Chapter 8: Pay To Play
The guys had the Caddy put back together and it was hard to tell it was ever damaged. They started it up and backed it out of the bay. The sun shone into the engine compartment and highlighted it well for them to see. No signs of anything mechanical was wrong, so they closed the hood and shut it off.
"There you go guys, almost like new."
Luigi looked it over carefully and agreed it wouldn't bring the slightest attention to it. Tiny flecks of paint were missing around the headlights, but it would only be seen on close inspection.
"We must find a place to stay, preferably not too far from here, so we can respond quickly to anything that should arise. Any place you recommend?"
"Marlene was put up in the Holiday Inn, few miles from here. From what I could tell, it's as good as any place and easy to get around from there. Not far from highway access either, so that would be my choice."
"Holiday Inn it is then. Not that bad a place, we've stayed in them before. Is it far from that restaurant, Giovanni's?"
"Nope, you can almost see it from the hotel. Just a few blocks down."
"Perfect. I must thank you and your people for taking such wonderful care of us, JT. You have been most kind in assisting us and we are grateful for that. Makes our job that much easier. We will be in touch regularly and let you know what's happening, once we are settled in our rooms."
Once again, JT was embarrassed, when Luigi took his face and kissed both cheeks, before hugging him. The other mobsters weren't as forward to the other guys, seeing the thought of the kiss unappealing and shook and hugged instead. Gus looked at the four men and looks were given back. The five shared silent thoughts and memories, looks being played back and forth between them.
"Great seeing you guys again. I only miss the old days when I think of us together. We were a good team."
"The best, Gus. We miss you too and many times, your name is mentioned in passing, when we talk of the good old days. You be good my friend, vivere la vita che ti rende felice." (live the life that makes you happy)
Gus nodded his head and smiled, knowing his life was accepted and would never be questioned again. He and Luigi kissed each others cheeks and hugged strongly, the bond between them shared openly. Gus went to Alphonse, Marco and Dino, sharing kisses and hugs the same with each.
"Dio vi protegga bene i miei fratelli. Io sono sempre con voi." (God be with you my brothers. I am always with you)
JT was amazed to hear such well-spoken Italian coming from Gus. It confirmed his roots instantly and put one more piece of Gus together for him. Little by little, all the questions of the past were being answered. His initial desire to know the man, Jake Harding, had led him into events in his life that astounded him. He found it hard to fathom how a man could live as one person and be another so easily and readily, keeping the past quiet. He looked at everyone before him and wondered how many were like that. How many of the people he held close weren't who he thought they were, but a character they were pretending to be? Tom had divulged a completely different life to him. The commune all held past lives secret. He felt like the only one living one life only.
The gates were opened and the four men in two Cadillac sedans rolled out calmly, heading into Charming and blending in with society. JT found it interesting how appearances were everything to people. It was what they thought you were, based on how you looked and how you dressed, not who you were as a person.
Gus made his farewells and said he'd be waiting for a call if he was needed again, then headed back to Stockton to resume his life in scrap metal. He took the only evidence of the crash with him in the truck, leaving nothing in the shop to be questioned about. The guys closed it up and went inside to talk about the next stage of things to happen. The initial attack had been turned around and now they hoped the Disciples were on the defensive and considering backing down. The losses to their club were adding up and becoming costly in numbers and strength.
What everyone wondered, was how many charters of the Disciples there were in total and how many more might be coming to assist them. The unknowns weighed heavy on minds, as they pondered wave after wave of bikers hell bent on their demise. If the strength of their allies was any indication, it was looking like things were in their favour to come out on top. The one issue that worried them all, would one of them have to pay with their life before it ended?
The sound of a siren going off in short blasts had them rushing outside to the gate. Wayne Unser was standing out of his car so they could see it was him only and then got back in. They opened the gate and let him pull in, taking a look for any other signs of enforcement waiting in the wings. No signs were seen, making it a private meeting and one of good news they hoped.
Everyone went inside and settled in, before Wayne told them why he was there.
"Okay, we all know the score here, right? You guys are in trouble for helping us and we're protecting you. We got San Joa on board and we're doing our best to get this taken care of. What's pissing off the wrong people, are the number of bodies dropping in Stockton and the recent explosions there as well, not to mention the diver out back of here and two Disciples are sitting in a smashed car with three shots to the head each, who do you think I'm looking at? I'm doing my best to keep you guys out of shit, but I know damn well this has something to do with you guys pulling this off. I don't see how, but I know it's you, so who wants to go first and enlighten me on what's happening?"
JT looked at the club and saw the faces say it was up to him to let Unser know something. JT looked at Wayne, standing with as much authority as he could, a demand for an answer to be forthcoming.
"Sit down, Wayne, you'll give yourself a hernia or something, standing like that. I'll try and fill in some blanks for you. Not sure how many, but I'll help you whatever way I can, alright?"
"Something's better than nothing, so let's hear it."
Wayne squished in beside Lenny and Otto, making some room for himself and waited for JT to tell him.
"Yeah, you're right, the shit in Stockton is about us. You're also right that we aren't the ones doing it. Who is doing it? I can't tell you that, but they are friends of a friend and that's all I'll say, okay?"
Wayne nodded he understood.
