1015 South 9th Street, Philadelphia PA - Mr. Wu's Fresh Fish

It was a short ride from the Sewing Factory Lofts, where the meeting just went down about the Tambini's. Giovanni drove as Rayne sat in the passenger seat, it was his car after all and it was brand new. She wasn't really sure what brand it was as cars weren't her thing but it was nice, top of the line, and was definitely not cheap. Really she wondered where he got the kind of money for such a ride but figured that was a topic for another day. Today was all about figuring out what's going on at Mr. Wu's.

She sat up straight in her seat and glanced over to Giovanni who was making sure to keep his eyes on the road.

"So, there's something I need to tell you about Mr. Wu's."

She could see him look out of the corner of his eyes at her before quickly directing them back onto the road.

"Well go on, let's hear it."

"Ok, so there was a bit of a reason I jumped on this location. This is actually a place that I have been to many many times. It's easily the best sushi in the city, though it's been a little while since I have been there. Mr. Wu is a good guy, older gentleman works his fresh fish place with his family. Wife, daughter and two sons."

The car came to a halt, which made Rayne stop talking. Giovanni tossed it in park and turned off the car. They were just around the corner from Mr. Wu's but Giovanni wanted to finish hearing her out.

"We are here but continue."

"Ok, anyways. All the times I have been there I've never noticed anything shady going on, then again I always just went there for the sushi. They kind of know me by name in there so don't be alarmed. Also keep in mind if there is Tambini operations going on there, I'm almost certain they are strong arming the Wu's. I can't be 100% about that but it's a gut feeling of mine."

Rayne turned and opened her door, making sure to lock it before getting out. She slammed the door closed and watched as he got out.

"Just take it calm in there, let's treat it like we are on a date, ok? We will just keep our eyes and ears opened and remember, we were specifically told not to make any moves."

With a smile she walked around to his side of the car.

Giovanni appriciated Rayne's concern for the (hopefully) innocent business people here, he took Rayne's arm and proceeded to walk into the place with her pulling out a seat for her and pretty much anything else a gentleman would do for their date. 

He was going to prove that he could be subtle as well, though how he was going to make it through dinner was going to be something of interest....He had never eaten sushi before and the idea of raw fish always kind of made him stray away from it so tonight was going to be one hell of a learning experience for the little Ferrari.

He waited for Rayne to order and got the same thing as her hoping her taste in food rivaled that of her combat skills.

"Soooo do you come here often? I've actually never had sushi before so bare with me okay?" 

Rayne nearly fell off her chair to the statement that he had never had sushi, it was something that she tried to eat as much as possible. Hence why she was a bit of regular around these parts, best sushi in town why go elsewhere was always her thought. It did kind of make sense to her why he had never tried it. He was a strong gene Italian boy, both his mother and father had heavy Italian background at least from what she knew. Italians like that hardly ventured out of their own cuisine, do get her wrong she loved Italian food but Rayne was also a bit venturous. 

"I used to come here a couple times a week but since partaking in the life, it's been hard to get away and get back up here. I can't believe you've never had sushi before, like seriously shocked by this. You're in for a treat, well either a treat or you will hate your life. So yeah, this could be interesting. Oh there are no forks either, chopsticks only."

The look on his face was priceless "Chopsticks?"

"Yeah the two wooden sticks that you sort of pinch together, you know chopsticks."

He shrugged his shoulders like he had the slightest idea what she was talking about.

"It's ok they have child versions that are easy to use. If you can't figure it out we will get you pair of those."

Before she could finish explaining the whole chopstick thing, Mr. Wu's daughter came out with the sushi platters and placed them in front of the pair. The daughter didn't say much of anything, just nodded and headed back to the kitchen. Rayne pointed to the platter.

"So, this is a spicy tuna roll. This one is an eel avocado roll. That one over there is a dragon roll and that one... hmm not sure what that one is. Oh and that green stuff on the plate is Wasabi, it's sweet. Try it."

Giovanni wasn't sure what the hell confused him more the "food" in front of him or how in the blue hell he was supposed to eat said food with these little wooden things in front of him...... He made a few faces at the names Rayne named some of the pieces and then he did what you obviously do with chop sticks and speared one of the pieces in the center like a fucking kabob and ate if off the stick. It was a piece of the spicy tuna roll thinking he wanted it sweeter he did the same thing but this time dipped it in the sweet "was a bee" green stuff she pointed at earlier, he bit it quick chewing and swallowing thinking it would be easier because the the green stuff would counteract the spice.

"That was weird.. it didn't taste..." Giovanni was cut off and starting coughing "water? water my mouth is on fire!! did they give us the wrong Was-A-Bee? it's not sweet rayne becareful!!!" The kid started thinking this was a set up and the owners were in on it!!!

Rayne watched, trying not to smirk when Giovanni ate the piece of sushi with quite the large amount of wasabi. She knew this wasn't going to be pleasant for him but also knew it was going to probably be the funniest thing she would see all week, possibly all month. Once in his mouth she cracked a smile, then burst out in laughter once the full effect of the wasabi kicked in.

He frantically requested water and flagged over Mr. Wu. He already knew what he needed and what had happened, it wasn't the first time someone not knowing what wasabi was tried it. Was a reaction he had seen many times. He scurried over with a drink in both hands, one a glass of milk and the other a glass of water.

"Milk first, then water....."

Before he was able to finish his comment Giovanni grabbed the glass of milk out of his hand a chugged it. At the same time a group of men walked through the front door. Was five of them, one dressed rather nicely a guy who definitely had money. The four others were a bit homely looking and were so much up the first guys ass that if they spoke it'd basically come out his mouth. Rayne could tell they were here to eat and that they weren't. They made their way through the tiny shop walking past and bumping into Mr. Wu who still had the glass of water in his hand.

They bumped into him so hard the glass slipped out of his hand, hit the edge of the table and tipped over towards Rayne's side of the table. Like a waterfall the water slid across the table and off the edge landing right in her lap. It was almost as if it were instant karma for the wasabi incident.

Mr. Wu looked up then quickly back down. The fear in his eye told her everything she assumed, it confirmed everything. The men continued walking, hooked the corner down one hallway and could be heard stomping up the stairs. For a moment she forgot about the water in her lap, that was until she began feeling the coldness. She reached for a couple napkins and tried to sop up some of the water but they really didn't do much to help.

That's when she noticed Giovanni, the look on his face and the tensing of his hands only meant one thing. He was about to do something stupid, something that could blow the whole operation. She knew she had to do something to intervene.

"Joey... Joey!"

It was the first time she had called him Joey, it took him back for a moment as he glanced over towards her. Without saying much of anything, Rayne pointed at him then motioned her hand downwards.

"Not now, reel it in."

Seeing Mr Wu shoved Joey's hand instinctively went toward his revolver before Rayne caught him and talked him down, she was right this was recon only but Joey fucking hated seeing scum like this.

In hush tones he whispered when he was done coughing, "Alright what's the plan is this all we're watching or what?" Giovanni heard something break upstairs and his eyes darted upwards and flashed angrily. Who the fuck did these pricks think they were messing with @Isabella-Luciano and @LouisMezzo. 

"Rayne figure something out cause I'm going to lose it on these chumps." 

As the loud crashing noise was heard from upstairs Giovanni and Rayne directed their attentions to the ceiling, as if something was going to come through it. This wasn't good, it sounded as if there were a dozen or more people up there all of which they knew were connected with the Tambini group somehow.  It was way too many for them to handle, would be a suicide mission. Plus this was supposed to be recon only, those were strict orders.

Rayne could tell though that if Giovanni sat there much longer shit would eventually go down.

"I tell you what, go outside and get the car started. Warm it up for me, I'll be right out."

Giovanni looked at her the fury was still within his own mind.

"I'm not leaving you in here, with them upstairs."

Rayne slammed her hand on the table.

"Trust me, just go outside. I will be right out."

Still a bit hesitant Giovanni stood up, knocked his chair over and headed outside.

Mr. Wu came back over to the table and apologized multiple times, she could tell he was embarrassed.

"I'm so so so sorry, those Tambini guys have no respect. They don't even pay me to use the upstairs, pushed their way in and took over. They won't even let me up there. Then they come down here and raid the kitchen, I just...."

The door to upstairs was slammed shut, almost as if they could hear the conversations downstairs. Rayne took a fifty out of her pocket and handed it to Mr. Wu.

"Things will get better, don't you worry."

With that Rayne grabbed her jacket and headed outside to the awaiting Giovanni. His eyes followed her all the way to the car.

"We could have taken them, you know?"

Rayne nodded even though she knew they didn't stand much of a chance.

"Let's get out of here and head back to the lofts, we've got all the intel we need."