"Are we all meant to go? I mean, I understand solidarity but this? I had business with the Asians, something about heroin and truly, it could have been a big help to our basis of knowing our surrounding factions."

Chuckling, brushing her hair back ever so slightly as her gaze landed on Salvador. He was someone that she had come to like, and somewhat trust. And he was a founding member of their little group, he was to be here for them, just as they would for him. 

Still, his comments regarding business seemed to take precedence over anything else and that did nothing to help them. His eyes always seemed elsewhere, towards the future and it was never focused on right now. How they would do what they wanted, this is what scared them. 

"Gio, take a seat and let's talk. Seriously, boss to boss. I can't be having you doubting this meeting for what it is going to be bringing to us, please/"

Knowing that his comments could be seen someway, he sat down opposite Valerie as he noticed how she motioned towards a few housemaids. They quickly grabbed a bottle of scotch, pouring them each a glass before leaving the room. Soon, they all left, leaving the two bosses to discuss the situation at hand. 

"I need to know what you're doing here Gio, we all respect you and we know what you can when your mind is focused on the now. I need to know that you're with us, right here and nowhere else that does not deserve your attention. We will provide you with the same support when we meet with the Asians."

Valerie leaned forward, hands crossing over one another as she glimpsed into Gio's eyes. She saw what every member of their life had, the balls and smarts to some degree. She could see ambition, only that was the common thing for men and women in this game of chess. Everyone wanted to be someone, this, however, it was different for Gio, he had something to prove. 

And it almost made sense for the Irishwoman, seeing him like this and the way he had run the streets with ease. His captains, Anthony and Paul had been the ones to report to him with efficiency, some of them had gotten off with doing quick art heists that netted them a pretty penny. 

Only now, it had gotten Vincent and Val's attention. They could see the beginnings of a true powerhouse, they just didn't want him to lose sight of the plan here. He had to be ready for what was coming, these dinners, these meetings, they could be used as a stepping stone for him. He needed to see that they were all on the same team, willing to help him with business. 

"Valerie, we've spoken and we both know that sometimes I might lose focus because of stuff I hear. I don't want to lose this connection because of another crew cashing in where we did not. That is not something I will allow, so I'm adjusting, become more focused on business and what it brings us as a unit."

Deciding to be silent, she watched her fellow leader in this little crew of theirs. She could see that he had meant what he said, he had focused his life elsewhere and there was nothing wrong with that. 

Having something outside of this, it was understandable and not to be used as something like a chip to be gambled with.

Only Valerie Knew what she had done, this was just that, her eyes pierced his and they both knew there was only one thing to be done about this. He needed to be himself in this life, however, and wherever it led him. 

"I see that. You cannot be like me, Gio. There is only one and this time, we know that all too well. Focus on what brings you to this life, I don't want you to resent this life, while it is the oath you swear and swore to uphold. I want you to see what it can bring you, family, joy, and riches. Do not forget the consequences and horrors that you will see, this life, is not a fairytale, live it how you can."

Valerie had spoken so softly that she knew not she was trying to convince herself as well, the way her eyes had fluttered closed for a moment. It seemed like she had been in a faraway memory, only that was not a single memory that she could place. Almost like she had forced herself to forget the horrors, not wishing to dwell on them too long. 

Like this, Valerie knew she could see the wheels in his head, turning ever so slightly. That Gio could turn around and begin to see himself differently, he need not force himself with his work. He was a natural-born talent with their style of life as if it was engrained into himself and they both knew that it was, nothing was changing that. 

"I was taught that the family comes first Valerie, two years later, my father and uncle went inside for racketeering. They'll be lucky to see their grandkids, soon after that, I knew that I had to do something differently. This was all I knew, I had to be someone that could make this thing somewhat legitimate. No one could disrupt me from the path I wanted to take as a Salvador."

The boss of the Salvador crew as it was called spoke with a calming storm, there was rage but directed at anything, it could have been used as a weapon and Gio left it untapped. He did not allow his emotions to cloud his judgement, nor did he let it take hold of him and alter his vision of what was right, what was correct, what was the real way of doing business in their world. 

"If I can't connect with people like me in this life, I have nothing. I have to change how I do my work Val, this is how it happens. Maybe we all do it a little differently and that is just the way it has to be for now. Otherwise, I will keep falling back into these conversations with you."

Knowing he was right, the lone Irishwoman nodded her head, he was with them. All the way to the finish line and she was glad that they could have this talk. Things were looking correct for them now, Now this dinner, it just had to go well, nothing could go wrong. Valerie was hoping at the very least. 

This meeting was one that did not hold the future of their crew in the balance, it dictated where their main focus on business would be. He had tried to see it that way but Vincent knew that this held something more, this dinner had something else with it, the style of how they would conduct themselves in further meetings.

Having something like that, it was...a chance to prove themselves and at this moment. That is what they all wanted, they were small-time, they could conduct themselves like they held some cards out of this world but that is not the true nature of their connections. This is how they had to play and it annoyed him. 

Vincent knew how he could hold himself above the standards of his fellow mobsters, how he became one of the sought after earners with his connections on the streets. 

"Look at ya, how nice you're holding in all of that anger. It's not going to be doing you any good and you need to know that right now. This has to go our way, the correct way, it's for the family, brother. You've repeated those words to us more times than we could count on both hands."

While never much of a speaker, Joe had decided to visit his friend and see how he was holding himself up with this kind of thing. They had meetings before, where they had to deal with gang leaders and other kinds of people. Only this was different, where they would be speaking with other leaders, where they did not have the advantage and where they were vulnerable. It was not something that any of them liked. 

Still, it was solidarity in the face of their people, the men who looked up to them as leaders. They needed to show them that this is what being a leader was, showing the men who worked with you that you supported them. Valerie had deserved that and Joe knew Vincent was not going to forsake that, something that everyone knew all too well. Those two might as well be siblings, they protected one another and made sure each was covered in some way. 

Adjusting himself and fixing his tie, he looked at Joe and noticed how he was leaning on his desk. Puffing away at his smoke before nodding his head at the choice of suit, Vincent had chosen well. 

"I know I have but I do not like where we are right now, at the mercy of those who are beneath us. These people believe that we do not have the same style as the Pavanno's, those fuckers who have since died and gone out!? They left this life and my family began anew, we now stand where they should have. We could make our name mean something, this is where we are right now, how we are meant to be."

Turning his head, he sat down in his leather chair as he spoke with his fellow associate, he could already see the wheels turning in his head. Where this was going and what it meant for them. It would mean a lot, it already meant something right now. 

How the Pavanno's had died out, Charlie had left his legacy in the hands of his grandchildren and no one had heard from them. The Carelo family, one of the few that had remained behind when the Pavanno's had taken control had risen, they were powerful and well known throughout Europe. Controlling some of the ports and having a hand in some of the narcotics that passed through. 

"I do not like it, I have voiced my opinion well enough, I will go along with this plan because this is for the family. It is what matters most to us as the leaders. We stick by each other, I know I have said that a lot and I have confidence in what Valerie is doing, she will lead us into the new age that we deserve, don't you think so Joe?"

Sitting on the desk with his arms crossed, the loyalty that Vincent had to Valerie was admirable and while it was something cherished in this life. It might not be what is best for the family, that is what worried him right now. He had to wonder if these two were leading the family on the path that would be the best suit them as a family or them as simple friends and comrades. 

Joe had to think like this, he had to see what they would not see and he knew this deal was one in a lifetime. He knew that people like them barely got anything like this and they had to grasp this one by the horns. 

"I think it's a good idea, it's bound to bring in a lot of cash for all of us and make sure that we move the product they want. If we can do this without any incident, I will say that we can have a very lucrative relationship with the Ottawa Traders. They've gone legit, it gives us legitimate money and could give us benefits that we may never see again. I'd take this chance and accept it with open arms."

Joe turned his head ever so slightly and took a long drag of his smoke before placing it in the ashtray. He did notice that Vincent was giving a gaze, one that would make most of the associates nervous, this seemed different. Vincent was suspicious of him and that did make him feel like he could trust the man, he had loyalty to the crew and to Valerie but to whom would that go to first?

Stretching himself ever so slightly, Joe sat back down on the desk and decided to carefully see how his fellow boss would approach this. He knew that Gio was with Valerie, maybe there was a reason, he didn't know but the way his gaze had stayed on him like a sniper...

"Of course, who could blame you, Joe? This promises to be one of the greatest deals a small-time crew like ours could do, I wonder what happens after? These deals, agreements, it usually ends tragically one way for us or the company. I never liked them, they screwed us out of millions and we had to shore up our defences with nothing but goons for the next month. We would be vulnerable to our enemies, I know, I'm spouting off some shit that I've seen in my time. I know how this works Joe, so do you."

Vincent tried to appeal and get Joe to see the dangers, they both knew how these went, they never went well for them. it always found a way to fuck them in the end. It's how it worked, maybe that is just how it needed to work. A sick part of him though, these type of times where he doubted his true knowledge of their society shone through.

Joe simply watched his friend, noticing how he looked at him but he was not going to listen. Too many times, deals like this were not used or seen with the full picture. No, it was simply seen to the mob of how it could be used to benefit them in another way, Joe had a different idea. He wanted to make sure that he could see this through, even if Vincent doubted it. 

"Valerie believes in this deal, she wants it to happen, she does not doubt herself. For that, I will follow the plan that she has for it. She deserves to be trusted with her idea, do not allow your doubts and insecurities to seep into what we have here. Trust me, do that and let us make this money, can you do that for me brother?"

Sighing to himself, he knew that was the right course of action. Trusting Valerie and believing in what she wanted for them here in Nevada, it had to work, it just had too. This is the way it was meant to be, it was right, it was special for them. Valerie O'Neal, the one who would make them rich and their names forever etched in history.  

"I can do that brother, for Valerie, for our family and for what we are doing here. I should have never doubted her to begin with, she deserves my trust and she would have known something was wrong, the moment she had that meeting with them. Let's get rich Joe!"

Walking out of the door, Vincent knew this was the night that he would forget, the moment where their crew would begin to take shape and start their claim on Las Vegas. He never knew though, he would not forget that night, the time of changes and people within the society of the chosen. 

Vincent Carelo walked out of that room in control, he would not forget that feeling, he never wished too. For months to come, it would haunt him...