Chapter Four
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Know Thy Enemy
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Things in Port Charles have been on overdrive as they prepared for the impending invasion of the Zacchara Organization. Jason couldn't understand why they'd allow another organization to enter Sonny's turf, but Sonny insists that it was best for them to not challenge the other organization until it was absolutely necessary. They needed to show the Five Families that they had the ability to honor their wishes without pushing boundaries. They had already put themselves on thin ice with attacking Sorel while they had been deliberating his fate. Though they had inevitably sided with them, it had been too late, Jason had already taken Sorel out the day before.
"What do you make of the Zacchara family choosing here to set up shop?" Francis, his closest friend, questions as they stand watch over the unloading of shipments.
"Don't know." Jason admits, which frustrates him the most. "Sonny says the girl's from town."
"Which explains the acceptance to the move." Francis shakes his head. "Since Sonny's not initially from town, they decided he had no true claim to the territory."
"He's held it long enough to own it." Jason counters plainly. "I don't like this, Fran."
"Who knows, maybe they aren't as crazy as the old man." Francis suggests. "They could be quite sane."
"Entering into Sonny's territory knowing the kind of backing he has is the opposite of sane."
"True." Francis accepts. "Well, guess we'll just have to wait and see like everyone else."
"Or we can send O'Brien on a surveillance run."
"Or we can do that." Francis chuckles. "You know he hates that, right?"
"I know."
"I'll let him know what he just volunteered for then."
"Tell him to start with the waterfront." Jason says simply. "I saw delivery trucks heading there on my way here."
"Understood."
Standing firm in his spot, Jason tries to think through the next steps in preparation for the impending arrival of the opposing family. More than anything, he wanted to be at the meeting with Sonny, but enforcers weren't welcome and he was forced to stay behind and watch over things in town. It was both a good and bad thing because it gave him a chance to prevent any premature moves on the Zacchara side. They had been smart though and waited until after they got approval before their people entered town. All that told him, however, is that they are being extra careful with their move, bringing up more questions as far as their intentions are concerned.
"I just volunteered for what?" Johnny looks at his partner in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"Straight outta Jason's mouth." Francis said with a smirk. "He wants you to start with their waterfront purchases."
"Ugh!"
"He could always just shoot you instead." Francis counters. "Seeing as you chose his baby sister, of all people."
"Right." Johnny shakes his head. "Fine, I'll do it."
"That's what I thought." Francis shakes his head. "Report to Jason directly."
Though Jason has chosen to accept them together, he still insists on giving Johnny all the low level jobs to accomplish when the mood hits. Seeing as he has done everything to keep his sister out of the line of fire, Jason wasn't happy at all that she has decided to be with someone in the business. Having promised his sister that he wouldn't kill Johnny, he has remarked on the ability to shoot him without killing him. Francis was a good go between when it came to them, but sometimes the other man got a twisted kick out of seeing him squirm.
Sliding his gloves into place, Johnny makes his way to the Zacchara properties to see what was up with their move to town. Personally, he didn't see how prematurely scoping out a place would do them any good, but he wasn't in a position to question such orders. They want him to scope out the place, he'll scope out the place. Skillfully making his way to the first building, Johnny makes his way inside quite easily, clearly their security has yet to be implemented. Looking about the room, he takes pictures here and there, actually intrigued by what is being created it that space.
Putting away the camera, he continues on to the next couple buildings, seeing a similar theme throughout. Getting the pictures he needed, Johnny packs up and heads to the building in the center of town where he assumes they'll house their offices. The place was big, huge actually, which made it easy for him to get into the place undetected by the few employees that they had in place. Nothing of particular importance has been moved into town just yet, not that he expected there to be anything. So far, they seem quite capable and only an idiot will move their important files before security is set.
"What is all this?" Jason questions him when he shows up at the warehouse with the pictures a couple hours later.
"An art exhibition." Johnny says carefully with an arched eyebrow. "Have you never been to one?"
"Never saw the point." Jason says plainly, shoving the pictures into his jacket pocket to show Sonny later. "That it?"
"Their inventory circles artistic elements basically. One building houses paintings and sculptures. The other musical instruments, not to mention one killer grand piano." Johnny comments. "Looks like they're setting up a store of some kind in the third building. Nothing really too important as far as the business goes."
"What about their other building?"
"Nothing in place yet. Just a couple guards keeping watch." Johnny assures. "Doesn't look like they've moved much of anything into town. The place was practically empty."
"You can go."
Turning away from Johnny, he heads up to the office to get started on the paperwork he has been putting off. Clearly these people weren't amateurs and that meant that he had to keep an eye for them when they finally touch down in Port Charles. Whatever they were up to, Jason isn't too sure that they're completely harmless to their organization. One way or another, he'll find out their true intentions in coming to their town. One way or another, he'll end the threat they pose and ensure the safety of all the people he cares about.
After receiving a text from Spinelli, Elizabeth logs into her laptop, bringing up the security feed from their assets in Port Charles. With a slight smile, she watches as one of Corinthos' men make their way through the buildings, a smug look on his face. Clearly he believes that they hadn't set up security yet. An assumption that she'll gladly let them keep believing. She wants to see their hand before she plays her own. The fact that they went looking into their assets already means that they are pushing buttons already. Good. It'll make their arrival that much more interesting.
Note: Jason...rattled? Hmm...