know what the letter contained before he set on his way towards the family headquarters..

He pulled up in his car, got out and tapped his jacket pocket to double check the letter was inside, he felt the paper crunch around his palm..he knew what he had to do, this could be the first job of many that Enzo could carry out for the Don.. he walked inside the headquarters and gingerly took the stairs towards Isabella's apartment. He heard footsteps on the other side before it swung open, and there Isabella was staring back at him..

'My Don, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Enzo...Enzo Landucci - I've been an associate of your family for a while now, but I'm afraid we've never been properly introduced. You see - someone dropped this letter off at my apartment, it's been sealed, and has clear instruction that's it's meant for your eyes...so I guess I've served my purpose by bringing it here?' 

Enzo paused, almost hesitantly before handing Isabella the letter, she took it over to her table before sitting down, breaking the glue holding the letter inside and tapped it out onto the desk - Enzo lit a cigar before looking over at a raised eyebrow of Isabella. He dared not speak, because the letter could contain something of great importance, and he wished for her to concentrate. 

The letter read, in an all but familiar hand:

My darling Izzy...

 

I write to you now, from a location far from this town, I just hope that it reaches you in time, before anything further happens to me, or to you....

You're being tricked, and setup by the FBN, I was taken into custody after my brutal beating, and was kept prisoner for months on end, I've not eaten, or drank anything for days. My bodies started to shut down, and my heart is breaking at the thought of you believing that bloodied corpse was mine. I know the fed & coroners are trying to fuck with your head. Don't trust anyone, and don't believe anyone. 

This is the first time in 6 months that it's been safe for me to reach out, I want you to know that I am alive, and the only reason for me staying that way is the thought of seeing your dark, raven hair and gorgeous eyes once more. I long for the day that I don't have to sacrifice myself, and my sanity once more to protect you from harm.

All I've ever done is love you, all I'll ever do is love you. I understand now at the time of reading you may even be dead yourself, but if my sources are correct, and you are still playing a senior role in this city of ours. Then from my calculations this letter should be reaching you towards the final days of July. Between now and then, I will be arriving back into our rightful city of Detroit, and there I will be waiting under the cover of darkness, and in the shadows of our favourite, memorable place...Lakeview Garden & Cafe - it's only safe for me to do this for a limited time before I am found once more. If the feds get wind that I'm back in Detroit, they will almost certainly kill me for real this time.

Keep yourself safe, and don't trust anyone, no matter who you feel has your best interests at heart. I know these words will come as a shock, but I cannot go on without you. You are my reason for living, and fighting out of this torturous past that has almost become my reality. 

 

I will be waiting, and will show myself to you when I believe it is safe to do so.

 

Until then my sweet.

 

Eli

Without hesitation, Izzy pulled up a gun from her desk and cocked the hammer back and pulled the trigger.  The wall beside Enzo's head exploded.  She growled.  "Get out."  She chambered another round.  "Or the next one won't miss."  Trembling she put down her gun.  She watched Enzo scurry out and he was grabbed up instantly by her bodyguards.  Nails came in.  

"Store him in the basement until I decide what to do with him."

Nails nodded and left to carry out his Boss' orders.  

Shaking, uncontrollably, Izzy slid down into her high backed leather chair.

"It's a trick."  She whispered.  "It's a trick."  She looked at what was clearly Elias' handwriting but none of it made sense.  She'd SEEN his body.  She saw him dead.

She picked up her phone to call her father and remembered, he was gone.  She expected someone to come running from the crew, but the stairs were silent.  Everyone in the crew must be out.

She rocked back and forth in her seat a moment before grabbing the phone.  There was only one other person she could think to call on in a moment like this.

*ring*

*ring*

"Marie?  It's Isabella."  She sobbed the sound of Marie's voice greeting her.  "I need some help.  Can I send a plane for you?"

Sullivan had been waiting downstairs patrolling the area as ordered. He was a new associate to the crew, but felt a strong pride in the assignment he received this evening. Ensuring our boss was properly protected, and having personnel available at a moments notice was vital. He was in the middle of a sweep at the headquarters when he passed by the stairway. BANG. He immediately rushed to the origin of the gunshot which seemed to be the office. As he rushed through the hallway he noticed the door has been shot. He reached, with some hesitation to what might be, to turn the door knob. Then, with a relentless determination he swiftly passed through the threshold with his gun at the ready.

His eyes darted around the room to evaluate the situation, and determine if the location was secure. Luckily, all was well. Don Luciano was sitting at her desk. He saw the guards, and Nails taking an unconscious Enzo down the staircase. “What just happened?” Sullivan thought to himself, but wouldn’t dare say out-loud. He quickly holstered his gun, and waited at the ready for what would happen next. He thought best to stand guard at the door, and provide further assistance if required.

Marie sat in her office at her home writing a few letters, as the baby slept in the basset just behind her.  When the phone rang she cringed and hurriedly answered it hoping the baby did not wake up.  Of course she had no such luck.

"Hello?" she answered as she trapped the phone against her shoulder with her head as she reached to try and pick the baby up.  Marie suddenly stopped when she heard Isabella voice and heard her crying over the line.  The baby could cry a bit.  "Isabella what is wrong?  Is your father okay? " 

The Godmother pressed a buzzer and soon Rand was coming through the door.  Marie covered the receiver long enough to tell her head security guy to get the car ready and then she spoke once more to the crying woman. "There is no need to send a plane I have one here ready to go.  Just tell me what has happened."

Sotiris was at South Side with his bodyguards smashing a resturant owner's head when all these happened but after some minutes he went back at his house when one of his bodyguards came from a patrol at the bussiness that they were protecting and told Sotiris that he listened a shoot coming near crew's HQ "What?!OK this may be something bad drive me there fast!" Sotiris is there in a couple of minutes and quickly gets in the mansion and walks to Isabella's office,out from the office Sullivan is standing,guarding the door,Sotiris asks him "Wha...what happened?" Sullivan answers "I dont really know but at least Don is ok" "Oufff at least nobody died..." Sotiris also takes out his gun and stands from the other side of the door.

Hearing her men outside she called them forward.  "@Sullivan  ...  @SotirisG ???"

When both men presented themselves to their Don she tried to compose herself.  "I'm afraid someone is making moves against us in a very real way.  Godmother @Marie_Lucania is on her way here as Godfather @Salvatore_Luciano is out of town on business.  I need one of you to pick up the Godmother when she arrives at the airport and bring her here.  Sullivan... do you think you can manage that?"

She then looked to Sotiris, "I need you to go out on the town and find @Calimero_DiGrazia and get his priestly ass back here asap.  Tell him I wanted him here ten minutes ago and not a WORD about Enzo going down to the basements.  Just get it done and come back as fast as possible."

She looked to them both, "Any questions?"

"No, Don Luciano. I'll begin the preparations for travel to airport now to receive Godmother @Marie_Lucania when she arrives. Furthermore, it would be a honor to do so.” Sullivan said in acknowledgment of the orders provided to him. Being a recent associate in the crew Sullivan knew this was the beginning of a journey to earn his keep. Without hesitation he headed downstairs, and began coordinating with the guards on standby.

Sullivan ensured three cars were available when the command was given to head out to pickup the Godmother. Growing up in the underworld in which his father worked Sullivan knew the risks. He wouldn’t allow anything to interfere with Don Luciano’s businesses, and her reputation in Detroit. He instructed each guard to be on the ready, and to keep their eyes peeled for any suspicious activity. Making his rounds he encouraged the men, and stressed the importance of situational awareness. Explaining how to respond in an attempted ambush, and making sure automatic weapons were stashed in the vehicles if an incident were to occur.

Taking a minute break from all the activity at the headquarters he decided to enjoyed a cigarette. While taking a deep breath into his lungs, and slowly exhaling he contemplated the job ahead of him. Sullivan checked his gun to make sure it was loaded, and prepared for action. Now, it was a waiting game for the go-ahead from Don Luciano to head to the airport.

Isabella paced, waiting for her guests to arrive, all the while considering going down to the basement and just shooting the asshole she found was working for her operation that she didn't even know was here.  HOW THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?  

She tried not to be furious.  She tried not to be afraid.  She tried not to be utterly overcome with emotions of all sorts but it wasn't working.  Finally she picked up her brandy glass and threw it as hard as she could at the wall slamming into one of her only photos of Elias and she on the riverfront.  The glass holding the photo in shattered, as did the sniffer.  All of it came crashing down.  

Walking around her desk she cursed under her breath, and snagged the photo out from the pile of glass violently - cutting herself in the process, "GOD DAMN IT!"  She cursed pulling the glass from her wound and getting a bit of blood on the black and white photo in the process.  The picture, she realized, was ironically similar to the one of her father and her mother.  One of a kind, black and white, and of two young people in the prime of their lives who were desperately in love.

Isabella went to a knee, unable to find words to bring herself some peace, she prayed to a God she'd felt was all too indifferent to the world.  Maybe this time he was listening and would know how the hell she was meant to navigate this minefield.

Enzo, still being restrained and locked away in an underground basement of the headquarters - screamed at the top of his voice - 'WHY THE FUCK HAVE YOU PUT ME HERE, ALL I'VE FUCKING DONE IS DELIVER A LETTER, I DIDN'T EVEN WRITE THE FUCKING THING'

The basement was dark, cold and it was damp. Enzo's senses had been heightened due to losing his sight, and he started to get extremely agitated. What on earth was in the letter, and why was he locked away like some kind of prisoner? He had questions, and wanted answers....and quickly..

Enzo continued to bang on the wooden door, each bang louder and more aggressive than the first...'I NEED TO SPEAK TO THE DON RIGHT NOW, WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!!'

Isabella couldn't take it anymore.  The Godmother wasn't here yet, but she couldn't wait.  WOULDN'T.  She had to do SOMETHING not sit on her damn hands while Elias' father was in her holding cells.  She left a note for Calimero_DiGrazia:

"Padre.  Meet me downstairs.  Bring whatever you need to take confession & give a man last rights.  -I"

Isabella stormed out of her office and down the stairs.  Her mute bodyguards, who had given their tongues in an effort to survive the last bout of Don Luciano's wrath, followed close behind - clearly eager for a chance to let their frustrations on someone else.

Isabella composed herself before walking through the door.  She didn't know what she meant to say to him - how or why he'd even be honest with her... but if it took all damn night, she'd get what she wanted.

Isabella, entered the room and had her guards shut and lock the door behind her.

Enzo heard the door swing open, he was knocked over to his feet before climbing back up and dusting himself off, he saw the light before falling down thinking he was dead, but it was merely a shadow outline, Don Luciano was in the basement with him. 'I know you're in here with me now Don, so can you please enlighten me as to why the fuck after doing a delivery for you, that I'm now being kept prisoner? Is this how you like to treat all of your associates? What kind of family are you running here?'

Silence.  

Isabella Luciano didn't come when called or speak when commanded to do so by anyone other than her father and even with him there were limits.  Instead of words there was a long silence and the tinkling of metal against stone floor as a small ring bounced and came to rest in reach of Enzo. 

Sapphires and Diamonds. 

A family heirloom.

She waited to see if he knew it, or if he was so detached from his own family that he didn't even recognize such a precious memento.

In the dim light Enzo could see the outline of a ring that had dropped on the floor, he squinted at the ring before a look of horror bestowed his face...his lip trembled and he started to shake with anger...'Don Luciano you need to tell me exactly how you've come to be in proximity to my mothers ring - I haven't seen this ring in years, my no good son of a bitch son stole this from me. He spent his life stealing from me, I'd be surprised if he is even alive, did you kill him for this ring? I wouldn't be surprised if you did, or blame you. It's priceless you know. For one gun to kill a father and a son? How do you know him, and what the fuck do you have against Landucci's?' 

Isabella grabbed the man by his hair and slammed his face into the concrete, a spray of blood and teeth came pouring out of Enzo's mouth.  

Or... that's what happened in her head.  That's what she WANTED to do when he said a single bad word about Elias.  But she had to be sure.  Had to know without a doubt this asshole really was someone's patsy.  She walked calmly dragged a wooden chair across the floor to a space just in front of Enzo.  It made a horrible noise.  She didn't flinch.

Instead she spun the chair around backwards and straddled it.  "Tell me how it is you came to work for me Enzo and please consider for a moment that you are still very much alive and you still work for me... at the moment you're still an asset to this operation.  You really don't want me to change my opinion on that matter.  So... let's talk.  Tell me how it is you came to be here and not somewhere else."

Enzo and Don Luciano were so close he could see the cold air steaming off her shoulders, she was breathing heavy, and the anger in her voice was clear....and that made two of them. Enzo was extremely confused by the whole situation and how once again he'd found himself in a rather difficult situation.

'I've recently moved to Detroit, I'd heard it was pretty corrupt, and a travelling man; looking to settle down, you know....hang his hat somewhere.. I came across one of your associates, they told me about the operation you're running, and invited me to tag along and work with them...one thing led to another and eventually he reached out a hand and invited me to be part of the operation full time. I'm dishonest, and will do anything for money, it's my only motivation in this life. I have no family, especially since my whore of a wife kicked the bucket' - and you seem to of murdered my son for a piece of jewellery'

Enzo started to get angry once again at the Don - 'enough about my past, and how I've ended up here. I'm telling you once again, someone slid this letter under my fucking door, I thought I was doing you a favour by dropping it to you personally,. but clearly it's a setup. Some fucker has set ME UP. We'd never met until now, I thought we could network, and instead you've held me prisoner, murdered my worthless son and now have the nerve to dangle my mothers ring in front of my eyes.'

Isabella bent to the left, at her waist and picked up the ring with her right hand.  In front of Enzo she slid the ring onto her left ring finger.  "The Feds ... they killed my ..."  She wanted to so badly to say husband but the lie stuck in her throat.  She said nothing to finish her thought.

She sat up to her full height.  "Elias hated you.  He loathed everything about you.  He told me as much in our very short time together.  It wouldn't be surprising that if we had crossed paths six months ago - that I would have shot you myself just based on that alone."  She shook her head.  "But this letter... that fucking letter... someone wants you dead and they want me to do it.  For that reason alone I'm disinclined to act  It's a mystery ... and I don't like mysteries in my Tower."

"Now, there's two ways this goes.  The first is you keep talking shit about the man who was literally the air I breathed ... my REASON for living... and I put you in a fucking hole.  I'll solve the mystery of the letter without your sorry ass.  OR... maybe... maybe stop insulting Elias' memory and that of his mother's long enough to help me figure out who wants me to put a bullet in you for them.  AND when we resolve that... because you fucking gave life to the man I loved so much... I will repay that by letting you walk out of here so long as you promise we will NEVER speak again."

She tilted her head to the side, "So... which would you like to go with... do I have you uncuffed and we talk ... or do I just stop wasting my time and send you to hell.  I could have my right hand man pray over what's left of you when he finally drags his priestly ass back here - but trust me, if this ends on a bad note, I won't be inclined to force his hand and you can take your chances with St. Peter's opinion of you."

Enzo let out a chuckle, one to in a way show he wasn't scared of anything Don Luciano was saying to him...

'You mean you were involved romantically with Elias? He gave you that ring? Heh, so where is this big dog now? He's left you alone to do his dirty work? He's left you high and dry....like he leaves everyone in this world - with nothing. I understand that you may still be holding affection for him, but I can see through the bullshit...your wish to threaten my life, as payback for being alone? Then go right ahead, I'm not scared of you doll'

She stood violently, broke her chair on the floor and took the chair leg and began violently beating Enzo with it as she screamed, "THEY KILLED HIM YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!  YOU LOUSY STUPID FILTHY DRUNKEN PIECE OF HUMAN GOD-DAMNED GARBAGE, THE FEDS KILLED HIM!!!!"  

Enzo wasn't dead yet... but if she kept at it, he would be, but none of that registered for the angry Sicilian woman.  Isabella was in such a blind rage she didn't hear the door opening behind her.

Marie was escorted from the airport by Isabella's man and was taken to the young Don's headquarters.  She had sent the nanny with the baby on to Lucky's and her's house here in Detroit.  Whatever was going on she did not want to have to juggle a baby at the same time as trying to deal with what was obviously a very emotional young woman who had gone through so much in her short life. 

Upon their arrival, the godmother was told that the don was down in the basement.  She instructs the men to show her the way and she is taken down to the door leading into the basement.  Marie reach out and knocked before opened the door to the room.  When she saw what was taking place she paused a moment and sized up what she was witnessing. 

Taking a step into the basement Marie intentionally shut the door behind her with a bit of force before calling out in a commanding voice that was void of emotion.  "Don Luciano."  There was no judgement in the tone, but there was no doubt that she expected attention.

Isabella stopped mid-swing.  She instantly stood up and looked at Marie and then back down at Enzo who was curled into a fetal position.  She dropped the chair leg, it clattered to the floor.  

"Ma..."  She stopped herself from being overly formal when Marie was so clearly projecting the image of her position.  How long had she been down here?  "Godfather Lucania."  She said swallowing back the lump in her throat and blinking away tears as she came to kiss the Godmother's cheeks - hands and lips trembling. 

"Welcome to Detroit.  How can I..." She shuddered trying to catch her breath.