"I tire of having to wait for her to return from this meeting. These traders should know we mean well, there was a time that the Carelo name meant something. When the name was something to be happy about, now? We're like every other schmuck in town and that is not something I want to have hanging over me. Bringing shame to my family."

Vincent spoke softly, his eyes opening as he turned his head to look at his female partner for the night. He knew that she was simply waiting for payment or it seemed that way, Veronica seemed different and while she was lovely. He was not getting her pretty face involved with this life, it promised too much in the death department. 

He had never spoken like this before, even with Valerie, she was a trustworthy girl and was his best friend but in this line of work, friendship was always blurred. The lines were never the same and right now, that was a sign of it.

"Listen, Hon, why not do something it? Go out there and prove to your people that you can change things, do not look back while doing it either. You take the chance you have right now by the balls and make sure you win whatever is going on inside that beautiful head of yours."

Smirking, Vincent kissed her softly before standing and walking out of the bedroom. He had a few calls to make and he knew that Veronica could find her way out, if she wanted breakfast, well that always an option. 

Sitting in his study, the young man sighed before putting a few calls in. Billy and Charles would be able to help him, they always had his back and he was ready to give something back to them. They would be the members of his own organization, they had earnt that from him. 

A few hours later

The men he called had arrived, they seemed to be in some high spirits but that did not keep him from their jabs. He could have taken it but he simply sat there and waited for the coming words, though he had some kind of feeling that it was just beginning. 

"Look at this Will, we have the man himself, Vincent sitting here with a bottle of scotch. Something tells me he has a good deal for us, am I wrong or right? You like a posh old cunt, get out more or get some fine tart and do 'er up the wall...just bloody hell, be better."

Vincent could not believe his ears, Charles had not changed a bit and he had been in the states for a good year. His accent had stayed and neither had his crude language, though he guessed that would be asking for a little too much. So he decided to lean back, pouring the two of them some scotch. 

While he poured them the drinks, Billy and Charles had taken their seats, each of them waiting to see what the man had to offer. He had been a regular customer of theirs for information and the few booze jobs that they had randomly. 

"Oh lovely of you, your language and mannerisms never cease to change Charlie. I have to wonder, are you taking cocaine or heroin? You know the rules."

Flipping Vincent off, the aforementioned Charlie took a sip of his scotch as he looked around the place. He couldn't dislike it, Vincent had slowly started moving up in the world, it was interesting and surprising. 

"Neither but I am ready to see what you have planned for us, I do hope it was worth the trip here. I am not known to be someone that takes business meetings lightly or easily."

Snorting to himself, Vincent knew that it was very much the case. He just didn't have it with the people like him in business suits, it was women with less clothing than an Egyptian belly dancer. Deciding to not delve into that side of Charlie's life, he moved on and continued with his drink. 

He did notice that out of the both of them, Billy had remained quiet, he was not rising to the bait and he was someone to watch out for. Billy could remain calm in situations like this, maybe the man could be a great help to him, people had their natural talents and men like Billy were not found easily.

"I find myself with a new operation in hand, right here in Nevada. I have to say, it took me a while to get used to this but now that I find myself operating within these confines. I think that I might be able to bring about a new age of business for the people working with me, we are looking to hire a few captains."

And like that, Charlie's eyes had lit up, while he was no regular class fucker. He was someone that knew a chance like this didn't come easily, there were oaths and bonds, the look in his eyes was neither of those but it was one of a hungry shark. Someone like that, in this line of work, did not last long with some crews. 

Billy, however, he leaned back. His eyes did not give away to what could only be the chance to make piles of cash, there was another reason for him. Like that, Vincent knew who he could begin to treat like a second in command. While Valerie had that honour, people did not respect her as much and in this day, men were seen as the leaders. 

"You want us on board? I mean...I know we run some good businesses along the coast but this type of thing, it's what gets people killed. The Commission didn't even give you guys the okay. We don't have the means to do this, I'm telling you, I don't want this shit coming down on me or my family. My wife or kids."

Coughing for a moment, it did seem like Vincent was simply trying to clear something from his throat. Only no, he was trying to see if he had heard from the man correctly. He was putting his family before this life, that was not going to work at all..something like that was definitely not going to work and especially not now, he needed everyone focused on the things he had planned. 

Standing for a second, he rolled his wrists, hearing the tell-tale crack before he decided to sit back down. Staring Charlie right in the eyes, making sure the man knew what he was trying to give up here and it was not something as easy as a position with him in this new crew. 

"You know the oath, your family is here. Our life means more to you than the life of your family, those are the words that you swore once Don Liosa swore you into his little crew. The only reason your alive right now is because I pulled some strings, don't think for a second it is because people didn't know of you, they did. You owe me, Charlie, don't forget that. Do we have an understanding?"

Let it not be said that Vincent did not use his words for what he knew would be the right course of business. His meeting with the Bocchino crew did not bear fruit, he knew what he could do and this was one of those moments. Where he was truly wielding the power that he had rightfully earned, Charlie was not getting out of this one, he was making sure he knew that, right here!

Sitting in his seat, viewing this all with a stoic face intact was Billy Ziano. He knew that Bocchino had worked up a deal with someone, he had balls to attack Liosa and approach his way onto the Council of small-time gangs, this was that chance and he wondered if the man would have tried to push for more. Only it seemed like Vincent had a handle on things, maybe he could use that to his own ends, maybe. He would see and wait, as he always did with the ever-changing future of 'their' life. 

"I understand Vincent, apologies. What would you have us do for the family business?"

Finally calming himself down, the head of the Salero operation had leaned back in his seat. Seeing that he had gotten the attention of the men who would be working for him. Not with him, they would know the difference soon enough. They had to gather their own men, supplies and whatever else they needed. 

"I need you to patrol the streets with associates. Make sure that everyone is calm with what happens next, we have a few people coming in to visit and I would like our neighbourhood gangsters to remain easy. These people don't like people skittish, I don't want to have to explain this with a trip to the chief's office with a little brown envelope."

Nodding their heads, they understood where he was coming. It didn't mean that they had to like being nothing more than the gathering boys, this was a little degrading for captains. Only they knew it was just the beginning stages for what was bound to be a great start to this situation as leaders for the Salero family. 

Leaving him to his thoughts, the capo's had stood and decided that they had their time. Knowing Vincent needed some time to himself, they both knew he was something of a loner. Besides Valerie and a few members of the society, he never did anything else and maybe they would eventually find out why. 

Moments later, Valerie would return from the meeting with the traders and say that it went well would have been something different entirely, it had gone differently than expected. They never wished to do business with the mob again, only this type of deal with their crew was something that could be dealt with, a little cash here and there, they would be open to something.

Valerie had explained this to Vincent who had only sat there, looking at her for a few mins before humming to himself. Seemingly lost in his own mind before smirking, it had always annoyed her when he did that, leaving her out of things. She knew that this was something that would happen, some things, they would not know with one another. The honoured society, while lenient in some areas was not all that welcoming and right now, was one of those times that pissed her the fuck off.

"Ya know, I could have stayed in Dublin if I wanted an awkward silence at a table. Feels like Sunday nights all over again, now just to wait for this week's edition of the news."

Sarcastically spitting out at him was the only thing she could think of, while both of them knew that she simply wanted his attention. It was also something else that gnawed at the both of them, she was beginning to have her own power and she needed to trust in her choices. 

Little did she, the red-headed beauty know that he, her best friend and faithful companion was giving her that chance. It was something that not many would do and here he was, giving her that platform and she was not snatching out. Taking it, no she was standing there, waiting to hear his opinion on the matter. 

"You could have, and then you would have been kicked out. We would have never met, you would have then been placed in this same situation, just in another way entirely. For some reason, you would have defended yourself and became someone of high renown that the True Irish Supporters came to assist. From there, you would have been used as liason for the guns that we wish to acquire. I am trying to get you to see something that you wish to avoid. Your fate, as a leader."

Scoffing, the Irishwoman did not believe, taking a glass and placing it down on the table in between them. She could see the intense look in his eyes, it was not going out anytime soon. He was ready to show her that this was real, he wanted her to be someone that could lead and it was the chance to show just that. 

"Look, Vincent, I love ya sometimes but right now is the not time for your little pep talks that end in me getting a phone call in the middle of the night. I'm trying to tell you about this deal, it's not all fucking good. Listen, will ya? They want us to have their products stored and they want a cut of the profits. Considering the change in their current status."

Vincent finally did start paying her attention, looking at her like she was his superior in this matter. She was, they both knew that and he was going to be giving her the respect that she deserved and earned. She needed to wield it like a sword, she could not shy away from this, while her skills with a gun were second to none, she needed to learn what it meant to be the one in control with words and not a gun. 

She had been someone that had never wielded that power with such ferocity before in her life. She was the one that had been given the orders, instead of giving them. Looking at Vincent, she could tell that he wanted her to feel the difference, at how that one move in someone's life could change them for the better and this was it. The moment where everything changed, where the slow thumping click of a revolver was not heard. 

"I'm hearing you, Valerie, talk to me and let us see what we can do about this, eh? I'm not dismissing what you're saying, I just want you to know that whatever you have planned doesn't have to go through me. You can ask for advice but ultimately, how you want to play this and how you wish to be known is up to you, the business, the enemies, the allies, it's up to how you play the game and who you can outsmart."

With that, Valerie knocked back a drink of bourbon. She had never known Vincent to be like this before, he had given orders to her once upon a time. Never was she an equal and she expected her title as a boss to be the same, only he gave her all the tools and respect that a boss had deserved. He did not dictate to her what he wished to be done, she needed to understand how this was going to be played now. 

"Alright, well, I'm thinking a dinner. Relaxing, me, you, Gio, and Joe. We talk to these people in charge, get them to loosen up and see what we can do with this deal. Make sure to wear a suit, and uh, get a date, maybe."

Sighing, Vincent nodded and turned his head to gaze at the window. Simply wondering what else would be brought to the panel of bosses in the next week or so.