p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ca8889f9e5f882a449e7df61888f6bf9""Greg! GREGORY!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ad3d15a7751c3b3fe97d9f710d71c58e"John hollered across the room. Clearly, his friend wasn't paying any attention to him. From afar, Greg appeared to be a little older than John, maybe by a decade. His hair was grayer and his posture hunched over slightly. He appeared to be talking to three gorgeous women, throwing in some smooth pick-up lines./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8309c4d7b664498c5cc25887cadd8495""That deaf motherfucker wouldn't hear a train comin', even if it DROVE ITS WAY UP HIS ASS. GREGORY, I'M FUCKIN' TALKING TO YOU!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1cc7c9cbb78f61591dd0746b6faa709d"The older man started to turn around, his eyebrows furrowed. He was clearly a annoyed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0529b5792f5f840cdb99510248dbd6da""What?!" Greg shouted back at John, holding his ear. Vito squinted, and saw what appeared to be a hearing aid lodged in there./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="24569e87097a51662407dae2663dbe3d""HAVE YOU HEARD A DAMN THING I'VE SAID IN THE PAST FIVE MINUTES?!" John roared. Vito flinched and covered his ears. John's booming voice was enough to be heard from China./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cdb11c6e9853656cdbf1bafa09bf9af5"Greg walked towards him, gritting his teeth, ready to give him a tongue-lashing. However, before he managed to get a word out, his eyes set upon Joe./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8b10b9236da052f330d7c369fbb5ee56""Hang on a sec... Joe?" Greg was astonished at the man's presence. He looked to John. "You didn't tell me he was gonna be here this early, Shitter! I would'a cleaned up the hotel and gotten rid of all these whores runnin' around!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="13cd4ff09501c27c56fd972bdbe7fc8b""Hey, you knew they were gonna be here any day! Besides, these whores practically live here!" John argued with him. "And why do ya gotta pick a fight about it? Just greet the sons a' bitches already!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="421cc9739b11e28e40dc145eb364934b"Greg turned back to Joe. "I'm glad you're here, even though you damn near gave me a heart attack, kid." He looked up and down at Joe. "Always a fatass..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9c5ba8afabbe3514b9c24c69e55219c3"Joe rolled his eyes. "You two really gotta remind me? Jeez..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="087568fb106de1b7096468dbaa1684a9""Ah, we're just playin' with you, Tubby." Greg smacked Joe on the arm playfully. "I heard you brought a friend with you. Where is he?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="be10adc98b437114ed733f66f88e6eb4""He's standin' right next to you!" John scoffed. "Jeez, you gone half fuckin' blind now?" John grabbed Vito by the shoulders, causing the younger man to flinch. "This is em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Vito/em. You hear me? em style="box-sizing: border-box;"VIIIIIITO. SCALETTAAAAAA. /emYou see him? This guy right here?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3c6e058fac84c42d24e3fc2a24f99445""Would you stop bein' an asshole for one moment?" Greg snapped back at him. "I ain't gettin' younger!" Greg faced Vito, who looked rather confused and out of place. "The name's Greg. Greg Castanzo. Nice to meet you, Vito."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="28089a0fe85c2a56c486fc68e6e81706""You too, Greg." Vito could still feel John's fingers digging into his arms, and involuntarily hunched his shoulders. He wasn't a fan of being touched by those he didn't know./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="468b55c48f033de6565ee411ba2a982f""John, you're makin' him uncomfortable. Let him go." Greg was the first to notice Vito's body language./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7dbf77afd08b19507af8f94585bd93f"John released Vito, who let his arms relax. Vito looked between the two. They sure did know each other, and in more than a business way. The manner of which they spoke signified they were best friends, much like himself and Joe./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="03216108eb809086173ad82a1f8876cc""So what's first on our to-do list?" Vito asked, wanting to get business out of the way. Already, he was uncomfortable./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cfa7096c4526222386c919a7fe3e21bf""We've got someone whose head's screwed on right!" John began. "Already, he wants to get shit done."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="344f33a5a91463199aa0189cda2ac0c9""That's Vito for you." Joe pat his friend on the back. "He's been talkin' about meeting don Enzo."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7cd1e561a3c2cac71641de01637445c5""Enzo? Ah, he'd out in Nevada right now." Greg answered. "Some business-related shit. That's why we've been watching over the hotel, keeping it nice and tidy."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="53264eb85c87ba1851c0e23a2bce28a9""And by 'nice and tidy' he means infested with hookers and musicians!" John laughed. "Of course, it was em style="box-sizing: border-box;"my/em idea to throw this large of a party."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e64b8f4969d3e9129f46d675728079cf""And it's fucking everything up!" Greg shouted. "Always, always, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"always/em when the boss is away, you gotta throw these gigantic parties, and I gotta clean up after you!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e38be0a6d56e28479153ba86b16c3957""By that, you mean calling in a cleaning crew!" John argued with his friend incessantly. Vito and Joe stood idly as the two older men barked at each other. Their voices clashed in a chaotic whirr of anger, but it wasn't violent whatsoever. They fought in a friendly manner, tossing profanity back and forth. Vito turned his head to look at Joe, smirking. His friend could feel his gaze and glanced back, imitating the same expression. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="94aa2a7f75feab120fc884ada1216bdd"The four of them sat down that night for a good dinner, which was something Vito and Joe hadn't been given the privilege of having for a few days. The special that night was steak, with a side of fries. Beverage? Coca-Cola./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0434814eadfbb05b4b942ba35c8e7d6a""This is really good." Vito started. "Thank you, guys." A hot meal was something he'd dreamt about, especially steak. He looked to the side and noticed Joe digging in maniacally. It seemed as though he was more grateful for the meal than Vito was, judging by how he ate it like it was his last meal on Earth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd64800cf0da10037b3693f8fb8a2e3c""You don't need to thank us." Greg began. "It's gonna be part of your life, kiddo." He took another bite of his steak. Meanwhile, John was already done with his dinner, and had begun guzzling down his drink./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f129fbab72b51a0ffc2c2aeb271426b7""So, is it true?" Greg asked Vito. "Did Carlo really fuck you guys over?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d92fda2fd54b775096779fb645a27a1a""Yeah." Vito confirmed. "We were in his family for a good few months, before one of our good friends died, and ah..." He had to scour his mind for precise details. Vito had already begun recovering from the immense trauma, which involved him pushing things into the back of his mind, but his memories had begun to stall when he remembered Henry's death./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="43db61dbc9ff5e9a3b12baf87d2745b0""Who's the friend?" Greg asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="45c6a964e2004c268c8a361870e1ab3e""Henry Tomasino." Vito answered. His heart sunk just speaking his name and recalling his face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df39fe1a0ee1c1a1e22792814f5080d7"The second his name left his lips, John spat his drink, startling everyone at the table. "HENRY?" he gasped. "Falcone had Henry KILLED?!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7abd59d7f88b5aae880c39c7278c0531""Not exactly." Vito sighed. "You see... Henry got Joe and I in on a drug deal sort of business just to pull in some extra dough. It was fun for a while and I felt like Joe and I were just starting to get close to him as a friend. Until one day we went to the park for a chat with him, and there he was; lying on the ground screaming while the Triads mercilessly chopped him to pieces with meat cleavers. In broad daylight. In front of civilians and their families."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f5cc58a8e651ee48fb33f6c0f36bb4fc"Greg's eyebrows had traveled all the way up to his forehead, as John's jaw seemed to drop all the way down to his collarbone. There was a moment of silence before Vito took in a deep breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c45b44c17914abc98db85d750764209""Joe and I, lack of a better term, went apeshit and sprayed the Red Dragon with bullets, and killed their leader, Mr. Wong." Vito exhaled. "He stole the money off of Henry's corpse. It was the money we owed to Bruno, a loan shark in the city. We borrowed some dough to get the business off the runway, and we were gonna double the profits and pay him back the other half of the borrowed money. When we confronted Wong, he said the money was gone. And em style="box-sizing: border-box;"somebody/em–" Vito glanced at Joe with an exasperated expression. "–blew his brains out before we were gonna get more information out of him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c95305efef85c0e9b5e40dc3d98fa269""I see." Greg sat back and crossed his arms. "Where does Carlo come in?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="713f746212a99ae1ca4a655470c5d887""Well," Vito continued, "Carlo found out about Henry's little drug deal one way or another and demanded us give him a cut of what we got. The day we were all gonna meet up in the park, we were about to talk about just that, but lo and behold we were greeted with, not Henry, but a mashed up puddle of blood and guts that used to be Henry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="372275c5a1c30b1995a321fe98a8c7f4""Jesus Christ on a pogo stick," John started in disbelief, "the fuckin' chinks know no fuckin' discretion."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bf60f95a7c6164838b60984e2b0648c7""You're not wrong." Vito proceeded to tell them the story. "After we killed half the Chinese population in Empire Bay, I went and got the dough myself - and don't ask how I did it, that's another story for a different day. I got what I needed, went to get Joe, and found out that he was kidnapped by Vinci's guys. Apparently, the rest of the Tongs started threatening Carlo and Frank, so Frank got his hands on the two guys he thought were easy targets, aka myself and Joe. He beat Joe to a pulp, we escaped, I took Joe to El Greco and the next day came, and it was a day I'll never forget."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="17439f72f1b2d0e7ca4ef86f6385a90c""It's good to know you all had each others' backs." Greg grinned. "Go on."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="260cc86b59e46f8f409d2087504829f9""I was picked up by Leo." Vito spoke. "He told me that Henry was a rat, and that he'd been leaking our drug business to the Feds. All because we avenged him, it was causing a war. So, Leo gave me an ultimatum; kill Carlo, or die. I chose the former."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cf4007991ddfc0c9cf34957c9f6393ea"Joe had lost his appetite halfway through the story. He'd put down his fork and put his hands in his lap while Vito spoke of the harsh event. His head lowered, and his eyes fell./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b990f678453b1a586f3e4f7631751ca1""Joe was about to blow my brains out when I finally reached Carlo. But thank God, he fought by my side. We killed Carlo, got out of there, and Leo was waiting for us outside. I got in one car, Joe got in the other. Before I knew it, the car carrying Joe drove off in a different direction. I knew somethin' was wrong when that happened. They were tryin' to split us up. Be it Carlo's or Leo's idea, I'll never know. But, I lost respect for both of them that day. I should have just put a bullet through Leo when I had the chance."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bc8e9ca2040e1adeb2b1f4b381d27ae9""So why didn't you?" Greg asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="394a47e0942d0054ae8ccc9214f78eb7""He and I had a history." Vito confessed. "I went to prison for six years, and he wad there to teach me a few things about combat. If it weren't for him, one of the inmates would'a beat the life out of me. He was like a father to me, so... this whole thing shook me in a way."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6751530953362bca7507e2ee57c4abf2""In this business, heartbreak is gonna happen." Greg spoke. "There's nothin' you can do. People are gonna stab you in the back, it'll hurt a lot."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fe7a29f9259567f9fc09050a5b3713bc""Oh, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I know/em." Vito furrowed his eyebrows. "I learned my lesson." With that, Vito arose from his eat and withdrew a Magnum from his pocket before putting bullets through both Greg's and John's foreheads./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ad3d15a7751c3b3fe97d9f710d71c58e"John hollered across the room. Clearly, his friend wasn't paying any attention to him. From afar, Greg appeared to be a little older than John, maybe by a decade. His hair was grayer and his posture hunched over slightly. He appeared to be talking to three gorgeous women, throwing in some smooth pick-up lines./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8309c4d7b664498c5cc25887cadd8495""That deaf motherfucker wouldn't hear a train comin', even if it DROVE ITS WAY UP HIS ASS. GREGORY, I'M FUCKIN' TALKING TO YOU!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1cc7c9cbb78f61591dd0746b6faa709d"The older man started to turn around, his eyebrows furrowed. He was clearly a annoyed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0529b5792f5f840cdb99510248dbd6da""What?!" Greg shouted back at John, holding his ear. Vito squinted, and saw what appeared to be a hearing aid lodged in there./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="24569e87097a51662407dae2663dbe3d""HAVE YOU HEARD A DAMN THING I'VE SAID IN THE PAST FIVE MINUTES?!" John roared. Vito flinched and covered his ears. John's booming voice was enough to be heard from China./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cdb11c6e9853656cdbf1bafa09bf9af5"Greg walked towards him, gritting his teeth, ready to give him a tongue-lashing. However, before he managed to get a word out, his eyes set upon Joe./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8b10b9236da052f330d7c369fbb5ee56""Hang on a sec... Joe?" Greg was astonished at the man's presence. He looked to John. "You didn't tell me he was gonna be here this early, Shitter! I would'a cleaned up the hotel and gotten rid of all these whores runnin' around!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="13cd4ff09501c27c56fd972bdbe7fc8b""Hey, you knew they were gonna be here any day! Besides, these whores practically live here!" John argued with him. "And why do ya gotta pick a fight about it? Just greet the sons a' bitches already!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="421cc9739b11e28e40dc145eb364934b"Greg turned back to Joe. "I'm glad you're here, even though you damn near gave me a heart attack, kid." He looked up and down at Joe. "Always a fatass..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9c5ba8afabbe3514b9c24c69e55219c3"Joe rolled his eyes. "You two really gotta remind me? Jeez..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="087568fb106de1b7096468dbaa1684a9""Ah, we're just playin' with you, Tubby." Greg smacked Joe on the arm playfully. "I heard you brought a friend with you. Where is he?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="be10adc98b437114ed733f66f88e6eb4""He's standin' right next to you!" John scoffed. "Jeez, you gone half fuckin' blind now?" John grabbed Vito by the shoulders, causing the younger man to flinch. "This is em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Vito/em. You hear me? em style="box-sizing: border-box;"VIIIIIITO. SCALETTAAAAAA. /emYou see him? This guy right here?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3c6e058fac84c42d24e3fc2a24f99445""Would you stop bein' an asshole for one moment?" Greg snapped back at him. "I ain't gettin' younger!" Greg faced Vito, who looked rather confused and out of place. "The name's Greg. Greg Castanzo. Nice to meet you, Vito."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="28089a0fe85c2a56c486fc68e6e81706""You too, Greg." Vito could still feel John's fingers digging into his arms, and involuntarily hunched his shoulders. He wasn't a fan of being touched by those he didn't know./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="468b55c48f033de6565ee411ba2a982f""John, you're makin' him uncomfortable. Let him go." Greg was the first to notice Vito's body language./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7dbf77afd08b19507af8f94585bd93f"John released Vito, who let his arms relax. Vito looked between the two. They sure did know each other, and in more than a business way. The manner of which they spoke signified they were best friends, much like himself and Joe./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="03216108eb809086173ad82a1f8876cc""So what's first on our to-do list?" Vito asked, wanting to get business out of the way. Already, he was uncomfortable./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cfa7096c4526222386c919a7fe3e21bf""We've got someone whose head's screwed on right!" John began. "Already, he wants to get shit done."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="344f33a5a91463199aa0189cda2ac0c9""That's Vito for you." Joe pat his friend on the back. "He's been talkin' about meeting don Enzo."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7cd1e561a3c2cac71641de01637445c5""Enzo? Ah, he'd out in Nevada right now." Greg answered. "Some business-related shit. That's why we've been watching over the hotel, keeping it nice and tidy."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="53264eb85c87ba1851c0e23a2bce28a9""And by 'nice and tidy' he means infested with hookers and musicians!" John laughed. "Of course, it was em style="box-sizing: border-box;"my/em idea to throw this large of a party."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e64b8f4969d3e9129f46d675728079cf""And it's fucking everything up!" Greg shouted. "Always, always, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"always/em when the boss is away, you gotta throw these gigantic parties, and I gotta clean up after you!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e38be0a6d56e28479153ba86b16c3957""By that, you mean calling in a cleaning crew!" John argued with his friend incessantly. Vito and Joe stood idly as the two older men barked at each other. Their voices clashed in a chaotic whirr of anger, but it wasn't violent whatsoever. They fought in a friendly manner, tossing profanity back and forth. Vito turned his head to look at Joe, smirking. His friend could feel his gaze and glanced back, imitating the same expression. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="94aa2a7f75feab120fc884ada1216bdd"The four of them sat down that night for a good dinner, which was something Vito and Joe hadn't been given the privilege of having for a few days. The special that night was steak, with a side of fries. Beverage? Coca-Cola./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0434814eadfbb05b4b942ba35c8e7d6a""This is really good." Vito started. "Thank you, guys." A hot meal was something he'd dreamt about, especially steak. He looked to the side and noticed Joe digging in maniacally. It seemed as though he was more grateful for the meal than Vito was, judging by how he ate it like it was his last meal on Earth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd64800cf0da10037b3693f8fb8a2e3c""You don't need to thank us." Greg began. "It's gonna be part of your life, kiddo." He took another bite of his steak. Meanwhile, John was already done with his dinner, and had begun guzzling down his drink./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f129fbab72b51a0ffc2c2aeb271426b7""So, is it true?" Greg asked Vito. "Did Carlo really fuck you guys over?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d92fda2fd54b775096779fb645a27a1a""Yeah." Vito confirmed. "We were in his family for a good few months, before one of our good friends died, and ah..." He had to scour his mind for precise details. Vito had already begun recovering from the immense trauma, which involved him pushing things into the back of his mind, but his memories had begun to stall when he remembered Henry's death./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="43db61dbc9ff5e9a3b12baf87d2745b0""Who's the friend?" Greg asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="45c6a964e2004c268c8a361870e1ab3e""Henry Tomasino." Vito answered. His heart sunk just speaking his name and recalling his face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df39fe1a0ee1c1a1e22792814f5080d7"The second his name left his lips, John spat his drink, startling everyone at the table. "HENRY?" he gasped. "Falcone had Henry KILLED?!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7abd59d7f88b5aae880c39c7278c0531""Not exactly." Vito sighed. "You see... Henry got Joe and I in on a drug deal sort of business just to pull in some extra dough. It was fun for a while and I felt like Joe and I were just starting to get close to him as a friend. Until one day we went to the park for a chat with him, and there he was; lying on the ground screaming while the Triads mercilessly chopped him to pieces with meat cleavers. In broad daylight. In front of civilians and their families."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f5cc58a8e651ee48fb33f6c0f36bb4fc"Greg's eyebrows had traveled all the way up to his forehead, as John's jaw seemed to drop all the way down to his collarbone. There was a moment of silence before Vito took in a deep breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c45b44c17914abc98db85d750764209""Joe and I, lack of a better term, went apeshit and sprayed the Red Dragon with bullets, and killed their leader, Mr. Wong." Vito exhaled. "He stole the money off of Henry's corpse. It was the money we owed to Bruno, a loan shark in the city. We borrowed some dough to get the business off the runway, and we were gonna double the profits and pay him back the other half of the borrowed money. When we confronted Wong, he said the money was gone. And em style="box-sizing: border-box;"somebody/em–" Vito glanced at Joe with an exasperated expression. "–blew his brains out before we were gonna get more information out of him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c95305efef85c0e9b5e40dc3d98fa269""I see." Greg sat back and crossed his arms. "Where does Carlo come in?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="713f746212a99ae1ca4a655470c5d887""Well," Vito continued, "Carlo found out about Henry's little drug deal one way or another and demanded us give him a cut of what we got. The day we were all gonna meet up in the park, we were about to talk about just that, but lo and behold we were greeted with, not Henry, but a mashed up puddle of blood and guts that used to be Henry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="372275c5a1c30b1995a321fe98a8c7f4""Jesus Christ on a pogo stick," John started in disbelief, "the fuckin' chinks know no fuckin' discretion."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bf60f95a7c6164838b60984e2b0648c7""You're not wrong." Vito proceeded to tell them the story. "After we killed half the Chinese population in Empire Bay, I went and got the dough myself - and don't ask how I did it, that's another story for a different day. I got what I needed, went to get Joe, and found out that he was kidnapped by Vinci's guys. Apparently, the rest of the Tongs started threatening Carlo and Frank, so Frank got his hands on the two guys he thought were easy targets, aka myself and Joe. He beat Joe to a pulp, we escaped, I took Joe to El Greco and the next day came, and it was a day I'll never forget."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="17439f72f1b2d0e7ca4ef86f6385a90c""It's good to know you all had each others' backs." Greg grinned. "Go on."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="260cc86b59e46f8f409d2087504829f9""I was picked up by Leo." Vito spoke. "He told me that Henry was a rat, and that he'd been leaking our drug business to the Feds. All because we avenged him, it was causing a war. So, Leo gave me an ultimatum; kill Carlo, or die. I chose the former."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cf4007991ddfc0c9cf34957c9f6393ea"Joe had lost his appetite halfway through the story. He'd put down his fork and put his hands in his lap while Vito spoke of the harsh event. His head lowered, and his eyes fell./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b990f678453b1a586f3e4f7631751ca1""Joe was about to blow my brains out when I finally reached Carlo. But thank God, he fought by my side. We killed Carlo, got out of there, and Leo was waiting for us outside. I got in one car, Joe got in the other. Before I knew it, the car carrying Joe drove off in a different direction. I knew somethin' was wrong when that happened. They were tryin' to split us up. Be it Carlo's or Leo's idea, I'll never know. But, I lost respect for both of them that day. I should have just put a bullet through Leo when I had the chance."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bc8e9ca2040e1adeb2b1f4b381d27ae9""So why didn't you?" Greg asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="394a47e0942d0054ae8ccc9214f78eb7""He and I had a history." Vito confessed. "I went to prison for six years, and he wad there to teach me a few things about combat. If it weren't for him, one of the inmates would'a beat the life out of me. He was like a father to me, so... this whole thing shook me in a way."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6751530953362bca7507e2ee57c4abf2""In this business, heartbreak is gonna happen." Greg spoke. "There's nothin' you can do. People are gonna stab you in the back, it'll hurt a lot."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; font-size: 18px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fe7a29f9259567f9fc09050a5b3713bc""Oh, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I know/em." Vito furrowed his eyebrows. "I learned my lesson." With that, Vito arose from his eat and withdrew a Magnum from his pocket before putting bullets through both Greg's and John's foreheads./p