Chapter 26: Fall of the Spinelli Family

"You have no idea, do you Spinelli?" TJ asked rhetorically.

Spinelli still provided the expected shaking of her head.

"The anguish and pain, the hatred and love that your kin have given me." TJ spoke towards the wall but Spinelli know he was talking to her though se had no idea what he meant about her kin. She has no kin that he knew of.

"Let me tell you the story of a boy. He was just 14 when he went to the streets, another poor, vulnerable bastard for the fodder of gang warfare. He survived for a few months with a local gang. That boy was in the church gunfight that that one kid got killed all those years ago. His gang was wiped out shortly after but he was spared as one of the higher ups of his would be killers noticed his skills. He was taken in by this new gang and worked his way up the ranks to being a scared, lowly boy up to one of the most trusted lieutenants of this crime Family. He was favored with the grace of all three heads of the Family and even had a daughter with one of the heads. Now that boy has grown into a man and wants to takeover the Family for himself." TJ recited his little tale to Spinelli in a low, thick voice. Spinelli had unconsciously taken several steps back away from TJ because of the voice he was using.

"Now let's add some names to these people shall we, Ashley?" TJ said turning to Spinelli who was too frightened by this new side of TJ that she didn't snap at him about her name. "The higher upper in the gang can be, Vito…"

Spinelli sharply took in a breathe at the sound of that name. 'It's just coincidence' Spinelli reasoned with herself.

"One of the heads, Joey… The one that bore this man a daughter, Florence…"

Spinelli backed up a few more steps, backed into a wall and sank down clutching her hands to her chest as TJ stepped nearer towards. The names were just to chilling to make any sense. And yet this new TJ didn't make any sense either.

"The daughter's name, Ashley…"

Now TJ was right in Spinelli's face having knelt down so that that they were looking eye to eye. He spoke slowly; "And the boy… is… me…"

TJ got up as Spinelli's eyes widened with shock and she shut them tightly shaking her head. It all was a bad dream she wanted desperately to wake up from.

"Vito saved me, Joey taught me; for these I am grateful. But Flo used and abused me and my daughter, so this the Family will pay for…"

"A single gunshot echoed through the neighborhood. Jet had started his job, now he would finish it. Now Theodore Jeremy, stop playing with your sister's hair" Ashley scolded one of her younger grandchildren.

"You're a big boy of 17 now TJ, surely you can stand to listen to me crone on for a few more minutes."

"Sorry Nana."

"What happened next Nana?" Ashley's granddaughter Rebecca asked.

"Well Jet went on to dispose of that little girl's mean mother and her brothers. Then Jet disappeared. No one ever saw or heard from him again." Ashley said finishing her story.

"Never Nana?" Rebecca asked.

"Nope, never, but I think he went somewhere far away where he could be in peace." Ashley said looking up at the mantle where several pictures and war decorations were displayed. Among them were nine Purple Hearts, three Medals of Honor, a Silver Star, and a pair of Silver Crosses. All of these had been sent to Ashley over the years. Lastly, sitting as the centerpiece was a Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Master Sergeant Theodore Jeremiah Detwieller.

Here it is. A shocker wasn't' it. TJ kills Spin and then leaves. I'm sure very few were expecting that. I'm also very shocked at the lack of reviews. Maybe I should just leave it at this and not write the happy ending. Holler!

LockDown over and out…