Boston 4:32 PM Local time

Miss Catalina_Rey was on her way. She was never on her way to talk to Genevieve directly, that could only mean something was wrong. And the fact that the Italians had been acting up a bit more lately meant they were on edge too. Gen could only suss out one thing. A takeover. She was ready to work directly for Catalina of course. Cocaine Cat paid well, and she was as nice as a boss could be, at least to Gen. She wondered how Casto would take it though, so she hedged her bets. She had made a phone call.

"Yeah, well I don't know exactly what's going on but if they intend to cut you out, I thought I should tell you. After all, loyalty and all that... What?... Of course I have, why wou... Well you can tell Giancarlo exactly what I just told y... NO!... Well fuck you too!"

She slammed the receiver down and the bell echoed through her warehouse. A bell to sound impending doom. The only question was, whose?

Catalina sat in the back of the car between Charlie and Orion. The short flight from New York hadn't bothered her much, and the flight from Philadelphia likely hadn't bothered Charlie too much either, but Orion was a different story. He'd been travelling between New York and Chicago regularly, and it showed. Exhaustion pasted itself to his features, and Catalina could tell in the small movements he made that he was in pain. One of the runs he'd made with her product had cost him dearly.

Catalina needed a power play, something to further assert herself now that Levey was gone. Charlie needed the coke... as he'd always said, the vice market was a profitable one, and now that he was leading as Catalina herself was, the tools of the trade were all about the best connections, the best products, and the most worrisome reputation.

They needed to do something, and do it big.

Catalina looked at Orion for the thousandth time. Was it a mistake, bringing him? He'd insisted on coming, but if anything happened to him...

"Charlie, how's your gun hand? This shouldn't go badly, but if it does... well. Let's hope all we need today is your scary 'takeover face'," she smirked, trying to lighten the mood as the car pulled up to Genevieve's office building. 

"An actual office building? Perfect. I was sure we'd be meeting her in a fish market," Catalina muttered as the rear doors were opened by two valets.

Charlie's eyes were lazily drifting between the new scenery of Boston and the two occupants in the car. He was...a bit well odd with this combo, it had been some time since he had met the lass and her associate in Orion, he was something else and this was a little big move for him in his terms of how he did things.

"Well the gunhand is not the same as it used to be, considering the blood that was spilled two weeks ago...I...well...that's changed and I have to adjust with the times. As we all have"

Charlie quietened with his statement, his mind flashing back and he closed his eyes tight. He couldn't deal with it, not know and with a couple of words to himself. He stopped himself from getting too far into his thoughts, he knew that his worst enemy was his thoughts. He had said the same thing to so many people and when it came to himself, he was as weak as a newborn baby. 

"Let us hope it doesn't go badly...who are we meeting by the way? You never did tell me and...Cat, you should know. I like to know who I am doing business with by now."

Charlie smirked with his words, inecting his own humor into the situation...well...sorta. He guessed some of his just fell short with some people. 

"I have a takeover face? I just assumed that I had my usual stoic face but I guess I do, huh, that's good to know. Let's get this over with, eh?"

Charlie stepped out, reaching into his leather jacket for a smoke. He needed one and right now, he was itching for it, his nerves acted up. This was a big situation and it called for all hands on deck.

Orion stepped from the car on the opposite side as Charlie. Tossing the man his lighter over the roof of the car as he pulled out his own smoke. He was a bit sore but that would eventually fade, he certainly wasn’t going to miss this chance to be at Cat’s side, especially because he wasn’t really sure what they were doing here to begin with. He did a well enough job pushing the pain away as he drew in a sharp inhale. 

“Where to, Love?” He asked Cat as he offered her his hand to help her from the car. 

"In and out of this office as fast and effectively as possible, I hope," Catalina replied, taking Orion's hand to get out of the car, then regretfully letting it go once she was out. She couldn't look dependent, weak. Stuffing her hands into her coat, she smiled at Charlie as they closed ranks and slowly approached the front doors. 

"You underestimate yourself, Charlie. It's rather cute," Catalina said with a quiet smile. The smile faded as she got to business. 

"The woman in charge of the coke racket here in Boston... her name is Genevieve. We've never had problems, mind you. I like the woman and would like to keep her in place. But there are some elements here that think that, since the war, those of us left standing are easy targets for some fuckery. I've heard rumors that the local Italians are... nevermind. Rumors are rumors. But," she said, then quieted as they stepped through the doors and approached an elevator. She waited until they were inside and moving up the floors before she spoke again.

"There's always a 'but', isn't there? We're here because I am of the opinion that actions speak louder than words. I feel that, if we play this correctly, we could walk out of here today owning Boston's cocaine market. We split even, Charlie. And to sweeten the pot, my half of the proceeds will go directly into any future plans you may or may not have for a casino in New York," she grinned, watching for a reaction. 

"Oh, Catalina....some people do find me quite estimated...I like to surprise them. Like now for example, who would think that I would be here with you guys? Certainly not the people who wish to see my downfall but let's sour the great moment about to happen, eh?"

Charlie walked ahead, there was something about him being involved with Coke all the time. He knew that he had his moments, like this, he always wondered what it was. Only he knew that it was most likely due to his experience with it, working with many of the people who dealt in the coke business, it left him with a few skills and a few partners that he could call upon. Soon that expanded and so did his influence in the Narco world. 

"Well, ambitious aren't we there Cat? Spit even? That seems like quite a valuable market like this. I understand my experience with this and why I was called along but what about the locals, shouldn't we...you know...make sure that they can't cause trouble for a possible ally?"

Charlie was of the mind that if someone owned a piece of the game for a long time, they would be valuable and a great asset to the already growing alliance that was happening between himself and Cat. They both had a business that needed to be worked out, things like this...it was almost better for the future of this life they lived. 

"Hm...well...you had me at Casino...and well...yes it was technically the last thing you said. Good stopping point though lass."

He set his smoke alight and inhaled, chucking the lighter back over to Orion with not so much as a glance. He assumed that he would have caught it, knowing that the time for the business was now. This Genevieve...well he would be able to see who he could be working with.

Orion caught the lighter in stride. Flicking it open, he lit his smoke as he fell in line just behind the two of them. He knew he wasn’t here for the business end of things, that was clearly Cat and Charlie’s area of expertise. He was here as protection, plain and simple. It made sense, it was smart to have someone willing to step in front of a bullet for the boss, by her side. 

Something didn’t feel right, it wasn’t quite wrong, just a bit...off. He found a brief sense in comfort as he pulled his blade from its scabbard twirling it in his hand for a moment to slow his heart rate before returning it to its place. He was hoping not to use it but it was always a comfort to know that it was there. 

Genevieve had been pacing for a while when a man came to her office and nodded a single time.

"Well then bring them in, can't have the woman in charge of the entire island of Manhattan waiting on me can we?"

The man at the door shook his head. "Mister Pavanno of Philadelphia is with her as well Miss."

Gen nearly went pale then and sat down. Her doorman took that as a sign that he should get the door, and while he was gone she took the time to shakily light a cigarette.

A moment later three people were escorted into her office and she stood, all smiles. The cigarette had helped after all. Though it did nothing to hide her Bostonian accent.

"Donna Rey, Don Pavanno, a pleasure to see you both. To what do I owe this clandestine visit?" She shook her head and took another drag. "No no, let me guess. You need more product, a couple tons to be precise? No that's not it, you would have just phoned. No, I think you might have caught wind of my falling out a bit with my old financier and are looking to swoop in and pick up the slack. That about right?"

She took another drag and gestured toward the seats across the desk.

"I won't lie, I'd be in your debt, and I'd appreciate the help. In fact, I might be willing to stay on and bring you all of my contacts as well if the price is right. Of course, you could just try setting up operations yourself, but you see, my old man, he's crafty. You don't get to be the guy in charge of something like this for long if you're not, and if I go down, he's going to think he might be next and then you'll never get anywhere at all. So, let's talk."

She smiled a nervous smile, and finished the cigarette before she really cared to.

​​​​Catalina sat, positioning herself again between the two men. The message was clear: I've brought both brains and brawn with me, this can go either way. Genevieve was clearly a nervous wreck, but Cat gave her credit for posturing a bit. Never go down without a fight, even as a woman in a man's world. Maybe especially then.

"There's no reason we cannot come to an agreement. I suppose it's really just a matter of terms," Catalina smiled, crossing her legs and placing folded hands on her knee. 

"I've never had issue with you, Genevieve. You've always come through, and you've always been reasonable. And while I've never met your father, he has my respect. I have neither the time nor inclination to run him over... there has been too much of that as of late. I do, however," she said, leaning forward, "I do think it's time for the old guard to step down. What I propose is this: a buyout. Your father can buy that big sailboat you and I both know he's dreaming about, while his little girl stays on to become the face of the largest distributor in Massachusetts," she said, watching Genevieve's face carefully. She'd not been expecting this, not at all, and Catalina hoped she had enough pull with her old man to get him to agree to it. It was ideal, after all. 

"We would have to agree to a number, of course," she said, turning to look at Charlie, "and there may need to be some minor changes in the structuring or methods you employ here, but I feel that this would be by far the most beneficial outcome for all involved. It would be a shame if things had to turn ugly, but as I've learned recently, sometimes that simply has to happen for one to move forward," she finished, sitting back and placing her hand on Orion's leg. One squeeze, and he'd be over the desk like a shot, but Catalina didn't think it would come to that. 

As long as Genevieve understood that it could, that's all that mattered.

Genevieve nodded. "I would like that, my father would like that, Casto? Casto will not like that. My number is going to be humble, I understand my position, what I really need from you Donna Rey, Don Pavanno, is protection. I'm willing to sacrifice a bigger envelope for my life. I won't complain about whatever handout you can give me, if you can keep me alive."

She stood and then opened a drawer in her filing cabinet, pulling out a single small file. The name on the label was Casto Roso.

"He controls most of the drug operation for the Godfather of Venice, a man by the name of Giancarlo Mattaranzi. It's him I'm really afraid of. He's got spys everywhere and assassins too. If I turn on a man that powerful, well..."

She let the though hang in the air like a lead balloon before speaking again.

"I can tell you some things though. I have people working for me in high places, people who have been involved in some things lately. I can help you, more importantly. I can help take out your precious little Godfather wannabe in Brooklyn, and you can have what's rightfully yours."

She sat back down and smiled without showing her teeth. The sort of smile that a cat get when it's toying with a mouse.

Charlie watched the little back and forth dance that was happening before his eyes, he found it quite amusing. He noticed the pale face that Genevieve sported as they walked in, seemingly clearing up after a few moments but it was fresh in his mind. She was nervous, greatly so and that is what brought Chuck to now. This...well, it involved his main pipeline, blow. 

While Charlie knew his things were not that clear, he could see this was a bit difficult for Genevieve. She seemed to be playing a little game, her words....they were often used in some ways to try get the upper hand. Something that made him release a small snort, he enjoyed his time watching for a while before he decided to chuck in his two dimes. 

"Gen, if I may call you that-" Not that he really cared to be fair. He was keeping with pleasantries and so far, he had been seeing some nice moves on both of their parts. 

"You wish for protection. I and Cat, we can and will offer that in abundance to you. We all want the best for the future of our respective organizations. We want to walk away from this place less wary than when we came in."

Charlie puffed on his smoke for a moment before moving forward. 

"We can help you, me, personally. I need to know what we are going to be doing about your little problem before we move in with Catalina's deal."

Charlie held up his free hand, showing that he meant no disrespect by it. He was getting to it, knowing that this needed to be answered and so he would move forth with it. 

"I'm sure there are plenty of people that can help Cat with her problem, so just tell me, what makes you think that you're different than the rest? I have never met you or worked with you. Excuse me if I may have some reservations."

Charlie said the last few words with a coldness that bordered on sociopathic. And this time, Charlie winked at Genevieve, showing his own cold wit in return. Allowing a toothy smile to twitch at lips.

Gen nodded. "Of course, call me whatever you'd like Don Pavanno." She sighed and steeled herself. "As for why I'm different? One phone call and I can tell you where the Mastrosimone's are. Each one of them. In fact, the big one was shot today, in Battery Park. He was then taken to the house and is presumed dead, but that's unconfirmed. The wife, along with one of the daughters is in Italy as we speak, and there is no flight plan logged for them to return as of this morning."

She nodded and folded her hands on her desk in front of her.

"That's why I'm different. I know more than even your own people do. Because I have connections you don't. Mine can be yours though, and all you have to do is keep me alive."

She gestured toward the window and the train then.

"If you're asking about product though. I'm the best there is for one reason, did you know that Cornelius Vanderbilt had 13 children? My father may or may not have married one of his daughters. I have learned from his example. Every railroad into and out of Boston I have a hand in. And there is only ONE rail from here to New York. That one belongs entirely to me. Without me, you get nothing from Boston, you have to go out to Buffalo to get anything northward, or start shipping. Both significantly slower."

"Well, Gen, I have connections in Buffalo. I can get the product I need, still, it takes time and you guys, well I don't know anything personally. If Cat came all the way here to start a deal between our three organizations, I see something very profitable beginning for all of us here. Something that gives us ease of mind and protection for all of us involved henceforth."

Charlie's toothy smile was still in place, he knew that he could get something profitable from Buffalo. It was a good deal for all involved, of course, Catalina did not know of the connection and neither did Orion. Which neither of them even needed to know but they knew now, which is what mattered most. 

"The Mastrosimone's don't matter to me, their business is all theirs. As for Catalina, that would concern here. The family in general, it's not my business and I've never worked with them before, ever. So, I'd like to simply say that them being away or otherwise incapacitated, means nothing to me."

Charlie took a puff from his smoke, allowing his eyes to drift over to the railroad for a second. It was obviously a sweet deal, something that he could not wish to ignore. He chanced a glance to Cat, he could not tell if she was alright with him seemingly leading from here. He knew that Genevieve was playing to the interest of New York here, where was Philly's deal in all this?

"I keep hearing this talk about New York this and that, where's Philadelphia's deal in all this? I can't commit my men and women to a cause that has no benefit for them. Yes, once upon myself and Catalina were going to be partners in a joint business venture. Times changed."

Charlie finally sat down, allowing himself to relax into the chair he chose before continuing on. 

"For protection, what does Philadelphia get from this? Besides your already growing information."

Genevieve looked to Catalina then, and then back to Pavanno. Clearly they were in cahoots together.

"Product, a swifter line to get to it than Buffalo. I'm sure your contact is good for it, but he's not as close by train as New York is. We all get in bed together, and you'll have a supply right through the biggest harbor on the east coast, even by car that's faster than the train up to Erie, and then the Canal to Buffalo."

She gestured to a map on her wall to their left.

"Hell, I might even be willing to expand my own operations, Buffalo is inside the Northeast, maybe I can manage to convince some folks to build a new line right down to Philly from there. Maybe. It's a hard sell, probably why nobody has done it yet."

Charlie smiled, it seems that she had finally picked up on things. This was definitely a fun time for him, watching the look pass by on her face, priceless it was. 

"There are the words you used, might and maybe...I would like a fucking guara-damn-tee! I need to know Gen, can you bring a product to Philadelphia, this life, this business, it gives a lot and what you are giving to New York right now, it seems much better than what Philly would be getting. Which would be nothing but perhaps a favor down the line, which I can't count on Gen."

Charlie knew he was being a hardass but for him to come down here to Boston, it was something and it needed to be addressed, nothing was going to be left unchecked and this was one of the things that were going to be answered with fucking clarity!

"If it isn't coke or any kind of drugs, Philadelphia is willing to help you out in the line of other products. We're in the business of making money Gen and we're ready to protect you."

He smirked once more, leaning forward and placing his hands by his sides as he put out the smoke. 

"That's it. Product, any kind, we're looking to approach this with something that can give us a great secondary or tertiary product that can boost us higher than before. We think....no, I know that person to give us that product is you."

Deciding to lean back, he gestured for her proposal, maybe this would bring something different to the table as a whole. 

Gen grit her teeth. She knew she was in the bad spot, but she also hated being talked down to, by anyone. A guara-damn-tee as he put it would just not poof into being.

"The only guara-damn-tee that I can give you is information on the Mastrosimone family, and product to New York. There's no rail line to Philly. I have enough money and influence in the system to build one to Albany, or north to Concord, but anything going to Philly from here HAS to go through New York. Nobody can change that!"

She pulled out a map of the Northeast Corridor then and looked it over.

Only other option is, I can meet you half way. I'll get the rail built out to Albany, you get one up to Scranton from Philadelphia and we go half way on a line between Albany and Scranton. It would take twice as long for product to get to you, but you wouldn't have to go through New York, you could get it straight from me through your own lines, and lines serviced by me. That's the best I can do for you if you're worried about supply."

Genevieve knew that she could probably ship the things down faster, but that would eat into her profits at that point, maybe enough to not even make having Philadelphia worth being on board here. She had never anticipated them being involved in the first place, so this really probably was the best she could do without over-stretching herself.

Catalina had been listening to the back-and-forth between Charlie and Genevieve stoically. First mention of the Mastrosimones she let pass; despite her intel, Gen didn't have the biggest piece at her disposal... that Billy Mastrosimone ran New York, and Catalina, because Catalina wanted it that way. Had calculated her every move since Levey's death towards this end. Billy and his wife Aurora were also damn near family to her, so when Genevieve oh-so-casually let it drop that Billy was injured, possibly fatally, Catalina remained stoic as ever, but the hand on Orion's leg dug in painfully. It wasn't just Billy she had concern over, either.

Oriana, her Right Hand, was with Aurora and the children in Venice. Trying to breathe through the moment, Catalina put on a small smile as if none of this was news, or unexpected. When Charlie looked in her direction, she nodded for him to continue... it was his game to play now, after all, his turn to establish what piece of the pie he wanted, and how he thought he should get it. Catalina had meant what she'd said just outside the offices; if Charlie Pavanno wanted a casino in her town, he was going to get it with one hundred percent of her backing. However this deal shook out, she would do whatever she could to manipulate this situation towards that end. Coke was coke; she had already made more than she could ever spend in a lifetime. Boston, and control over its rail systems, was simply a power move. What that power ultimately could be used for, that was what was important now.

"What do you think, Charlie? Is this satisfactory to you, or does the offer leave you longing?"

"For the time being, I can see about making things work from my end, see how much I would have to do with Jimmy and Ackbar. Other than that, I can make it work."

Charlie spoke with his English accent in full swing, he could see that Gen was trying to save herself a little something here and that was it. This was something that he didn't need all too much but for Philly being here, something had to be given, it was almost a principal of the matter. 

"We can protect you, Gen, as long as we have the agreement. Whatever Cat may need from here, it's all up to her."

Charlie leaned back, eyeing Gen for a moment, he had a feeling that she could make something work from her end. Only he knew it might have cost her more than she was even willing to put up. He was a businessman but he wasn't a fucking shark, he didn't swim when he smelt the blood..not unless the situation called for it. 

"Remember Gen, A Pavanno pays their debts. We will be giving you the best, we hope that we can receive the same in return. To our partnership and may the monies continue flowing for us all."

Charlie nodded his head to the cheers, finding that he meant every word of it. He knew that he did, none of it was untrue. He was ready to give her his protection, it was all Catalina from here, he smiled, wondering what approach she would be taking from here.

Orion stayed quiet, watching his surroundings and listening. It was relatively clear to see how all this was going. Catalina didn’t really need all of this aggravation; it certainly wasn’t about the coke, not by a long shot. She had enough going in and out that she was almost running out of places to move it all. No, he thought to himself, this was something more. This was about control. Control of the rails, control of what’s going in and out, control over what comes next. 

He let out a small smile as he felt Cat’s nails dig into his leg slightly. He knew his roll as guard dog and Cat knew when to release the hounds, he was just hoping that it wouldn’t come to that. 

He spoke with a certain confidence that he wasn’t expecting even from himself, speaking mostly to Cat, “I’m not sure if the risk is worth it here. We don’t necessarily need Boston Cat. Everyone here in this room knows what fire power is out there. If we had to, we could take this. It would be bloody and messy but you won’t win Gen, you can’t. You seem to be making a lot of assumptions and guesses as to how this could possibly go but you haven’t thought of everything. You haven’t even thought of enough to make sure you come out of this alive, let alone on top.”

He let his hand rest atop Catalina’s, squeezing lightly and knowingly for a moment as he finished his words. 

Gen shook her head. They didn't get it, they simply didn't understand. She looked to Catalina, not anyone else, just to the other woman in the room.

"I'm not trying to win. I'm just trying to survive. Fuck all, you want the entire damned Boston Rail system, you can have it. I can build a new one, just like I built this one. All I need is to survive and not get gunned down because some jackass in Italy doesn't like that I have been selling his product to his enemies. How the fuck was I supposed to know he had a problem with the Mastrosimones?"

She wasn't desperate, and she wasn't going to cry. This was an option, but the guy Cat brought with her was right, they didn't need Boston, and neither did she. She could walk away.

"If you don't like what I'm offering, then that's fine too. I'm not stopping you from taking everything, I don't have the manpower. I'm a business woman, not a warchief. I just thought we could help each other is all. Sorry for wasting your time."

She stood and held out her hand to shake that of the other woman.