Dominic stretched and finished his morning routine. The blue walls of his compound seemed foreign today, so did the shag carpet of the floor. He thought of laying back down, but then shook his head no after realizing it'd mess up what he just perfected. He unlocked only the front door of the compound to get his mail, and quickly slipped back inside. He could've gotten one of his made men to fetch it, but he didn't. His head was pounding from a slight head cold, so he took a couple pills for it. He closed his eyes for a moment and realized that this was the day the Mecaccis would begin to attempt a take over.

"No. They wouldn't dare", he said, "They've got too much coward in them".

Dogs barked outside, a jackhammer started roadwork, and traffic sounds all throbbed inside the don's head like a railroad spike through the temples. Despite his appearance in the morning, Marinotti still packed heat - a magnum which he kept at all times, even in the shower. Because of an incident in the past where he killed a made man who startled him while he slept, he kept blanks in the gun until stepping outside. Then he posed a REAL threat.

(can I go ahead and post?)
Renni was walked around the perimeter with his Ares shotgun when he noticed his boss. He quickly turned around when someone opened a door behind Renni, who walked right into it. He rubbed his forehead and turned back. "Uh boss..." He started with his Russian accent. "Is not today when other crime family come?" Renni had been thinking of this day for quite some time and hoped he was ready if they did in fact try a take over. "Can I help with some thayng boss?"

(Sure, everyone can go ahead now).

"Today is the day. What I need you to do is to make sure the place is secure. Make sure we're stocked up on supplies, like medical kits and bulletproof vests. I'll go get more if we're out of something, especially ammo. We're gonna need more than just a few clips, after all", Dominic said, he smiled at Renni. "I'm glad you remembered, if it was only me that remembered, we'd probably be in deep trouble when they did attack. I hope someone else remembered too".

"Iz go check now." Renni said and walked away quickly towards the armory. From his trench coat he pulled a clipboard and a pencil and began taking inventory. Ammo, Guns, Bullet Vests, all here. He walked on to the next section. Med packs, they needed more. He made an 'X' by the Medical Supplies on his clipboard. Everything else seemed to be fine until he got to the street weapons. Only two bats, sum (this is a bit in the future right?) stun batons, and a few swords? Renni left the armory quickly find his boss. He was out of breath by the time he found him. "Sir... I... You... neez... Med pazkz!" (He isn't the best with English)

(It is in the future.)

"Okay, I'll get on that right away. I'll need you to be my escort to Sammy's Deli. Several of our connections there make those things, and if I know them, they'll have those ready for us right away" Dominic said. He put on his coat and hat, he hid his .357 Magnum in his inside coat pocket. "Let's go, oh and I'll make sure everything's locked up before we even set foot into the car". Dominic went and checked every window and door, barring up ones that weren't secure.

[Two weeks ago]
Viola smirked in disdain as the postman--Marco was his name--gestured shakily to a small alleyway on the map spread out on the table. "And you're sure?" She almost purred as she spoke, though there was no mirth in her face. He nodded quickly, his eyes wide with fear, though he greedily eyed the sizable stack of money at the same time. Then, with a flash, her knife whirled out of nowhere and cut a finger from his hand, that had been resting on the table. It had moved so fast, the cut seemed painless, though the postman was horrified all the same. "Are you telling me the truth? I'd hate to be wasting resources on a rat." He stammered quickly that he had told the truth, but then off came another finger, before he could even blink, let alone react. He gave more information, the names he most often saw on the letters, return addresses he recalled, storefronts on the street and their owner's names and rumored affiliations, and begged, wild-eyed, that she spare him. It took all afternoon--and four fingers. Finally, she tripled the sum she had promised him, and sent him on his way. The postman, pale and yet triumphant--this would pay all his family's debt, and keep their rent paid for months to come; with his wife's illness, it was worth every digit. It was that thought that caused him to nearly drop his mailbag, now full to the brim with his considerable reward. Confused and startled, Marco looked at his fingers, complete, pristine, and all accounted for. Running home, he told his wife the whole story, tripping over his words in disbelief and joy.

Back at the Compound, Viola sat with her sister, who had seen some of the interrogation. "You see, dear; it is the desperate and lowly that the easiest and most crucial to be acquainted with. An equal dose of fear, respect, and wonderment must be instilled in every informant, so that they will work for you loyally and exclusively. If there is no fear, they will not help you, and you'll have to work on their time and agenda instead of yours. If there is no respect, they will not support you, and you'll have to keep tabs on them to make sure they're on your side. If there is no wonderment, they will defy you; show no compassion, no regard, never let them think of you as a person. So long as you are their dread master, a strange and terrible undefinable wrath that may rain down on them at their first mistake or hint of treachery, they shall remain on your leash for all of time."

[Present Day]

Marco had, of course, not failed Viola in her expectations. She was well aware of the Marinotti's Compound, its entrance, and some of the layout of the inside, unless the building plans had changed since the town hall's records were taken. Considering many of the files were destroyed, Viola was fairly certain that it was, though she was pleased all the same. Apprehension flew through her like a spark, and the thrill of the chase lit up her eyes. The game would soon begin.

(ur talkin to me right?"
"Sure thing Boss." Renni said, and escorted Dominic to the car. He gave it the typical check, engine was fine, no bomb under the car, ect. He opened a door for Dominic and (Im guessing) Dominic took a passenger seat by Renni. He started the car and pulled out of the drive way (i dunno) to the road. Taking several confusing turns to see if anyone was following, they finally made it to the Deli. Renni turned off the car, got out, and went around to open Dominic's door.
(i dunno...)

(Sorry, Jackal, didn't notice your post for some reason. It's alright to assume the locations and what they have in them, I'm not even sure myself, lol)

[Last Week]

Dominic sat down, smirking at a man across from him at a table in the back of Sammy's Deli.

"I will spare your life if you give me information".

"Wh-what kind?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Spill it, before I spill your blood on the carpet".

Dominic held the man, Simon, at gunpoint.

"Okay! I give! The Mecacci compound has several structural weaknesses." Simon pointed these out on the map and marked them with an X. Dominic seized him tighter around the legs with the tendrils, then conjured a dark blade to slice off Simon's left hand. "If you tell any of those Mecacci rats about their compound's weaknesses, the part I slice off next will make you wish I killed you instead. Understand?" Simon nodded with hesitation. Dominic loosened the tendrils and made a quick "cut and embed" move, in the cut he implanted a chip into the skin. A tracking chip. If the informant did anything against the Marinotti family, he'd know and be able to put on a quick hit.

[Present]

Sammy, the owner of Sammy's, received a call from the Marinotti don. After listening for a few minutes he ended the call, "Alright, guys, get your butts in gear. Marinotti ordered a crate of med kits! Chop chop!" He also threw in a crate of prime cut meat for free, he figured this was an easy way to get more protection from the man that extorted so much from him. Dominic told the guards of the compound to be on the lookout for any of the Mecacci family, giving them the order of "shoot on sight".

(Yes I was talking to you)
Dominic then got into the car. As soon as they arrived, he said "Thank you" to Renni and went inside the Deli. A crate of med kits was readied, he loaded the crate into the car, then got back in the car. "Med kit runs always go so quickly, don't they Renni?" He said.

"Wouldn't know boss." Renni said, siting back down in the car. "Don't usually receive shipments, just make sure they come." (i have an idea if its ok) There was the familiar screeching of rubber on pavement that made Renni sit up and tighten the grip on his shotgun. A red car drove by quickly with a window down, and someone was holding an AK-47 while leaning out of that window. He opened fire and bullets shattered the glass and embedded themselves into the walls of the Deli. Renni hit the gas petal and sped away. "We may need those kits soon Boss." But no one pursued them, making it an easy drive back to the compound. Renni barely took time to turn off the car before throwing the door open and sweeping the area with his shotgun. No one. "Who do you think those were boss? Didn't look like mob colors of Mecaccis, 'eh?" (just pretend he says it with an accent.)

(How would a deli guy know about structural weaknesses in a building?)

(um... I don't know why he would...)

\\Two Weeks Ago//

Daniela smiled as her sister explained how fear, respect, and wonderment worked. She enjoyed the little show as well. Men thought women were weak, but Viola was not weak. She was cunning, intelligent, and a true leader. Qualities that made you strong in the most important areas.

"I see, Viola," she spoke, one of the only persons allowed to call her by name. It wasn't that she didn't respect her sister, but it was because despite being a caporegime for the Mecacci family, she was and foremost is, true family. True blood, not a lowly soldato who joined for fame. She was born a Mecacci.

"La ringrazio moltissimo," she spoke to her sister. "I shall try to remember this."

//Present Day\\

Daniela had been given the task to collect the monthly payment of their largest and most trustworthy racket, the Grande Liberazione. The largest and most defended casino in the city. She gathered eleven soldati and hit the road in three cars. Daniela was in the rear of the middle vehicle, and the soldati weilded machine guns, sub-machine guns, handguns and cocktail molotovs in case they were attacked. The cars were heavily armored with more durable steel, allowing greater fortification. Tires were pure rubber to prevent blown tires which could result in a hazardous and dangerous situation.

The cars were spaced two car lengths apart and cruising below the speed limit to ensure they would not drive into danger. After countless turns, safety routes and a long drive, they arrived at the casino. Greeted by Mecacci armed guards on the ground, and hidden snipers on the roofs, they made sure it was safe for the boss' sibling to exit the vehicle.

The young caporegime entered the casino, not even old enough to legally drink or gamble, as she made her way through the floor towards the VIP section. The two VIP guards smiled and saluted her as they radio'ed for the door to be opened. A few moments slipped by as the door opened and she stepped inside.

Her sister also ordered for an increase in protection money from Luciano Lombardi, the owner of the very successful casino, and Daniela planned to get it... one freeze at a time. She remained standing and told everyone but Luciano to leave the room. Not wishing to anger the Mecacci, they willingly obeyed to her demand.

"I'm here to collect the pay, Luciano. But aswell as that, I'm here to talk business. With our sudden rise to power, the Marinotti fools are posing more of a threat. If you wish protection, we want a twenty-five percent increase," she demanded with a cold tone, no hint of a joke. Her eyes focused as they seemed to glisten with the ice that flowed through her veins.

"I understand the need for more money, Dan-" he was cut off as she walked over to him.

"You will call me Caporegime, we are not friends!" she snapped a hand to his face. The slap echoed through-out the room. "If you wish this casino to stay successful and feed your family, you will pay. Or I'll freeze your wife and your daughter, and crave their death into your mind. We want twenty-five percent, or your family's dead and your casino is ours. Do you wish that?"

The man, not wishing to be intimidated by the young girl pushed her and raised his voice. "I have done nothing but been loyal to you Mecaccis!"

Daniela snapped another hand forward, but this time a fist. She cracked the man a good one on the nose. She then grabbed him by the crotch as blood trickled down his face. She summoned forth her power of ice and began cooling the man's genitals. He tried to fight the rapid cooling with willpower, but when the skin started to freeze he screamed for mercy. "Okay, okay. I'll pay it, I'll pay it!"

She removed her hand and glared at him. "Push me again, and you will wish the death of your family, Luciano. You are lucky you are loyal, and if you should become unloyal. I will make your life a living hell, one testicle at a time."

~~~~~

Daniela headed out of the VIP lounge with a duffle bag full of cash and was escorted to the vehicle. Once all where accounted for, they began the trek back to the Mecacci compound. Daniela pulled out her cellular phone and dialed numbers in quick succession before raising it to her ear. She heard the ringing and waited for her sister to answer.

Once Viola answered the phone, Daniela announced the success at the casino and told her she was on her way to the compound.

(Actually, it's not a deli guy that knows the structural weaknesses. Dominic just chose to meet him out back of Sammy's. Ideas are okay.)

Dominic's heart raced when the people started shooting at him, "Man, you saved my hide there, thank you. I wouldn't put it past the Mecaccis anyway, to put in a low blow like this. They know that we control most of the city, but they just won't give in and die like good little rats". Dominic lifted the crate out of the car and set it near the house. "We control the delis, the malls, most casinos, the weapons ring, the prostitution ring, all of the fancy restaurants, most of the officials are our pawns, we've got it made." He opened the crate and checked inside one of the kits, "all thanks to the hard work of my happy little family...and my extortion methods".

To himself, he said "Grazie a Dio".

[Weeks earlier]

Dominic rounded up several of his men, they were going to a business they took over a little over a month ago. The money that he was supposed to get from the business was a bit short, about 1000 dollars short. He arrived at the Golden Wolf, and once he stepped inside people cowered in fear. Salvatore Gallo, the owner, was cowered behind the desk in his office.

"Please, don't hurt me!" He shouted as he dived further, but Dominic grabbed him by the shirt collar.

"Listen, figlio di idiota," he said whilst shaking the scared man, "You didn't give me enough!"

"Sir! The business wasn't as good this month, I gave you all I had! Please!"

"Liar! This place was FILLED with people that night I visited here. That would've made you easily ten times what you owed me, maybe even more!"

Dominic delivered a swift kick to the man's genitals, "If you do not comply and give me the missing sum of money, you will die. Capisci?"

Gallo groaned in pain, "Sir, you have my word, no underpayments. I'll even double it".

Dominic and his men left the restaurant, greeting several Marinotti soldati on their way out.

"Yes boss, gun rings and prostitution. You think I could get in on that?" Renni laughed, though he didn't feel like he was in position to make jokes. "I was just doing my job boss," Renni said as locked the car doors and looked into the box. "I'll get this to storage?" He lifted the box (is is big or what?) and started to walk away when he remembered something, Shit, I didn't get paid... but he didn't voice it aloud. He'd rather keep his... man stuff...

The storage door was locked so Renni set the box on the ground and fiddled on a key chain for for the key when the door opened and knocked him against the wall. Dammit, again with the doors? A man stepped out from the storage room and noticed Renni. "Shit." He said as he quickly walked away. At least the door is open. Renni thought as he stepped inside and set the box on a table. Setting everything in the box to the proper place, Renni thought about what his boss had said. Yeah, we do own everything.

(The box is big, but not big enough to be back breaking)

Dominic handed Renni his share of the payroll, "I almost forgot to give you this. All the excitement of planning for the attack, and I forgot it. My apologies". Domininc then went around to all the people in his crime family and gave them their share. Dominic, although egotistical and unkind at times, believed the easiest way to build a strong family was to give everyone an equal share of the profits. He believed in giving even his lowest soldati equal treatment.

Renni left, counted his money and then tucked it into his back pocket. Of course, he could go buy some hookers but he'd wanted to help if the other Family did have the balls to show up. Again he ran around to find Dominic but found it easier this time. "Now what boss?"

"Well, the other family hasn't shown up yet, and you look like you need a break. Go ahead and take the opportunity to do what you want to, just be sure to be back as soon as you can" Dominic said. He got himself a glass of brandy and gin, then downed the shot-glass's contents in a single gulp. He kept his guards and other men around except Renni this time, because he felt that he did his fair share today.

"Thank you boss."
Guess it was a good thing I didn't go strait for the hookers. Renni thought walking away.

The armory (where else?) was quite. No one else seemed to be even near it, and that helped Renni concentrate. He cleaned his shotgun, checked, and rechecked inventory, did anything he could down there. Getting bored of that, Renni patrolled. Why take a break when they could show up any moment? He placed bags with a few clips of ammo in key defensible positions along with a few weapons. Why make everyone run to the armory? Dam, what have I been doing with my life? Never looking to rank up, and never doing anything but take care of the compound! These thoughts irritated but Renni but he persisted. Finished this task, he went outside and practiced his Wych fire. (srry... can I change my spell?) Hitting the same spot then making the green flames sizzle out of existence.

(Sure, you can change it)

Dominic felt a bit sorry for Renni. He worked so hard, yet he never got to rank up, nor did he ask to. He thought for a moment, then went to the spell practice range. He approached the man, "You've been working so hard lately, I think you deserve a promotion. How about it? You'll have a bigger role in our victories if you choose to be promoted".

It had taken quite some time, but here it was, in her hands. The list that would make her family immortal forever: Every casino, supporter, informant, and back-ally business of worth involved with the Marinotti's. Many Mecacci soldati had already gone out on runs, not using the usual Mecacci colors, of course, to take out smaller supporters one by one. The movement would be subtle, gradual--too small at first for the Marinotti to notice. By the time Daniela and the other Caporegime started taking out bigger targets, the Marinotti would already be quite busy defending their own compound. No doubt, they were only preparing to defend their own house, today, and considering how late it already was, chances were they'd given up on seeing the Mecacci at all.

Checking up on her sister, she saw that Daniela and the others were prepared. Viola then went out with the majority of the solodati, many of whom were already warmed up after a morning of raids and murders. "Time to storm the castle, men. Once we've cleared the place, everybody gets a share of what we find, and for every Marinotti head you bring me, I'll double your salary; bring me five and I'll give you a spell. It's now or never... Make me proud." There was a cheer, and the motorcade of soldati, splitting off into groups, made its way toward the compound. My favorite part, thought Viola, is that they appear to only have one door. We'll have them pinned like rats.

The appearance of his compound having only one door was just an illusion, and a good one Dominic thought. His whole attacks were based on illusions.
"They're coming. Brace yourselves, men". Marinotti soldati piled in and out of the armory, grabbing as much ammo and weaponry as they could muster. Dominic made the men hide away in several spots along the compound, including in the bushes. He readied tendrils of darkness to ensnare the Mecacci soldati, he'd focused his tendrils along easy to miss spots in a setup for an ambush.

Dominic sent most of his soldiers, however, into the places he controlled. The Marinotti vehicles were redone to make them look like vehicles the Mecaccis would drive. Soldati piled into these places, securing all nooks and crannies and waiting for the attacks to be launched.

He then sent the rest of his soldiers that weren't posted anywhere to attempt to take over the businesses that the Mecaccis had, starting with their best-guarded casino.

Marinotti soldati sneaked into places around the casino. They were dressed in dark clothing to hide them among the shadows. One of the Marinotti men popped a silenced pistol shot at one of the Mecacci snipers. The area around the casino provided excellent cover for anyone in a shootout.

(wait... Renni and Dominic are at the compound... right?)

"No boss. I will stay at this rank. Ain't nothin' worth buyin' that I ain't got."
(I don't know where the shooting is so thats all i've got to say.)

(Yes they are, but Dominic quickly radioed all his soldiers to their positions. Neither of them are at the shootings, I was playing one of the soldati for a second, as I will be doing periodically.)

"Alright. You seemed bothered there, I don't like seeing my men stressed out, it doesn't do well for their fighting spirit" Dominic said. "I radioed all of my men, well, besides you of course, to protect our compound and our other assets. We need to guard the compound too."


A Marinotti soldati positioned himself atop of Sammy's Deli, he watched the streets through the scope. "Mario, you're going to do it. You'll bring down some of them" he said to himself. He hid himself well and looked down his scope for anything suspicious.

After training for weeks, the trail of Mecacci cars converged on the Compound, storming the main door en masse. Thousands of cars, it seemed, in every color, style, and make; they seemed pile to the brim with soldati, as well. They looked like clown cars, as Mecacci, armed to the teeth, gushed from every door. The crowd was fired into, and although a few fell, many didn't. All onlookers could tell instantly that something wasn't right, though the army of soldati was still unnerving to watch.

The Marinotti soldati fired back, downing some of the opposing soldati. Spells from the Marinotti soldiers flew to their targets, were blocked, or hit. Fire, Water, Darkness, Light, Air, and Earth. All used in a battle that seemed meaningless to most, but meant everything to those involved. Many Marinotti died, but slightly more Mecaccis were going to their graves and quickly. Dominic fired his Magnum into the crowd of the Mecaccis, hitting a few but not injuring them that badly.