Chapter 119 A Boy’s Man’s Code

Chapter 119 Chapter 119
Leon turned his head to look at his son. “I think he was very shrewd and si, he had to be crazy. However, he played some dangerous games. He must have known that.” Leon smoothed his hand over his jaw. “He built a literal trappola per topi…A mouse trap. Only I am unsure if it was to hide his bounty or if it was to play the ultimate prank.” He then sat up straighter in his chair. “He did his son and grandsons no favor, however. Just look at where we are today, I am about to squash Barrett like a bug and he will lose his own sons as well. Some joke, eh?”
Calderone just kept shaking his head.
Alfredo looked up at Zeus then turned to Leon. “l'ho trovato! My father miscounted or lied about how many tunnels really existed here. Which at this point, is no surprise. He told us he had seven but this map clearly shows nine. He had nine tunnels coming and going.” He paused to consider the possibilities. “Maybe he told Barrett something else. We may never know.”
“È ridicolo, I have a feeling we will know.” Leon growled. “We will know when Barrett tries to come through one of the hidden tunnels and puts a knife to our throats.”
Zeus looked pissed all over again.” We thought we were buy a house and some land, not a game of Sink My Battleship, for fuck’s sake.”
They all went quiet, though the tension in the room felt like most of them were raging with inner shouts.
Suddenly, the silence inside was shattered by the sounds of gunplay outside.
Zeus, Leon and the rest of the brothers came over to watch Click’s cameras. They could see Barrett and his men shooting back at what looked like military men, shooting at them. Barrett’s men scattered and the attacking ‘soldiers’ gave chase.
Zeus looked over at Leon and growled, “Who are they?”
“They are my men.” Leon growled back. “I told you, the hunters will become the hunted. These particular men will hunt them all down and bring them in.”
“Where did they come from to get here this quickly?” Grave Digger asked what they were all wondering.
“They are I Soldati Della Famiglia. The Family’s Soldiers. They were guarding my plane here. I always travel with security.” Leon brushed aside the question. “They have strict orders to capture Barrett and his two sons alive if possible. I want them to face the High Council. I want them to realize the folly of trying to fool the Family. We stand for something in this country and they will feel the rage they have stirred up.”
“My father set the example of disrespecting the Family and Barrett has taken that same disrespect too far,” Alfredo stated.
Leon nodded. “It is a simple concept really.Se si prendono decisioni sbagliate ci si dovrebbe aspettare conseguenze negative.”
Delaney and Alfredo gave agreeing nods to this statement.
The men in the room all stared at them.
Calderone chuckled as he translated it for them, “If one makes poor decisions, one should expect negative consequences.”
Delaney snorted, though she didn’t look amused really. “My dad just got out of jail while thinking his time there had been a cake walk and now he’ll get the idiotic prize at the end of the dumbass rainbow.” Delaney shook her head.
Memphis couldn’t seem to help it as he chuckled.“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
Grave Digger had to chuckle a bit too. He then paused to wonder how the shooting affected his prize. Emily. He left the main room and went to check on her and her son, worrying about how they might react to the sound of gunshots. He opened the door and found her and Anthony huddled in the corner.
Anthony was awake now, too awake in fact, as he was crying in his mother’s arms.
Grave Digger went over and knelt on the floor beside them. He didn’t touch them but instead he gazed into Emily’s eyes.
She looked concerned but not panicked as she asked quietly, “What’s going on out there?”
Grinning, he told her, “According to Leon, the hunters have just become the hunted,” he repeated Leon’s words. “The Ragettis are losing this one.” He thought of Memphis' line.
When Emily realized what he was saying, her eyes widened and she nodded. “Good. I hope they get what’s coming to them.”
“I believe they will.” Shrugging his wide shoulders, he told her, “One way or another, they will get what they deserve, and right now, Leon is pissed. I thought we brothers would have to fight them and we are willing too, but I’m learning that no one should cross Leon.”
Emily chuckled, and shook her head, “And that is a very good thing. Leon gets a lot done when he’s pissed. My father used to tell me stories about when he was young and all the trouble those two used to get into.” Grinning, she added, “You’ll have to ask him about the dock and a boat named, Martha’s Folly.” She paused then she seemed to sober up. “I miss that old man like crazy.”
Grave Digger felt bad for her loss, especially as it had made her life a literal living hell ever since it happened. He looked down at Anthony. He saw confusion in his young eyes. “You okay there, little man?”
Anthony nodded. “I guess so. Why is it so… noisy?”
Sitting down on the floor next to them, he smiled at Anthony. “You’re a big boy now, right?”
Anthony nodded as he still looked a bit afraid.
“Ok then, I’m gonna treat you like a big boy and tell you the truth,” Grave Digger said. “You and me we’re men, right?” He glanced down again to see Anthony nod. “Well, it’s a man’s job to protect the women around him. That’s a very important job. A real man never raises his hand to a woman in anger. He will always protect his woman and all the women around him. It's like a man’s code and he must obey the code, never forget that ok?”
Anthony nodded his head while looking terribly serious. “I won’t. I will always protect my mom.”
Grave Digger gave him a warm smile. “That’s a good thing, because she’s been protecting you too, kiddo.”
Anthony agreed, “I know, but she’s my mom, she has to.”
Emily chuckled and hugged her son closer. “I love you sweet boy, that’s why I’m here. You are my son and I love you.”
Anthony stared up at her.” Mom, I’m a man now. Not a boy, but I love you too.”
Grave Digger chuckled and said, “Ok, I just wanted you both to know you are safe inside these walls. Me and the other guys will do whatever we need to. We will keep you both safe. We are protecting all the women and kids that are under our roof.”
“Are Angel and Lily okay?” Anthony asked.
Grave Digger nodded. “Yep, they are. We got guys watching over them too.”
“Cuz that’s a man’s job, to protect the girls and women, right?” Anthony asked.