Your comments, reviews, and votes really help me out so much and they make me super motivated to keep working on this story! Thank you! Pat**on : belamy20
The Bonanno family's main turf covered East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley—a solid chunk of real estate. Scattered through it were smaller crews that answered to the Bonannos, outfits like the Toretto crew.
Rafferty took the job seriously. He drove Lawson around almost every inch of Bonanno territory.
They hit several small sit-downs, where Rafferty introduced Lawson to the other made men.
"I take you around our turf every day, make sure everyone sees your face, and boom—you're officially a made man."
"Becoming a made man is really that simple?"
Lawson had figured an old-school outfit like the Mafia would still have some elaborate ritual, like the Triads back in Hong Kong—burning incense, kneeling in front of everybody, reciting long oaths in public. Super complicated.
"Back when I was young, it was definitely a pain in the ass," Rafferty said, looking nostalgic. "But times changed. Everybody's too busy making money. Calling the whole family together every time we induct someone is a huge waste of time. Nobody has that kind of schedule anymore, so the process got simplified."
Rafferty's face carried the weight of someone remembering the Mafia's golden era.
Given his age, he'd probably gotten made right at the tail end of that lucrative period.
After that, the Mafia started its long, slow decline—one bad year after another.
Snapping back to the present, Rafferty quickly apologized.
"Sorry, Mr. Lawson. When you get to my age, you start living in the past."
"No problem. Sometimes I get so lost in thought I forget the people around me. We about done for today?"
"Yeah. Everybody's got their own rackets to run. Shouldn't be any more small meets."
"Alright, I'm heading out. Catch you tomorrow."
"Understood, Mr. Lawson."
Lawson checked the time. It was getting late, so he drove straight to Sangiovese Bar.
Even though it was only early evening, the place was already filling up.
Lawson spotted a few familiar faces, but since he had business tonight, he just gave them a nod instead of stopping to chat.
"Single malt whiskey, neat."
"Lawson! You finally decided to leave your Mrs. Bonanno and come home?"
Svafa looked at him with mock resentment, playing the neglected wife.
Despite the attitude, the stunning bar owner still poured him a generous glass of whiskey.
"Ahem! Lindsey, I haven't touched Sofia. It's strictly business. Her situation is volatile right now, so I had to stay at the estate a couple extra days."
"Yeah, and if the old Bonanno family was a volcano ready to blow, the current one is an ocean—calm on the surface, deadly currents underneath."
Svafa clearly had better intel than most. She'd picked up some serious whispers.
"Lindsey, you hear something?"
"Earlier today, someone spotted Antonio Costa and Frank Castro walking into the same bar."
Lawson's eyes sharpened. He'd only seen Frank Castro's name on the Payday app intel this morning, and now Svafa was dropping it tonight.
Small world.
"Who the hell is Frank Castro?"
Svafa gave him a strange look.
"How do you not know Frank Castro?"
"He somebody important?"
"Very. He runs the biggest player in the Irish Mob. Nobody in Long Beach fucks with Frank Castro."
Irish?
Lawson looked thoughtful. If Antonio was dealing with the Irish, he must be desperate.
Sleeping with the enemy was a major violation. If the Mafia found out, the consequences would be brutal.
Since Antonio had already crossed that line, Lawson needed to watch for him doing something reckless.
He changed the subject.
"Lindsey, you know any female bodyguards?"
Svafa crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her assets up even more.
"For your new girlfriend?"
"Ahem! Lindsey, if I hire a professional female bodyguard to watch her, I won't have to be glued to her side all the time. And I already told you—we haven't had any physical relationship yet!"
Just verbal commitments. That didn't count as physical, right?
Seeing how firmly Lawson said it, Svafa's expression softened a bit.
Even the most open-minded woman gets jealous, especially when her man keeps mentioning another woman.
"Fine, I'll believe you. I don't know any female bodyguards, but I do know a few female assassins. Want me to set you up with one?"
Lawson thought about it. A female assassin's defensive skills might not match a dedicated bodyguard's, but against regular street muscle? She'd be more than enough.
"Set it up. Get me in touch with one."
"Hold on, Lawson."
Svafa grabbed her phone and headed to the back room. Lawson sat at the bar, sipping his whiskey and waiting.
About ten minutes later, Svafa returned.
"I made some calls. Most of them are on jobs right now. Only one is on vacation in LA. I cashed in a big favor, and she agreed to meet you tomorrow."
That genuinely moved Lawson. Favors in this line of work were expensive currency. God knows what Svafa would owe later.
"Lindsey, I—"
Svafa quietly patted the back of his hand.
"Relax, I'm kidding! We're tight, so the favor didn't cost much. But you still owe me some compensation!"
"I can compensate you more than once."
Lawson and Svafa locked eyes, the air thick with heat, completely ignoring everyone else in the bar.
Until Lawson's phone rang, breaking the intense moment.
He checked the screen. Blake.
Ever since Ray Gaines went full lockdown and started blocking them from seeing each other, they'd been reduced to phone calls to vent their frustration.
Assuming it was Blake missing him, Lawson gave Svafa a quick nod.
"Lindsey, I gotta take this outside."
"Hmm? Which one of your little girlfriends is this?"
"From Caltech."
"College girls, huh…"
Lawson knocked back the rest of his whiskey and stepped outside to answer.
As he walked out, he almost collided with three guys coming in.
"Watch where the fuck you're going!"
One scruffy young guy barked at him, but the fierce-looking old man behind him put a hand on his shoulder.
"Billy, easy. In Sangiovese, you keep it cool."
"Mr. Castro, rare to see you here!"
"Ms. Svafa, still looking stunning as ever!"
Frank Castro smiled warmly at Svafa. They clearly knew each other well.
"What are we drinking?"
"Three Irish whiskeys."
Svafa grabbed a bottle and poured. Frank and the older guy next to him looked relaxed, but the young one, Billy, was wound tight, scanning the room.
Frank patted Billy's shoulder.
"Relax, Billy. Nobody starts trouble in Sangiovese. Drink up."
Svafa cleared Lawson's empty glass and nodded.
"Exactly. Inside the bar, you're 100% safe. Outside? Not my problem."
Billy looked surprised by her confidence, but Frank and the older guy were clearly used to it.
"Heh, Svafa, your sense of humor is still razor sharp!"
"Save the bullshit, Frank. I'm not some naive college girl who drops her panties just because you throw a compliment."
Frank threw his head back and laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! Is that a problem? Just proves I've still got it!"
Svafa rolled her eyes. She had zero interest in bantering with an old mobster.
"Frank, what the hell do you want? I'm busy tonight."
Frank finally dropped the playful grin. He leaned across the bar, lowering his voice.
"Svafa, I'm looking to buy intel on someone."
"Who?"
"An Asian kid. Likes wearing a purple suit and a Joker mask. I want a name."
The very specific description made Svafa's pupils contract slightly. Both Frank and Billy caught it.
"Svafa, you know him?"
"No! But someone else was asking about his file recently, so the description rang a bell."
"Who?"
Svafa quickly composed herself. A veteran like her was a master actress—she could improvise flawlessly.
"Frank, you know how this business works. I never burn my clients. If word gets out I talk, my whole network collapses."
Frank gave a cold smile.
"Of course. But if someone already bought his intel, you must have a hard copy on file, right?"
Svafa shook her head.
"Unfortunately, I have zero intel on the guy."
Frank frowned.
"There's actually someone in LA you don't have a file on?"
"Is that so shocking? I don't know what the Mayor and his wife did in bed last night either. I just have good connections; it doesn't make me omniscient! You don't even have a single photo of this Asian kid, and you expect me to pull a file out of thin air? Do you have any idea how many Asians live in LA?"
Svafa's logic completely shut Frank down. He pulled out a stack of cash and dropped it on the bar.
"Looks like we're not doing business tonight! Svafa, I expect better news next time I walk in."
Svafa smirked.
"As long as you bring the cash, there will always be good news."
"Ha! Then I'm screwed. I love a free lunch!"
With that, Frank led his two guys out of Sangiovese.
The second they hit the street, Frank's warm smile vanished, replaced by a dark scowl.
The older lieutenant noticed immediately.
"Mr. Castro, you think that bitch was playing us?"
"No, Frenchy. Sangiovese's reputation is solid. That's why they've survived in LA this long. I'm guessing this Joker is a completely unknown out-of-towner who just hit the city."
"Out-of-towner?"
Frank shot Frenchy a grim look.
"Exactly! Only an out-of-towner would leave zero paper trail. That Pacific Standard hit was likely his first job here. That's why even Sangiovese has nothing on him."
"Mr. Castro, so we have no way to track this Joker down?"
"There's always a way. Nobody steals from me and walks away clean! Let's head back."
Frank got into the car, and they quickly left the block.
After dropping Frank off at his massive Long Beach villa, Frenchy and Billy headed their separate ways.
After a shower, Frank sat on his sofa in a bathrobe, smoking a cigarette and lost in deep thought.
The LA underworld was getting more complicated by the day. Frank urgently needed to plan the Castro gang's next big move.
Right then, a stunning woman in a sheer white negligee quietly walked into the room. Her eyes were a piercing, vibrant green, and her lips were painted a fiery, intoxicating red.
The woman slipped silently behind Frank and rested her hands gently on his shoulders—a highly intimate, lover's gesture.
However, the move completely startled Frank. He instantly whipped out a snub-nosed revolver.
"Mr. Castro, it's just me!"
"Ava?"
The woman looked at Frank with intense grievance. Tears welled up in her mesmerizing green eyes, making her look incredibly fragile and pitiable.
Even a cold-blooded killer like Frank felt a momentary flash of guilt, but he rapidly crushed the emotion.
"How many fucking times do I have to tell you? Never sneak up behind me!"
"I just wanted to give you a surprise!"
Ava stepped back to show off her new lingerie. The sheer white fabric left absolutely nothing to the imagination under the room's lighting.
When Ava flipped off the main lights, the faint glow from outside illuminated her voluptuous, pale body. It was an absolute masterclass in the art of light and shadow.
The view was genuinely indescribable.
(Ava, played by Eva Green)
Any normal guy looking at that view would absolutely surrender to the temptation.
But Frank? He just swallowed hard, turned around, and walked away.
Ava watched him leave. Her eyes shifted from disappointment, to frustration, and finally settled into a highly toxic glare.
Frank went straight into the bathroom, violently splashing cold water on his face. Staring at his aging reflection in the mirror, he slammed his fist into the wall.
He checked his pockets, suddenly remembering he left his phone in the bedroom. As he walked out to grab it, Ava approached him, holding the device.
"Frank, someone just called you."
Frank glared viciously at her.
"I'm pretty sure I explicitly told you to never touch my fucking phone!"
He snatched the phone out of her hand, completely ignoring her wounded expression, and walked out into the courtyard.
"Yeah. It's Frank."
"Why the hell didn't you pick up?"
"Didn't have my phone on me. What's the problem?"
"Your guys pushing product near the university. Some parents noticed the traffic and complained directly to the FBI. You need to dial it way the fuck back for a few days."
"Fuck! Jonathan, then how about you take a pay cut on your end?"
Dead silence on the other end of the line.
"The payment stays exactly the same."
"Fuck you!"
---