Vincent “The Viper” Moretti sat back in his crocodile leather chair, gently tapping away on his desk whilst in deep thought. Candlelight was flickering; the time was almost 23:00 in Hollywood now, Vincent was here for a situation that had arisen. He was here because it needed sorting before things got out of hand. Vincent ordered the hit on Big Tony Marino and now his son Kenny “The Fixer” Marino was attacking his operations and causing him shit to deal with. Vincent knew if this wasn’t sorted and fast, Kenny may even get to him . “Sleep with one eye open,” Vincent thought to himself as he continued to tap infrequently on his dark oak desk.

Vincent lost a warehouse filled with Cocaine in the recent past. Kenny was responsible along with another connection Tommy “The Knife” – Vincent knew that Kenny caused it, he had connections everywhere. Even though Tommy wasn’t responsible, he gave Kenny the location. He lost 3 fucking good workers and a shit load of drugs. They both needed to pay. Personally and for the sake of his business empire. The deed must be done. “Why couldn’t this punk bitch just understand Tony needed to  go; he was causing me so much heat I couldn’t even keeps the cops off my ass & I’m fucking paying them. He was a fucking lose cannon. Tony was good, but fuck me he thought far too much with his emotions and not his brain. Was always telling him it would kill him one day. It was nothing personal; just business. Now his fucking son is on my ass. He doesn’t know who the fuck I am or what I’m capable of.”

Big Tony became a real problem for Vincent, he started acting in his own way, taking jobs on he shouldn’t. Robbing people for higher payments and the biggest mistake of all. Short changing Vincent on his cut. This was something that wasn’t going to stand for Vincent and why the decision was made to take him down. His removal from this world was a strategic one. It was never anything but that. It sent a message; however it was read very differently as intended by his son Kenny and now he also have Tommy to contend with. This was causing huge nuisance for Vincent and he definitely had better things to do; starting with the rebuild of his warehouse destroyed by the fire.

As Vincent was sitting back preparing his thoughts and taking in his cigar a knock came on the door. Vincent looked up and saw Alec “The Jobber” McDowd – one of his associates look at him rather excited. “This better be good Alec” said Vincent; can’t you see this isn’t exactly the time to disturb me when I’m fucking working?” Alec nervously nodded before he continued “I’ve got word boss. Kenny Marino has appeared again - he’s been spotted with Tommy “The Knife” in The Midnight Lounge. They’re putting out feelers to local muscle that can help them storm this place and take us all out. Kenny is fucking pissed about his fathers death. Blames you for it all. We both know he isn’t getting near you boss; but we need to take care of this situation once and for all. We need to take them down.”

Vincent took in a breath before his eyes narrowed sharply to focus on Alec. He looked stone cold and ready to hit the fucking roof. His had a fearsome temper, yet really showed it. He calculated every move down to the finest detail. Sat patiently; just staring Alec down without blinking. Alec almost feeling at this point he would get a bullet between the eyes just for having the nerve to disturb Vincent at 23:00.

“But they’ve made the stupid mistake Boss” – said Alec. “Kenny isn’t even powerful enough to have a family take him on yet. Too risky, nobody knows him. Tommy’s just a fucking bum. We all know that. He’s going around bidding for muscle with dollars, no loyalty needed. What a fucking amateur. It’s come straight back to me on the streets and I’ve come straight here to tell ya.” Vincent thought to himself silently “This alliance Tommy has made with this kid is surprising and could also be problematic. I always saw him as potential for the family one day”

Vincent put out his cigar and took a sip of whiskey “Alec, reach out to our contact on the streets. We need an in. I need to know exactly when and where they’re all meeting. If they want to start a fight; they’ve well and truly got one now. A big mistake trying to take me on; do they not fucking know who I am?”

Alec tipped his hat towards Vincent before leaving the room. Vincent got back to his work, looking through his books to financially asses the damage that was caused by Kenny during the warehouse fire. Always as if Vincent was deciding how badly to make Kenny’s death. Would it be a swift attack or would be torture him? He lost 3 good guys that night. Plus a shit load of drugs. “The Viper” was pissed.

Back in The Midnight Lounge Kenny was sitting with Tommy going through a map of Vincent’s known locations for all the gentlemans clubs Kenny wanted to hit. Thinking that taking these locations out first would turn the people & the extended city against Vincent the fastest. “Right” – said Tommy “I still can’t figure out why I’m here fucking helping you but here are the main locations that need hitting.” Tommy pointed to three different locations along the Hollywood strip. “Vincent has fucking eyes everywhere kid. You know that right? Just knowing where to hit him doesn’t mean we’re actually going to be able to hit him. However much muscle was can get; and by the way you already owe me $5,000 for this in wages for me and my contacts.” Tommy let out a nervous chuckle, knowing the danger both of them were actually in even thinking of launching these attacks. Help or not.

Kenny nodded and took all of the information in that Tommy was giving. “We can start with this one first, it seems most of the way compared to the other 2. Don’t ya think? Let’s hit it tomorrow; I’ll burn this place to the ground too but not before emptying the fucking safe. You can have your $5,000 then and another $5,000 for good measure” Kenny and Tommy both laughed before chinking their whiskey tumblers together. The plan was all starting to come together. “Once his income is affected, we’ll have the upper hand on the other 2 clubs Tommy.”

“You got fucking guts kid. How many times have I said this to you now over the past few weeks. It still amazes me that you’ve got these fucking stones at such a young age. But you know Vincent isn’t just going to sit around and let you burn his empire to the ground. Do you have any idea how much money you cost him when you set ablaze to the warehouse filled with cocaine? We need this muscle in place and to vet them before we go down to the club. Even with it off grid; even away from the others. He’s gonna have his workers in there. They’re loyal, fucking loyalty and they will have a shoot out”

As they continued to plan & speak about entrance strategies through the night a knock on the office door came. “You expecting any muscle to meet us here Tommy?” Said Kenny quite confused. “I’m not” said Tommy looking rather sheepishly. However their anxiety was quickly removed when it was the barman poking his head around the door. “Tommy there’s a guy here asking to speak to you. Says it’s urgent.” Tommy huffed before slamming his whiskey down and shouted at the Barman. “Ok fine – don’t just fucking stand there then. Send him in”

A small scrawny little man came into the office and looked towards both Tommy & Kenny. “Sir, do you mind if I sit down?” he asked. Tommy nodded before he pulled up a chair. He looked at Kenny up and down; he looked at Tommy up and down. Trying to get himself semi comfortable whilst feeling extremely socially awkward at the same time. Tommy could tell the guy was way out of his depth even being in the room but he let him continue anyway.

The young mans face was pale and his hands shaking. “Kid I’m right in the middle of a fucking meeting; what the fuck is it and what the fuck do you want? Can’t you see we have stuff to do?” The mans hands were shaking underneath the table as the vibrations could be heard from his knees. “Vincent Moretti knows Tommy. He knows you’re helping Kenny and he knows you’re planning an attack on the family. Starting with our gentleman’s clubs. One of the muscle has loose lips. He blabbed everything. I’m here to let you know and warn you he is coming for you both.”

Kenny’s heart sank immediately. All fun and life out of the room evaporated almost immediately. Kenny reached for his gun and Tommy held up a hand and stopped him. “Easy kid – we can get information. Don’t fucking kill him, I could do without the mess anyway. Look at the fucking state of him he looks worse than you did under that fucking bridge.”

The kid told Tommy that he hadn’t been in this game long, and that he was surprised he was even alive at this point after delivering the devastation news to Kenny & Tommy that their plan was foiled. The surprise attack was over. Vincent knew about it, fucking knew everything. There was only one thing to do now. That was fight. Tommy wasn’t going to run; it went against the code. Kenny was still too petrified to even speak so Tommy lead the conversation. “Well kid you’re gonna need to use that fucking gun then. Just not on our friend here. We have no choice. He’s coming and we gotta be fucking ready.” With that Tommy slid over a $20 dollar bill to the kid and told him to piss off out the back door; never to be seen again. He needlessly not die; just a cheap ass message boy. Maybe he could buy some new shoes with that $20. He certainly needed them.

Back in Vincent’s office & digesting all of Alec’s report. The message was well and truly delivered. Alec told Vincent that he sent out a new bum straight to The Midnight Lounge to tell both Kenny and Tommy that Vincent’s crew were on their way to face them down. “Good” bellowed Vincent. These pricks need to know “The Viper” doesn’t attack silently. I’m not scared of fucking anyone. One day death will be mine; it comes to us all. But today’s not that fucking day. I wish I could say the same for those two pricks.

All Vincent had to do now is wait. Wait with his cigar in hand for the news the attack was due to be launched that evening. Knowing that both Kenny & Tommy were in deep shit. Both were not coming out alive of this one. Vincent still felt a tinge of sadness that Tommy didn’t end up in his crew; he made a bad fucking life choice siding with Kenny and it would ultimately prove to be his downfall.

Tommy & Kenny continued their discussions about what to do. Shall they attack? Shall they wait? Shall they hide? No..they most definitely wasn’t going to fucking hide. “Kenny we have one choice here, stay in The Midnight Lounge in this tiny fucking office or take the fucking fight to them. Tonight. It’s now or never kid.” Kenny nodded at Tommy “now or never. Grab your guys and lets head out to this shithole club. If I can’t burn it fucking down I’m still fucking robbing it. We need to cut the head off this fucking Viper.”

Tommy grabbed the muscle all together. 5 muscle, Kenny & Tommy. It was a big enough crew to take out this tiny club, right? “We hit the club tonight. We go in hard, we go in fast and anyone that’s in our way, anyone that puts up a fight. Kill the bastards. We’re not messing about now guys. We have no surprise attack so we go in guns blazing.”

This was the moment Kenny was waiting for. “Maybe Vincent would be there, arrogant prick” Kenny thought to himself. “I’ll put one right between his fucking eyes and he will rue the day he fucking killed my father. I ain’t scared of him, or his crew. Fuck them”

As they all arrived at the club, they could see how small it was. Extremely seedy, right on the outskirts of Hollywood. “Who would fucking come to this dump” said Kenny. “You know Tommy – Vincent won’t think we’re hitting this one first. He’ll be convinced we’re going after his club in Main Street. Dumb bastard” Tommy looked at Kenny in bewilderment at his stupidity or arrogance. Vincent didn’t get to where he did make rookie moves. The club was quiet, and it was too quiet for something not to be about to happen.

As they went in the back door Tommy said to the men “you gotta stay close to this boys, spread out. Kenny you take the left. I’ll take the right. 3 guys with Kenny, 2 with me, and one more thing. Stay edgy.” Kenny had his revolver drawn, he could barely see a thing in the room. It was damp and it was seedy. The whole place stank of cheap perfume. He could feel the tension starting to build with impending danger before a door at the far corner flung open.

Tommy & Kenny had been ambushed, bullets started to fly and gunfire erupted all over the fucking place. 2 muscle instantly went down from the bullets before Tommy & Kenny had a chance to blink. They both leapt behind the bar firing stray bullets over the counter hoping it was going to hit one of Vincent’s men.

Tommy run out from the bar over to a seating booth to the other side of the club. He thought 2 different angles of attack might save them from impending death. As he ran across the room a bullet struck his leg and took him down. Tommy screamed in pain before ushering himself slowly against a bar stool trying to pull himself up.

“Get fucking down Kenny, get fucking down now!” Tommy yelled. But it was too late. Vincent’s men were closing in fast and they won’t both being overwhelmed. Tommy was now out of ammo and sitting behind the bar stool like a lame duck. Waiting for his untimely end. “Fuck me” thought Tommy “I went on a suicide mission for this fucking kid, what was I fucking thinking?” He leg was bleeding all over the place leaving a trail of his movements for Vincent’s men. There was nowhere for him to hide, and nowhere for him to go.

In the midst of the gunfight Kenny spotted a familiar face. It was the guy responsible for killing his father. Francisco “Two Tone” Fernandez. Given the name from half his face being burned in a fire. Yet ruthless as ever. “I’ll fucking kill you Fernandez you piece of shit” shouted Kenny. “You’re in no place to make threats to me Marino, look at the fucking state of you. I have a message for you from Vincent.” With that Fernandez raised his gun and shot Kenny square in the chest. As blood spirted out as his heartbeat slowed, his eyes squinted at Fernandez before he laughed. “Who would of thought the same gun killed both fucking Marino’s. Good fucking riddance to them both”

As Fernandez walked back over the other side he could already see Tommy’s lifeless body. He’d already bled out from his knee. Fernandez snarled and spat at Tommy before grunting “you joined the wrong crowd this time Tommy.“

Kenny and Tommy fought hard but they just weren’t good enough, lack of experience and expertise in fighting had caused both of their untimely deaths at the hand of Vincent and his mobsters. Vincent stood over both bodies who were now dragged one of top of the other. Vincent was cold and emotionless just looking at both Tommy & Kenny on the floor. “Clean up this fucking mess, and I want to make sure everyone fucking knows what happened here and what happens if you cross me.”

As Vincent left his club and walked back down the Hollywood street leaving the carnage behind. He knew that once again another cleanup operation was needed before he could re-open. Wondering if this could be the first of many attacks to come. He’d pissed off a lot of people in his life. Word will get out about Kenny and his bravery, would anyone else try to do the same thing? Moretti’s empire stayed in tact for now. But for how long was anybody’s guess. Now was the time to rebuild and forge new alliances. If Vincent was alone and continued to be so; the day would come where he took the place of Kenny & Tommy.