Blood dripped like rain into Julius' eyes, and more of it was his than he wanted. He slowly rose from the rubble where he had lain for what seemed like hours, a shower of pebbles and glass falling from his rumpled and torn clothing.

The warehouse was destroyed and everywhere he looked where was another crate that had been jacked open and ravaged. Priceless works of art, vases, crystal sculptures and marble fountains all headed to a new palatial casino had just been stolen. But what made this offense so much worse than just a robbery, was who had robbed him.

Julius paused a moment to swipe some blood from his face, trying to clear his vision of the haze of red. As his eyesight cleared he instantly wished that it hadn't. Lying under a shattered window was Sonia, a gun still wrapped loosely in her hand. Julius choked back a bellow of rage and staggered over the chunks of concrete to get to the dying woman. Kneeling in the glass he pulled her up into his lap and smoothed sticky strands of hair out of her face.

"Sonia." He whispered.

"They got 'em Julius. The cops got 'em" Sonia coughed and winced, pain rippling through her body. "Someone tipped off the cops, but instead of just taking the loot, they took your brothers too." Another cough, this time her violet eyes opened wide in agony.

Julius felt his chest tighten. "Shhh, it's ok baby, it's ok. I'll get you to the hospital, you'll be fine."

Sonia nodded weakly, her hand letting go of the gun to reach up and touch Julius' face. "We're gonna get married right baby?"

Julius nodded, thinking of the ring he had tucked away in his desk at home. "Of course we are." His throat tightened as Sonia's eyes went blank. "Those fucking bastards."

Julius barely remembered reaching to close Sonia's eyes, or the chaotic drive back to his office, but he did remember the fury that threatened to choke off any semblance of sanity he had left. A bottle of scotch later he had killed enough pain to start making phone calls.

"Tom, start getting your men together, those damn dirty bastards got my brothers on false charges. I need you and your best. Meet me in New York, this Friday at 20:00. We'll break every hoodlum in the damn city if we have to, but we're getting my brothers free!"

He hung up the phone and poured himself another scotch. There was plenty of planning he needed to get done before Friday. But he knew the word would get around. The underground of the eight cities would be there on Friday, in New York at Eight pm and don't stop for a solid two hours. BE THERE! and he would see his brothers freed or see that there was hell to pay.

Hearing the latest update from Julius, Deimne slams down the phone.

They seem to think they can get one over on us, we need to show them who runs this city.

Turning to Phelix, he gives the nod.

Get the word out across the cities. The New York penitentiaries are going to be hit hard! Friday at 20:00 we hit them, we hit them all, we hit them hard and fast. We let them know who's in charge of the city and what happens if they get ideas above their station.

The letter read plain and simple. Some friends in New York were looking to disrupt the jails to free some friends, and show the cops why they shouldn't be interfering in certain businesses. As Pedro looked up, he spotted Hairy in the hall.

Hey Hairy. Looks like New York needs to take care of a cop problem. There going to need to buy so favors from some of the local politicians, councilmen, whoever. Have my accountant wire them enough for at least fifty.

And tell some of the fellas. Make arrangements to be in New York on Friday night.

Julius nodded at the bank teller when he received the packet of favors from the Godfather of Detroit. With a note that read he and his boys would be there in full force

Julius quickly picked up the phone and understood that a mere man such as himself would not speak directly with a Godfather, but wanted to thank him regardless, speaking with his right hand Harry instead

Harry, I wanted to thank you and your Godfather immensely for your support in this endeavor. I'll see you, and your boys should you decide to come on friday.

Julius hung up the phone and smiled, those fucking cops wouldn't be messing with New York any time soon.

Doing various Wise Guy things around the HQ, Roman noticed Deimne in his office speaking with a representative from Detroit. He couldn't help but see an exchange between the two men and a handshake to seal the deal. It looked like whatever was transferred over was wired in from Detroit's home office to a person they had waiting in New York. After the hired hand from Detroit left Deimne's office, Roman overheard the boss pick up the phone and make a call to a name he recognized, "Julius". It must've been with regards to the jail breaking that was going to happen in New York on Friday. A lot of friends would be busted free, most of whom had been locked up for petty things such as failed drug deals.

Roman knew of Julius but had never formally met him, he was a mover and shaker by all accounts, and seemed to be one of the bright stars in the New York lineup. Seeing as the man was just recognized for his efforts by two prominent Godfathers it was no surprise that Friday was shaping up to be a blow-out event. Seeing Godfather PedroRourke step up with a contribution to New York's event was no surprise either. There was a reason the cities of New York and Detroit were two of the most tenured and respected in the country. The contributions from Godfather Deimne, Godfather PedroRourke, and Julius made Roman feel that these were men that were selfless in their motives and promoted the betterment not just for their own communities but those cities around them.

With that in mind, Roman took a breath, dropped the Mop of Eternal Wise Guy Shame and walked into Godfather Deimne's office. He rapped on the open door and waited for the Godfather to look up. Roman cleared his throat, "Godfather, I don't mean to disturb you, but I saw the Detroit gentleman just leaving here and figured they made a donation to the event on Friday. I too want to offer my support for the endeavor created by Julius."

Roman reached into the inside of his coat and pulled out an envelope filled with 15 favors. "I want you to have this for Friday, sir. I think what Julius started is important, and the fact that both you and Godfather Pedro were so quick and decisive in its support speaks volumes for the both of you. We all lost people in that war, and I hope these favors can help us all grow again."

Roman placed the favors down on to Godfather Deimne's desk and went back to mopping the floor.

Blood dripped from Gaius' fingertips, most of it belonging to the man in front of him. The man who had betrayed his father to the police, the man who had made him an orphan. The beating was over and Gaius left to wash his hands, wondering to himself how the rest of the jail break had gone.

After he had freed his youngest uncle, the Godfather insisted he go back to headquarters and stay by the phone. In the meantime, while he waited, he had taken his fury out on the scum who had gotten everyone into this mess.

The phone rang and jerked Gaius from his reverie. It was the Godfather's right hand man. The jail break had gone as planned and his other three uncles had been freed. Now everyone would be on their way back to headquarters to celebrate. Everyone except his father.

Gaius hugged each one of his uncles and poured scotch for anyone he could. Finally when the chaos of everyone returning had settled down he spoke up.

"I want to thank all of you who made this night so successful. The cops will think long and hard before they come against anyone in this family ever again. I know it wasn't easy, but I can't express how grateful I am that all showed up and worked so hard. Let's make this first drink to the memory of my father. Cheers!"

Gaius smiled as the rowdy "Cheers" rang out and people went back to drinking. Even though things hadn't gone exactly the way his father had planned, Gaius still had his uncles and for that he would be eternally thankful.