Ura looked over to Kidd, who had just finished his second glass of scotch. It seemed like he was going a bit heavy but Charlie knew this life was something else, some drowned their sorrows with drugs, others did so with alcohol and many did so with hookers. Charlie found that at one point, he did so with all three and he woke up feeling like he had been kicked by a horse. 

"Kidd, what's wrong? Don't think I don't see you loving that scotch up like a newborn child, what's the issue mate? I wouldn't want you to be all working and seeming like you couldn't tell your bosses any problems. We're all here for you in the end, we will always be here for in the end."

Kidd chuckled bitterly, striding over to Charlie and he actually seemed okay, perhaps his tolerance was better than most and they had never even seen him drunk and this was quite a showing Charlie thought with a chuckle escaping soon after. He decided to look at both of them with something akin to impatient growing in his eyes, he was waiting and decidedly could wait no longer. 

"We're going to playing host to someone important soon and apparently they wish to meet you soon enough. They are relatives of the former Maldonado family. They were big here in New York and Los Angeles, all over pretty much and apparently they wish to meet with your son specifically. If I was a betting man and in this instance, I am. I would say that they wish for an alliance via marriage."

Charlie chuckled clearly thinking that Kidd was losing his goddamn mind, this was something else entirely. It was not right, he leaned back into his still chuckling before noticing the look on both their faces, they weren't joking. He allowed a 'shit!' to escape his lips and all he could do was mutter to himself, thinking this was going to be an interesting couple of months. 

"A marriage? I don't really need to get married right now because what the fuck? I have a kid and I am not the best around here known for an affair, and how the fuck did you know before me? Is this just another rumor from the pub?"

Kidd settled the boss with a cool gaze something that he would have never done if he was sober but he guessed that he was drunk enough that he no longer cared. It was surprising and rather settling for the young mafioso. 

"Not with you Charles, with your son, they wish to bring Mael into the fold with their family and offer you legal power against The Firm. They sent a representative to me considering I was a caporegime and currently working to further our Outfit.  They wish to meet soon and with our current predicament, I say we take it. We will have some useful information soon enough and we will be able to push these boys back, it's a win-win situation."

Charlie sighed, thinking about his son's future and possible benefits of this alliance, they would have to talk and possibly give The Firm something to worry about, the future of his line would be determined with this one deal and he would have to adjust with it. 

"Leave me, I will come back to you with a decision once I talk with my son and he might just see some uses from this alliance. Thank you for bringing it to me, it's rather important to me, you may go and allow me to continue with my work,"

Both Ura and Kidd walked away, leaving Charlie to think about this new offer that had been presented to him as a golden egg. It was rather interesting, would he take the offer?

"No, fuck no! I will not be the one to be a fucking horse! I am not going to marry this woman to further what!? Your legacy, I had a girl and I died, just like you had one and she died! Father, I think that our luck with the opposite sex is just cursed, Mother died, and I haven't got a fucking girlfriend in ages! You want to marry someone now!? Is that even legal? Father, do not let me do this, I beg of you. Anything else but this!"

Michael stood opposite his father and made his stance clear on the matter, He would not be the little gift to the Maldonados, he didn't give a fuck, it would not be him that made that sacrifice for the greater good, he considered using the woman who his father had remained unaware of but still it was not best not too yet. Mael did truly believe that their luck with women was something out of this world, now he wondered to himself, who was he without this life?

"Son, our life, it rarely gives you so many chances at happiness and at a family. Do you really think that I don't regret what I did to you both? I left the woman I love to die in my arms and I carried her but still, no one knew and it is better that way, people will never know and it will remain that way. Your mother deserves that much rest, I do not care for the rumors, she is not alive and until I see her with my own eyes. That is it, I know what you feel but I am trying to give you what I lost, a chance at happiness and a family, something that people crave. Do you not want that?"

Michael chuckled bitterly, his father did not see what he saw and he understood that. Maybe the pain was too much or maybe the abuse he suffered was still there in its true form, his father never looked so old as he did so and that was odd, considering he was still in his late 20s and he had become a boss around that time, only to die in that war which left him with a less than stellar reputation than most.

"Father I have that already, you and me, we're family. We took a long time getting there and sometimes we still but heads, right now though, this is different. You are offering me up like I'm a fucking whore! Speaking of which, I'm your son and your heir, I will give you grandchildren that is without a doubt but now is not the time I need to become a husband. Our life is consuming and I am so close to giving more to it, allow me this and not this phony alliance."

Charlie sighed before they both heard a knock on his office door, he gave his son a look that this was not the end of their conversation.

"Come in!"

Michael allowed them entry with a booming voice before he saw who it was and he was a bit confused, turning to his father with an arched eyebrow, to which the young heir had then raised both eyebrows as his father fixed him with a cool stare that almost made him soil his pants. 

"Boss, we've got some news on the Asian gangs and their movements. We've acquired some good knowledge of their hierarchy and where they will be settling soon enough. We also have it on good authority that they are supplying one of the branches of The Firm with weaponry."

Charlie motioned for them to sit down, now the tension had not left Charlie for a minute. It was clear that father and son had been having a rather intense discussion, something neither of the men wanted to get into and started to discuss the Asians immediately, knowing that both the info on guns and the hierarchy would be the easy way to get this business done and for their escape to quickly leave this office. 

"They're called the Oni, a commission of Asian Gangs led at the helm by the Red Dragons. With this new empire of sorts, they've managed to expand their influence into all the seven cities and have gained some ins. Street racing, horse-racing, clubs, the black market, medicines, and drugs. They've come into it and they are not stepping out of it anytime soon. Still, there are some loopholes we can use to gain our own in with them."

Charlie leaned forward, some of the tension had left him and his curiosity was soon filling him like a high. He watched the men who had given him this information. They were feeling a bit different with his son in the room, clearly, they all felt the tension and the boss decided to relax, knowing that he was not allowing his men a breather currently.

"We can buy in with them, due to their hierarchy and the way they work, they deal with multiple clients at any given time and I have set up a meeting with a kid named Yujiro. He's one of the next heirs to the Red Dragons and he deals with the street-racing, we get an in there and we can possibly find some things out. All we need to do is put up $1,000,000 and we have it all set."

Hold the fuck up! Did Charlie hear that correctly, why yes he did, of course, his son was the same way, a million dollars for a street-racing racket!? What type of bullshit was that?

"You're kidding, right? What type of racket is that much of cash? Now this Yujiro or whatever the fuck his name is, did he mention any benefits to setting up with him? We need the details and what we can from our end of the deal. Possible stakes in the racing game and how we move in terms of an alliance with the remaining Asian gangs."

Ura and Kidd looked at one another since this meeting began, they knew that they had to sell their boss on this and this would be the next big thing to do it. 

"A fifty percent controlling share of all street-racing rackets you are involved in, along with the fifty percent of the income. How does that sound bossman?"

"We got him and he's prepared to meet us right here in the Compound, we will have to prepare for the worst. What we have here with us is not going to be the best, we have to get ready in what we can offer him and the million-dollar check will surely give him that little trust he will have for us."

Charlie nodded, looking over the rim of his scotch. He didn't really care for the politics of the world, it was all piling on his doorstep and sometimes he felt like returning might not have been the best, shit had changed. His name was all but cursed but he knew why he was here. His life...was here and he was not going to throw it away. He had met some people who had agreed with him, battle, whether be mental, psychical or otherwise would always prove to tax him greatly. 

All the people he had met, some even proven to be the worst people imaginable had wanted him dead. Some former friends, some enemies and some people he had never met before in his life. His life was never going to be simple, he knew that much and maybe he needed to learn that...

"Charlie....did you hear me? The second will be there and will be ready to talk business, it's in a couple of hours so you have some time, I just want to make your prepared for this bossman."

"Yeah, I heard you, Kidd. Thank you. By the way, I will be ready soon, have you seen my son anywhere?"

Kidd breathed out a sigh before looking deep into the eyes of Charlie, he could see something there but the man closed off almost immediately. There it was, the curse of his position and who he could trust. Charlie had changed since that little war with the Upstate Commission, ever since that day he had heard of The Firm, even. He was more controlled but did not allow his men to slack, even making sure that they got their slips in and paid their dues every week. 

"He's out right now, he's been working hard with Masera and his boys, he's really trying to gain his own foothold. Make his own keep in this business, I respect it."

Sighing to himself, Charlie drank his scotch once more and thought about how his son was now going into the Casino business. Maybe this was his bid for independence from him and his control, maybe he wished to prove something to him, that they didn't need the Maldonado's. 

It was an interesting take, Charlie would wait to see what his son had in mind, maybe it was going to be interesting, the boss didn't know but he hoped his son understood why this was happening. 

"Thanks, Fred. Go get yourself something to eat before we head out, I want you with me on this job. Other than that, try to get into contact with Winston. I need for a job and it's going to be something he will need to take an interest in."

Charlie looked at himself in the mirror, putting on his shirt, he suddenly gasped as some memories hit him once more. The promise that he had made all that time ago, he sighed, pushing himself forward mentally. He was not going to remember that right now, it was not for the best and he would be doing what was the best for everyone currently. He knew what he was doing and the thoughts of a dead woman were not going to sway him in his plans, his son had a duty to perform. 

'You have to protect him, he has to have you there for him, promise me' 

Charlie shut his eyes tight, the white hair and green eyes that were oh so like Mael's shone back at him inside his head before he shot forward with his hand and cracking the mirror with a fierce punch that left him injured. He opened his eyes, finding that no reflection was there, neither in his mind. He was safe from those bad times, nothing was going to stop him, he needed to do this. For his family and the legacy that they would be leaving for those that came next in their line. Their family was important, in its own way, it was important and they needed to know that.

'Do you really want to deny him what is his right? To choose his own wife and not marry because you say so? Is that not what your father did with you? Control you, put you down, make sure that you never saw anything that would give you an idea!' 

Charlie heard it again, it sounded stronger and angry with him. He knew it was himself, he knew that it was the promise he made to her. Only he knew that he couldn't let it sway him this much, it was not going to be for the best and they all knew that he would have to do this. The Maldonado family was old blood, this would give the Pavanno family legitimacy. More so back in the old country and would make his grandfather untouchable, it was business and big business at that.

'I am not going to have a conversation like some crazy old fool, this is the business of our family! This needs to happen, come on Charlie. Just steel yourself and make sure that you're ready for some big hits, this is the moment everything changes. You are one step closer to become the man that Jimmy never was, you could be the man that Joe never was...' 

Charlie smiled at that thought, outclassing him was something he would never believe possible. Joe The Boss left a mark but this would give him something, two families united under the Pavanno banner. It was a damn dynasty that no one would be prepared for and so Charlie, along with the voice of his former lover settled. His mind was made up, this needed to happen. All for the family name and the legacy that it would leave.

The meeting had gone well, Charlie could say that much as he settled back into his office. Immediately striding for the Liquor Cabinet with a certain gleam in his eyes. Seemingly void of all emotion besides the craving of the sweet golden liquor. 

"You could at least pretend to be joyful at this prospect. We have gained a good racket and will soon be making money, we've been invited to celebrate with Yujiro and his other partners. "

Ever the constant reminder of their new esteem was his son. Now while he was grateful for his son in this new prospect, it was all too familiar. Charlie remembered the days where people came to him for Rackets, where they would wish for protection. 

He was nothing more than a joke side project now and these Asian gangs had gained a proper foothold instead. Things were changing and he knew that he had to change with it, this future gathering of the partners could be used for something. He had to meet these other people and assess what kind of threats they would be to him. 

"Oh my son, you do not know what I am dealing with right now. The fact that I will need to move my operations is but one of the issues and you could pretend to see what I am doing for the betterment of our family here. This is more than just myself, going to that place. It will bring things up that do not need to be brought up."

Mael tensed, he already knew who his father was talking about. The place where he had been born and conceived was a subject that Charlie would never talk about. Michael had never been one to visit the place where his parents met, he was not like others he knew in that regard and he hated Seattle with a passion due to the pain it had caused his father. And what it represented to both of them, losing the person that they loved. 

"Oh trust me, I know. This move is surprising but one that is not entirely unwelcome. You've never been one for such things and now...this business, it's something that neither of would have expected but it's not all bad. We will have to make contacts with the Haitians in Waterfront. We may just salvage this all, Pop. We just need the reassurance from the Irish and we will be good to go."

Charlie poured his glass and found that he was feeling hollow, maybe this was just how it worked and how he was supposed to feel but it felt all too empty for him. Now he would need to gather his resources and see what he could make in the end, Seattle was something that he never worked into and knew that the city once played host to the love of his life. 

"Son, our enemies are around us and you do not see them because they come to you with agreements and money. This business of the Asians, it will be their downfall. We have to make allies and we will have our fair share of enemies, I want you to be the head of this family one day. I want you to be the one in my position, to see that I am doing this to strengthen the family."

And there it was, his father and his never-ending games. These past hours had been fun and they had spoken as if they were truly family, now here it was again. The fact that his father did not want to see the truth, he did not wish to marry for power or influence but for love. His father had gotten that, why couldn't he?

"Ah-ha! You are never going to stop are you, father!? This business with the Maldonado family, it will be your undoing. You want me to marry power and influence with a commission that is not entirely my own. It's a good dream father, it's a powerful one, something that can be seen in this lifetime if I were to say yes."

Michael reached inside his pockets, taking out a gold ornate ruby ring. Twirling it between his in his index finger and thumb before sighing, looking up at his father's back noticing how his back was straightened and his very posture seemed to exude the power he had lost. 

"You got that, didn't you? Mother was yours, not a man could challenge you and they would wish to as well. Mother was beautiful and fair so I hear, she was nice. I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed her company but I do not know her, she is but the woman who bore and birthed me, that is all. You had that! Why can't I, why should I be the one to marry for power and not love!?"

Michael knew that he had said the wrong thing as his father released a deep guttural growl. Seemingly silencing the room with it. 

"Have you not heard the stories? I never married your mother, you know this. Why do you believe we ever got married? She was someone that matched me in every way, some things are ever hard for that to find in this life. I will tell you this now, I've never been married, son. Only one woman was meant for me and I had it, she died. That was it, nothing came after that and nothing will ever come again"

Charlie turned around, loosely holding the glass of scotch in his hand as he knew this was going to be a bit different. His son needed to understand this, the family was important to the Pavanno's. Jimmy had taught him that and Chuck carried it with him, this life was so seldom full of happiness, money and blood made this world of theirs go round. 

"I want you to have what I did not. This girl, she is the next in line to the Maldonado family. The males are all but gone from this world and their line is falling, this is the chance to help it. I don't want to force your hand, I want you to meet with this girl and see. If she is the one for you, if not, I understand and I will move away from going forward in this matter. If she is, well, I expect to have another member of this family soon."

Charlie paused, noticing the look in his son's eyes and how bad this was looking. Only they brightened as he seemingly thought this over, passing his drink over to his son, he took it greedily and had a large gulp. Soon enough, staring in the stormy eyes of his father as his own stormy green locked on his father's. 

"To the family," Michael uttered in a whisper.