Things had been going well for Pablo since joining El Refugio de Loco, he was earning more money then he'd ever dreamed was possible and he was slowly making his way up the family ranks. After a recent promotion, a new business opportunity arose, that of prostitution. He wasn't overly keen on the idea, but if it earned money for the family then he do it to the best of his ability, plus he didn't force anyone into it, and he paid well and looked after the girls who worked for him.

It was with the girls that Pablo now had a problem, mainly that over the last week or so, one had disappeared and others were coming back from work covered in bruises. After getting what info he could from the girls and talking to a few informers, the prime suspects turned out to be a small gang of hoodlums that had recently show up in his part of town and were terrorizing the locals.

Now Pablo wasn't an overtly violent man, he tended to leave the rough stuff to others, but he was no pacifist either, and if someone was going to fuck with him, then he wouldn't think twice about breaking a few skulls to get his message across. And right now he was being fucked with, and that called for action. The plan was simple, employ the services of the hardest, meanest Mafiosi he could find, and go pay these fuckers a visit.

So Pablo put the word out on streets about the job at hand and retreated to a local bar to wait.

The Jackal had caught a whiff of a local job, this man needed a special kind of service, a special kind that the Jackal could provide. The Jackal walked back to his small one bedroom apartment and grabbed his Colt M1911A1 and a few extra rounds, he then slung on a large coat and put a black tasteful fedora atop his head. He then opened the door and headed out to the bar where the job awaited him.

The Jackal entered the bar and sniffed the air, his keen sense of smell could detect the strong smell of cologne and a tad of perfume, the usually scent for an owner of a prostitution ring. The Jackal walked over after hanging his coat up, he placed his fedora down before taking a seat and whispering the price into the man's ear, the man nodded and said...

Praeceps had an easy life. He was a travelling man who followed the flow of certain illicit goods, lining his pockets and his notebook; you see, the drug trade was only a small portion of his duties. As he travelled from city to city he observed things. Usually his reports consisted of supply and price numbers, compiling a history of the markets of the eight cities. With this information, his boss would be able to gain a sense of the markets' ups and downs and get ahead of the curve.

But this was not the only information he searched for. Rather his less well known, but arguably more important, job was to observe the operations of the other families and to find points of weakness in their operations that could be exploited. He had informants everywhere that provided him information on what family had men present at what heist, who was seen refiling the gas tank of a truck that reportedly had just had a sudden change in ownership, who's whores provided the best service for the lowest price.

It was that last that currently had his interest in Chicago. The Godfather, Roman, was known for his effectiveness and efficiency and nothing less would be expected from the Dons he employed. But recently, one of LaQuenta's men seemed to be having trouble protecting his girls. Rumors had spread through Praeceps' informants concerning a small group who were likely responsible. Praeceps knew this tactic, as he'd helped employ its use at other times. You send a small group in to create unrest and chaos where they can. Then you send another, and another, until the situation is gauged to have reached the appropriate level of stress and unrest before you move in and attempt a take over. It would take someone with serious stones to try something like this in Chicago, and Praeceps felt that the situation would certainly bear watching.

Pablo was impressed this shadowy character that now sat at his table, he could tell just by the way this guy moved he was a pro, this instinct was further enforced by the piece he noticed as the man was carrying as removed his coat and by price he whispered into his ear, just the right amount for the job at hand. This was no amateur thug he was dealing with.

With a nod of his head Pablo slid the man a envelope.

The names Pablo. We'll wait for a few more associates to arrive then we'll get underway, we still need a good driver just in case. You have a name friend?

The Jackal nods and slides the envelope in his pocket as he reaches for his wallet to pay the waitress in one movement quick easy, and he got his coffee quickly.

Name? Hehe, Name? The Jackal knows no name, he knows no friends...

The Jackal says in his creepy voice.

I go by the Jackal, the Jackal thinks it's good for a thing like me.

Pablo raised an eyebrow.

The Jackal speaks in tongues, or is crazy one does think right? Well I prefer insane, no wait quaint, yes the Jackal is quaint.

Toke sat down in the smokey corner of the bar. He looked around to see everyone around him with a cigarette in his mouth. The "Smoking Section". He lit a joint and closed his eyes in the peace and quiet, with the few exceptions of coughs.

"We need a good driver."

He heard someone say. This opened his eyes. He stood up, he saw two men sitting at a table, probably discussing something important. He grabbed a barstool and pulled it to the table. The two men looked suspiciously at him.

"Evening, gentlemen." He said, tipping his hat.

"The names Johnny, though my friends call me Toke." The two men introduced themselves.

"I overheard one of you saying something about a good driver needed."

"Continue." The man who called himself Pablo said. Without another word, Toke pulled the keys to his Alfa Romeo 158 from his coat pocket, grinning.

Looking at the smiling man sat opposite him, the strong stench of marijuana from the joint he was smoking, filling his nostrils.

Pablo smile's and slides aa envelope over to Toke

Good enough for me Toke, your in. This here is The Jackal

Pablo eyes the joint being "toked" by Toke

One condition tho, you share that joint you have there with your new fiends?

Toke smiles, taking one last drag from his joint, he inhales deeply and hands it to Pablo.

Though, my Alfa Romeo won't cut it. It has the speed, but it only fits one man. My point was, however, that I can actually drive one. You said you needed a good driver, that I am, though, you will need to provide a car.

Toke said, frowning.

So, when do we make our move?

He asks, taking a drink from his flask of whiskey.

Taking a long pull on the joint, drawing the thick smoke deep into his lungs, Pablo holds it there for a few seconds then exhales slowly through his nostrils, enjoying the feeling as the intoxicating substance flows through him.

The ride's sorted, its out back. While were waitin' to see if anyone else shows up I'll run over the game plan. These punks hang most evenings in a bar not far from here, there's only about half a dozen of em', nothin' we shouldn't be able to handle, just a bunch of low life scum. I'd rather not go in all guns blazing, that'll attract to much heat, I just wanna scare em', show em' who's boss. I figure if we can grab the ring leader and take him somewhere real quite for a little "chat" that should do the trick. So fists first, no shootin'. None of you mind getting up close and personal do ya?

Taking a last pull on the reefer he offers it Jakal

Any questions?

The Jackal takes the joint and passes it on, the others laugh.

The Jackal has bad experience with smoke sticks, rather unplesant experiences. I'll pass, the Jackal likes the plan though, the Jackal always prefer the sharp stick, the knife!

The Jackal then pulls out his 7 inch switch blade, and smiles.

How long we waiting anyway?

Toke smiles as Jackal passes the joint. He inhales over the smoke, going over the plan again in his head.

I've got no problem with a fist fight. But if I see a gun pulled, I wont hesitate to put one between the eyes.

He exhales the smoke and waits for Pablo's reply.

OK Lets move

Feeling confident and riding the high, Pablo stands and leads the way out of the bar, to the car parked outside, tossing the keys to Toke. The three men climb in and the car drives off with a screech of the tires. As they pull up outside the bar, Pablo describes the ring leader to his troop

The main man were after has blond hair, tied back in pony tail, a scar running down his left cheek and tattoo of a woman on his right arm, goes by the name of Carl. If there's only three or four of them lets move in, take down his buddy's, grab him and get out. If there's more lets wait until there numbers thin or they leave and we'll take em outside.

Getting out of the car Pablo slides a steel knuckle duster onto his right hand, he feels his heartbeat quicken with anticipation of the violence that's undoubtedly soon to follow. The trio enter the bar.
The place is dark with the stench a stale tobacco smoke in the air. The bar is L-shaped, leading off forward and to the right, with no more than around twenty customers. Pablo, without checking what his comrades do, heads straight to the bar, quickly glancing round trying to spot they prey, but sees nothing. He orders three shots of whisky and waits to see if one of the others spot anything.

The Jackal sniffs the air for any distinct scent, something that was similar to that of the prostitutes they were harassing. Nothing in this area, but there was a room marked staff only, for a bar that'd be a strange thing to have out in the open like that, so the Jackal decided to go and have a look see. He pulls out his switch blade and jimmy's the lock and snaps it off quietly, he then slowly pushes it open, a new scent then is picked up, the room was by the looks of it a janitors closet, but the Jackal could hear some ruffling near the back of the room. The Jackal walks up to the shelf and clears it pushing all the stuff aside, he could hear a faint knocking sound, the Jackal pressed his ear which confirmed his hunch. The Jackal plunged the knife into the wall making a small peek hole and whispered into the hole that he was here to help in a soothing less insane voice then per usual. He wasn't really but The Jackal didn't want an eye being poked out, he then peered through the hole and a banged up lady lay there hogtied and gagged using her feet to kick at the door, the Jackal frowned and walked out.

The Jackal walked to the bar, and jumps over the man is quick to tell the Jackal to leave, but is cut short, the Jackal puts a knife to his testicals and tells him to look down, then clear the bar. The man gulps after a glance at the position of the knife, he then clears the bar all bar the Pablo and Toke. The Jackal then asks,

"Alright, The Jackal wants answers, and you want your balls so why is there a young lady that happens to belong to my employer locked in your bar?"

"I know, no such thing!" the bartender says.

"Don't fuck with the jackal, I can smell his scent on the hooker!" The Jackal laughs and howls, "now why!"

Praeceps knew that sooner or later Pablo would make his way over to the bar were the small gang of men were known to hang out, so he decided to make that his information drop off point for this trip to Chicago. He sat at the bar and ordered a drink, careful to nurse it as he wasn't sure when Pablo's group would arrive. It didn't take too long, although Praeceps was surprised to see Pablo only bring two men with him. Oh well, his loss if things went sour.

Praeceps trained most of his attention on the man who had just hopped the bar. If the fight started here in the main room, things could go badly for Pablo if the patrons decided te toughs were in te right. That's the problem with small teams, if intimidation failed, you were likely to take a beating. Praeceps tossed down the last of his drink before standing; if he didn't interupt Pablo's man, the bartender might be redecorating his bar soon; with bodily fluids.

Walking up to the bar he was careful to keep note of were all of te players in this little drama were; no need ot get knifed while trying to get a refill.

Toke stood by Pablo, watching as Jackal questioned the barkeep. A man walked beside Pablo and himself. Toke studied his face. A scar. His hair was in a pony, and there was a tattoo on his arm. Toke nudged Pablo and turned to speak to Carl.

"Carl?" Toke asked. The man looked to Toke, then down to the .357 magnum in his waistband. He took off running with a last few words.

"Take this fuckers out!"

Toke made an attempt to run out into the streets and chase down Carl, but was quickly knocked off his feet by one of Carl's goons. Standing up, he walked back toward Pablo. The three were surrounded by atleast 15 men.

"Looks like there was a small miscalculation. Huh?"

He quickly pulled the .357 magnum from his waist. He knew Pablo wanted a fist fight. But no way in hell would they make it out of here with that.

"I want you fuckers to move out of my fuckin way, before I put a bullet into every one of your fucking faces!"

The big man guarding the door stepped to the side. Toke tosses his gun to Pablo and rushes through the door. Squinting, he can still see Carl, making a run for it.

"That's just fucking great," The Jackal heard Toke say before chasing a man down the street, leaving Pablo with fifthteen thugs and one gun that only had six bullets.

"The Jackal thinks that these men be pissed aye? Pablo," The jackal says laughing, the Jackal then puts the butt of the knife into the bartenders left temple knocking him out. The Jackal laughs again, using his hands to make the knife dance from side to side, twisting and turning, spinning, it was a creepy sight to see a crazy man with a knife he knew how to use.

"Just like me to bring a knife to a fist fight! HAHA," The Jackal laughs before cutting a mans calf and pushing him into the others, The Jackal then slams the door shut and then kicks it off its hinges into the band of merry men outside. There were about four or five men left in the bar, they scattered and surround the two and managed to get their dirty hands on. The Jackal had one chance, he had a colt in his chest pocket ready to be fired, one by the bar in front of the Jackal, two near the toilets to the right of the Jackal, one behind the Jackal and the last at a table to the left of the Jackal. The Jackal then dropped his knife smiling, the Jackal then used his right hand to grab his colt and on the swing out of it's chest holster fired shot into the man near the table to the left of the Jackal. The Jackal then straightened his arm in a single movement from the swing and fired at the thug at the bar, the Jackal then dived to his left and shot at the two guys next to the toilets. The Jackal then dropped his gun after the bullets were fired grabbed the knife slid behind a chair and was ready to fire a bullet when. BANG!

Pablo had shot the man behind the Jackal and then at the goon coming out from behind the bar The Jackal didn't detect, "Nice shooting there, Jackal," Pablo said. The Jackal nodded and laughed saying,"You weren't too bad yourself The Jackal thinks."

The men then looked outside to see the goons just getting back up, "Leave now and don't fuck with me, otherwise this could be my first public execution!" Pablo says menicingly. The men leave and Pablo smiles.

"Atleast you got rid of the gang, but what about Carl? The Jackal thinks to remember an old saying about a snakes head and how a snake cannot fight without it?" the Jackal says.

Pablo, with the hot smoking gun still clenched tight in his fist, looked around at the bodies on the floor, then at grinning face of The Jackal

Jackal, lets move.

The two men run out of the bar, keeping there eye's peeled and guns at the ready. Reaching into his pocket Pablo fishes out the spare car keys. With a quick glance down the street Pablo sees Toke turn the corner at the end of the block, running at full stride. As he and the jackal climb into the car, police sirens can be heard in the distance. The engine raws into life, and with a screech of the tire's, heads of at full speed in pursuit of Toke and the fleeing hoodlum.

Hearing a quiet laugh, Pablo glaces at The Jackal sat next to him, he has that maniac look on his face that Pablo is soon becoming acustumed too, as he reloads his Colt.

Damn Jackal, your one crazy sun of gun, but you do know how to handle yourself when the shit hits the fan.

Dropping the hand break, Pablo throws the car around the corner, the back end tailing out. Seeing Toke and the hood disappear into an alleyway, Pablo no instantly knows where the exit comes out, and floors it. At high speed Pablo rounds the block and skids the car to a halt across the exit to the alleyway, getting out, he sees the man there after with Toke in hot pursuit close behind, running down the narrow street.

Jackal, hold up. This punks going nowhere. I want this fucker alive.

As Toke closed in on his prey the sound of sirens was louder, the cops must be at the bar by now and plenty of witness saw them drive off, they out the shit just yet.

Praeceps stood still for a moment observing the carnage around him; points for execution, but they lose points for style. Kids these days. Praeceps quickly rifled through the pockets of the dead men, pocketing anything of interest; one never knew when some poor, dumb goomba would leave the paper on which they drafted the plan stuffed down a pocket. Hearing the approaching sirens, Praeceps quickly left through the back door. He had a report to make and a course would have to be decided upon if this escalated into war.

Toke closed in on his victim. Ready to tackle Carl to the ground. A few feet more. His feet lifted from the ground. He managed to grab the mans' leg before his face collided into the cement. He looked up. He saw Carl making his escape through an alley. What he could see, anyways. It wasn't much considering blood covered his eyes. He grogily stood, blinked a few times, and ran after Carl again. Coming to a dead end.

"You're trapped, Carl. Give up." Toke attempted to persuade. The man but laughed at him.

"Don't underestimate me." Carl said, starting at a full sprint to the building wall. Jumping, he kicked off the wall and to another, he repeated this.

"He's fuckin wall jumping!?" Toke asked himself in amusement. Finally, Carl was at the top. Looking down at Toke, he laughed.

"Fuck." Toke said to himself, running to the building entrance. As fast as he could, he ran up the thirteen flights of stairs, pushing tenants out of the way. Finally, he'd made it to the top fire exit. He kicked the door in and saw Carl standing at the ledge.

"It's OVER!" Toke told the other man. Who was still laughing uncontrollably.

"What the fuck are you laughing about?" Toke asked in between his panting.

"I've got to get going now." Cocky Carl said.

"The fuck you are!" Toke said, charging his victim. BAM!

The two collided. Toke was dazed, but he was aware eough to know they were falling off the building. Toke landed on top of Carl and the building next to the one they had been on before. Carl easily stood up, showing off. Toke put in all his effort to stand up again. Once he was to his feet, Carl pulled a switchblade from his boot.

"It's time I finish you, asshole!" Carl said, swinging the blade like a madman. Toke ran to the edge of the 30 or so foot building. He was out of space to run.

Pablo watches on in surprise as Toke falls to the ground and Carl wall jumps up the building

Fuck!

Quickly scanning the alleyway and seeing the nearest way up is a fire escape on opposite building, it would have to do, moving fast he makes his way to the roof. Finally Pablo reaches the top floor, his mind racing with thoughts of what he will find.
Gun in hand he makes his way onto the roof. He sees Toke, eyes wide, face covered in blood, at the very edge of the building. Carl, his back to Pablo, switchblade in hand, advancing towards the defenseless Toke.

It's time I finish you, asshole!

Striding forward Pablo smoothly rises his gun, BOOM! Carl's kneecap explodes in a plume of blood. A primal scream erupts from his throat as he drops to his other knee. Without breaking his stride Pablo squeezes the trigger a second time and the hand holding the blade partially disappears, the switchblade spinning up into the air. On one knee, sobbing and holding his ruined hand, the flat of Pablo's foot connects hard with center of his back, toppling him to the ground, another scream erupts, as his blasted kneecap hits the concrete roof. Gun still in hand Pablo stands over the sobbing bleeding Carl.

Wrong fuck-face, its time I finished you!

Putting his weapon away, Pablo, with one hand grabs Carl's belt, with the other he takes a hold of his pony tail, and proceeds to drag to the edge of the building

Does the name LaQuenta mean anything to you, you little cock sucker? No? Well that's bad news for you puto, cause now you gonna get a lesson about what happens to people that fuck with El Refugio de Loco.

With a grunt Pablo heaves Carl over the edge of the building. His screams end's abruptly with a distant thud. Looking down at the crumpled body laying 13 floors below, in a slowly growing pool of blood, Pablo spits.

So long fucker!

Turning back to Toke

I thinks its time to leave. You OK Toke