Woodside, NY, 7:34 a.m.
Kelly finally came out his office twenty minutes later than he was suppose to. He looked a lot more cheerier than before. You could even say he was very excited.
"Yep… definitely using own stuff." Eliot thought to himself.
"How's everyone doing this morning?!", Kelly nearly shouted, making everyone confused.
"Why all the long faces? The boss of the year, here!", said Matt as he walks down the stairs and into the crowd. He's giving everyone a high five and making small talk. He stopped when he got in front of Eliot and Jake, "And you…", he says as he's staring at Eliot. The whole warehouse is dead silent, the only noise that could be heard is the sound of the early morning birds. It was so quiet that Kelly startled everyone when he laughed and put his arms around Eliot's shoulders.
"Ha! Had you scared for a minute didn't I?", Eliot shook his head no, " Just a smudge?", Eliot's face remained straight, "Whatever you say, Kane. Now I know there's some mixed feelings about Kane and his way of handing things but he's still works for me. So if I can deal with his tactics then so can the rest of you. Does everyone understand me?"
Everyone seemed as if Kelly had got through to them. But then there was movement in the crowd and out came Paul, Brent, and Ray.
"Actually, we need a little help understanding you.", said Brent.
The smiling Kelly replies, "Sure fellas. What part don't you quite understand?"
"Kane hurt someone in the crew. Usually when that happens, there's some type of consequences. But it seems you've taken a liking of ol' country boy here cause he's been getting away with everything."
"Getting away with everything? I don't think so. But you are right, I do like Kane. But I've already said that his tactics are different but they get the job done. So what's the real problem that you guys are having? Does it has something to do with J.C.'s injuries?
"YOU DAMN RIGHT IT'S ABOUT J.C.! KANE'S ASS SHOULD BE LAYING SOMEWHERE, BEGGING FOR ME TO NOT BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!", yelled out Paul.
"Is that right? Is that how you guys feel, too? Brent? Ray?", asked Kelly
"Yeah if you take away all the passion Paul puts into it. I'm bother by the fact Kane there has no remorse for what he did." said Brent
"How will you know if you never asked him? Hey, Kane! Do you feel bad about what you did to J.C.?", Kelly asked.
"Nope."
Kelly looks back at the men, "He said no…maybe I should do something about that. Any suggestions?"
The men lit up like a kid in a toy store. They were suggesting all types of ways to get revenge. Eliot stopped listening when he seen them come through the crowd.
"Earth to Kane. Are you hearing what they are saying? They're talking wooden sticks with nails.", whispered Jake
"Nope. Stop listening as soon as they started talking. What's up that Ray guy? Is he a mute or something?", replied Eliot.
"I don't know. I've never heard him speak either. But then again I attempt to avoid them because of J.C. Any friends of his must be fucked in the head."
Eliot nodded and attempted to tune into what was happening in front of him.
"BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, IT'LL BE JUST ENOUGH TO GET BACK AT HIM FOR BEATING UP MY BOY." said Paul in his usually loud voice.
"How bad is it, Paul?", asked Kelly
"MAN, HE'S JACKED UP. I MEAN, IS FACE IS LIKE THE MODERN DAY FRANKENSTEIN. HIS LEG IS FUCKED UP FROM THAT LITTLE BITCH TAYLOR. AND HIS ARM HAS THIS UGLY ASS SCAR RIGHT THERE."
"Where's the scar, Paul?"
"RIGHT HERE, BOSS", Paul said while pointing at a spot on his forearm. Kelly pulled out the gun from his waist and shot Paul in the spot where he pointing at. He fell back, screaming. His two friends looked in disbelief as Paul was on the floor screaming his head off.
"Hamil! Seth! Get Paul the hell out of here!", yelled out Kelly. The guy who was joking around and giving everyone high fives was gone and replaced with someone very serious and very agitated.
"Does anyone else have a problem about how I handle the men in my crew. Speak now or forever hold you fucking peace!", yelled a frustrated Kelly.
He got his response when the room remained silent, "Okay then. Before I was distracted by clowns, I was about to say that this Cassio guy is getting on my last fucking nerve. A year ago I ignored that foreign punk because he seemed to be all talk with his fancy toys and suits. But lately he has been getting bold. I'm not going in to detail about what he has done cause you should know and if you don't then your in the wrong place. So I've decided to change the plan. No more of this running bullshit. For now on, we live the life that we are suppose to live. I've got a million dollar a week business and I shouldn't be hiding it! Men…get ready to live like the business men we are. New suits…new homes…hell I'll even buy everyone a new gun. Maybe you all will get two or three guns each!
The men laughed and smiled to Kelly's little pep talk. Everyone except Jake and Eliot.
"He has officially lost his goddamn mind. Being out makes it easier to get hit." Jake whispered to Eliot.
The hitter just nodded his head in agreement with Jake. Eliot knew Cassio was not one to toy with and Kelly's plan to live loud is going to backfire.
"But that's the easy part, guys. The hard part is making sure we all live to enjoy our hard work. That's mean more security than ever before. Now as you all know, New York has always been my number source of success and my main obligation will be to protect it until Cassio is dead. And even after he's gone, it will still be my main obligation cause I know for a fact that another asshole will try to fuck with me. But I'll worry about that later. For now Mark, Mike, Hamil, and Seth will be in charge of security of our operation at the Phoenix. If they tell you to do something, then do it. No bullshit. It is too much shit riding on this. Do I make myself clear?", everyone nodded their heads, "Alright then that's it for now. Everybody out!"
The men started clearing out but then someone shouted out, "Hey boss! What are we going to do about the communication since J.C. is out?"
Kelly turned to the voice and answered, "Don't worry about it. Jake's going to take care of it."
Hearing his name, Jake turned around, "Jake's doing what?"
"Your going to take J.C.'s place. Don't worry about it man, I'll be there with you. You'll be fine.", Kelly replied while walking away.
Jake shook his head and started rapidly walking out the warehouse. Eliot was confused by his friend's sudden change in attitude and tried to keep up as he walked behind Jake. When he finally reached the car, he was slightly out of breath but very upset.
"What the hell's your problem, Jake?! Why did you storm off?", Eliot practically shouted out.
"Do you know what J.C. did?", Eliot shook his head no, "He was more than a body guard. He was Matt's personal message boy. Killings, tasting, beatings…J.C. did all that shit. It worked cause he was cold hearted. I'm not way, man. It's not me."
"Jake you're a grown…little ass man. I'm pretty sure you have enough willpower to say no."
"But Matt's is fucking psycho. He just shot Paul for suggesting methods. Can you imagine what he'll do if I was to tell him no in the middle of business?"
"Then learn how to duck, dammit!"
With a straight face, Jake said, "You are no fucking help, Mick."
A smirking Eliot replied, "Wasn't trying to be.
"Get your ass in the car. Urban Cowboy mother-"
Eliot laughed as he and Jake got in car. Driving off, it was quiet as the only thing that could be heard is the radio playing a song that Eliot couldn't recognize. But as usual, Jake can't live without a conversation.
"Hey, Mick, are you going to miss me?", asked Jake.
"Nope"
"I'm gonna be gone all the time."
"Fine with me."
"Your only drinking buddy isn't going to be there as much."
"I've drunk alone before."
"That's right. Ignore your only friend here."
"I would if you would just shut up and drive."
There was silence for a minute but then Jake started again, "It's okay. You'll have Bonnie to keep you company. Especially on those quiet…looonnnelly nights in a big, luxurious mansion."
"Why does it matter so much to you what's going on with me and Bonnie? You do realize she's in a relationship, right?
"Yeah. And I also realize who she's in a relationship. She could use a little break from Matt."
Eliot didn't say anything back because he didn't want Jake to know that he actually agreed with him and that he wouldn't mind taking Bonnie off his hands for while. For the rest of the ride, it was just him listen to Jake, who never seemed to shut up.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8:56 a.m.
Eliot and Jake arrived in front of the hotel. Kelly, who's car was behind their's, arrived a few seconds later. Eliot lead the men to the hotel room where Bonnie was staying. When they got to the floor, they saw Bonnie, Francine, and Taylor leaving the room. By the look of their faces, they weren't happy to see Kelly.
"Before you ladies say anything", Kelly started, "I'm sorry for everything that happen last night. I should of handled that differently and… Taylor are you okay?", Taylor stays quiet but crosses her arms, "Okay. I deserve that. J.C. had no right coming for you like that. I took care of him and he will never come near any of you again. That's a promise…
The women kept quiet as Kelly continued to beg for their forgiveness. Eliot and Jake constantly looked at each other, thinking the same thing: it's only a matter of time before Kelly goes back to his old ways.
"It's very nice of you to apologize, Matt.", Francine started, "But it's Bonnie's decision. Now I can honestly say that Taylor and I never really thought you were the best guy but if she forgive you then your fine with us. Right, Taylor?"
"I…never liked him anyway. So if she takes him back nothing will change." said a bored Taylor. Everyone in the hallway laughed. "But seriously, I don't like you."
"Well, Bonnie", Kelly grabs her hand, "all eyes are on you. What are we going to do now?"