The slow, sultry rhythm of the band played in the club that night as Octavius sat in the raised mezzanine overlooking the club floor.
Watching the evening unfold, Octavius noticed JohnDutton and his most trusted bodyguards enter through the employee's only door and move straight toward the staircase. The boss had a certain stride when he meant business.

The world around Octavius had changed these last few weeks with all of the senseless bloodshed that had swept across the underbelly
of this thing of ours. Mr. Dutton entered the private booth and took off his jacket and Octavius was quick to offer him a seat and a drink.

"It's time, O. Matty is off to Chicago to expand his operation, and I need you to help me captain Queens on a larger scale. You think you can handle that?" John said with a stoic demeanor.

Octavius swirled the whiskey in his glass before throwing it down the hatch. "You know I can, boss. The real question is do you think you can handle having to put up with Apophis by yourself?" he replied with an equally blank expression before a silence filled the air.

"Well I guess we will have to find out." John said with a grin finally breaking the staring match they had been having.
Both men finally broke down and laughed before raising their glasses together.

"Congratulations, O. You have earned it." John said before having finished his drink.
"Thank you, boss. I won't let you down." Octavius replied.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to tend to, and I believe you do as well." he said exiting with the same determined stride he had entered with.

Octavius turned his chair looking back over the club floor pouring himself another drink from his private stash. His mind raced with what was to come but the future looked brighter than ever.