The Vincintis #11

Chapter 10

Bits of Book Ten...

Iceman and John were both standing over one man.

Leon walked over toward them while carefully scanning around at the men on the ground. He knew several were already dead and some were still dying, but as soon as he got close to John, he recognized the man they were standing over.

Giovano Grimaldi.

Leon glared at him then raised his gun and pointed it at him.

He stared down the barrel for the longest minute then he slowly lowered the weapon.

“No, I’m not going to shoot you like the dog you are, Giovano.

I know it was your job to kill me, so you could take my place but you failed.

You failed your father and he’s getting taken down back home.

He may not survive that play, but you will survive this one.

I will be happy to send you back to the home country and let someone else put you down. You and your father.”

Giovano let out a long breath at the reprieve then glared at the man he was sent here to kill. “You are a stronzo Leon, a bastard that doesn’t deserve his place in the Familia.”

Leon set his jaw and retorted, “Down to calling me names? Aww, and after I didn’t shoot you?

I can be violent and defiant but I would not shoot my own son when he argued that this was a sloppy plan in the first place.

The one where you were supposed to stay here and be Mr. Double G.

To take my place while your father took the Don’s place as head of the Familia back home. ”

Giovano’s eyes widened as he realized Leon knew everything. “How did you know about that?”

Leon scoffed. “We knew from almost the beginning. We were waiting for it to play out. We just didn’t know who would betray us.

Who would be stupid enough and foolish enough to try something like this.

” Leon nodded at him. “It could have been only one man, your dumbass father Fredo Grimaldi. The man who wouldn’t face reality.

I’m still waiting to hear if they dragged him in front of the Council yet but I imagine they have.

He and you will be charged with treason against the Familia and he will be shot for what he’s done.

” Leon glared at him. “Oh and know this, you WILL die by my hand if Calderone doesn’t make it home. ”

Giovano swallowed hard as he understood Leon’s words. He didn’t seem to have anything to say.

VIM Gets involved...

“No, I can read Italian among other languages.” Bane read it then looked up at her with a question in his eyes. “How in the fuck did you get a hold of this?”

Excaliber shrugged. “Never mind that. I think this is linked to an assassination attempt within the Familia. One Fredo Grimaldi was looking to kill the Don and his son Giovano was supposed to take out the biggest leader here. Then they were going to step into their own shoes.”

“And why is this important to us?” Bane asked.

“Leon Vincinti is the biggest leader on the east coast,” she reminded him.

Bane’s fingers clenched around his cup and the ceramic shattered in his hands. Blood mixed with coffee and ran the length of the table staining the tablecloth. “Does he know?”

She paid no attention to his agitation as she nodded. “I think so. There has been some news about it on the TV stations.”

“Is he still alive?” Bane growled.

Now, his brothers, Bastian and some of the others joined them at the table.

“Nothing has come across the wires yet,” Excaliber replied. “I have also found that the Grimaldi’s in Italy have a strong connection right here in the states. A connection that may have been waiting and watching for an opportunity to get their feet into Boston, but Leon won’t let them in.”

Bane looked her in the eyes and asked, “Who would be that damn stupid?”

Excaliber just stared at him and replied, “The Gondo Cartel.”

Bastian whistled softly. “Yeah, those idiots are that stupid. They’re also that dangerous. Dangerous enough not to think anyone would dare stand up to them.”

Bane slowly turned his head and bared his gleaming white teeth in a calculating smile. “And we’re dangerous enough to stop them or at least stick our foot out and try to trip them up.”

Bastian read the determination in Bane’s eyes and nodded. “Let me make a phone call.” He stepped away and walked down the hall to his office. When the door closed behind him he tapped Leon’s private number.

Leon answered with a tired sounding hello.

Bastian sighed in relief. “I’m glad that you’re still alive, my friend.”

Leon paused, then said, “And do you already know what happened?”

“I know enough,” Bastian told him. “I know the plan was to kill you here in the US and a man named Giovano was to replace you while his father went after the head of the Familia over in Italy.”

Leon sighed hard. “Si, that was the plan. We now have this Giovano locked in a cell in the basement. While in Italy, the Don has collected his father for us. The bastards also kidnapped my son Calderone and right now his whereabouts are still unknown to us.” He scoffed.

Bastian hissed softly. “What are Calderone’s odds of safety?” he asked quietly.

“Very good. I have to believe that. He’s got more friends over there than Fredo has and that gives me hope. We had safety nets in place as well. Calderone is strong and stubborn, I have to believe he’ll be back, bruised maybe but he’ll come home to us.”

“That’s very good to hear.”

“We had two waves during the attack. I had some friends right here in the city that stepped up to help with the battle. Iceman, Deke and Hawk came through right after Giovano got inside during the second wave. They had men with them so the takedown was swift and lethal.”

“Damn, we would have jumped in had we known, Leon.”

“I know. But it happened swiftly like most of these events do.”

“I’m calling for more than a welfare check.

As you know we have an extensive tech network.

Mainly, our Excaliber. So we have found information you need to know,” Bastian told him.

“These men have a secret connection to a cartel in Mexico that has been looking for a way into Boston for a very long time.”

“The Gonda Cartel again.” Leon's voice had hardened. “I told Paulo and his oldest son Manuel twelve years ago that I would never accept him in my city.”

“Yeah, those kinds of people just never accept the word no,” Bastian agreed. “Bane and some of the others are packing now, if you’ll let them come.”

Leon went quiet for a long moment on his end. Then he cleared his throat to say, “They would do that. For me?”

Bastian chuckled. “Yes, they would. In fact, they insist on it. They do love a good fight. Plus, I do not think there is a way to tell Bane no. If you find a way, you need to tell us your secret.”

Leon chuckled dryly. “They are always welcome in my home. My men have to replace the front gate but it will be done by the time your people arrive. Give my thanks to your Excaliber. I admire her greatly and appreciate her efforts. And convey my gratitude to those who would join us.” He paused, then said, “Accept my IOU for helping me as well.”

Bastain scoffed. “No IOU is necessary, my friend. We help each other because that’s what friends do. They should arrive in a few hours. We have to stop this before anyone gets hurt. Arrivederci, mi amico mio.”

Later on in Boston...

“I do recognize you, Storm.”

Everyone looked over to see who had said this.

This came from Sam-Bones Tory.

Deke stared at his father. “Dad—”

Sam raised his hand at him. “Let me say this, son. Storm is or was his code name.”

Everyone stared at Sam then looked over at Storm.

“This man was awarded the Medal of Honor,” Sam explained. “One of the highest honors in the military. Given to rare individuals for valor. To service members who risk their lives above and beyond the call of duty in combat.”

Storm now resembled his name as he looked almost enraged. He didn’t look comfortable at this revelation.

“Does that leg give you sleepless nights, Storm?” Sam asked.

“How did you know about that?” Storm asked him with a low growl in his throat.

“Hell, there are about eighty of us in the world that know. You saved all our asses that day.

“I did my job,” Storm growled.

“No, you did the same job Captain America would have done if he was real.” Sam chuckled as he stared at him.

Storm scoffed. “I was just a regular soldier. A Private First Class in fact, not a captain of any-damn-thing.”

“Maybe so, but that day was not any-kind-of-regular-day though, was it? I never fucking forgot it either. I was on top of a building above that street. As a gunner, it was my job to snipe at the enemy. So I saw the whole thing. Your jeep was overturned by a missile. But you got up from the road and ran through ammunition fire. Got all shot up and got instantly grazed by a fucking roadside bomb. But you rolled along the ground to put the fire out on your legs. Then like some fucking gymnast from the cosmos you jumped up on a tank that had no driver, ducked inside it and ran over maybe twenty of the enemy who were mowing down our men. They were out of shooting range for anyone else to stop them. You didn’t stop there though, did you?

You saw the grenade thrower and you ran him over too as he was about to kill more of us.

That tank took percussions from grenade explosions but you kept pushing it as you headed right for the ones who were leading this siege.

They were laying down fire on our men. The ones who were trapped in that half-torn down old building after they had run out of ammunition.

You saved thirty or forty more there. Then the tank ran up on a stolen Humvee that had nine of the enemy in it.

And they had machine guns too. I kept cheering you on, though no one knew it until the tank finally stopped.

Soldiers who told their eyewitness accounts later would say, no wonder he was called Storm. ” Sam snorted a laugh.

The room was utterly quiet now.