People have never talked about what this type of pain feels like, when you are there, witnessing the outright shooting of your brother. By the very people who had shared your ideas, people who you had spoken with and had enjoyed so many late nights with. Some things like this, it was unimaginable and you had to see what could be done. This was the same for Valerie Carelo, she had seen Vincent get shot three times in the chest, she had seen his eyes flutter close as if nothing could stop him from stepping into the waiting white light that promised a peaceful end. 

She had never felt so alone in her life ever, this was the moment she didn't have Vincent to protect her. He was always there, he had promised that he would always be there for her and now that he wasn't. It felt wrong to her, it felt like a part of her had died. It was like she had been severed from her twin. It was something that could never imagine, how this life could tear you apart and bring you to near-complete destruction in a way that was almost biblical. A laugh escaped the Irishwoman before she heard the phone ring out, shaking her head, she did not wish to answer it. 

Calls had been coming to the underground hospital where she was held up with Vincent, she knew that many people would wish to see if the Boss of the Salero family remained upright. Only this was different, these calls came at frequent times like someone was worried. On occasion, the doctor had tried to get her to answer a few but she had shot him a look that had him running back to his patient. He had learned not to push her, no one could do that, the only person that had a chance was laying up in a bed, fighting for his life.

Only this time, there was no doctor, there was nothing stopping her from answering this call. It had been a long day before the doctor decided that going home would be the best bet for all of his medical staff. Shrugging to herself, Valerie walked to the phone. Her hand lingered over it before looking back at her brother, noticing how peaceful he seemed. The doctor had said he would be making a full recovery, nothing was going to be stopping him from that. She had felt so relieved, everything would be alright, she hoped at the very least. So, she decided to be brave and she answered it with a stiff hello escaping her.

"Valerie, thank fuck you answered...We are all wondering what the fuck is going on, it's been a week and none of us has seen ya. Gio and Joe's crews are trying to call our houses...see if we're there. I got me, Douglas, Billy, and Charles here. A lot of our boys are holding up in their safehouses. Tell us, we want to help, what the fuck happened?"

Hearing the voice of her trusted captain was something that lifted her spirits so high, he was a light in this otherwise fucked up situation. Maybe he could help them, maybe he could do something but she didn't know what. Only she did not really trust the odd call that came to her from him, how had he known where they were? Who had he heard this from? All of these questions were something that she needed to be answered but first, she needed him to answer something so important that she made all of her captains remember. None of them could forget it, it was that important to them and her. 

"What was the first thing I told you when I had you join up with us in Nevada? What were the words I told you Biran?"

A chuckle escaped her captain, he seemingly remembered it all too well. A few men were heard in the background laughing as well, it did seem like something she would say. If only they knew how serious the situation was right now that it did not merit a burst of single laughter coming from these men that were supposed to be here, protecting her and Vincent from possible assaults of that rogue faction of the Salero family. She did not like the way she was being but she had to be this way, her men had died, people had died because of her, Vincent was in critical condition, she was in no mood for trust right now. 

"Answer the fucking question Biran, now. I am not in the mood for laughter. I need to know what I said, otherwise, you can forget calling this number again. Do you understand me?"

And like that, everyone ceased laughter, it was as if all of them had heard her but most likely they had seen the pale face of Biran she supposed. She was glad that she now had their attention. She did not want this to go on anymore, no doubt that some people were probably listening in. The shoot out had not exactly been private, no doubt that the feds had swarmed the place like bees to honey and were already trying to come up with some leads. She needed this, she needed to know that she could trust someone and if Biran needed to be that person, she would be glad to have him on her side. 

"You said to never betray you or Vincent in what we stood for her. You stated that from that day, our loyalty was to you and Vincent only, that is what you said and that is what we are carrying out, right now. Tell us, Valerie, what happened?"

A soft chuckle escaped her, finally. She seemed a bit happy for once, maybe this could be used as something. She just needed to meet them all now, this could have been another set up for her but she needed this. A moment where she could trust someone and she knew, that needed to be Biran now.

"Lucky Baldwin's, head there now."

Once Valerie had made sure that the night security for the hospital would not be allowing anyone besides her or the doctor inside again, she was grateful with heading out and seeing if she could trust Biran. She arrived, the place was empty besides a few guards and the tattered remains of the once-powerful crew known as the Salero family captains, they were her captains and Vincent's. The guards had noticed her, nodding their heads in respect. She had been frozen to her spot, she could walk over and decide to inform them of the news or walk out, knowing that no one had followed them or her. 

She decided to hold her head high and walk over, it was slow and powerful as if she still had control over parts of Nevada. That was no longer true, she was a woman with nothing to offer and without a clue of where to go. She could go elsewhere but where? And by luck, they had called her and she wondered what they could offer, she was lost and without Vincent, she was broken. Maybe Biran could assist with this, maybe they could rebuild something out of the nothingness that stood before her right now. It was a long shot but it was the only one they could take.

"Biran, Douglas, Charlie, and Billy. Thank you both for joining me here, it means a lot and for it to come to this point. I thank you all for coming here with a swiftness that I didn't know you capable of. The thing that threatens us is something we all never saw coming, you see, there is a reason why Joe or Gio or any of their capos are here, to begin with. They did something that has left us shattered and broken, they are the reason why Vincent is not by my side, delivering this news. You can all guess and I have no doubt that you would be right but do not fret, do not doubt that our Vincent is not strong enough to rise once more."

All of them sat with their heads low, they didn't know what to believe this but it was all here laid out before them. They had all gone to that big meeting, Valerie could not stop celebrating it, she had been given the reins and Vincent had trusted her with it. She had always wanted, Vincent's trust, something that they all knew she had in bunches. She never seemed to believe that, people seemed to pass her over for Vincent, believing that she could never be on his level of diplomacy. Just like people believed that Vincent could never be on the same level as her with being a hitwoman. 

"They tried to remove us with a big hit. They did this with the support of the syndicate, I have no doubt that they are celebrating and believing themselves the victors right about now. They are the ones that wished to end us before we even had the chance to truly begin. It's amazing really, I have fought for Vincent so many times, he is the one that brought me up from the depths of being a no-name casualty on the streets of England. I'm going to fight for him, I'd ask you all to do the same with me now." 
 

Biran is the one that looked at her with the hardest stare that she had seen on him in a long time. It seemed like he couldn't believe something, his eyes had turned to daggers. He stood from his seat in the booth, he didn't tower over her but from the way, his eyes seemed filled with a fire that seemed never-ending. He may have well been but Valerie did not back down, from the things she had done and how she seemed to be accepting the fate that she would continue fighting gave them all hope. Especially Biran as he simply spoke with his gruff tone now, it was not soft nor was it happy.

"Do not even ask, we've all seen what he means to us and what he has done for all of us. Vincent Carelo is the man that we follow until we die. The life he has given us is one that we cannot have with the syndicate breathing down our necks, even if they seem welcoming to the Irish gangs right now, they will find us a way to be rid of them. You gave us our first true start, we owe you a lot Valerie and that is not something we can repay in a single year, let alone a lifetime. You have me and my boys at your side."

Looking around the room, there were two others that continued to look down at their hands. Something that caught Valerie's attention, they were the capo's of Vincent and they seemed to be away from this meeting in general. Almost like they were remembering something very important that needed to be told but suddenly, they looked up. Their eyes met Valerie's and they could see the way she looked, curious but it was not filled with that usual kindness. It was hard, it was unforgiving if they had something important that she was not being told. They knew she would need to be told, no matter what orders they had been given. 

"I and Billy had some doubts about the loyalty of Gio to the cause. Joe, we did know that he had some ulterior motives but we never knew that he planned to take you guys out. He always seemed like too much of a pussy to do that type of thing, he never liked getting his hands dirty but that's when we did some digging. Joe's been in contact with Federico Falcani for the past few weeks...hear me out first Valerie before you decide to lop our heads off for not telling you guys, we only found on the day after the meeting."

Charlie had always been the one to do the talking, he was not going to be cocky or keep himself busy. The truth needed to be spoken, he didn't know that this type of thing was going to be told but here it was before them. Their boss had been killed, things had changed and now they needed to arm up or there was no doubt they would be next. 

"That fucker...he already knew what he was doing way before we even had the meeting. He never wanted to play, to begin with, he was always to loyal for his own good. That is going to be his downfall, from this moment, I want everything you can dig up on him, alright? I need this Charlie and you are the only one that can help to this extent. You are the one I am trusting to get this handled, do you understand what I am saying? Anything, I don't fucking care, if his mother or wife takes a fucking shit, I want to know! Got it? Good, now we have that cleared up, moving onto other things, Vincent's protection."

She had everyone on board and now it was time to organize the moves outside the city, where they would be going and how they would be going. It needed to be done, quickly, she was not going to be letting them be sitting ducks for the next bunch of fuckers to come and pick off like they were nothing more than petty thugs. She would make sure they were protected, somewhere at the very least, she had someone. She knew Vincent had business partners, she just needed to find them. Los Angels would be the place to start, otherwise, they would be left to the vultures.

"You want us round the clock or something? We don't mind doing this, I did hear that he had some business with an Eddie Stobart and Lily Black, they could be the ones to look for, something that could be worth looking into. Otherwise, he had no other business outside of Nevada, he was looking to settle down here and maybe start something. Now we have to look outside the bloody place, it's not going to be easy but if anyone can do this, it's going to be us."

Nodding her head, that would have been easier, having them round the clock and knowing what could happen from this moment on. It would be amazing for them, so she went with the plan. She looked at Biran and he was already nodding his head also. He would be there to protect Vincent, they just needed to move forward with the plan that could gather the number of resources they would need from this moment forward. 

"Good, Biran and his guys will be the ones to guard Vincent. I want someone to stay back and gather our resources before we move, cash payments, weapons, drugs. Anything that we need as move out, maybe we can pick something up about the movements of our enemies. If Joe and Gio keep silent, that's a problem because it means that the syndicate has either killed them or are keeping them safe. We don't worry about that right now, who wants to volunteer."

Douglas raised his hand, knowing that it would be less suspicious for one of the Irish to move forward with this. Valerie smiled at him before nodding to Biran, who was already informing his guys of the plan. This was it. Their family was still here and they were ready to help against the traitors, it was going to be a long and difficult road but she had no doubt they would persevere.