Benny looks out toward New York City. It’s a warm and peaceful evening in July; Royce is retired, Retro was dead and all was well that ended well. Benny had been around the block long enough to know that the American Mafia, which he now supervised, wouldn’t stay calm and peaceful forever. See after Benny and Royce fought, Royce lost and Benny made forced into an early retirement, so the men of honor under him and his High Council thought things were going get a chance to rebuild, but Benny knew better. He knew that the end wasn’t truly the end, but the calm before the storm.
Things started to look up until one cold Thursday morning and Lefty gets a call that Pazzo Sangue and BlackBeard are back in the country after Beard’s mom passed and they went to the funeral in Palermo. BlackBeard and Pazzo were apparently cousins but the relation ended in blood. Benny had told Lefty to inform him of when Pazzo got back to the States, but word was traveling slow that day. So whilst Benny sat in his office still looking at the evening traffic of the city, Pazzo came in unannounced.
“Hey Pazzo, long time no talk.” Benny exclaimed as he ushered Pazzo in to sit down.
“Yeah I decided to stay In Italy longer this time. I see things have truly changed back here.” It was true, things were different. Violence was a thing of the past and the Families had put their rackets together to make more money.
“Yep, I ushered in these changes with the help of a few individual family bosses.” Benny said awful proudly. Benny could see that Pazzo wasn’t as enthusiastic about his work as other Bosses had been. But either way he would have been a better friend than enemy.
Pazzo smiled smugly, “So, is there any place for me here, in this thing of yours?”
Benny had been expecting this question ever since he found out Pazzo and Blackbeard were coming back. He knew he wanted them both on his Council, but Pazzo could be more useful in a power position. He thought for a second; if he made Pazzo something important other people would get angry but this wasn’t a democracy and he had to make decisions that bettered the mob and its men.
“Well I can offer you the position as Secretary of the High Council.” Benny said hoping for the best outcome. He knew Pazzo might not like what he said but that was truly the best Benny could do.
Pazzo eyed him up coldly, “That will sufficient.” He says then leaves the office. Benny could tell by his cold tone that this wouldn’t be the last of their problems…
Pazzo and Royce decide to meet in secret at Royce’s house near Albany, NY. The Gambino Empire had been down for a long time now but you couldn’t tell this from Royce’s house. It was a huge plantation-style home with acres upon acres of freshly cut green grass around it. Pazzo and his driver, Silvio Bianchi, pulled up into Royce’s driveway and rang the doorbell.
“Who’s there?” A voice came through an intercom system. It sounded like Royce but Pazzo wasn’t too sure.
“It’s Pazzo. Let me in.”
“Alright. We need to go over the plan.”
As the two made their way to Royce’s private study they find the younger man sitting in a huge leather chair, he doesn’t look too well. Seeing this Pazzo dismisses Silvio to wait by the car.
“They froze all my assets. Took all my money and killed most of my guys.” Royce starts yelling as soon as Silvio leaves.
Pazzo shakes his head. “Well you can’t just sit here and mope around. You must get back in the action.”
Royce turned to look out the window. “That bastard, Frankie Calabrese, framed me for Mikey Malone’s murder. I’ve got to be in court but I need you to do something.” He points to Pazzo. “UltraSonicShot refuses to help me in my search for power and he needs to die before he brings my search to Benny.”
Pazzo understood that war was inevitable and that people had to die but he didn’t know that he would be the one ignite the white-hot flames of violence. He calmly nodded trying not to show his nervousness. Pazzo was more into talking his way to power and using a silver tongue to fool ignorant fools into place. But this time words were mute. Action and reaction would be the only politics…
A few days later and Royce’s trial hadn’t let up. Benny was surprised to how easy Pazzo had come to see his point of view. It seemed almost instantly that the once National Crime Syndicate Boss started to befriend Benny. However, others on the High Council weren’t too sure about Pazzo’s change. Really hired some goon named Angel to follow Pazzo and keep tabs on him. Benny was happy at the progress. But as previously mentioned not everyone shared that enthusiasm. Really, leader of the Corleone’s, wanted Synite dead for abandoning the Corleone’s.
He came to Benny. “I don’t care if they rest on your Council. I’m going to have his head.”
Benny shook his head, “You can’t just kill people, especially not Council members.”
Benny and Really continued their argument for a few more minutes. Pazzo had been listening to his in on this via the phone connected to Benny’s office. At the end of the conversation they agreed that only Synite will die for the betrayal of his whole crew. They also decided the time and place of Synite’s death. Pazzo heard all of this and decided that’s when he would kill Sonic.
They came out of the office and Benny turned to Pazzo, “Inform the entire Council that someone will die, don’t tell them who.”
“Even better.” Thought Pazzo…
Really and Rocco Taccetta pulled up to the house during the dead of night. Synite had been living in Wisconsin for some months now. Really and Rocco had been given Synite’s location from Benny. They knew he would be home at this time of night and they waited for the lights to go off to strike.
“I’ll kill him. You keep the car warm,” Really patted Rocco on the shoulder as he prepared his silenced weapon.
Rocco gave a disappointed pout when he realized he wouldn’t be going in. This just made Really laugh. He remembered what it was like to be eager and young at one point. But this job was too dangerous for Rocco; Synite was a Capo di Tutti Capi and Rocco was a Capo.
Really steps out of the car and makes his way up to the mansion doors. Synite was a fool for not putting a Home Security on his Opulent home, Really was inside with ease. Sitting inside was a sleeping bodyguard. Really shook his head at this cheap amateur and executed him. That guy appearing to be the only one, Really made his way Synite’s bed chamber. In the bed was the sleeping rat. Really put a shot in his foot so Synite would wake up. Synite shot up immediately and looked to see Really.
“Come on man, you don’t have to do this,” Synite cried.
“It’s only business,” Really said as he put one in between Synite’s eyes.
When Really got back to the car he laughed at Rocco who looked eager to hear the details of the job.
“I told you it would be an in and out hit,” Really laughed as they drove back to New York.
Meanwhile in Missouri a firefight had erupted. Sonic had hired some muscle to protect him but Pazzo had way more money and his mercenaries were closing in on Sonic. They had him pinned down inside a dock along the Missouri River, Sonic didn’t have anywhere to run now. As the mercenaries closed in Sonic called Benny but his phone went to voicemail. Sonic left Benny a message saying his own fate. Sonic closed the phone and decided to make a push. A foolish gamble, but he wanted to die fighting. He died alright, as soon as he opened the door the enemy spayed him with bullets. Sonic’s body was left floating along the Mighty Missouri.
When Benny awoke he looked to his messages and heard what Sonic had said. Benny started to cry for his fallen brother. Benny shouldn’t have been so surprised. He knew war was coming. He knew that peace was just the calm before the storm.