A Man of Honor.

Chapter 40: Party Crashers.

"He who is deaf, dumb, and blind lives a hundred years in peace." ~ Old Italian Proverb.

The war reached a short pause. Roman's plan had worked perfectly, the media quickly lost focus on the Family and redoubled their efforts on stopping the White Fang who was well out of their reach.

The Atlas Fleet being in town was a double edged sword that Roman had used to great effect. The Atlesians couldn't make any strong moves without anyone wondering why Atlas wasn't doing anything about it so they didn't. So the war got quiet, cold you could almost call it. A few of the street gangs had scuffles sure but that was mostly it. But we knew it wouldn't last for very long, and Roman wasn't going to rest on his laurels. He intended to make sure that everything was going to be ready when the bullets started flying.

"Did you receive that final shipment?" Roman asked me, sipping his glass of brandy as we sat together in my office in the Moonstone.

"Yes." I answered him knowing that he was talking about the final batch of Atlesian Paladins. "They should be shipped out by tomorrow morning." I told with a puff of my cigar.

"That's good... but we're going to be keeping one." He told me with a nod of his head.

"Why?" I asked him. "We got no use for it!" I said knowing full well that the mech was far too hot for us to actually use against our enemies. Artillery like that didn't belong in the streets.

"No, I'm not planning anything like that. Tempting as it would be to crush Nicky beneath those steel feet it's just not in the cards for us." Roman explained. "You see... I need to make use of your warehouse. Sal already signed off on it but now that it's your warehouse I just remembered I needed to tell you about it."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you need it for?" I asked him, feeling a little curious as to why it was suddenly being commandeered.

"To show the Paladin off to the Fang." He answered as a knock came at my door. I turned and watched as it opened and Cinder walked in. I was surprised to find that she wasn't followed by her two cronies.

"Are you explaining things to him?" Cinder asked Roman, moving towards a chair and taking a seat.

"I am." Roman answered her.

"Roman just told me he needs to use my warehouse to show off that expensive piece of Atlas military hardware." I told her not exactly happy at the prospect. "Is that all?"

"I'm afraid it's a bit more than that." Roman told me. "We're wanting to hold a rally."

"A rally?" I asked him, moving over towards a table with a few decanters. "Is that wise?" I said to him, refilling my drink and looking at Cinder. "Can I get you anything?" I asked her to be polite.

Cinder gave me a dismissive wave of her hand. She never drank anything, at least not in front of us. A part of me wondered if she was afraid that one day we'd try poisoning her. Or maybe liquor just gave her loose lips.

"Right now we need to fill the ranks of the Fang." Cinder explained to me. "And that means we're going to have to take a moment to call whoever we can to recruit." She explained to me.

"Well I'm not exactly on friendly terms with Adam." I told her truthfully. "I think you'll understand why I'm cautious to invite him to one of my warehouses."

"You've let other Fang members show up to take away the cargo." Cinder told me apparently not understanding the difference.

"They usually show up with George." I told her. "A member I have a sliver of respect for. And what's more I know how to keep the other Fang members in line. But Adam? He's practically itching to shove that katana of his down my throat, and the feeling is mutual."