Chapter Two
Four men came around the corner of the house. They all just stopped and stared for a moment at the carnage in the front yard. Storm then shook his head and grunted. “Back door is secure. We stopped about a dozen men from breaking in.”
Leon stared at Storm, then his eyes went to the other men in his small group. Looking back at Storm he said causally, “Storm, you never did introduce your friends.”
Storm just smiled, “They are Tornado, Frost and Lightning.”
Each man nodded as he said their name.
Leon walked over and offered his hand to each of them in turn. Then he looked them over for a moment and said, “Was anyone hurt? Are you guys all right?”
Storm gave him a nod. “You have blood on your jacket, Mr. V.”
Leon grunted. “Si, I know. Fortunately, it is not mine. I have but one body and plenty of suits.
Storm gave him grin then a nod. “We’re all good. The men in the backyard aren’t though. They’re all dead,” he informed Leon. “Woulda shot at the dumbasses just to wound but they insisted on being dicks and kept trying to kill at us.”
Leon smirked at this and said, “Si, a number of these guys are dead as well.” He looked out over his lawn. “They all had to realize the danger. Storming my gates wasn’t smart. Wonder if they are from Boston or Milan?”
“They look American. I think some are local criminals. They didn’t seem to know that this wasn’t worth the cash. Storm widened his stance and noted the bikers among Leon’s men. “Looks like you got a little help with the takedown.”
Leon nodded. “Si, we did. I’m grateful for having family and friends that don’t mind stepping in when it’s needed.”
Finally, Tornado spoke up, “Well, I guess you don’t need us anymore?”
Leon snapped his head around to stare at him. “Are you taking back your request to join John’s security force?”
Storm glanced at the others then he looked back at Leon, “Are you saying that offer was real?”
Leon snorted. “Si, the offer was always real. While I appreciate the help today I am always looking for good, honest men to work for me. Men who know how to protect my home and do not mind if it gets bloody at times. Who can be loyal and aren’t afraid to get a bit dirty.
Ones that will follow my lead when I need them to. ”
The four men all straightened and stared at him.
“I believe you are those men.” Leon looked each one of them in the eyes. “There is only one rule here that must be obeyed above all others.”
Storm calmly looked at him and asked, “And what rule would that be?”
Leon straightened his shoulders then he growled, “Protect the women and children. I will have no man under me that would strike a woman in anger or hurt a child.”
Storm shook his head. “Hell man, neither would we. We’ve seen firsthand what it looks like when a man raises his hand in anger against women and kids. Some of us came from homes like that. That ain’t a sign of a man, it’s the sign of a fucking coward.”
Leon nodded. “Bene, then we understand each other. Family needs to be protected at all times. I have two younger sons in the house presently.”
“We saw them earlier. Mikey and Jack. They were street kids a few months ago. That’s a good thing ya done with them, Mr. V.”
“Wasn’t hard. I love them boys. But just so you know, the Vincinti women will be right beside us if they have to be. They are fighters and will not be left behind in battles.”
Storm smiled at him. “We already figured that out, sir. They along with Jelly Bean and Rebel were on their way out the back door with rifles in their hands when we showed up, the second time.”
Frost nodded. “Not only that but they didn’t leave when we told them we were there to fight. They were with us all the way.”
Lightning shook his head. “Not that we needed the help, you understand, but they weren’t leaving the scene either. Hell, if I ever saw anything like it.”
Leon smiled and nodded. “Bene, I married a fighter and my daughter is the same way. The last battle we had here was led by them, in fact. They protected us men before we could even weapon up.” Leon snickered. “Then as for Jelly Bean and Rebel. Those two can be scary.”
Storm and his men all agreed with that.
John, Deke, Sam, Hawk and Iceman joined them.
John looked at the small group of men as he held out his hand to Storm. “Glad you had our backs.”
Storm studied him then he reached out and shook it. “Glad we could help.”
Hawk cocked his had at the four men. “We know you all, don’t we?”
Storm nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t think you’d remember that.”
Hawk scoffed. “You saved my men six months back in that firefight.”
Storm nodded. “We saw trouble and figured out that it was an ambush.”
Hawk shook his hand then glanced at Leon. “These are good men, Leon.”
Leon smiled at him. “I found that out. They are going to be part of the Vincinti team.” He then gave Deke and Sam a nod. “Thanks for the backup Sin’s.”
Deke gave him a nod. “Felt good to be in a fight.”
“Hell, yeah it did,” Sam agreed.
Leon looked over at Iceman and asked in Italian, “Come sta mia nipote?” How is my granddaughter?
Iceman patted his arm. “Lei è al sicuro. I had to force her to stay at the compound.”
“Nah, that wasn’t the way it went down, Ice,” Sam scoffed. “You guilted her into staying with Tula.”
Everyone looked over at Sam.
Deke rolled his eyes. “Sam has no stop sign.” He shook his head at his father. “It is none of your business, Dad.”
Sam snorted as he ignored him. Then he looked over at Leon to ask, “You think all of this is done?”
Leon stared at him. “I am unsure. Calderone is still missing. There may be other hands in this too.”
Sam gave him a nod then looked around. “Got some graves to dig here.”
Again, everyone looked over at him.
He stared back at them all. “Ok, so there are gonna be a lot of graves.”
They all shook their heads.
Storm chuckled as did his men.
Sam looked over at them and I opened his mouth to speak.
Deke snagged his arm. “Come on, Dad...Let’s go check and see if these men have some interesting weapons on them.”
Sam laughed and shrugged his hand off. “You aren’t a bit sly, son. Let’s go.”
They both walked away.
Leon slowly shook his head. “That man never changes. But he’s loyal.”
“Good thing he’s Deke’s dad,” Iceman stated. “If he were mine, I would have duct taped his ass to a chair years ago.”
Hawk nodded. “After taping his mouth shut, right?”
The men all laughed.