Sitting down opposite the man who had never stopped his staring. Valerie craned her neck to look at Marisol with a small smile, she nodded, wanting to see what could be offered by them. She knew that in terms of business, she was the one that had control. Vince had taught her much and this was one of them, knowing when you had a partner that needed something, this was one of those times. Valerie was ready, to begin with, many things, this was one of them. She wondered what Marisol could give to her, the way they had approached her, they were confident in their approach.

"Now, lass, I understand your approach with me. You wished for something, I understand and now that I am here. You can get what you wish for but do not take me for a fool, I have played these games before and trust me, my enemies have known not to place me below my brother. I may not have his ability in negotiation but I make up for it in terms of my skill with a pistol. The Ottawa trading group is a deal we've just cleaned up, one that has yet to get off its legs."

Valerie knew that someone within the organization had to inform Sal of this new little plan of theirs. It was not something he would allow to take place in his own territory, he had a nice little control over Little Italy and while he was not someone that she wished to piss off. He would have to think the same with her, she was not going to sit back and allow his members to storm their way into an agreement that had nothing to do with them. This was the benefit of the Carelo crew, nothing concerned LA's resident small-time gang leaders and Valerie knew there was more to this, something deeper.

She knew something was up the moment she was approached, while Sal was a man that liked to keep his private and business life separate, he would have known that she was here and he would have approached. It was why she smirked, noticing how Biran had too been looking at these two with suspicion. They owned this place, yes, only they were playing a dangerous game and it was obvious that their boss did not know. Now Valerie could continue off of the suspicion but she too wished to see where this was going, so she would play the act she had been given. 

"Marisol is your name, you work for Sal Bocchino as a lawyer and he tells you to approach me for a deal that could make or break his crew? Is that right?"

Leaning forward, her hands itching for something as she rhythmically drummed her hands on the desk. Watching the woman as the man that sat opposite her, both of them seemed calm but the silence in the room told her differently. They knew she was onto them, luckily, she and Biran still had their sidearms and would not be defenseless if they decided to get brazen with their attempt.
 

"Perhaps I should call him, such matters should be handled between the bosses and not a lawyer with her lackey. This is done, the next time you wish to lie in front of me Marisol, it will not be good for you. I promise you, I do not take kindly to ambitious people believing they are owed more than they truly deserve, you wished to encroach on my ally's business and my own. That could be considered a move from an enemy, just this once, I will leave you be."

Before she stood though, Valerie was stopped as Marisol let out a small titter. She was seemingly amused, something that the Irishwoman was not taking kindly to but she did nothing for a moment, watching her face and she knew that it was not something planned. The man's face, was confused and terrifying, almost like he was scared, he should be. They were messing with something beyond them and Valerie was only so kind, she would not be taken for a fool, especially in front of a con artist trying to hit it big. 

"I'm Marisol Montez of the rival Latin gang, Los Montez Rebeldes. We've been fighting against the Las Vegas regime for a while, the one that you just ran from. The syndicate, they will not stop, I assure you. I wanted to know who you were and who I was meeting with, we have a common enemy and I did not wish to enter an agreement with someone who could not tell when they were being played. You and your brother, Vincent, there are stories of you two and each one involves one of you rescuing the other. It's quite the tale I hear."

Valerie leaned back, she still did not trust the woman but she was intrigued. It meant that she had gained her attention, her trust was another matter entirely and one that none of them were even close to earning. Still, she could see truth in her eyes. She needed a partner alright, one to help defeat a different enemy, one that had been terrorizing Los Angeles as well. It seems there influence stretched here as well and that is not something she expected but she was ready all the same. 

"The syndicate is one of the most deadly and effective in eliminating their enemies, they do so without you even knowing. A family friend, so loyal to the cause that he will even use others to get you alone, then kills you. Joe Salero, Giovanni Salvador, those names you will hear will be the ones who betrayed Vincent and I. A little trust goes someway, those are the names and once they know where we are, they will hunt us down and we will be ready for them. How can we, in Carelo Inc, help you, a few rebels?"

Marisol scoffed, when one simply looked at them like rebels, she knew what they saw. Men and women who did not know honor, it was something she did not wish for but it came with the territory and she expected it. This was not something she wanted for herself, being the leader of a movement that wished for a better organization to lead them all. She believed that it would be the syndicate, only she saw the way they operated, death and betrayal would soon follow. She abandoned the cause, taking up arms and being nothing more than a petty criminal ever since, in the eyes of the law.
 

"We are more than just rebels Valerie, we are in places that even in the syndicate has no influence. We want something in return, not money and definitely not guns. We want protection from the syndicate, in return, we can grant you information, movements, drugs, booze of your competition. We know that you are a partner with your brother in Stobart's Finest if your enemies and their shipments to get waylayed. You could provide a better service, we have information, we are willing to share and operate for you."

Valerie would not deny that she felt the extreme pull, it was there and she knew her brother would be trying to find ways to wield it to his advantage. She could not see something more, the look in their eyes, it was desperate and she knew they needed this more. It was survival and she would have to go with the biggest dog in the yard at the time. There was no dog bigger right now, she and her brother had defied the odds and were already against the syndicate along with their bullshit.

Valerie knew she was the one who held the cards, she held the fate of others in her hands. In times like this, she would search for Vince, look for him in the room. Only she knew this was her moment and he would not offer any words besides what she thought was best for them. Looking at it once more, she knew it was good for all the parties involved, it was good for her as well. Still, this was something she and Vince had started, she needed something from him and then, the words he had told her before they were betrayed had echoed in her mind. 

'I trust that you will always make the right decision for us and our family, either way, you will always have my support. Do not forget that and never doubt what I am willing to do for you to prove that sweet sister."

Turning her head, she could see Biran from the corner of her eye, standing dutifully behind her and he simply gave a small nod. Letting her know that she would still have his support, no matter the path she would be taking that she had his support also in the matter. 

"From this moment on, you report to me, you are going to be operating out of a nice little club I will be running soon enough. You will have all the perks that a captain in society has, from this moment on, if I ask you to kill your lover, brother, member of your crew. You obey, do you understand these words? From this day, the only family that matters is ours, the carelo family and its members. Your brothers, your sisters, your true family. Marisol Montez, do you accept this oath and understand what it means?"

Marisol knew what this meant, she knew that the words meant she was bound to this family and so was everyone that worked for her. She looked at Lucan, noticing how he simply gave her a small smile. They each bowed their head to Valerie as they clearly stated they understood what she meant. 
 

Valerie had settled back into her home office, she looked around before noticing her brother, soon though he had started to stir. She raised her eyebrow, Thinking that she was just seeing things but he groaned, she jumped forward, not believing her eyes and she knew he was awake...and she knew it, she was not going to be alone anymore. She looked at him with the brightest smile that she could never muster, all for him and she knew, he had a lot of catching up to do, especially once he got out of this deathtrap of a bed. 

An hour later, she had stayed by his side as a few doctors swept in, checking him over and instructing him to not move too much. She could not believe it. He was really here, with her and he would not be leaving for a while. That is all she wanted, she really needed to speak with him...

"Dear sister, I do hope you've been sitting by my side for the last hour for a reason, you were meant to go out and have fun. I was fine, I had the doctors here...mind telling me how we ended up in California of all places? I mean...it's something special and we could have died back there, what kind of favor did you call in?"

She smirked, seeing that he trusted her to make the right choices. She leaned forward, taking a sandwich from the table that she had made. Though she did not forget a big packet of cookies that rested by Vince's side, it seemed they shared the same addiction, Oreos, were the stuff of fantasy in their eyes and they did make sure that no one else forgot that. It was something she was grateful for, besides him saving her that is. He always made sure she had those in abundance, it was one of amusement for the both of them...an oreo always made the day better in their eyes.

"Lily Black, actually...I called her, a few of the guys and we have a solid foundation here. We won't be picked off by those fuckers, they won't be getting us anytime soon, Vinnie. I made sure of that. Now, Miss Black has been a great host of ours. She gave us this place...I've also partnered up with Sully Black for an agency gig, that man is a fucking wonderful, I'll tell you that. And oh...recently, I just..."

And as she went on, Vince could only sit back in wonder, nibbling on his cookies as he listened to his sister and her tales. She was enjoying herself, she was not only focusing on their life. That is all he ever truly wanted for her, to be happy, to have a life, to have someone to love that wasn't him. She needed that and he would happy for her when that happened, she truly deserved it all. Still, he did think about the recent deal she made, one with the Montez Rebels, that was something he himself would keep an eye on. One that interested him as well.

"Oh, joy, the man is walking around and looking like the boss he has been ever since. He even looks better, besides the fringe he grew in his time, grab a seat Bill."

Charlie had his usual joke with Vince as the two hugged like brothers like nothing ever changed. Nothing truly did, Valerie had proven to be a spectacular leader. Now that he was back, it would be like usual, he would be taking up the business end of things, while Valerie handled the enforcer dealings. One that she was grateful for dealing with once again, it would be great for her, she needed the break. 

"What do we know about the Montez crew? They've been accepted and placed in Valerie's control, while I would have enjoyed having that type of information wielder under my crew. Times had been different, now that we are here now. I need to know about this woman, Valerie had indeed played the game well but with the syndicate hot on not two of us but three of us...that's a sign of danger, one that we will need to eliminate before long."

They had all nodded, the syndicate would continue to prove to be a nuisance, one they were best left dealing with before they came up and destroyed them. It was something that Vince had been stewing for with, it had taken up most of his time and he knew that dealing with them would have to be quick, quiet, and efficient. It always had to be that way, there could be no grand gestures of a plan, they had to target one of the key players...it was an empire and you had to take out the legs first.

Vincent had not been a man of the syndicate for long but he knew his former boss, Derek Falcani had been a key player. One that his boss needed and would find a hard time replacing, the time for revenge would come for Derek. The need for an assassin drew near, his boys had noticed the look he had in his eyes and he placed his plans for Derek away. The man had once been his mentor, his casket would be planned later.

"She's the daughter of former Montez cartel boss, Phillipe Montez who was thrown out with a coup. The new leaders, Benito and Henrique Casalan took control, beginning shipments to Las Vegas. To one, Victor Mendin, leader of their branch out there. Who is tight with our former boss, Derek Falcani. It seems they traded up, and the syndicate offered the way there."

Shaking his head, they all knew what was necessary, they had to kill Derek Falcani and Victor Mendin to cripple the syndicate...the blood would start filling the streets, the time for peace and kindness were over. Now was the time for action, looking over at his capo's, he knew they agreed. It was time to strike back, make sure that those fuckers paid for going against him, Val, and their crew.