Bella Donna

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Present day

"Good afternoon Astrid. I had a lovely time on our date yesterday." Hiccup typed as he said it out loud. "Would you be willing to join me at this lovely Bistro I discovered a few weeks ago?"

"How does that sound? Not too clingy?" Hiccup asked as he looked around his office, which was filled with several men.

"I think it sounds fine," A bald man spoke up.

"Everything sounds fine to you Ryker," Another spoke up.

"Shut up Viggo!" Ryker shot back.

"Hiccup did you seriously call us here to get our opinion on your love life? Or lack thereof?" Snotlout uttered as he lounged on one of the wingback chairs.

"What lack thereof? The boss got a date, didn't he?" A portly blonde uttered.

"He got a date, though I stand by my opinion! That pickup line should not have worked." Snotlout retorted.

"Oh come off it Snot. Fishlegs is right," A lanky blonde grumbled. "You're just jealous that the boss got a date and you didn't. You score when you follow Tuffnut's rules for dating,"

"Didn't your last date try to shove her heel up your..."

"Okay okay, moving on..." Hiccup interjected. "As much as my relationship status excites you guys. There is a reason I called you here. Grimmel's Gang." The mood in the room shifted into a more serious tone nearly immediately. "One of our warehouses got hit this morning."

"What's the damage?" Snotlout asked. "And do I finally get to sue someone?"

"Cool your jets, Phoenix Wright," Fishlegs stated. "Unfortunately, we have nothing to tie it to Grimmel... officially,"

"The fire burned down more than half the warehouse. Luckily the fire department responded swiftly." Fishlegs explained. "Preliminary report by the Fire Marshal states that it was caused by faulty electrical wiring."

"Screw faulty wiring. We both know what this is," Viggo growled. "Grimmel is getting back at us because we took over the East side shipping routes. Fires are Grimmel's thing. We know he has the marshals in his pocket."

"We are not going to retaliate," Hiccup announced much to the dismay of everyone in the room.

"Why not?!" Tuffnut uttered. "Grimmel is asking for it! My sis and I can totally take care of him,"

"And that's exactly what he wants. Retaliation," Hiccup pounded his fist on the desk. "Think about it, our position is still shaky at best. Up east the Hooligans rule. Sure we've been establishing ourselves in this city for the past three years, forging alliances, dissolving gangs, taking territory and trade routes but Grimmel's gang had been operating in this city far longer. He loved the chaos his gangs caused. We're seen as a thorn in his side because we value order. What do you think will happen when we retaliate when there is no clear proof?" Hiccup stressed. "The smaller gangs we've absorbed might rebel because it will show them that we can do whatever we want to others without proof."

"But doing nothing will just give Grimmel more power too," Snotlout stated. "We can't become his doormat."

"Who says we're doing nothing?" Hiccup raised his brow. "In about an hour, several of Grimmel's massage parlors will be getting a visit from SWAT, the FBI, and DEA,"

"Wait, I'm confused. I thought we weren't retaliating,"

"We aren't," Hiccup smirked. "There is absolutely nothing linking us to the several anonymous tips suggesting human trafficking at Grimmel's establishments,"