Then we’ve got The Firm.
The two English pricks, who just waltzed in looking like they went three rounds with Mike Tyson and won, are totally fine with us killing each other stateside, just as long as it doesn’t interfere with their business ventures across the pond. Still, it’s kind of hard for them to claim they are the most influential mafia family in Europe when the Russian mob continues to play on their turf and we, in turn, refuse to let the English bastards do any business in Ireland. The old Sicilian gangsters in La Cosa Nostra also haven’t taken it lightly that London has crowned itself boss, when they are the original vanguard family that birthed the first godfather, no less.
All this animosity made it so that when word got out that Benny and Danny’s father died earlier this week, no one was really surprised. Word quickly spread that Trevor Butcher died on the crapper with a bad heart, but we all know how that scenario could have been easily manipulated to disguise the true cause of his death. I know that everyone sitting around this table has their favorite suspects, but if I had to choose, my money would be on the Cosa Nostra. It was too clean a hit for it to have been anyone else.
Hell hath no fury like a Sicilian scorned .
“We all know why we have come together today,” Carlo Rossi, the head of the Cosa Nostra, announces. “Every head of family sitting here has come to the realization that to preserve our way of life, sacrifices need to be made by all. We must put past grudges aside in order to guarantee our future.”
At the word grudge, I feel Vadim Volkov’s gaze drilling a hole into my forehead. I meet his loathsome stare head-on, knowing the old fucker is still pissed I got the drop on the son sitting at his side. I left a pretty little scar on Alexi’s neck and completely fucked with his vocal cords. Every time he opens his mouth to speak, he’ll have no choice but to remember how I bested him. The smug smile I offer Volkov in return only widens when I watch him white-knuckling his fists. Not that he’ll do anything about it. Not here, and if this meeting goes through as planned, not ever.
“This peace treaty comes at the expense of our pride, but it’s a sacrifice we all must make to ensure our survival,” Rossi adds, while Vadim and I continue our little staring match.
“What are you looking at, Kelly?” The old fart snarls gruffly in my direction.
My smirk is now a full-blown taunting grin.
“Just appreciating my handiwork. It’s not every day I get to see it so proudly flaunted in my face.”
“Tiernan,” my father reprimands under his breath.
“I’m just teasing him, Athair. No harm in breaking the ice with a little jab, right Volkov?”
I wink at the motherfucker to goad him and his father further.
“One of these days, the only thing I’ll break is your fucking teeth, Kelly!” Alexi spits in hatred, while his father growls in fury.
“Tsk. Tsk,” I taunt.” That would defeat the purpose of this meeting. You ain’t got a whole lot in here, do ye, big fella?” I point to my head to drive the point home.
Even from where I’m standing across the table, I can see his nails pierce the flesh of his palm, drawing out blood, resulting in me laughing in his face.
“Basta!” Don Rossi exclaims, irritated at our antics. “Niall, tell your son to keep his witty remarks to himself before his mouth gets him killed. And you, Vadim! As boss, you should know better than to be so easily rattled. Tiernan has misguided youth to excuse his behavior. You don’t have that same luxury.”
“Mne nasrat’， chto ty dumaesh’。 The day I listen to you, is the day hell freezes over. You know what you can do with your condescending advice, Svoloch’？ Za cyun v shopu,” Volkov snarls, spitting to the floor in distaste.
You don’t have to be fluent in Russian to know Volkov just told Rossi to shove his advice where the sun doesn’t shine.
Not a great start to this fucking peace treaty meeting.
Everyone glares at their enemies from across the table and there is no mistaking the animosity we all have for one another. There isn’t a man here who wouldn’t like to wring the neck of the man sitting at their side or across from them.
“We came here to ensure peace in order for us to continue on with our livelihood. That can only happen if ego and pride are set aside,” Don Rossi continues with less vehemence in his tone.
“That’s a tall order to make, old man,” Benny chimes in.
“It’s an order that will ensure you get to be as old as me. Or is life so dispensable where you come from?”