Barring an emergency, Elijah liked to be in bed with his wife well before midnight. He needed seven hours of sleep each night or he would be cantankerous the following day. Getting enough rest wasn't always possible considering he woke up each morning at exactly 6:15. Therefore, he was not pleased when his phone began ringing shortly before 3 o'clock. Normally, a death at his younger brother's nightclub would be an annoyance but not reason enough to force Elijah out of his warm bed. The Salvatore family's consigliere, John Gilbert, dying in Niklaus' club required his immediate attention. Elijah knew that his brother would not be stupid enough to whack one of their allies in his own club. However, circumstances that were far more innocuous had ignited bloody mob wars in the past. Elijah would not allow that to happen on his watch.

He had reluctantly abandoned his bed after explaining the situation to Hayley. Elijah wanted her to understand that he might be out of touch for the rest of the day. He had also instructed her to stay home with their children until he knew what was happening. The Mikaelson and Salvatore organizations were civilized men that lived by a code. They would never strike against innocent women and children as a means of retaliation. However, Elijah did not know if John Gilbert's death was the plot of a third party. Perhaps someone was trying to force a wedge between the two families by breeding suspicion. Their rivals had already begun to circle as they sniffed out the upheaval in the Salvatore organization. They were looking for any cracks in the thirty-year-old alliance that had suffocated their competition.

Elijah took just enough time to double the security for his family and certain business interests. He was especially concerned about the safety of Freya and her children. They lived nearly an hour away in a community near Santa Monica. The rest of his siblings had their own places but still spent the majority of the time in their childhood home. Once those security arrangements were in place Elijah got on the road. He was worried about Niklaus interacting with Damon. The two men had been bitter rivals since they were children. They behaved like oil and water whenever they had the misfortune of being in the same room. Alcohol and drugs only made them more volatile and unpredictable. Elijah could only assume that they were both impaired this late on a Saturday night. Marcellus was there to help serve as a buffer but Niklaus could be notoriously stubborn. Elijah and perhaps Rebekah were the only persons capable of managing his infamous temper. Although his brother had been unnervingly calm lately.

He had been keeping a close eye on his younger brother since he learned of his transgressions. He had quizzed Rebekah extensively about any romantic entanglements Niklaus had before his stint in prison. She wasn't able to provide Elijah with the details that he needed. She had confessed to knowing that Niklaus had been infatuated with an underage girl the summer before his incarceration. She even told Elijah that she had become concerned for the girl's safety after reading one of their brother's journals. Rebekah insisted that she never learned the girl's identity because Niklaus only referred to her as petal. However, Elijah didn't believe that his sister was being entirely forthcoming. As a child, Rebekah had often lied to protect Niklaus from Mikael's wrath. Elijah was offended that she believed their brother needed protection from him. Then again, it wasn't as if he had ever done anything to protect Niklaus from Mikael or Esther. Perhaps she believed his declarations of love for their brother were merely lip service.

The dapper crime boss received an urgent text message from his nephew as his driver found a parking space behind the nightclub. Andrew was concerned that Niklaus was about to have an epic brawl with Damon Salvatore. Apparently, the two men had been trading insults for the last ten minutes. However, the conversation had grown heated unexpectedly. Andrew was trying to calm down his uncle without much success. Elijah couldn't believe that Niklaus had even allowed their underage nephew into his club. Freya was going to throw a strop when she found out that Andrew had been present when John died. She was still in denial about her son's future. Freya still hoped that he would become a doctor but Elijah knew better. Andrew had changed his major without telling his mother. He had chosen a path that would be useful to the organization one day—Business Administration.

Elijah climbed out of the car and walked around to the front of the club with Vincent Griffith following him. He had stopped to pick the man up on his way to the club. His friend/second-in-command was there to help him keep the peace with the Salvatores. Vincent was set to retire soon but he would still have a role in the organization. Elijah valued his counsel and analytical thinking too much let him go. His skills would be particularly useful in these tumultuous times.

He walked into the club and sighed deeply because Niklaus and Damon were tussling on the dance floor. Andrew, Marcellus, Enzo, and Mason were trying to break up the scuffle before someone threw the first punch. Elijah wished that Alaric and Zacharias were there to help him play referee for the boys. Talking sense into Damon's stubborn head was a bit of a challenge for the older man. He had a friendly relationship with Damon and there was mutual respect. However, the new don of the Salvatore organization wouldn't want to be seen as taking orders to stand down from the head of another organization. Elijah understood Damon's position better than most.

Vincent shook his head. He got the feeling that he would have to delay his retirement plans. He was starting to have doubts about Niklaus taking his position. It seemed that his time in prison had done little more than make him more vicious and entitled. Elijah had something of a blind spot where his younger brother was concerned. Vincent wasn't certain if that blind spot stemmed from love, guilt, or some amalgamation of both.

"Don't you mention my fucking wife!" Damon bellowed as he jabbed a finger into Klaus' chest.

Damon and Bonnie's relationship was a festering wound so of course Niklaus just had to poke at it. Earlier, he had been angry and jealous when he saw how his wife was dressed. It was a bitter reminder that she didn't want or need him any longer. The liquor had loosened his tongue and he had spewed pure vitriol at the woman he had vowed to love for the rest of his life. Before tonight, he had never hurled a single derogatory word at Bonnie. He had never wanted to be like his father. Giuseppe used words to bludgeon his family as often as he used his fists. The old man always knew the combination of words to make them feel worthless. Damon hated himself for doing that to Bonnie.

Niklaus chuckled darkly. "Is Bonnie still your wife? I have heard rumors that she is living with her mother. Besides, Marcel told me that she looked single tonight in her little gold dress with no ring on her finger. I'm sorry that I missed seeing that."

Elijah closed his eyes in exasperation because he knew the punch was coming before it even connected with Niklaus' jaw. His brother had an uncanny ability to say exactly the wrong thing at the worst possible time.

Klaus' head snapped to the side from the power of Damon's punch. His manic grin put his blood stained teeth on display. Then he threw an uppercut that connected with Damon's chin. "Did I touch a sore spot, Damon? Everyone knows that Bonnie married beneath her."

"You son of a bitch," Damon roared as he punched Klaus again.

"Yes, my mother is an unmitigated bitch. She also happens to be an adulterous whore. I'm sure you'd both get along swimmingly," he quipped. Then he elbowed Damon in the stomach hard enough to knock the air out of him for a few seconds.

Enzo threw a punch that caught Klaus in the kidney. Damon wasn't the only person that had bad blood with Niklaus. The man had a knack for making enemies wherever he went.

"Oi! What do you think you're playing at?" Andrew asked. He slammed his forehead into Enzo's face hard enough to break his nose.

The older man stumbled backward and cupped a hand under his bleeding nose. His eyes narrowed and he prepared to pummel the little prick that had headbutted him. He went straight for the 19-year-old college student.

The boy swallowed nervously and squared his shoulders as he prepared for impact. He had been in a few minor scrapes before but he knew Enzo's reputation as a brutally efficient hitman.

However, Niklaus moved in front of Andrew. He flashed a sharp grin at Enzo as he opened his jacket to flash the Glock holstered on his hip. He said, "This is a friendly fight where no one has to die. All of that changes if you put your hands on my nephew. The lad walloped you for throwing a cheap shot at me. Take it in stride."

Damon understood Enzo's desire to retaliate. He also understood Klaus' position. Damon would have felt the same way if it were Stefan in Andrew's place. He held a hand up and said, "Take a walk, Enzo."

Damon was glad that he had sent Stefan home once John's body was transported to the morgue. However, his little brother's night was far from over. Stefan had a pulse on all of the civilians, law enforcement, and public officials on their payroll. Stefan didn't get his hands dirty but the boy was a wizard when it came to managing assets—both human and financial. Damon thought his brother's guileless personality made people trust him. However, Stefan was as crooked as they came even if he wasn't a murderer. Damon wanted his brother to ensure their man in the medical examiner's office got first crack at John's body. He needed to know the results of the autopsy before anyone else did. Depending on the ME's findings, Stefan might have to arrange for a falsified autopsy report. Damon had to control the narrative around John's death—no matter the official cause.

The hitman glared at Niklaus but he knew better than to contradict Damon at a time like this. He turned around and headed to the restroom so he could clean up.

Elijah said, "At a time when our enemies are looking for any signs of weakness, the two of you decide to fistfight as if you are on the playground. Thank God there aren't any civilians here to witness this childish display."

Klaus rolled his eyes at his older brother. Elijah didn't know what it meant to have fire in his veins. He could be a brutal killer when necessary but he was always aloof about it. On the other hand, Niklaus took great pleasure in his work. He turned around to check on Andrew. "Are you alright?"

He nodded and tried to disguise his nervousness. "Yes."

The older man grinned at his nephew and ruffled the boy's dark brown hair. "Are you sure? Because your mother will kill me if a hair your perfect little head was harmed."

Andrew let out an embarrassed groan. "Mom will flip if she finds out that I was even here."

Klaus smiled at him. "Then we just won't tell her. Go get yourself a drink. You have earned it."

Elijah frowned in disapproval. "One drink, Andrew. Then I will have someone take you home."

"Okay, Uncle Elijah."

Niklaus motioned for Marcel to follow the boy.

Marcel the put his arm around Andrew's shoulders and steered him over to the bar. "What'll you have, kiddo?" he asked.

Elijah walked closer and asked, "What was this dust up about? I hope you don't believe that my family had anything to do with John's death."

Damon spit blood onto the floor and then finger combed his dark hair away from his face. "No, it is nothing like that. The medical examiner's preliminary assessment was a drug overdose. My people confirmed that John had been popping ecstasy and snorting cocaine tonight. Klaus just doesn't know when to mind his own fucking business."

Elijah was glad to hear that this fight had been benign. It wasn't the first time the two men had drawn blood from each other. It probably wouldn't be the last time considering their tempers and propensity for violence. He looked at his younger brother. "What happened, brother?"

"Damon overreacted to a simple inquiry. I heard from one of the waitresses that Bonnie looked distressed when Damon approached her tonight. I just asked if everything was okay and he flew off the handle," Niklaus explained.

The crime boss knew that his brother was downplaying the situation. Niklaus had razor sharp wit and often didn't know when to leave well enough alone. He had also noticed that his brother had an inappropriate level of interest in Bonnie Bennett-Salvatore. Recently, Niklaus had pumped Hayley for information about Bonnie. She had revealed a great deal of information before she became suspicious of his intentions. "I am sure that Niklaus is very sorry that he overstepped while speaking about your wife. My brother's socialization skills may have been dulled a bit while he was incarcerated with brutes. I hope that you can forgive his impetuousness."

Damon used a handkerchief to dab at the blood on his face. He felt stupid for letting the smug bastard goad him into a fight. However, he did wonder why Niklaus decided to start a fight with him that night. It was stupefying and needlessly reckless but Damon would never make the mistake of believing Klaus was stupid. He nodded. "We are all on edge tonight because of what John's death could mean. I am willing to let bygones be bygones."

Niklaus wanted to push Damon's buttons more but he didn't feel like getting an even longer lecture from his older brother. "I am sorry, Damon. My brother is right that after five years in prison my interpersonal skills could use some refinement. It will not happen again."

"Apology accepted," Damon replied.

Elijah asked, "Could I possibly speak to my brother for a moment?"

Damon nodded. "I need to call my uncles anyway. They were supposed to have arrived already. I should find out what's the hold up."

They were all supposed to meet at Klaus' club to discuss John's death and Giuseppe's ever looming presence. Damon didn't suspect foul play. He couldn't fathom someone going to the trouble of poisoning John in a crowded nightclub when a bullet from a sniper's rifle would have been just as effective. Damon generally subscribed to the philosophy of Occam's razor: the simplest explanation was usually correct.

However, there was a little voice in the back of Damon's head that felt unsettled by the situation. He wondered if this was some an elaborate plan hatched by his demented father to sow seeds of distrust. Elijah's friendship with Alaric guaranteed that the Mikaelson organization would side with Damon. Furthermore, John Gilbert had pledged his emphatic support after Giuseppe's deadly escape plan. He even managed to sweet talk a few of the last holdouts to back Damon. John had realized that the old man did not have a snowball's chance in hell of maintaining control of the organization. Giuseppe had burned one too many bridges when he wantonly slaughtered loyal Salvatore soldiers. Those men's families had thrown their full support behind Damon. In return, he promised to give his father a death befitting a mad tyrant.

Elijah motioned for his brother to follow him. "Let's move this discussion to your office, Niklaus."

The man ran a hand over his blond curls before dutifully walking to his office. He locked the door once they were safely inside.

"What were you thinking?"

Klaus sighed dramatically and sat behind his glass top desk. He asked, "About what, brother?"

"Frankly, I do not know where to begin, Niklaus. Let's start with your brilliant reasoning behind allowing Andrew into your club tonight," Elijah suggested. He sat down across from his brother with a stern set to his jaw.

He said, "You should be speaking with Kol about that. I found him and Andrew at Full Moon. I was about to take the boy home to Freya when Marcel called me about what happened here."

Elijah's frown deepened. "Why on Earth would Kol take Andrew to a gentleman's club?"

"Kol thinks our nephew is gay. He got the bright idea to test his theory at my club by arranging a threesome with two of top my dancers. Fortunately, one of the girls sought my approval before anything untoward occurred."

Elijah looked genuinely dumbfounded for a moment. Then he asked, "What?"

Klaus shook his head. "You will have to speak with Kol. I don't know what he was thinking. Nor do I understand why he believes it matters if Andrew does enjoy the company of men."

The older man rubbed his temples. His brothers were going to send him to an early grave. "I will handle Kol. Thank you for intervening. Freya would have never let me hear the end of it."

"I was not going to allow Kol to bully our nephew into proving his manhood in such a ridiculous way."

"Do you care to explain what the hell happened between you and Damon?"

Niklaus tried hard to suppress his trademark smirk. "It was merely a joke gone badly, brother. I was ribbing Damon and I admit it went too far. He said some very unkind things to me and I responded by hitting him where I knew it would hurt. I recognize now that I should have shown more restraint. You are right these are precarious times. In the future, I will be more mindful that I am no longer a lone wolf. My words and actions reflect upon our family and organization."

Elijah was immediately suspicious of Klaus' reasoned and incredibly self-aware response. He had expected to encounter more resistance and petulance.

"You seem disappointed," Klaus remarked with a chuckle.

"No, I am not disappointed. I would love to believe that you are taking your position in our family seriously, Niklaus. However, you have to understand why I am suspicious. I was not privy to the beginning of your argument with Damon but I saw the end. Those accusations about his marriage were not simply counter blows. They were targeted and you drew great pleasure when those strikes landed."

He took a relaxed posture in his chair. "I do not know what you would like for me to say, Elijah. You know that there is no love lost between Damon and me. We have never gotten along. However, I will endeavor to do better in the future. I know once I am your second-in-command I will be required to interact with him on a regular basis. I will not let you down, brother."

Elijah mentally counted that as a second strike. Something was well and truly out of place here. "Why did you ask Hayley about Damon's wife?"

Klaus was caught off guard by his brother's question. He had implored Hayley to keep their conversation private. There was a time when his dimpled smile would have been enough to secure her compliance. However, in his absence Hayley had actually fallen in love with Elijah. Oh, she still loved Niklaus…that much was readily apparent. Only it was a familial love. She loved him in the way a woman should love her brother-in-law. It seemed his charms would no longer sway her.

Fortunately, Niklaus was always quick on his feet when it came to lying. "The night of my party, I was present for a conversation between Damon, Stefan, and their uncles. The conversation preceded the fight that I mentioned to you."

Elijah nodded because he did recall having that conversation with Niklaus. He had been surprised to hear that Damon and Stefan had resorted to fisticuffs in such a public venue. He found himself intrigued by the conversation that Niklaus had failed to mention at the time. "Well, don't leave me in suspense."

"I didn't get all the details but it seems as if there is trouble in paradise. Stefan accused Damon of not protecting Bonnie from Giuseppe. He also mentioned that she is often depressed because of Damon's infidelity and neglect. She is also pregnant."

Certain pieces began slotting into place as he integrated this information with what he already knew. Alaric and Damon had not told him their reasons behind the decision to unseat Giuseppe ahead of schedule. However, the timing of everything made more sense now. Bonnie's pregnancy wasn't a surprise. Hayley had told him the night of Erik's christening.

Unfortunately, Niklaus' explanation for his behavior left Elijah even more unsettled. Why would he purposefully provoke Damon when he knew their marriage was on the rocks? Elijah was starting to formulate an uncomfortable theory about his brother's interest in young Bonnie. He could extract the truth from Niklaus but it would come at a price. Proving his theory correct would put Elijah in a difficult position. He knew it was a cowardly move but he decided to drop his line of questioning. Damon and Niklaus had apologized to each other and they were primed to move forward. Nothing good would come from opening a door that was better left closed.

His phone chimed when he received a text message but he ignored it. He said, "Stop."

"What?" Niklaus asked. His forehead wrinkled with genuine confusion.

He said, "I do not know what you are up to, Niklaus. I do not want to know. However, I do want you to stop—right now. Your interest or curiosity about Bonnie and her marriage is inappropriate and dangerous. To the wrong ears, it could be misconstrued. Do not mention her again unless it is absolutely necessary. Even then, you will speak of her respectfully and in the briefest of terms. If I have to broach this subject again with you…I will not be as pleasant. I have welcomed you back into the fold with open arms. I have given you dominion over our largest parcel of territory. Soon you will hold a position of great power in our organization. You have unfettered access to Hope. All of these things can disappear at a moment's notice."

Niklaus blinked as he realized that Elijah was getting closer to a truth that he could never learn. It would put him in an impossible situation. The same impossible situation that had prompted Finn to orchestrate Niklaus' incarceration. He had been stunned when Elijah told him of their brother's involvement. Niklaus had yet to speak to Finn because he was furious. Prison had not been easy for him even with all the protection and luxuries his family's money and connections provided. However, he also understood his older brother's decision. Finn had done what was necessary to protect Bonnie and prevent a bloody mob war. Niklaus had no doubt that Sheila would have killed him if she had learned the truth. In a strange way, Niklaus felt some gratitude to Finn for stopping him. He had hurt Bonnie and done some real damage to her emotionally over the span of a few months. Klaus didn't want to contemplate how much worse things might have become if he had more time with her.

Lately, he found himself thinking about the night of Mikael's funeral. He had hurt her. More importantly, she had been terrified of him. He had been angry, distraught, and violent. He had recklessly unleashed all of that on a 16-year-old girl too afraid to ask him to stop and too ashamed to seek help from anyone but God. He would have done far worse to Bonnie that night if they had more time alone. The way he had enjoyed her tearful humiliation as she gagged around his length made him feel sick to his stomach now. He had wanted to hurt some as badly as he was hurting at the time. Bonnie had been the perfect victim.

He nodded, "You have my word, brother."

Elijah checked his phone and stood. He said, "Alaric and Zacharias have arrived. We shouldn't make them wait any longer."

Niklaus followed him to the door.

The older man stopped and leveled a serious gaze at his brother. "I love you, brother. I am sorry for all the ways that I have failed you. I know that I stood by and allowed Father to hurt you for far too long. I will wear my cowardice like a scarlet letter until I draw my last breath. However, your actions have consequences and could put us all at risk. Father called you a loose cannon and a lost cause. I refuse to believe that about you. Prove him wrong, Niklaus."

Klaus swallowed thickly as his brother walked out of the office. He took a moment to gather his wits before following him.

Elijah motioned to one of his bodyguards. He said, "Make sure my nephew gets home safely."

The man nodded. "Yes, sir."

He looked to his nephew. "I want to see you this afternoon to discuss tonight's adventures."

Andrew said, "Okay."

He watched the guard escort the boy out of the club before he turned his attention to Alaric. The two men embraced.

Ric took a step back and said, "Thank you for coming out tonight. I know it's late."

He said, "It is fine. I am sorry for your loss. I have heard through the grapevine that you have lost quite a few men this week."

His blue eyes looked tired and he had bags under his eyes. Alaric could count on two hands the number of hours he had slept since Giuseppe killed and injured so many of their soldiers. "Unfortunately, the rumors are true. John is the eighth person that has died this week."

"Let's all have a seat," Elijah suggested. He felt sympathy for his old friend. He was glad that Mikael's reign had ended at the bottom of a ravine.

Marcel had pushed a couple tables together to accommodate the group.

Damon, Zach, Mason, and Alaric sat on one side of the makeshift table. Meanwhile Elijah, Vincent, Niklaus, and Marcel sat on the other side of the table.

Enzo stood guard near the entrance. Damon had not invited him to sit at the table with the rest of the big boys. Enzo glared at Mason. The two men were always civil and professional but they disliked each other. Enzo could admit that the negative vibes had come from him first and Mason merely returned them wholeheartedly. Enzo's latest complaint was that the bastard was next in line for the underboss position. He figured as Damon's best friend and right hand man that the job should be his. However, Mason was the golden boy because he was a Loiacono. The St. John family did not have the same storied history with the Salvatores.

Damon said, "As I told you, the medical examiner said that John's preliminary cause of death is a drug overdose. We do not believe that this was an assassination by our enemies. I am sorry that one of my associates drew a negative spotlight to your club, Klaus."

Zach reached for one of the carafes and poured two cups of coffee. He slid one of the cups to his nephew without even looking in his direction. Stefan had called earlier to give him the rundown on Damon's argument with Bonnie. Then he saw the aftermath of his fight with Klaus. Damon seemed off kilter when they spoke. He could tell it wasn't just alcohol or John's death putting him on edge. He would lay money on his nephew having used cocaine tonight. Zach would confront him about it later. He was willing to support his alcoholic nephew as boss of the family. Zach was a functional alcoholic, too. However, he would not support a reckless cokehead.

The blonde mobster nodded. He said, "No apology necessary, Damon. You have to expect a drug overdose or two when you manage a club that is this popular."

Marcel added, "We have connections in the vice squad. This night will be forgotten by the time New Year's Eve rolls around."

Damon picked up the cup of coffee and sipped it. "We do have a problem that we would like to bring to your attention. We believe that Giuseppe is in the area and that he may be planning an attack against us. He has limited resources and very few allies. However, he may strike against your organization as well."

Elijah nodded. "I expected as much. I have already increased security around my family and our business interests. We will be ready if Giuseppe moves against us. Is there anything we can do to assist you?"

Damon said, "We would be grateful if you could make sure your people understand that the Salvatore organization is under new management. I would appreciate a heads up if he reaches out to any of your people."

"I will make sure that is abundantly clear to everyone."

"Thank you," Damon replied. He felt awkward coming to Elijah hat in hand. However, Giuseppe running around unchecked was bad for business. They couldn't focus on earning if they were worried about a being attacked.

Alaric said, "Damon has put a bounty on Giuseppe's head with our own people. We feel confident that we will find him soon."

"If there is anything more that we can do…let us know," Elijah replied.

"We will," Ric said.

Damon said, "My uncle said that there was some issue with one of our rivals?"

Vincent explained, "The Dezerians have begun inching into our shared territory around the Cali-Oregon border. It is nothing extensive for now. However, our people are encountering packets of heroin with their logo stamped on it."

The Salvatores and Mikaelsons had decided to split the area in half. The Salvatores operated on the border in Oregon, while the Mikaelsons operated on the border in California. Either way they controlled what contraband crossed state lines. More to the point, they received a cut of anything transported through the area.

Damon frowned. "We haven't heard anything from our people. They may have decided to test your side of the border first."

Zach said, "I will speak with the capo that runs things for us up there. We need to know how widespread this is. Do you need our assistance?"

Elijah smiled. "No, I know that you all have many things happening right now. I only wanted to warn you. Niklaus will be traveling north to introduce himself to the Dezerians."

The man in question smiled darkly. Judging by his expression there was no doubt that their rivals would die screaming once he was finished with them. "I'll be sure to give them your regards."