𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 ⚔︎

11

the sun was setting in the west when edward parked his silver ferrari on the docks of east brooklyn. the tires scraped on the grey concrete and rain spattered onto the windshield, dripping down the glass in tiny streams. sal was in the passenger seat, while mike and giovanni were in the back. all four had dressed themselves in long, black overcoats and trench coats and were glancing warily at their surroundings. sal occasionally cracked his knuckles out of habit and mike fiddled with his suit tie, tightening it up to his collar. a blanket of great, dark clouds hung overhead, and in the distance, thunder rumbled like the belly of a beast: it was enough to set off giovanni's nerves, too. he sat there staring into space.

"how long we gotta wait here for?" sal asked, looking to eddie.

eddie was as still as a tombstone, his gaze searing the front window. he was frighteningly calm. "i'm not sure." he glanced at his diamond encrusted watch. "they said nine o'clock."

"pretty fuckin' late," mike grumbled, slouching in his seat like a child. "i've missed angie's pot roast."

lonnie lambert, the costello underboss, had been given the task of reaching out to the lavignes in order to arrange a meeting to discuss business and other affairs in brooklyn. just earlier this very same morning, lonnie had arrived at the royale alone and had been granted upstairs to the private section of the second floor, where he found the luxury lounge and eddie's office. he was allowed entry, and upon seeing the boss, took off his hat in respect. eddie had been sat in his armchair, smoking a cigar as he read over some papers.

"marc would like to meet with you," lonnie said, standing at the other side of the desk, partially out of breath from walking upstairs. "tonight."

"what ever happened to 'good morning'?" eddie scowled, taking a big puff.

"my apologies," lonnie replied, bowing his head — how stupid of him to forget his place. "good morning, ed."

"good morning to you too, alonzo," eddie said, carelessly waving his hand. "now then— what's this about a meeting?"

lonnie had gulped, a big lump in his throat. "marc wants to meet with you tonight in brooklyn. he wants to have a... a talk."

eddie raised his brows. "a talk, huh? well, i don't see what he's gotta talk to me about," he tutted, his tone laced with sarcasm. he rubbed a hand over his face, a habit he indulged in whenever he was stressed. "alright, fine. tonight at seven o'clock."

"oh, it— it might have to be somethin' more like... nine o'clock," lonnie spluttered nervously. "he's got dinner tonight... with his family."

eddie laughed. "how convenient for him," he spat. "alright, lonnie, fine. you go back to marc and tell him i'll meet him on the shipyards at the end of columbia street."

"okay, ed, i will."

and now, hours later, eddie's attention was suddenly caught by the rumbling of an engine approaching them from the other end of the grey and foggy dock. he peered forward and, through the windshield, saw two black jeeps parking up a few metres in front of them beside a shipping container.

"that's him," eddie said quietly.

marc and lonnie got out of the first jeep, them too wearing long, black coats over their designer suits. they both held umbrellas over their heads in an attempt to shelter themselves from the torrential gusts of rain that were now blowing in sideways.

eddie, sal and mike took off their seatbelts. before they got out of the car, sal turned to giovanni and subtly handed him a pistol. "stay here. you'll know if you need us."

giovanni nodded and accepted in silence, his hands planted firmly on the gun, now settled on his knee. he moved to the middle of the backseat in order to gain a clearer view of the men in front of him, but it was hard to see through the rain.