Three months after the Crisis 

Hunter sat in his office, things had changed since that day. He had lost some close friends, people that he hoped to build this very business with. Now that was no longer possible, he went into it alone, a single businessman looking to make a change. That seemed rather interesting until now, he dealt with investors, people looking for their next job, and strangely enough, speedsters. 

Now he was open to working with such men but Speedy Incorporated did not need any of his kind roaming around. It was meant to be free of that world, if they wanted that lifestyle, they could deal with Caitlin and Barry at S.T.A.R Labs. He was no longer in the business of picking up stray meta's and bringing them onto his team. 

"Hunter, we got a Lex Luthor here to see you. He states that he wishes to invest in the company, a rather generous amount if I say so myself."

Now that was something odd, Lex Luthor, the man that was supposed to be the future. A man that was meant to be the next big thing, only he was replaced with the likes of Superman. Hunter found it funny that the beyond intelligent man was now coming here for business, he had helped in the Crisis and this was now the next thing up. A much different Lex had wanted to assist him now but how much has he changed?

"Jesse, wait a moment. Please wait outside the door, just in case as Mr. Luthor is no doubt here to discuss a rather different scheme of business than we can do here at Speedy Inc."

His chief of merchandise nodded, Jesse had proven herself in many ways after the Crisis, becoming a trusted member of his inner circle. He now counted her among one of the greatest speedsters to have in Detroit. 

His base of operations had not really changed, he had not gained the attention of the local mob bosses. Hunter was a follower of 'I'll mind my business, you mind yours.' He knew when to pipe up and when to sit back, listen, and watch. He knew that this type of business was legit and so he waited for the man of Seattle to come in. 

A few minutes passed before the tall figure of Lex Luthor entered his office, Hunter could not lie, his suit in the future did make him seem a bit bulkier than he was now. 

Stepping around from his desk, Hunter shook Luthor's hand with a small smile stretching his lips. 

"Mister Luthor, I find myself surprised at your arrival here. You had not scheduled anything, please would you like anything? My assistants will be happy to get you water or perhaps some wine?"

Luthor raised his lips, looking more like a cunning smirk than anything else. This had the former vigilante on edge, wondering what this man had in mind for him. 

"No, I've just come here to talk business Mr. Solomon, business that would be lucrative. I assume that you are open to listening as you would not have invited me up otherwise."

Solomon allowed his own smirk to twitch at his lips, believing this Luthor to be quote a worth adversary in terms of business matters. He was quite different in other regards, as a villain, well he was just someone that Solomon would not want to mess with. He was rather glad that he had hung up his boots, smiling he reached forward, pouring a glass of water for himself. 

"Clearly, I am. A man such as yourself, well I hear your involved with some mobsters, rumors do tend to have a grain of truth in them. Do tell though, have you heard of Carmine Falcone?"

Luthor smiled, his eyes though, that was what put the former vigilante on edge. They were cold, usually one would see the businessman Lex with a smile. Yet here he was with a forced smile and cold eyes, something told Hunter that the eyes were giving more of the truth than his smile was. 

"Of the Falcone crime family? They are Chicago business, I'd rather not deal with such men, those people. Those type of men Hunter, they do not have the best interests for your business in mind."

Hunter took a sip of his water, finding that Lex's eyes were completely changed now. Having evaded the question quite well, while he said that he would never deal with them. Anyone else in his organization was free to do so, it left him out personally. It was quite smart, Lex was good for now. 

"Oh, and you do? Please, tell me. Just what do you have in mind for my business Mr. Luthor?"

Lex smiled, once again, it came out more like a smirk than anything else. This should have warned him, it should have made him take Lex out of here, only he found himself caught. He had a sick interest in what Lex wanted. 

"Why make yourself a rival of the Falcone family, of course. Bring them to heel, open up a business and bring yourself to their front-yard. This is just the first step because you will be having me and my sources here to assist you in the matters. The first order of business is to take down the Falcone crime family."

Hunter choked on his water before spluttering out at the smirking Lex. 

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You heard what I said Mr. Solomon, we are going to be fighting, financially, of course. The Falcone family may have friends in city hall and many other people but they are not like me, I have my own friends. People who I've helped with my generous donations, they are willing to help and give you the boost that you need. Expansion is always needed, we need it to survive and sometimes, people must be put down in order for that to happen."

Hunter watched Lex, trying to see if this man was joking, only he knew it was. Lex does not seem like a joking man and neither would he joke about this. A move against the Falcones, well it was ambitious and something that many people would endorse. Only it would lead to some other problems, the bastard known as the Joker who was a well-known supporter of sowing chaos. 

"Wouldn't this lead to a gang war though? Many people support the Falcone family, the Joker being among one of them! I don't think that would be a good idea, making him an enemy. Even if the so-called dark knight comes in and saves the day, a man like that, he's not to be touched, Mr. Luthor."

Lex's lips had finally curled into that cold smile once again, he did not try to hide it this time. It was clear what he thought of the pointless arguing that Hunter was putting up, it was nothing but a nuisance, Lex wanted something done. He would have it done, he did not care if an earthquake rocked the entire world, so long as the earthquake took out the competition, he was more than willing to leave Solomon to his business and be left to his own corporation. As fate would have it, much to his further annoyance, the situation was not that easy.

"No one is untouchable Solomon, Carmine Falcone, no matter his alliances or associations is still a human being. In the end, we are all but sacks of bone, meat, and blood. We all have a shelf life, it just matters what we are to do with it in the end that matters. I wish to be known as someone who brought the future and not the past along with him. Carmine wishes for the past, now I would like to believe you wish for the future, don't you?"

Solomon almost grinned at how Luthor worded, clearly remembering some things from the crisis. The former vigilante of Detroit bowed his head, taking his time by sipping his water and leaning back into the couch that they had sat on during this meeting. 

More than Luthor could ever know, he was a man that craved, even lusted for the future but certain things needed to happen and for now, he was happy where he was. Even with the deal that had been made for him, he just wanted things to remain the same, no changes, nothing. He was happy, even if this world was a bit further back from where he was now. He enjoyed it, for what it was in the end. 

"I wish for the future more than you could ever know Sir but I would not be the one to kill in order to get it."

Luthor actually laughed, his eyes still holding that tiny chip of ice in them that had the speedster wary of him. 

"Kill him? Oh no, we're going to be engaging in a financial war, as I said before. The Falcones are one of the biggest and possibly the most powerful of all the crime famillies in Chicago. Still, if we killed him, it leaves for one of his own people to take the reins. If not, it would leave it for another family to move in and take the prized jewel that is Chicago."

Hunter found himself more interested, a money war where business was acquired and Falcone would either have to buy in or get bought out because was there really a way that he would be competing with LexCorp? No, there had to be something that he wasn't seeing. This was still dangerous and the gamble of angering the joker was still hanging over his head like an ax. 

"Then you'll see, I'm all for business and the future. Just where do we start?"

Luthor smiled, it seemed rather genuine this time but once more, Hunter thought it could have been forced. 

"The Loop, where all good things begin."

Hunter Solomon was at the stage of wishing that he left the door closed for Lex Luthor. The man was smart, he was a businessman, someone that wished to become a powerful man in this world. Now that did not work for Solomon, he did not wish to be under anyone's thumb. 

Only this is his only way, to work under Lex and build up his own company's reputation. Having a business partner in Lex could possibly other opportunities for him across the other seven cities which would lead to a bigger future as a whole. He could begin to expand his operations but for now, he would follow Luthor's lead

He had gathered all the information that his sources could get on the Falcone Crime Family. Safe to say, they were not exactly the brightest bulbs in the box once upon a time but now they controlled a vast amount of Chicago's businesses. With men and women dying on a daily basis, it left the leadership of Chicago without a strong foundation for some time. The Falcones moved in, making it a clean sweep, no one got in their way and no one wished too. They were backed by The Joker, it was too much for them to even try think about this. 

Solomon and his group needed an in, gladly they had a card they could play. An associate of the Red Right Hand, recently Dean Winchester moved in with his boys. Taking up shop within The Loop, setting up his other boys with a bit of cash, allowing them to start their own businesses and perhaps expand in the future. It left the Falcones worried who was already calling in for some of their own personal Hit Squads, a war just might break out if someone didn't step in. 

"Hunter, we have the business you wanted. It's a warehouse down on Harrison street. It seems like a good launching point for now. You want us to do anything else?"

Hunter smiled before shaking his head, allowing his associate to leave his office and go about his business. Hunter looked back at the files on his desk, they were informative and painted a clear picture of who would be running the Falcone family in Chicago. He just needed to get this over and done with, prove himself to the city itself and start his own businesses, bring new and fresh faces to the city. 

"Hm, Carla Viti, sister to Carmine. This is going to be interesting, time to see what type of bones you're made of. A strong woman of Italian descent, now you control one of the biggest criminal outfits in Chicago. It's time to see if you are really ready to face a man better than you in every way."

Hunter liked his chances, vibrating his hand, he gasped before settling it. Already knowing that his speed was on the fritz, the crisis had left him scarred in more ways than one and he had paid the price for changing the timeline.

Chicago, Viti Family Compound. 

Carla Viti had been a Boss for all of two decades. Her brother Carmine had been nothing more than a disappointment of what her father had worked to build, it was the family name that lived on. He lived as a nothing but a punching bag to New York's creeps in masks, the man known as Batman and then there was the joker, it was all a bit too much and the Falcones were dragged through the mud. 

Her father would have been rolling around in his grave, his son, his precious Carmine had dishonored the name. The one that remained to be dominant, the one that truly instilled fear into the masses was her family, The Viti family of Chicago. Involved in legitimate businesses and one of the few to maintain a professional image, Carla had made sure to stay out of the bad light, donating to charities, and attending charity games for people with disabilities. She was view as a true woman of business, never once being cast in a bad light unless it was by an ambitious reporter. 

Now here she was, drinking wine and thinking over her choices. She heard the news, a bunch of foolish men running around in onesies and trying to prove themselves as heroes, freaks and crazies she called them. They were nothing but a bunch of fools playing dress-up who nothing about the real world, the world that she fought for and had almost been killed for. 

"Carla, we've got news. Speedy Incorporated has recently had a meeting with Lex Luthor, they, Speed Inc I mean, have just purchased the warehouse on Harrison street. They've seemed to be an exercise company, focusing on the body and mental health. Their owner, Hunter Solomon seems to be coming down, heading up this branch himself."

Carla nodded, it was not the best but she had heard of this Solomon. He used to be one of those freaks, seems like he dropped the mask and went instead with the good old businessman route. Just what type of man would he be in the business world? She knew well that she could not do well in seducing him, those days were long behind her and she had other women for that. If Hunter proved to be a beast of a lustful nature, then she would have him wrapped around her finger. 

"Invite him to the Ball, shower him with the affections that only we in the society can afford. Bring him to the light and allow him to see the future that awaits him here in Chicago. It's a beautiful thing that he won't ever forget, he'll need this. Such things, well, a man can never resist."

Carla sipped her wine, already having a plan for the LexCorp proxy. It wasn't really a surprise, Lex taking an interest with a former freak was not surprising. Still, she would put up her hostess smile and show Hunter that the perks of being one of them, was better than that of LexCorp. He would need to see the life, it was an amazing thing in the end. 

'Time to dress and play the part, let us see how well you handle this part of the little play that you've found yourself in Mr. Solomon.'

Hunter landed in Chicago, the wind hit him like a freight train and he was already regretting coming here. He found himself with some spare time, he stopped inside a cafe and ordered himself a coffee, with some pancakes, topped with syrup. The city looked good this way and knew that it was going to be a bit different from Detroit. His time had mostly been occupied with coming to terms with no longer having fully functioning speed and losing close allies in the war that changed the world, he could never shake himself like that. He hoped that no one else went through that either. 

"Mr. Solomon, what a pleasure to run into you here. You are quite the elusive person, it took quite a while to even find you. Apologies, my name is Sara, I work with the Daily Planet."

Solomon bowed his head, drinking his coffee and narrowed his eyes on the woman. She seemed to be more than searching for him, he raised an eyebrow and his lips curled into a fine smirk to her bravery. She sat down opposite, without being invited to do so. She was either confident or she had something to say that needed some form of secrecy. 

"Sara who? I would like to know the name of my would-be interviewer I'm presuming."

Sara smiled, meeting his own gaze as she noticed how he seemed to be enjoying this little back and forth. She waved down a sever for a drink of apple juice, she wished for some nice time with the former savior of Detroit. He led some good people, even if they were labeled as freaks by the people who did not wish for such a change. People like the Falcones, Ancellotis, and Vinci's. A lot of famillies, with a lot of respect in the city. It would not bide well for the wide-renown freak turned businessman. 

"Sara Stryker, I work with the Daily Planet and we found it surprising when you began to work with Lex Luthor. A famed businessman and someone who worked with you during the famed crisis that gained you your reputation."
 
Hunter's smiled turned strained, this was something that he had to be prepared for. Only he would never be prepared to think about those days again, when the world found out about the existence of the impossible, it was a reaction that nearly caused a riot. The Crisis had been a moment no one had forgotten. 

"Well, Miss. Stry-"

"Please call me Sara, Solomon. it is only right as I invaded your personal space and have since started an impromptu meeting of sorts."

Solomon smiled, already noticing her little plan here. She wished to get comfortable with him, allow him into a possible false sense of security with her. Hunter had been through this too many times to not notice when this sort of thing acted up, it was something he could spot in certain people, people who wished to gain a leg-up, an advantage over him.

"Well, Sara, when a man like Lex Luthor comes to your firm wanting to bolster your business, you can't say no. His investments have seen an increase in our performance already, still, I assume you already knew that. Your sources have been quite busy have they not?"

Sara knew that he was testing her, this 'freak'  as he was often referred to as was someone that had not been that much of a businessman, to begin with. He was a nobody and suddenly, he quickly becomes one of the rising stars in Detroit's legitimate businessmen, something was up. She wanted to find out, even if it meant using questionable people.

"Well they have, I've found myself quite taken by your business sense, lackey today, boss tomorrow. It is quite the leap you've made, people are quite interested in that type of story, my chief in particular. She's been obsessed with you lately, so much so that she tasked her best reporter on the job."

Hunter smiled at the attempt of flattery, trying to appeal to him on multiple fronts. Using the people that he had saved, then using her own chief as a point to try to bolster his ego. Quite ambitious of her, she was someone to watch out for, Hunter knew that much.

"Sara, you do not stop, do you? You are quite the fine specimen. This entire meeting, you've not stopped appealing to my sense of leadership, then my ego, which is quite large but I know how to control it. Then there is the attempt of flattery, just what do you gain from this meeting? I assume it is some sort of promotion. Why me? I know why you came here, your boss said as much but you could have approached Jesse Wells or Caitlin Snow. People who would have been able to provide quite the background on me, no?"

Sara's embarrassment shined through, he was no longer hiding that she had ulterior motives. Which she did but none had to do with the mob in this part of town, The Falcone's were a bunch of assholes in her own opinion but her chief loved them, she couldn't speak out against them, only she heard of a ball happening soon at the family compound. She wished to gain some information, what better than to get in with the newest man on the block? Hunter Solomon, renowned businessman and investor with S.T.A.R Labs. 

"Well I came here, for one thing, I'll be brutally honest. I care for your work and I know that you are different from others but I want to remove the Falcone family from power, they've had their two decades of fame and I believe it is time for it to come to an end. This city is corrupt, I believe you can bring a valuable change, even with the questionable assistance of Lex Luthor. I want to help you remove them, why else would Lex Luthor send you here? Even if he didn't send you himself, it's quite implied that you are to be the Number 2 man."

Hunter finished off his pancakes, drinking his coffee as he pushed the plate to the side. His lips had curled up in a smirk, he noticed how this woman was ambitious but this kind of ambition? It was rare and dangerous, he may have to quell it for her. Solomon did not need a woman of this caliber running around, she had the right traits but this kind? It would need to be placed to the side in favor of another. 

"Well, Miss. Stryker, it seems that you want one thing, to bring an end to the crime lords in this world. Now, say that I was taking part in such a coup, what would you bring to the table?"

"Information, I know that the Falcones plan to invite you to a ball and bring you onto their side of the fence. Allow you the benefits of a Wiseguy, give you the dream, give you the girl, and give you the night of your life. You'll not want to turn back, you'll be a businessman alright but answering to them and only them. I've seen it happen before."

Hunter's eyebrow rose, he did not know of that and then looked at her, she had more to say, clearly. 

"You have more to say I'm guessing, hm?"

Sara smiled, turning her head and leaning forward quite a bit that her scent would probably invade the senses of the speedster. 

"Well you'll need a date for such an event, wouldn't you? I mean, wouldn't it be nice for the Falcones to see that you are coming in with one of the more prominent reporters of the daily planet?"

Solomon smiled, a genuine one that had not been seen in a while before rubbing his chin and nodding from there. 

"It would be an amazing time. Once I get the invitation, we will need to meet Miss. Stryker. Stop by Solomon-Luthor Warehouse on Harrison Street, we can talk more there. Have a good breakfast now and it's on me."

Looking down she noticed a few hundred dollar bills, looking up, wishing to thank the savior of Detroit. She found that he was no longer there, she looked to the window, not finding him there either. It was surprising, he was quite fast, even without his speed. 

'I suppose I should go dress shopping...'

𝒯𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝓊𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝑜𝓁𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓃,

𝒲𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝒱𝒾𝓉𝒾 𝐸𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒿𝑜𝒾𝓃 𝓊𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝒻𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝓊𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒹𝑜𝒸𝓊𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉.

𝒲𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒻𝓊𝓇𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝓌𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒱𝒾𝓉𝒾 𝐸𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓅𝓊𝓇𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝒷𝓊𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝒞𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒶𝑔𝑜.

𝒫𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒹𝑜 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑒𝓃𝒿𝑜𝓎 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝑜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇, 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒. 𝒲𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝓃𝒿𝑜𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝓊𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒, 𝓌𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒. 

𝒦𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈, 

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝓁𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓉𝒾

"I won't lie, this is the kind of letter that people want to receive from such an organization. They know how to appeal to people who have never dealt in their world before, I'll give them that much."

Hunter chuckled, pouring himself a minimal amount of bourbon. He knew that handling his drink was now something he needed to manage, with the speed of his gone, the way it went through his system seemed to change as well. He noticed Sara's gaze was still on the letter, just what was she planning?

"If you have something to say, Sara, please do say it."

The reporter looked into the eyes of Solomon, a businessman indeed. He changed within the space of a second, a moment ago he was laughing at the letter and just about to enjoy a fine drink. Now he was preparing himself for another onslaught of questions or perhaps doubts that she had, she didn't know either but she knew one thing, the letter was odd. It continued mentioned Viti Enterprise, not the Falcone family which seemed to be a bit odd for Sara and rang alarm bells in her head. 

"I do, just that she neither mentions the Falcone family nor does she state that her brother Carmine would be there. At these balls, you can expect someone from all the famillies, gangs, even news anchors and reporters. Carmine is not mentioned, that either means, she knows why you're here or Carmine is in deep shit. Either way, he's not going to be there and that means, with his absence, she is leading the famillies."

Hunter's eyebrow rose, wondering what she meant by that. He assumed each family had their own boss to talk too and that was it, nothing else was done, they had their own turf. Once again, he assumed, he did not know much about the mafia famillies. In his own time, they had not been that prominent and had been a phase of the old times where men ruled the government and police. To a lesser extent, they still did in his time. 

Sara noticed the look in his eyes and could already see what was happening here, she sighed, leaning forward and deciding to inform him on the hierarchy of different mobs. 

"In some organizations Hunter, there is a Commission, a board of members from the most powerful and influential famillies in the country. They are sometimes called the five famillies which would apply to the New York state of things, sometimes they are just referred to as the commissions. They come together to decide life and death, problems that would threaten their way of life, they follow the code. Omerta, it is something that cannot be broken. Like a vow to god himself, except you pledge it to your family boss, the man that leads you, you are supposed to have undying loyalty in those that are leading you."

Hunter nodded, already getting this as he heard that before in the other world. Still, he wondered why Carla was leading the families then if Carmine would not be making it? The way she was sounding, it did not sound nice and it would obviously be a problem that they could not get out of easy. They would have to play it carefully if Carla was onto them and the plans for Chicago.

"In other places, there is not a commission, there is not a board of members. There is only one head, this is known as the Capo Di Tutti Capi. The Boss of Bosses, think of it as a higher position than the presidency itself. You controlled the famillies, they answered to you, they pay you a percentage of what their family earns in total. You were the king, in some places, like here in Chicago. The position is still in effect and is currently held by the Falcone family, who is allied with the Viti family."

Now Hunter was confused, if Carmine operated from New York, how could he oversee Chicago. Sara was making sense in some places but this was beginning to give him a headache slightly, so many positions and so little time.

"I see it in your face, Carmine Falcone is the Godfather of the Falcone Empire. His sister rules as a puppet, she's his Underboss, the right hand that pulls the trigger. She rules for him and gives him a cut, now Falcone is probably in hiding with one of the freaks, apologies, after him. He knows that he can't handle you guys, so he will probably allow his sister to take over from there. Bring you onto their team as I said back in the cafe."

Now Hunter understood what she was getting at, this was something big that involved everyone involved with the criminal underworld of Chicago. 

"So what would the plan be? We can't exactly walk in there without a game plan, what would Carla's likely plan be?"

Sara thought on it a while before standing up, leaning forward and placing her hands on the back of the chair. 

"I don't know, Carla is a very private person. Try to make yourself invaluable to her, try to falsify some information. Make sure that she believes that she has your complete trust, she wishes to play you like a fiddle. She will not take false words as compliments, she will wish to bring people forward in order for them to gather their thoughts about you. She will play a game of complimenting and style, she will want you on her side."

Hunter thought about it for a moment, he knew the perfect way to play this game, all he would need is to play the part of an ambitious partner. It was the truth that he did not like working with Lex but he was not stupid and understood the benefits he brought, maybe this could work in the end, he would just need to play Carla and she would be eating from the palm of his hand.

"I have an amazing idea, and you will be the one to help me execute this flawless plan. I have no doubt that you will find it both fun and cunning."

Sara smiled wondering what the 'esteemed' Hunter Solomon had planned, he was clearly prepared for something but this rung something deep within her. It was like he had figured out a way to flip the board and discard the rules, he was a winner and he wished to conquer the challenges that Carla had for hi,m

"Well, lay them on me. I am ready for whatever you have planned."

Hunter sat opposite Lex Luthor in their jointly owned Warehouse, he had just finished informing his partner of the ball. Lex smiled, not seeming surprised at all, actually he looked like he was expecting it. Seems like he was just a step ahead of the woman himself, now it seemed like he was being a bit different, a bit more relaxed. 

"Solomon, I assume that you have a plan already. Either she knows of our true intentions or she wants to know some company secrets, something that is never going to happen. I will not have my company soiled by some bad seeds, do tell me though, what is this plan of yours?"

Hunter leaned forward, his eyes holding a gleam of coldness that Lex thought to suit him quite well. It did not do him well to play the good guy, they both know what he was really was. He was neither a good or bad guy, he was just a guy doing what needed to be done, like the rest of them. So what they used methods that others might not like? It was their way, the real way of getting shit done and handled. 

"I plan to play the ambitious partner and look to find partners in the Chicago underworld. Gain them on my side and use their own personal grudges to fund myself. I play the ambitious partner, she will have every reason to believe that I am to be used, that I can be the bullet in your head, to be frank. I am the one that she believes will carry a bigger future than any of these other fucks, I will be the one they look too. Still, that takes time and money, with a few favors as well."

Lex caught the wording quite well, he already knew that he had a role to play in this little plan of Hunter's. He wondered if he, the leader, should voice some doubts. Only he waved his hand and raised a faux impatient eyebrow, wanting the boy to continue and not leave him in suspense. 

"I need some LexCorp officers to infiltrate the party, to let's say, guarantee that she will trust me. I will do this under the false pretense that they were here to assassinate her-"

Lex raised his hand, already hearing enough of this plan. He did not wish for another war so soon after the crisis, people were still in their homes, locked away in fear. People were just getting used to being in the real world once again, doing this could cause problems for his own politicians in Chicago as well. 

"I can't allow that, the fear of the people. It is why I wanted to keep this strictly money-wise, that does not raise an alarm. A couple of LexCorp officers ready to gun down the Boss of the Chicago outfit? Yeah, that causes a huge problem, one that would land on my doorstep and bring unwanted attention to my company."

Hunter stood from his seat and paced, knowing that he would have to convince Lex here. Lex had to see that the risk did not outweigh the reward, this is something that they needed to do, otherwise, he would be kissing goodbye to Chicago the moment he set foot in that compound. 

"We need something that ties her to me personally, what else would do this? Besides giving her a false shipment of weapons, perhaps?"

Lex's eyebrows rose at that, it was not solid but it would give him some much-needed credit. If he played the ambitious partner role, it would give him the role of an informant, Lex knew that Solomon would be giving useless shipments but it would still be something. 

"Now there is something we could use, the role of an informant, if you give them information on shipments coming in and what's in them, then we could play this off perfectly. We will have to make it look like this shipment is effecting us, give it the full show. We can't have them figuring out that we were in on this plan or you would be strung up like a party decoration."

Hunter's eyebrow rose before scoffing, that would not be happening. He could charm a certain woman, now he just needs to apply it here, he doubts that it would take all that much. Already he had received a personal invitation but he guessed it would have been more pleasantries than anything else. Solomon knew that he would have to make himself invaluable to her organization. 

"This is a dangerous game your playing Hunter, you know that this would mean you might die? I never did ask though, why are you doing this? What is your goal?"

Hunter smiled, he never knew why he did this either. Sometimes it all blended together, he forgot why and just made up reasons, now he couldn't. The Crisis had been dealt with, friends had been lost and he was left with a tremendous heartache, nothing was the same. 

He had left a part of his life behind, that of a killer and now he reflected on that. Zoom, the name that he had been referred to as a killer and now he referred to only occasionally. He was truly a Solomon, nothing else. His mother would have wanted that for him, so he believed at the very least. 

"My goal is to enjoy my life to the fullest extent, I do not care what I do. I just know that I do not wish to revert back to the way I was before. I want to be a man that helps people, even in my own sick way, I am someone that assists them in everything, no matter the issue."

Lex's lips curled into a smirk as they usually did but this time, it was not because of anything that Zoom said but his face gave it away. The way he had looked so distant, it was something else that brought about this change in the speedster, something deep within him. 

"If you say so Hunter, do not fail this, I have faith in you to succeed."

Hunter's eyes widened at the words, Luthor had faith in him to succeed? Was it because of the Zoom side of things or had he seen the plan the same way? Hunter did not question it, instead, he smiled and bowed his head before heading off, knowing that such an event called for his best clothes and he would need to go to a tailor. 

Back with Luthor, the man watched as Hunter left. He had oddly meant his words but still, Lex would not be handling failure well. The best was expected and that was what he had in front of him, a rough diamond, one that was close to becoming true perfection. 

"Let us see how you handle this assignment, Zoom."