Code of Silence

Untitled Part 16

Oliver and Anatoli grabbed four of their best men, two bratva and two mob enforcers and headed to the docks. Oliver had contacted the Civello family and asked for a meeting with Joe. After some persuasion he had agreed to meet at the docks. Oliver had updated his men on the "talk" he was planning on having with Joe so he wanted them to be on alert.

With guns hidden they approached the dock, their eyes scanning the area looking for anything out of the ordinary. It was a wide-open space so Oliver felt confident there would be no trouble, but after what he was going to say to Joe, the tension would be evident. Anatoli stepped to his side as Joe and three of his men approached. They seemed on alert as well, and Oliver relaxed his stance, crossing his hands behind his back. He was prepared if things went south. Oliver stepped forward as they neared and gave Joe a hard-cold look.

"Oliver! It has been awhile." Joe said. "It was a surprise to hear you were alive. What brings you to my territory and why are needing to see me?"

Oliver acknowledged his words with a slight nod. "We need to talk Joe. I hear that Noah Cutler and Laurel Lance are in your pocket book."

Joe shrugged. "I needed an attorney and who better than the D.A. She use to work for you in fact. So what business is it of yours?"

Oliver's eyes turned cold and hard as he took a step toward Joe. Joe's men tensed but he held up his hand holding them back. He wanted to hear what Queen had to say.

"Laurel Lance was involved in an accident two years ago. The victim was a woman by the name of Donna Smoak. Does that name ring a bell?"

Joe gave him a sly look and then glanced at Anatoli before he answered. "And what if it did?"

"That woman was my wife's mother and I was told that you stepped in. Is she under your protection?"

"Does she need to be under my protection?"

Oliver's voice was ice cold, "She killed my wife's mother. She will pay and so will Noah Cutler. So, if they are under your protection, I am giving you warning. The Queen Family and the Bratva will not take to you harboring them."

He saw Joe wince at the word Bratva. "What does this have to do with the Bratva?"

Oliver pulled his shirt to the side and revealed his tattoo, signifying his Captain status. "Я капитан в Братве, а Донна была дочерью Братвы. (I am a Bratva Captain and Donna was a bratva daughter.)" Joe's eyes widened at his words. He didn't know Russian but seeing the tattoo he knew exactly what that meant. His father had told him stories of dealing with the Bratva and he knew they could be ruthless and merciless.

Anatoli stepped forward and gave him a cold smile, he could see fear in the man's eyes and he played on that.

"Our brethren will be coming to collect vengeance."

Joe's hands clenched and he turned and motioned to his men to leave. He wasn't going to stand and listen to any more talk. But he was going to have some words with Mr. Cutler and Miss Lance. They had gotten him in the crosshairs of the Russian mob and he was furious. They were not the kind of attention that he wanted to draw, and by the looks of it, they were all over Star City now that Queen was back.

Oliver watched Joe walk away, keeping his eyes focused on him before he, Anatoli and his men all headed back to the mansion. Oliver felt they had gotten their point across effectively, and along with him trying to regain some Civello territory, he felt confident they would take care of Laurel and Noah pretty quickly.

FIVE YEARS AGO - THE GALA

Laurel glared from her spot by the bar. Her eye and cheek were throbbing and the embarrassment was even worse. People had been giving her looks all evening long and it was all because of that bitch glued to Oliver's side. She knew that she was the reason he had fired her. His dalliance with the woman was annoying her and Laurel decided something needed to be done and quick. Maybe she should pay Felicity's Dad a visit. He had a reputation for using his daughter in business dealings and Laurel smiled as she thought of the woman getting exactly what she deserved.

The rest of the evening had gone smoothly and Oliver found himself getting restless as they danced and mingled, Felicity's dress, or lack thereof making his fingers itch to touch her again. He finally had enough and decided it was time to go and they walked over to his Mom to say goodnight. She had been busy playing hostess so there had been little time to speak, and with everything that had transpired that evening, he knew Felicity was nervous that his Mom might harbor ill feelings toward her. As they approached Moira turned to Felicity and Oliver, and seeing them together, she could see how her son held her close to his side. She was glad Oliver had found someone that made him happy and despite what had transpired that evening, she liked Felicity.

She turned to them and smiled, "Well despite everything this evening was a success. We raised 110% more than last year."

Oliver smiled. "Yes, my checkbook is feeling the effects."

Moira laughed and noticed Felicity standing nervously at his side. She took her hands and gave her a soft smile. "Felicity, I never got a chance to tell you that you look beautiful tonight dear." She leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "And as for you hitting Laurel. I heard what she said, and I would have done the same thing."

Felicity looked at her in surprise. Who had told her? She smiled at Moira, glad there was no ill will.

Oliver kissed his Mom's cheek and led Felicity out the door. He had called for his car earlier and it was waiting for them out front. As they climbed into the backseat, Oliver got a good view of the back of Felicity's dress again, and he loosened his tie as he climbed in and pulled her to his side.

He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Now Miss Smoak. Just so you know when we get home, you are going to pay for torturing me all night with this dress."

Felicity smiled to herself, and turning to him, grabbed his tie and pulled him closer to her. "Promises! Promises Mr. Queen."

He grinned at her. He could not wait to get her home.