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Sleep evades me once again. I don't know why I try anymore, it's pointless. My demons running circles in my mind, mocking me with things that would eviscerate the average person. The moment the sun begins to rise, I've already taken a shower and shaven. I dress for the day in a black suit and am watching the hustle of my city as I button my cuffs. Six years since I wiped out the five families and six years I've been building an empire that even the gods of myth wood envy.
Just as I go to pour myself a cup of coffee, my phone rings. Very few people have my number, since it's encrypted and constantly changing, but this is a number I recognize. Antonio, my second in command.
"Scarpone." I answer, despite us growing up closer than brothers and him working for me just as long.
"Boss, I've got some bad news." He gets straight to the point.
"Speak." I order curtly, already knowing what this'll be about. Antonio was supposed to go down to the docks today to oversee a shipment of drugs coming in under the guise of some other exports for our legal businesses. That's the only thing he'd be calling about at this hour.
"The whole fucking precinct showed up just as the ship docked. Warrant and everything to search the damn boat. They haven't found anything yet, but it's only a matter of time before the dogs sniff it out. And- cazzo!" He breaks off.
"What happened?" I ask, keeping the irritation out of my voice.
"The ship just blew up with a couple of officers still on it." He informs, the blaring sound of sirens behind him.
"Call up our contacts in the department and have them sort this out." I instruct, grabbing my keys as I take the elevator down my parking garage.
"On it."
"Find out if the chief plans to do an investigation into the bombing and if he plans to press charges." Though he'd be an idiot to do so since he knows this was a setup by the same stronzo who gave him the tip to raid our ship.
"Call me back when you're done." I add before hanging up. Millions of dollars in inventory disintegrated in the blink of an eye. What a fucking waste.
Antonio calls me back as I'm steering my R8 through traffic towards the docks.
"What'd you find?" I question.
"Chief isn't getting a lot of backlash. He released a statement to the media that he will not be investigating the cause of the fire or your involvement in it. Promised to compensate the families of those lost." He's quick to fill me in.
