After spending 30 minutes trying to negotiate a deal I got fed up. I walked out of my office and up the grand staircase as my guest who I met with (Giorgio Conti) who was interested in purchasing shipments of liquor off me for his own business he had set up 10 miles from my hotel.

After trying to negotiate and time and time again he failed to be reasonable, he began shooting off at the mouth. Already irritated I didn't let him get far before tossing him over the railing sending him a good 15-20 feet through a nice decorative wooden table. The lobby got quiet, real quiet and his entourage backed away knowing my history. I grabbed the suitcase full of cash that Giorgio had for the deal and balanced it on the railing while holding onto it with one hand. Using the other hand I light up a cig and begin to give a little speech.

"So friends and guests, As you all can see this is what happens when arrogance walks into my hotel. Many people know by know that in Vegas I am the hotel guy, plain and simple. Its not about the money hell I'm a generous man... its not about the power. Its about respect. Let me prove it."

I crack the case open and fling the stacks of cash right into the foyer below as people scatter to collect it. I toss the cash down at the table where Giorgio landed.

"Point proven!."

Before turning and walking away I notice a few eyes on me... possibly feds, maybe future criminals of the underworld. I was unsure at the time but I knew one thing and that was I was going to make it clear that in Vegas my hotel and myself meant business.

YourNextWife was in the back of her limo taking shots of vodka to calm her nerves. She had an important business meeting to attend to plan her next trucking depot raid but she had missed her flight by 2 minutes and it was the last flight out until morning. She yells up to her driver, "Take me to the best hotel in town, and afterwards we are going to the casino." The driver nods and says, "Yes ma'am."  Soon her driver stopped in front of the hotel owned by KL. The driver gets out, opens the door and Wifey steps out of the limo.

YourNextWife walks into the hotel and is immediately taken aback by the beautiful decor. She is immediately drawn to this gorgeous wooden table. She began to dream about how this would look in her home but snapped herself out of it and walked up to the counter and greeted the nice lady. "I'll take your deluxe suite for the night please." The lady smiles and tells her it would be $85 for the night. Wifey took her purse off her should and was pulling out her wallet to pay for her room. Suddenly, she heard a loud THUD and saw that a man had fallen onto the the beautiful wooden table that she had admired on her way in. She frowned and thought about how much a shame that the table was ruined. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a man yelling something about his point being proven and a stack of one hundred dollar bills fall right into her purse. She turns back to the lady and hands her one of the bills and says "I think this will cover the bill, and I think I'll be taking my leave to the casino to gamble this cash before anyone notices it's gone."

She winks and walks back to her limo and they speed off to the casino.

Sceadu was about to call it a day but then decided to take a some few brews before hitting his comfy sack. He thought that since he's in sweet home Vegas it's better to stay at KL's place. Just have this habit of having couple to triple, then to quadruple until he goes drunk mode. As he stepped down from the Cab, he saw a well polished limo then a well dressed lady steeped out. Stunning, Vegas always got the best ever. 

He thought with a smile. 

Then he continued going to the hotel, ordered some brew's and enjoyed the smooth ambiance. After several minutes, a man few out of nowhere and broke an expensive looking table. A man brought up few speeches implementing respect out of anything else. That's KL, no doubt. He thought.

Sceadu walk out from the bar and head directly to the main door thinking that the guy might have some back-up. So before things get messy, they'll have the upper hand. He then saw a couple of shady man looking straight where KL's standing. 

Something's up. 

Sceadu's unsure but by the look of those guys face, they're already plotting a plan. When they're about to leave the room, Sceadu acted like fixing his shoe laces while watching KL, waiting for a signal to follow the suspects.

I noticed a familiar face in the crowd standing near the men who were staring in my direction. I look at S and give him a nod to tale the men and see what there up to. I then walk down the hall as my speech was over.

That's the sign. He thought. Sceadu then made his suit and followed the men outside. He lit a smoke to look more casual and noticed the group having a conversation next to a car. The guy that looks like the leader seemed to be furious about something and pointing back at the hotel. The other one scratches it's head and gets into the car. Looks like it's their driver. When the group was about to leave, Sceadu called a cab, pointing to follow that car and gave a lump sum of cash to the driver.

They've arrived a tavern, luckily, it's the venue where He and his good friend Van meets casually for an evening brew brawl. Sceadu asked the cab driver to wait then followed the group inside. He walks directly to the bar counter and ordered his favorite brew. He's spot is not close to the group's table, but close enough to hear their conversation.

"He talks highly about respect?! ~spits~ What happened there can never be called respect!"

The anxious leader chugged the bottle of beer like water.

"Calm down brother. Giorgio will be here shortly. Let's wait for him to get more details."

The shortest of the group seems to be the calmest of them. They grabbed few brew's while the leader still looking at the entrance door from time to time. He seems to be getting more upset the longer he waits. Then the Tavern's door banged open. It's Giorgio, barely walking towards the group and looks frustrated. The largest of the group helped Giorgio sit with them and handed a bottle of brew.

"Fucking ignorant! I've never been humiliated all my life! He thoughts business? I offered business and this is what he repays me?!"

Hatred can be felt on every words Giorgio said. He's group seems to feel the same way even though Giorgio didn't said anything aside from the obvious. He didn't speak of what happened to the negotiation with KL or why it lead that way. They've started planning a retaliation. It will be after midnight once the Hotel shift's its guards. They carefully schemed every move and seemed to be used for this kind of work.

Sceadu noted their plans and thinks of other ways to busting it. It's 4 to 1 he thought. He's outnumber on every angle, plus, he's palpitation is still not fully healed yet. He thought deeply and took his brew and the same time. Then someone pat his shoulder.

"Eduardo! Shit man! Didn't expect you here today. Thought you're still abroad harvesting some animal dung! ~cough~ I mean ingredients. HAHA!~"

A familiar voice. He looked back and Van was laughing trying to reach his pocket. Thought it's some meat buns left for the day.

"Van fucking Brilliance! Your timing's always been the best! Well, you can never deny business when it calls you."

Sceadu waved to the bartender and asked Van to take a sit. He ordered their favorite brew and explain the situation to Van. He nodded and started to think deeply..

Vanbrilliance listened carefully. He shot a quick glance at Giorgo's group - they were indeed mad. Buffoons, Brilliance thought. Wildfire raged inside Van, and it's not because of the seemingly endless supplies of 'El Spiritu' Sceadu gave him. Rather, it was the primal urge to shoot Giorgio and his troupe. The idea of going against KL is abomination and can only be resolved with death.

"This sounds like trouble, my friend." Vanbrilliance said. He noticed that Sceadu is still palpitating. "But this Conti guy is really a dickwad in the streets. He ordered a crate of Salami from me, and he still has to pay! That's not ordinary Salami - it came from La Sicilia!"

"When this is all over, give me some of that Salami." Sceadu replied, while mentally preparing for any trouble that might come.

"They crossed KL. Only death can settle this. We need to plan this perfectly. KL's guards are no laughing matter, but yeah...they still take turns in their shifts. That's a weak spot in any grand system. Yet we are here to cover that weak spot." Van remembered the time he stole guns in Palermo with the semi-legendary bandit, Jepri Lavartinoose. "Do you have extra weapons stashed in your home?"

Vanbrilliance felt sheer excitement as he waited for Sceadu's reply.

"Crap-pochino!!"

Sceadu's brew spewed when he loose his grip on it. His Palpitation seemed to be getting worse than ever. He stood up and tried to compose himself while laughing with Van. It's their way getting rid of any distraction they've made. People in the tavern seemed to just ignore them after a while and took it like a casual evening scene.

Sceadu waived to the bartender to order another round of brew.

"The usual Greg. I'll pay for the bottle. Sorry for that."

He winked and sat next to Van. He then lit up a cig and took a deep puff.

"We'll I've got both good and bad news my friend."

Blow a thick smoke before resuming his phrase.

"Let's start with the obvious bad. My palpitation. I really need the ingredients for my meds. There's just a lot going on now, causing me delays."

~Deep Sigh~

"Now for the good. ~smirked~ I've just recently got a couple of fresh babies. I was able to trade several boxes of "Tango Down" to some poachers during my business trip in Asia. I've got "Tommy" and "Bren" in return and I still got my good old "Blooper".

A spark of excitement can be seen on Van's eyes. He always had this uncontrollable emotion when it comes to shooting specially with those types of firearms mentioned.

"Calm down my friend. I have no problem using my "Blooper" since I've already manage to adjust using it. But the other problem is about "Bren". I can't use it just yet. We need an extra hand for that. There's one person I can think of but unsure if hes in for this. Quite busy person. I'm thinking you already know whom I meant."

The bartender arrived with a fresh brew of Vegas Vigins, a personal favorite. Sceadu chug it all out as he waited for Van's thoughts.

Good ol' Tommy Gun. Vanbrilliance highly expected of that popular gun in the American Cosa Nostra. Well-oiled. Finely-polished. Spewing nothing but rounds of death. Back in the old country, Van is fond of using the Lupara and he only used the Tommy few times. He can't help but praise Sceadu's web of connections.

"Maybe after this hubbub, we can raid warehouses for your ingredients." Van spoke. "I still remember when you masterfully wielded your Blooper and threatened those bookies in Harlem. Good times."

Sceadu nodded. "Harlem's booming again, friend. We should visit there sometimes."

"This person that you're thinkin' of...it's the great Don Scratchy, right?" Van replied. "He's really busy lately, but if we reach out to him as soon as possible, then we can pull this off. Besides, our Don is already a tour de force. Conti is a fucking dead meat."

Sceadu noticed that Conti stood up; his troupe did the same. It seems they're ready to leave within few minutes. Sceadu's palpitations started building up again. Van, on the other hand, mentally noted that he wants to try Scedu's Maria Purnada for fun. 

**

"For gods sake Van not now!"

Sceadu grabbed the "Maria Purnada" on Van's hands just when he's about to take them then secured it in his pocket.

"Let's have some 'high time' after this. This med sure have a strong kick of side effect. I'll show you some other time."

They both stood and made they're way out of the Tavern still having an eye for Conti's group.

"Here's the plan. You go ahead and tail those thugs. I have a hunch that they'll get packed-up at their safe house. As soon as you've tracked their hide out, meet me at downtown area. The usual place."

~took a deep puff.

" Always been sharp. I'll try to get in touch with Don Scratchy and see if he's in, if not, I'm sure one of his private men can lend us a hand. Just remember, if things got screwed up. Go to KL's before midnight, that's our last call."

Van nodded firmly following a smirk as they part ways to start the plan. Sceadu walks to the cab he asked to wait.

"Hey wake up. We leave now. Go to this address and drive fast. I'll pay you double."

The cab driver nodded as the tire squeak through the dry streets.

Van walked casually on the busy streets, all the while keeping a wolf eye on Conti's group. Conti and his friends are also mafiosi, so they are well-trained in observing if they are being tailed. Van checked his pockets and sighed: his pocket supplies of Purnada and El Spiritu are gone. Nevertheless, he focused on the mission at hand. 

After walking a couple of blocks, Conti stopped and looked over his shoulders. His friends became more vigilant. A full minute passed and they slipped through a dark alley. This is a bad idea, Van spoke in his mind. But a duty is a duty, and he is a man of honor. Bound by blood. Van waited for a while and decided to observe. Is this some kind of a private alley? Or a public alley for all walks of life? 

Few more minutes passed and Vanbrilliance realized that the alley is, indeed, private. Going there would be suicide. Van walked away and decided to find other entrances. As he walked, with thoughts humming in his mind, he bumped with someone...a sweaty teenager wearing baggy shirt and brown coppola.

"Sorry sir! I didn't mean to...I need to deliver milk to my brother!" The teen spoke, afraid of any punishment.

"No worries, kid." Van replied. "Say, can you help me out here?"

"Anything, sir! Just don't punish me..."

"I'll reward you instead. You can have bucks, and a lifetime supply of meat buns. What's your name?"

"Bryan, sir." The teen named Bryan replied, gazing fearfully at the meat-loving mafioso before him.

"Bryan, the whole world is waiting for your legacy. But you gotta help me out. You see, I need to know what's behind that alley over there...or if there's a safer entrance. I know that shit alley is guarded."

Bryan swallowed. His knees almost trembled. He knows that he should not reveal anything about the block.

"I see." Vanbrilliance said. "It's either I shoot you, or you help me and you'll get a chance to live the better life. I'm in a rush."

Bryan had the urge to pee, but this could be his ticket out. Or his luck really just run out. But he had been an underdog all his life, and this is the time to take chances! For the better life.

"Conti runs a small warehouse there. His gang is pretty tight-knit, sir! They are milkin' us dry, extorting here and there. There's no honor in them since they also harass women. Everyone here calls that warehouse 'Conti's Shit-hole.' Conti's the Shit-master if you gonna ask me."

"Why the fuck would he be a Shit-master?"

"Because there are tons of shit in the warehouse. He collects shit and sells them to farmers. He has this method of manufacturing and improvin' quality of shit. It's mystery, sir!"

Van nodded. "How can I get in there without getting ripped by bullets?"

"There's another alley...that's my personal favorite. You can notice it quick because there's a poster of a macho man in the wall..."

"Thank you, Bryan." Van replied and handed few hundred bucks to Bryan. "Let's deliver milk to your brother, then come with me."

As Vanbrilliance and Bryan went on, Van can't help but think about his friend Sceadu. 

**

I guess yournextwife got lost and shut up.