Later that evening
Saturday
We had driven around the immediate area several times, to get accustomed to being out together.
I also needed to get back in touch with my Ducati!
"You finished catching up with your best friend yet?" Kick-Ass asked over the comms.
My response was not polite!
"Bad Hit Girl! The FCC do not allow that sort of language!" Hal scolded.
"I'll tell you what you can do with the freakin' FCC!" I responded, laughing.
"I think Jackal blushed!" Hal reported.
"Jackal was always a softy!" Shadow chuckled.
"Hey! Leave the new kid alone!" Jackal retorted.
It was going to be one of those evenings! Time for a change...
"Hal, I need a location for our two CPD friends," I called.
West Washington Boulevard and North Laramie Avenue
As we approached the intersection, we could see a Chicago PD SUV parked up at the side of the road.
Kick-Ass pulled up on the driver's side while I pulled up on the passenger's side and Battle Guy pulled up directly behind.
"Well, well, well! Enjoying your doughnuts, Officers?" I snarled.
Murphy lowered his window.
"Comedy duo's back!" Murphy said, with a grin.
"Somebody looks different!" Fellowes commented, checking out Hit Girl.
"Not bad, still looking hot!" Murphy said.
"Hey! You're married Officer! Plus, she's spoken for!" I growled, meaningfully.
"Only kidding, Kick-Ass!" Murphy said, still grinning.
"You remember Battle Guy," I said, as Battle Guy appeared beside me, with Eisenhower.
"I do, hi!" Murphy said.
"And Shadow!" I said, pointing behind me at Shadow and then at Hawk, as she appeared beside Hit Girl.
"Hi Shadow and you must be Hawk! Hi!" Fellowes said.
"How you guys doing? Family okay?" Hit Girl asked.
"They're fine. Thanks to you Kick-Ass," Murphy said.
"We did what we could," I replied.
Oak Park area
Chicago
Battle Guy and Hawk had moved off towards Columbus Park, in the KAM.
Eisenhower needed to stretch her legs, at least that was their excuse!
Kick-Ass, Shadow and I had headed north-west, where we parked the motorcycles and walked down the dark street.
As we passed a dark alley, we could hear voices. Nothing out of the ordinary, but the difference here, was that the voices were not speaking English...
"Я ненавижу эту чертову город!"
"What the fuck does that mean?" Kick-Ass asked, quietly.
"Translates as: 'I hate this fucking town'," I said.
"You speak Russian?" Shadow asked, incredulously.
"She does!" Kick-Ass acknowledged.
"Теперь, когда ублюдок Д'Амико пошло, мы взять под контроль своего народа и ебать эти американцы."
"That fucking cunt!" I snarled, angrily.
"What?" Shadow asked.
"Sorry, rough translation: 'Now that bastard D'Amico has gone, we take control of his people and fuck these Americans'."
"We need to ask these two some questions!" I growled. "Follow my lead."
"Hal, we are engaging a pair of Russians!" Kick-Ass reported.
"Hal copies you are engaging two Russians!"
..._...
I moved forward and towards the men.
"Эй, влагалища!" I growled. ['Hey Cunts!']
"Какого черта" One man replied. ['What the hell?']
The other man tried to bolt, but Kick-Ass ran forward and threw him against a wall, knocking him out. I grabbed my man and flung him against the other wall, roughing him up, but he stayed conscious.
"Кто вы работаете?" I growled. ['Who do you work for?']
"Перейти на хуй!" The man snarled. ['Go fuck yourself!']
"Может быть, позже! Кто вы работаете?" I growled. ['Maybe later! Who do you work for?']
I pulled out a pistol and a suppressor, then joined them together. The Russian followed every move, with widening eyes. I think he was getting scared!
"Кто вы работаете?" I growled. ['Who do you work for?']
There was no response.
"Что я отстреливать в первую очередь?" I growled, menacingly. ['What do I shoot off first?']
"Вы не посмеете!" The man said. ['You wouldn't dare!']
"Вы знаете, кто я?" I growled. ['You know who I am?']
"Должен ли я?" The man replied, with pretend nonchalance. ['Should I?']
"Ах, да! Ищу Хитов Девочка!" I growled, menacingly. ['Oh, yes! I am Hit Girl!']
The man braced at that!
"Твой член, может быть?" I suggested, ramming my pistol into his groin. ['Your dick, maybe?']
He spilled.
"You recording this, Hal?" I called.
"Since the beginning!"
The Russian was talking fast, almost too fast for me to keep up, so I let my comms send the man's speech to the safehouse where it would be recorded and I could translate it later.
I asked Kick-Ass to dial a friend.
"Voight!"
"Evening Sergeant!" I snarled.
"Kick-Ass! How ya doing!"
"Good! Now, you remember those Russians?"
"Fuck yeah!" Voight replied, angrily.
"We have a pair in custody, they seem to be left overs from our good friend Ralph D'Amico!" I said. "Thought you might like a private chat! I've sent you the address."
"Thanks, I'll have a gentle word with them!" Voight said, sounding a bit happier.
"Hit Girl, you ready?" I asked, putting away my cell.
"Two neatly packaged Russians!" Hit Girl replied, before turning to the two bound Russians. "Прощай придурки!" ['Goodbye, assholes!']
Safehouse A
We all met up, back at the safehouse.
Josh had removed his combat suit and hung it up, in the armoury. It had been good for Josh to see what happens at this end of Fusion, while the operatives were out on the streets. Naturally, he now went to help Chloe get out of her combat suit, but got his hand slapped, when he went further than the additional armour!
I had to laugh, poor Josh was a little embarrassed!
It was, unfortunately, the only happy thing in my mind at the moment. It now looked like we had Russian Mafia in Chicago. The two men we had come across this evening were most likely 'Shestyorka' or 'Associates', these were the lowest ranks of the Mafia and were usually men who had yet to earn respect and trust within the organisation. If they had been 'Boevik', which literally translates as 'Warrior', then we would have had an almighty fight on our hands; think Mother Russia with balls! There had to be some in Chicago somewhere, they worked for a 'Brigadier' or 'Avtoritet', which translates as 'Authority'. These in turn work for the Boss or 'Pakhan'.
A typical structure or 'Bratva' called for a Boss to control four Brigadiers, who then had half a dozen Warriors and Associates. Now, being Russian, nobody really trusts anyone, so there are usually a couple of 'Spies' who ensure that the Brigadiers do what they are told and don't get too powerful. These spies reported back to the Boss as required.
The enormous, motherfucker of a question was whether we could tackle a Bratva and survive. I just couldn't believe that Ralph D'Amico worked for, or with, the Russian Mafia! He would be certifiable to get involved with them! Then again maybe he is certifiable, but no, Ralph D'Amico was calculating; he would only get involved with the Russian Mafia if there was something major in it for him.
I needed to meet with this Hank Voight. Marcus said he was a good guy to know and had the same mindset as Hit Girl, when it came to certain types of criminals!
..._...
"Mafia, huh!" Dave said, matter of factly.
"Yeah!" I growled, sitting down in the kitchen.
"You never said that you spoke Russian!" Chloe exclaimed, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"There are a lot of things I haven't told you, Chloe Bennett!" I replied, coldly.
"Sorry, jeez!" Chloe muttered and got up to get a coffee.
"That was uncalled for!" Dave said, disapprovingly.
"Chloe, Dave's right, that was uncalled for and I'm sorry," I said, feeling ashamed for treating Chloe like that.
"You're upset about the Russians, aren't you?" Chloe asked, sitting back down, with her coffee.
"I am. We're talking hardened men, who get off on killing, and before you say it, yes, I sometimes get off on killing, too. But these guys get off on killing anybody, including innocents," I explained. "Dave, call Marty, Abby, Josh and Kim up here, please."
..._...
Once everybody was in the kitchen, I started talking. I explained about the Mafia and how they were made up and what we might expect.
"These bastards know we are in Chicago and we've just assaulted and had arrested two of their men. We may now be targets. Take extra special care, when coming to any of the safehouses. If in doubt walk away, we cannot lose our safehouses, especially not this one. Help each other and try not to go anywhere alone. From now on, ensure that you have comms with you, at least a cell, preferably one of ours that we can track. Abby you should operate from home, as far as possible. Marty, you have your apartment. We will only use this safehouse after dark and when we are certain nobody is watching. Marty you have setup some extra anti-eavesdropping, anti-spy shit haven't you?"
"By 'shit', I assume you mean expensive and high-tech equipment and yes we will know if anybody tries to enter a safehouse or bug them, but I will do regular sweeps anyway. I can have our mobile command centre ready in two weeks. We still keeping it at The Farm?" Marty asked.
"Yes. The Farm is an unknown for the Mafia. We have never used it and neither are there any links to it. So we should keep it that way. Can you setup a place like we have downstairs, in Jack's basement?"
"Easy!" Marty said.
"All of the safehouses are fully stocked, if required. I'm hoping that those two Russian idiots won't reveal that they were arrested, or assaulted by us, 'cause they know that if they did then they would most probably be killed by their own side. This is serious, I shit you not!"
On that depressing note, we all went off to bed.