The Seventh Family

The helper

The Hoodvary Cemetery was filled with crowd all dressed in black outfits.

It was the burial of Nicolas. His children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and associates were present including some members of his staff. The air was gloomy and there seemed to be tension.

Even though  Harry was the eldest child, Danilo acted like he was the next in command and tried to take control of everything.

 He knew Harry could not become the new  Head of the family. He was the one who had been acting like Nicolas’s assistant and had taken part in most of the family’s dirty jobs.

He knew he deserved it and he always had the plan to take the family to the next level, changing a lot of things.

The Priest and his aides were around.

A fleet of car drove and pulled up at the parking lots. The cars were about twelve. From one of the cars, Carlos Vito, who was the new Head of Didi Family alighted. He was flanked by his body guards. He had a gang of six five men in the second car. Leonardo Diego alighted from another car, with his body guards. He was the new Head of the Santana Family. Also alighting form a car was Anita Frank Jnr. She was the head of Frank Family. Then Fred Calvin alighted. He was Laura’s daughter and the Head of Mario family. The next to alight was Giovanni Campbell who now headed the Giovanni family. All of them had cars full of armed guards.

They were all dressed in black suits and a look at them showed that these were ruthless men even when some tried to wear placid expressions.

It was at that moment a red colored Ford appeared and pulled up at the lots but no one gave him a second look. It was Jayden who alighted and he was alone. Nobody knew that he was Jayden Angelo, the Head of the Van Family which was thought to be in extinct.

The original heads of the families were Van, Didi, Frank, Santana, Giovanni, Mario, and Andy.

None of them would have suspected Jayden to be the one behind the deaths of their parents and their missing money. This was the head of the deadly seventh family who was set to cause mayhem and blood birth.

Sean turned and looked at them men and whispered to Danilo.

“What are they here?”

“I am aware of their coming.” Danilo said.

“How comes we are not aware?”

“We are mourning and I do not want to raise any argument. I see things you guys don’t see.”

“You don’t own us. We are a family and have the right to know what is going on.”

“Whatever I do it is for the good of the family and I am the most senior.”

“You are not. Harry is.”

“Listen to yourself again.” Danilo said. “Harry is older by age but you know his position in the family. We don’t have rooms for softies.”

The priest moved towards the coffin.

The mafias who just came moved towards the crowd. None of them said a word to each other. They came and stood amongst the mourners.

They nodded at each other, and at some of the member’s of Andy Family.

Camillo moved to Danillo.

“What are they doing here?” He whispered.

“You are in no position to question me. I let them come.”

“Grandpa would not have wished for this.”

“Grandpa was senile.”

“He deserves to rest in peace”

“He deserves that and also deserves to get revenge even if the killer is his son or grandson.”

“What are you talking about Uncle?”

Danilo ignored him.

The committal began.

When it was time to throw dust n the coffin, Danilo made sure he was the first to do that, signifying that he was the Family Head. The Minister said the prayers and hymn followed.

Mourners began to pay last respect. A lot of family members and close associates threw dust.

Danilo made a speech on behalf of the family and talked passionately about their father. He also thanked all the sympathizers.

Jayden stood amongst the sympathizers, and he was one of those who threw dust on the coffin. He and Camillo exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

Then it happened.

There was an explosive sound and a powerful blast that took everyone by surprise. The body guards all moved to protect their bosses.

Women and children screamed and the private graveyard went into turmoil.

What was going on?

It was a single blast and it seemed the target was the coffin. It exploded and shred the coffin into pieces.

So many people had fallen down, or docked to avoid whatever it was but it seemed the coffin was the only target.

Sean glared at Danilo.

“Why the fuc* did you bring them here?” He snarled. “Tell me!”

“Calm down!” Danilo said.

“I am not calming down! See what they did to his body, huh?”

“Shut the fuc*k up!” Danilo shouted.

Most of the mourners were running into their cars and driving off, including the women and children.

The mafias were leaving too. They were not sure of what was going on. They could not vouch for each other so they were not sure if it was one of them or not. The initial  plan was to meet after the burial and have a meeting but it seemed that was a shattered plan now.

“You can’t run away, bastards!” Sean said and began to fire shots at them. “Kill them!”

The Didi guards began to fire shots at them. Some of the bullets killed some of their visitor’s guards and a fire fracas began.

Some of the Didi Family gunmen went down. The cars in which the mafias had come were in motion while exchange of gun fires went on.

“What the fuc* is going on?” Carlos said. “s**t!”

From a safe distance, Jayden lit a wrap of cannabis. He had moved away during the confusion of the blast.

Respect the dead.

That was what they said. He respected that but he made an oat and he was going to fulfill it. He just did. He swore to take revenge and make sure been their bodies would end up in shatters!

*******

1931, Chicago

Clara ran out of her their home and climbed the streets. She was in a state of agitation, not caring when she blundered into a young boy who cursed her. She kept running until she got a shop where three men sat.

“Andy! He is dying.”

Andy sprang up

“Where is he?” He asked.

“ He is in the room.”

“Let’s go.”

They ran back to their one room apartment and saw the one year old boy panting.

He started convulsion. His mouth foamed. His eyes rolled back and his teeth chattered.

“He is dying!” Clara cried.

Andy looked round and saw a pale of water. He carried the child and immersed him into the cold water,

“What are you doing?” Clara questioned.

“Just watch!”

He raised the child up, immersed him again and the boy coughed and his eyes stopped rolling while the foaming stopped.

His breath began to stabilize.

“His temperature was too high and that leads to convulsion. We need to take him to the hospital.”

“Do you have any money?”

“Let us go first.”Immediately they stepped out of the room, they saw a strongly built lady with two men standing before their door.

“You promised to pay your rent today.” The woman, Sasha said.

“Please Madam Sasha. My child is sick.” Andy said. “I will pay.”

“What has the sickness of your child got to do with my business? Am I your welfare guardian? The only business I have with you is my money. Did I ask you to get married and sleep with her in our property when you can’t take care of them?”

“Please I need to go to hospital now.”

“That is your family issue and I respect privacy. I do not want to be involved in that. I will be here same tomorrow and if you don’t have my money, you will be thrown out of here.”

She turned and left with her thugs.

Twenty minutes later, a doctor said to them.

“He has a severe high fever and he needs intensive treatment or else you will lose him.”

“How much?”

“One thousand dollars.”

“What? Is he undergoing any surgery?” Andy asked.

“some surgeries cost less than five hundred dollars.”

“Okay, just do it.”

“You will go to the cashier and pay an advance of six hundred dollars.’

“Uhmm...please doctor, just start something. I will go and look for the money.’

“You mean you don’t even have the money?” The doctor asked.

“I don’t have more than three dollars  on me but I will do something.”

“You have two options. You either go to California where there a Foundation called Care for The Needy. The treat for free or you go and get the money and bring him back. I will assist you with a drug that will suspend the fever for seven hours.”

“Please doctor.”

“I am sorry I do not own the hospital and Sir Raymond is a capitalist. He did not set up this hospital to help people but to make money through medicine. Thank you for coming. You may take your card along in case you decide to come back.”

They left the hospital dejected. Andy was in a mess. He had no money to treat his only child. He would be thrown out of the house the next day.

They stood outside the hospital in a state of confusion. Andy carried the child on his shoulder. Clara was crying.

“My friend told me about a man who assists people. I think we should talk to her husband.”

“I don’t understand.”

“He lost his job and they got into trouble. The man gave him a job.”

“We need one thousand dollars within the next seven hours and another three hundred dollars to settle that witch.”

“Do you have an immediate plan?”

“I have tried all of my cronies but none will assist.”

“We can’t stand there doing nothing. Let us make a move.”

“Which of your friends?”

“Lauretta.”

“Okay.”

Fifteen minutes later, they were in a living room.

Lauretta was Clara’s close friend.

Andy noticed that they lived in a better condition now. There was a time they barely had food to eat.

“He will be here soon.” Lauretta said.

A two year old boy ran into the living room and tried to touch the sick baby.

“Nicolas!” The little boy, Diego said excitedly.

“Stop it Diego. Nicolas is not well.” Lauretta cautioned.

“I want to play with him.” Diego said.

“You can’t play with him.” His mother said. “I need you to leave that place now.”

Diego frowned and left.

A short, stocky man came into the living-room and smiled.

“Andy.”

“Santana.”

“It is nice to have you here.”

“Thank you. A nice place you have here.”

“Thank you. I guess you have not been here since we moved in three weeks ago.’

“No. Only Clara was here.”

“I am told you are in a mess.”

“Real mess. I have about six hours to raise one thousand dollars or else we will lose Nicolas and If I can’t raise three hundred before tomorrow afternoon, we will be thrown out.”

“That is a deep hole for a family man. I think we have no time to waste. I will introduce you to someone. I was there like you and you can see how we are now.”

“Who is he?”

“ Ii Grande Capo” Santana said “Let’s go.”Andy looked at Clara.“We will be back.”“I suggest we go together. He has trust issues and may suspect that we are lying. I want him to see the child himself.Clara got on her feet, carried the child and they went out.“You have a car now?” Andy asked as he saw Santana get a car from the garage.“He gives a car when he gives a job. Our jobs can’t go smoothly without mobility. The car is on loan. You pay as you work. Deduction and I have paid 20% already. Business is good.”They got into the car and drove away.About thirty minutes later, they arrived at a mansion. They were searched by stern looking gun men before they were allowed to enter. Santana had to show an ID Card, and introduce Andy and his wife.They went into the lobby to wait. There were about seven men there all there to see the Capo.“Santana,” a strongly built man said.“Mario.”“Who have you brought to see the Capo?”“He is my friend and this is his wife. They need help.”They had to wait for about one hour before they were allowed to go in.They walked into a vast, luxurious office which was a part of the residential building. There were two gun men inside, standing like statues behind the Capo.Capo was smoking a cigar with a bottle of wine in front of him. He sat majestically behind a polished desk.He wore white colored expensive French suit. His sophisticated and expensive fedora hat sat comfortably on his head. A Rolex wristwatch adorned his wrist and the diamond crystals glittered as he raised his hand to put the cigar in his mouth.Sitting on a sofa by the side of the office was an elegantly dressed woman. She was bore her eyes into a novel she was reading.“Good afternoon, Capo.” Santana greeted in awe.“Good Afternoon Santana.”“Capo, this is my friend, Andy whose child is sick and needs two thousand dollars for medical treatment. He is out of job and needs five hundred dollars for…’“Enough Santana!” Andy barked. He turned at Clara. “Let us get out of here.” What was going on?*******