The Procrastinating Godfather

Chapter 4: The Gameboard takes a New Direction

With Luca's finger poised above the detonator, the tense atmosphere on the pier was shattered by another round of gunshots that were closer, resounding through the metal containers like the rhythm of a war drum. Angelo and I shared a glance; this was the instant that would determine it all.

"I believe you are lying, Luca," I calmly stated, concealing the rush of adrenaline that tensed my entire body with a steady voice. "You're the kind of person who won't sink with the ship."

Luca quickly glanced to the side, observing his men positioning themselves defensively. His expression changed from a smirk to a more thoughtful frown. "Perhaps," he admitted. "However, Vincent, are you prepared to gamble on that?"

The woman behind Luca, who seemed to be his new supporter, became uneasy as my crew approached, causing her confidence to falter. She was youthful, likely a beginner in this field, not yet affected by the deceitful acts and violence.

Angelo stepped forward before I could respond, his voice breaking the tension. Luca, there is no requirement for additional violence. We all desire to break free from Maria's influence. Let's avoid attacking each other.

Luca pondered this, his eyes returning to me. "What is your great strategy, Salerno?" "Do we simply exchange handshakes and depart?"

"I didn't say that," I answered, moving closer to him with caution. “We bring Maria down as a team. Divide her lands. Luca, you know I will keep my promise. We have been doing this for a while and understand that succeeding by oneself is not possible.

The confrontation persisted, as we all weighed the pros and cons of choosing between betrayal and alliance. At last, Luca brought down the detonator, a grin slowly appearing on his face. "Okay, Vincent." Let's find out if your plan is effective.

A sudden and sharp feeling of relief surged through me, but there was no opportunity to unwind. That is satisfactory. "Let's tidy this up now." I gave a nod to Angelo, prompting him to quickly instruct some of our men to secure the area.

While we were getting things in order, the woman approached Luca and spoke urgently in a whisper to him. He gave a small nod before facing me again. "We must act quickly." Maria probably knows about this already. "She will be arriving."

"I said we should prepare for her now," my mind was already considering different possibilities. We positioned ourselves around the pier, utilizing the stacked containers for protection, transforming the location into an improvised stronghold.

In a matter of minutes, the sound of an approaching engine pierced through the silence of the night. Bright headlights illuminated the night, and a group of vehicles came to an abrupt stop at the pier's edge. Doors were forcefully shut, and suddenly Maria appeared, accompanied by her most trusted followers, her expression showing anger and feeling of being deceived.

"Vincent, Luca, you threw quite the party without me," she said, her voice filled with anger.

I yelled to Maria, "It's finished," while standing resolutely in the open area amid the containers. "We are reclaiming what was taken from us, and even more so."

Her laughter lacked humor, it was icy. "Do you believe that you both have me trapped?" I have surveillance all around. "This..." she waved her hand widely, "is just a small obstacle."

Bullets bounced off the metal containers as gunfire suddenly erupted from her side before I could respond. Everyone huddled for protection, firing back in short, controlled bursts. The atmosphere was saturated with the pungent odor of gunpowder and the intense taste of fear.

"Angelo, move to the left side with Luca's men!" Shove her away! I gave the command and moved towards the front, shooting at the oncoming attackers.

The fight continued fiercely, with the dock filled with a mixture of yells, gunfire, and the sharp sound of bullets hitting metal. Amid the shooting, I saw Maria orchestrating her troops with a poised elegance, unaffected by the opposition she encountered.

The battle appeared to go on forever, with each moment a fierce fight for staying alive. Just when it appeared we were getting ahead, a deafening blast rang out in the night, causing everyone to drop to the ground. A nearby container close to Maria was struck, causing the surrounding area to be covered in flames.

There was chaos as everybody rushed around. I witnessed Maria backing away amidst the smoke and chaos, her form shrinking as she understood she was no longer winning.

"Let's start pushing now!" I shouted while taking the lead in the attack. Our united troops came together to seize the dock, protect the weapons delivery, and detain multiple members of Maria's gang.

After the dust cleared, Luca came towards me, his face covered in dirt and perspiration. "Do you believe she will recover from this?" he inquired, his voice hoarse.

"I responded, observing the arrival of emergency services in the distance with sirens blaring sadly, she's injured but alive." She will attempt to gather herself. However, we will be prepared. We bring her rule to an end, once and for all.”

Luca gave a nod, then glanced at the devastation surrounding him. "What about us, Vincent?" "Who comes next following Maria?"

I patted him on the shoulder, sensing the beginning of a new era approaching. We construct once again. United once again. No deceitful actions, no treachery. A fresh start.

While we observed the surroundings, the initial rays of sunrise started emerging from the horizon, creating elongated shadows and providing a sense of tranquility. However, the peace was misleading and delicate. Until Maria was taken care of, none of us could fully relax.

"I said we should tidy this up," I suggested as I turned to sort out the mess. Just as I did, my phone started ringing. The number was mysterious, strange.

I responded cautiously. "Salerno."

An icy, unknown voice replied, causing a shiver to run down my back. Mr. Salerno, you possess an item that belongs to me. I really want it back.

After the call ended, I glared at the phone, a fresh danger appearing as the previous one faded away. The game still had a long way to go. The board had simply been altered.

I put my phone in my pocket, feeling a sense of unease building in my stomach. The chilling certainty in the voice of the new player indicated unseen dangers ahead. I looked back at Luca, he was staring at me with a questioning expression.

"Any issue?" he inquired, his voice dropping in volume as he moved nearer.

"Possible." I was just on the phone. "I responded, searching the vicinity, my thoughts racing through potential dangers and unexpected issues, regarding someone accusing us of taking their possession."

Luca's eyebrows furrowed with worry. "Are they knowledgeable, or are they simply trying to intimidate us with empty words?"

"I confess I'm still unsure," I said, the responsibility of leadership feeling more burdensome than before. However, we cannot overlook it. For the time being, let's protect our current progress and remain vigilant for any possible new dangers."

While we gave directions and started cleaning up, I pulled Angelo away and explained the call briefly. He responded quickly and with a serious expression. "Another participant?” Is it time? "We can hardly manage to take a breath at the moment."

We have no alternative. We must identify the individual and determine what they believe we have taken. "This might be a trap, a genuine mistake, or something we missed," I commented, mentally reviewing the contents of the seized shipment to determine if there was anything unusual hidden among the typical weapons and ammunition.

"Let's review the inventory of items we retrieved." Angelo recommended checking for anything that seems uncommon, always pragmatic during emergencies.

We dedicated the next couple of hours carefully examining each item, verifying with our sources, and confirming any suspicious incidents at the docks before the gunfight. All appeared to be in order, nothing unusual. However, the thought continued to bother me, a constant alert of impending trouble.

At dusk, a car suddenly stopped in front of our temporary headquarters. An individual emerged, efficient and focused, accompanied by two strong men who observed the surroundings with professional indifference. The new arrival was a female, who swiftly identified me with her keen gaze.

"Is that Mr. Salerno?" she shouted as she walked towards me. Her voice was identical to the one on the phone, providing a sudden understanding of the danger she posed.

"I'm the one," I declared, moving closer to greet her with my hand casually positioned near the gun on my hip. "What is your name?"

Alexa Mercer. I speak for specific... interests. "Interests are very focused on the location of an item believed to be in your possession after tonight's event," she stated sharply, standing a couple of feet away, her eyes intense.

"What object could that possibly be?" I inquired, maintaining a neutral tone, while giving myself more time to evaluate her and her support.

A compact hard drive with encryption. "It's not noticeable unless you were aware of what to look for," she clarified, her gaze fixed on me for any hint of acknowledgment

I made eye contact with Angelo, who then slightly shrugged, showing that he was just as clueless as I was. We have never witnessed something like that before. "I suggested that if we find it, we can definitely come to an agreement," I pondered, considering whether this could be a clue about who warned Maria or possibly another complication in the current turf conflicts.

Alexa stated firmly that it would not be needed. We will now claim our possession. I'm confident you don't want this situation to become any more chaotic than it already is.

Before I could reply, one of her associates advanced, taking out a small gadget from his coat, which seemed to be a signal disrupter. No more communication. They were determined to recover whatever they thought we possessed.

"Ms. Mercer, listen," I began to speak, but was interrupted by gunshots coming from behind a container. Her soldiers were falling to the ground without making a sound, eliminated by my hidden snipers.

Angelo positioned himself beside me, his firearm at the ready as additional members of our group emerged, encircling Mercer and the remnants of her team.

"What were you talking about?" I inquired, looking directly at her, now that we had regained control.

She displayed anger in her eyes, which later turned into acceptance. "Mr. Salerno, this is far from finished." The information stored on that drive has the potential to shift the power dynamics within this city. "You will be sorry for holding onto it."

While talking, her words carried a heavy presence in the air, filled with significant meanings. I required responses, and it appeared that this determination held the solution to more than just the current night's conflicts.

"I instructed Angelo to make sure she was safe," I said as he nodded and gestured for two men to accompany her to a designated area.

While they escorted her, her warning rang in my head, an ominous indication of future disputes. I told Angelo to locate the drive, by any means necessary. It appears that our small conflict has now spread to unfamiliar areas.

As we got ready to explore further into this unknown puzzle, the tall buildings of the city stood tall in front of us, their lights twinkling like the stars in a distant, uncaring universe. The night had not yet ended, and every shadow now had the potential to bring either new friends or new foes.

I observed in the peaceful aftermath, as my soldiers secured the location and started questioning the remaining members of Alexa Mercer's team. The portable lights harshly illuminated the dock, creating long shadows and an eerie, theatrical atmosphere in the night.

Angelo came back with a serious look on his face. "Boss, we've looked all over but couldn't find anything." There is no indication of a hard drive present. Either we're searching for the incorrect item, or it never existed here in the first place.

I ran my fingers over my chin, deep in thought. She appeared confident that we possessed it. Either she lacks correct information, or we are overlooking a key detail. Continue looking. I want to have anything related to technology in my hands, no matter how small.

"Got it," Angelo responded, turning to communicate the instructions.

While he was walking away, my phone vibrated. I removed it, scowling at the unfamiliar number that appeared on the screen. Taking a careful look around, I replied, "Salerno."

"A unfamiliar voice, deep and unfamiliar, said to Mr. Salerno." I think you have recently encountered a colleague of mine, Ms. Mercer. I would be grateful if you could make sure she is released right away.

The voice was composed, dominant, and more so requiring than asking. "Why should I go through with that?" I inquired with a steady voice.

"If you fail to comply," the voice went on, a slight smile evident in his voice, "the repercussions for you and your organization would be quite unfortunate. We are ready to take this situation to a level beyond what you are capable of handling.

I held the phone firmly. Are you intimidating me in my territory, with my crew surrounding your colleague? That's daring. Possibly too daring.

The man chuckled over the phone. Mr. Salerno, this is not only related to turf or armed men. We are engaging in a distinct game. The hard drive that Ms. Mercer talked about? The information it holds could incriminate you and a number of your accomplices in actions that would attract the attention of government authorities. Take this as a caution from a friend.

I stopped, absorbing the information, feeling a chill down my back. "What is it that you desire?"

"Easy," he responded. Free Ms. Mercer and hand over the drive to us. If you do that, we will overlook this entire misunderstanding. Decline, and I assume you understand the idea of mutual assured destruction.

I glanced at Mercer, who was now seated with his hands cuffed and being watched, still appearing smug despite being captured.

"I need some time to consider your proposal," I replied at a slow pace.

"Mr. Salerno, you only have one hour." My recommendation is that you use it thoughtfully.

The call ended abruptly, causing me to gaze at the phone in my hand. An hour passed. The danger appeared significant, more intimidating than any incident of street fighting or gun battle. This was a fresh opponent, one that operated in darker shadows compared to the ones we hid in.

As I returned to the warehouse, I made eye contact with Angelo and signalled for him to come over. "I said we have a larger issue," I said when he came closer.

He inquired about the issue, his facial expression showing worry.

I exhaled deeply, feeling the burden of leadership more intense than ever. "It's no longer just about land or dominance." We are facing challenges that have the potential to not only bring me down, but also impact all of us. We must now determine the extent to which we are prepared to immerse ourselves in these waters and whether the effort is worthwhile.

Angelo nodded in a slow manner, grasping the seriousness of the situation. "What is the strategy, chief?"

"I said that we strategize, we make plans, and we take firm action," my brain was already brainstorming different possibilities. Firstly, I must make a choice that has the potential to completely alter our situation.

While I walked away to consider my next step, the noise of the waves hitting the pier appeared to mirror the inner chaos I was feeling. The risks were at their peak, and as I looked out at the dark waters, the impending danger of an unknown future was as immense and unpredictable as the sea.

As the time was running out, the game became increasingly dangerous with every passing second. The decisions taken in the upcoming minutes would determine future conflicts, creating boundaries that cannot be altered once crossed.