Gabriel wanted a front row seat for this. It had taken a lot of nudging to get everyone on the same page but finally it was here. Papa Joe's big finale.
Gabriel was standing next to the bailiff and he was bored. He amused himself for a few moments by tickling the man's ear and watching the guy try to maintain his calm. It amused him for all of five minutes so he eavesdropped on the conversations around him to pass the time.
A couple of reporters in the press box upstairs were discussing Yakavetta and comparing him to Gotti. Yakavetta was going to walk, and Yakavetta was putting on a good show. Wasn't going to help him any.
Gabriel knew the moment Smecker opened the door for the twins. So much for coming attractions he thought, on with the show!
"Really Gabriel, a public execution? You had to know it would make me curious as to why you personally decided to take a hand in this one's demise. He doesn't exactly fit your usual victim profile you know?" Death said as he popped into existence beside him. Holding out a small brown bag he said "Fried shrimp? I got them at a little hole in the wall snack vendor in Seoul, they are very good."
"No thanks, I brought my own snacks." Gabriel said unwrapping a chocolate bar. "This is going to be bloody." He smirked.
Death nodded at Yakavetta who spouting some nonsense about being with his mother while murder was being committed in his name. "Does he honestly think that not being present at the place of death absolves him of responsibility? What an annoying little germ."
"You don't know how annoying." Gabriel took a bite of chocolate, chewed and swallowed. "He keeps lighting these novena candles to me. I finally had to gather up every one of the damned things in the Eastern half of the US and drop them in a wormhole."
"No wonder you chose to arrange such a public end for him." Death was now loudly slurping on a soda. "Do you honestly think that anyone is going to pay attention to the point you are trying to make? It's not like the papers will be screaming headlines of 'Don't piss off the Archangel Gabriel by praying to him when you are a complete and utter waste of the energy it took his father to create you'."
"True but I'll bet he gets the point." Gabriel nodded toward Yakavetta who was being yanked across the floor by Murphy and Connor. "That's my boy!" Gabriel laughed as Murphy planted a boot between Yakavetta's shoulder blades.
Death listened as Yakavetta continually cursed at the boys and God and anyone else he could think of. "Defiant to the end isn't he? These humans somehow manage to always lower the bar when it comes to stupidity. They could all be saved with a simple act of repentance and still they refuse." Death said as he straightened his cuffs.
The boys and their father were now reciting a prayer while terrified and shocked eyes were glued to the macabre scene playing out at the front of the courtroom.
"En Nomeni Patri,"
"Et Fili,"
"Et Spiritus sancti."
Gabriel popped over to where the body of Yakavetta was twitching on the courtroom floor. Snapping a lollipop into existence he looked at the soul standing in front of him. Letting out a whistle he commented. "Boy did they splatter your melon all over the place!."
Gabriel's face darkened as he reached out and touched a finger to Yakavetta's soul knowing the agony it caused. "FYI, Angels, especially archangels don't like murderous, unredeemable, muttonheads like you praying to us. It pisses us right the fuck off, and you picked the wrong one to pray to. There's only one archangel out there more vindictive than I am and he's cooling his heels in a time out."
Yakavetta's soul sagged as Gabriel released it. "Who are you?"
"I am the Archangel Gabriel, Messenger of God. I am one of those appointed to deliver his wrath." Gabriel replied. "Oh and one more thing before you are delivered to the hell you so rightly deserve, don't plan on seeing that son your are so proud of ever again. You see he is going to die just like you did and at the hands of the same ones who brought death to you today. The difference is that he will repent and be forgiven while you will suffer for all eternity in the deepest pits of hell."
Death cleared his throat. "Are you quite finished now Gabriel? I'd like to get him delivered as soon as possible and you have an obligation to the MacManuses I believe?"
Gabriel nodded. "Take him straight to the torture chamber, head of the line. I don't think any of those waiting their turn will mind."
Death nodded as he took hold of Yakavetta's soul and disappeared. Gabriel popped his lollipop into his mouth and then popped out to cause enough of a disturbance to allow the humans involved with the day's events to quietly slip away unnoticed.