Operation: Apalachin - Log 9
Sep. 8th, 2022 03:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_changeling posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsAftermath. The Maggia War is over and some surprising winners have emerged.
“This is not what I was promised.” Madam Masque said, straightening up in her chair in her fury. “I was supposed to lead a unified Maggia, not a wounded entity.” The lights glinted off her golden mask, striking motes through the large white richly appointed office. Even for her tastes, the art was exquisite and the suit of Japanese armor seemed both period and perfectly preserved; an embarrassingly expensive combination.
“I offered no such thing, my dear Madam. You asked for aid in a way to remove the Hammerhead family from the Maggia. To weaken the Karnelli’s in order to prevent a bid by Anthony Karnelli from opposing your takeover of the Commission. You wanted the Libris family weakened. All of those goals you have achieved.” The man behind the desk rumbled in a deep bass.
“At considerable costs to my assets.”
“There is an old saying about eggs and omelets I’m sure you are aware of. Besides, now surely you have the control to return to business as usual and recoup your losses in short order. Especially with a… motivated new leader, even if they still think they are a Commission of five.”
“True, but-“ She said but stopped. He was right. Losing Rushman and her in to subvert to Karnelli’s hurt, but Anthony was badly weakened. He wouldn’t have time or power to move against her, even if he wanted to.
“Something I learned a long time ago about leadership in our world. Strong leaders, like us, unnecessarily mourn loss because we always see opportunity involved. Weak leaders throw away assets because they can only see the goal in front of them. Your concern is worthy of your position. You will make your people whole. Greater, even, once the fruits of our cooperation begin to ripen.”
Madam Masque was too cunning to openly preen, but her subtle tells showed the praise had the desired effect. “Yes, you’re right, of course. That’s why I agreed to this partnership. To find a… worthy associate.”
“Of course. What is your next move?”
“Hammerhead is still out there. His power is broken and he’ll want revenge. But most of his men are either dead or already absorbed into new families. He’s dangerous as an individual concern, but he’ll never put together something at an organizational level to threaten us. Once he turns up, we can point law enforcement at him, considering his record. Let those idiots do the work for us.” Her voice had fallen into a satisfied cadence. This was a story she liked telling.
“The Karnelli’s are scrambling, even if Rushman managed to get herself killed. Anthony is looking for allies and finding very few. Your work undermining the Libris bookmaking and loan sharking business has them on the precipice. We’ve already sent out a couple of offers to share some business, help them recover without making it obvious we know how badly they are hurting. By the time they get their feet under them, we’ll be so intertwined that they will have to be a vote for us to survive. Manfredi is bound by tradition and squeezed by other gangs on all fronts.”
“What of the lost family?”
“I’ve reached out to the surviving cousins of the Berruti Family in Florida. They are over the moon about the offer to return to New York and reclaim… some of the old territory.”
“Putting them in debt to you directly. Which gives you an ironclad majority in the Commission for everything, just as you wanted. The Maggia is yours, Madam Masque, wounded or no. I look forward to seeing to what heights you can build it while we help each other.”
“To our mutual profit.” She said, standing up and taking her leave. The man watched her leave silently, turning the conversation over in his head, interrogating his memory for every clue, ever nuance and every admission she’d made, intentionally or not. He didn’t look up until his assistant appeared.
“Sir, Madam Masque has left the building alive, as per your orders.”
“Why James, do I detect a note of disapproval?”
“She’s a potential liability.”
“Only in her grandest dreams, Mister Wesley.” The man smiled. “Whitney Frost believes herself destined for a throne, that thought reinforced by her father, the Count. And while she may have his considerable cunning and ruthlessness, she lacks his patience. She understands that her Maggia have suffered severe losses, but her ego blinds her to the reality of our agreement. With the Mafia, the Yakuza, the Tongs, and the other criminal organizations in the city, she will find herself time and time again needing to rely on her new ‘partner’.” Pure venom dripped from the final word. “Soon enough, she’ll find that her influence stops sharply at my whim and obeying my orders will be the only way for her precious Maggia to survive. Just like the others in the city, she doesn’t realize yet that she’s been leashed. Right up until I need to yank the chain.”
He got up, walking over to the window, high above the pavement, looking out over the expanse of Manhattan. His considerable bulk blocked the sun from his assistant. “I made a vow years ago to reshape this city to my own image. In months, organized crime will be mine and mine alone to shape. Through them, either directly or in response to their actions, I will have the political establishment, the press, and most importantly, the real power brokers looking for anyone with a solution. I see a brand new day coming, James.” He turned and gave him a slim smile. “My day.”
“This is not what I was promised.” Madam Masque said, straightening up in her chair in her fury. “I was supposed to lead a unified Maggia, not a wounded entity.” The lights glinted off her golden mask, striking motes through the large white richly appointed office. Even for her tastes, the art was exquisite and the suit of Japanese armor seemed both period and perfectly preserved; an embarrassingly expensive combination.
“I offered no such thing, my dear Madam. You asked for aid in a way to remove the Hammerhead family from the Maggia. To weaken the Karnelli’s in order to prevent a bid by Anthony Karnelli from opposing your takeover of the Commission. You wanted the Libris family weakened. All of those goals you have achieved.” The man behind the desk rumbled in a deep bass.
“At considerable costs to my assets.”
“There is an old saying about eggs and omelets I’m sure you are aware of. Besides, now surely you have the control to return to business as usual and recoup your losses in short order. Especially with a… motivated new leader, even if they still think they are a Commission of five.”
“True, but-“ She said but stopped. He was right. Losing Rushman and her in to subvert to Karnelli’s hurt, but Anthony was badly weakened. He wouldn’t have time or power to move against her, even if he wanted to.
“Something I learned a long time ago about leadership in our world. Strong leaders, like us, unnecessarily mourn loss because we always see opportunity involved. Weak leaders throw away assets because they can only see the goal in front of them. Your concern is worthy of your position. You will make your people whole. Greater, even, once the fruits of our cooperation begin to ripen.”
Madam Masque was too cunning to openly preen, but her subtle tells showed the praise had the desired effect. “Yes, you’re right, of course. That’s why I agreed to this partnership. To find a… worthy associate.”
“Of course. What is your next move?”
“Hammerhead is still out there. His power is broken and he’ll want revenge. But most of his men are either dead or already absorbed into new families. He’s dangerous as an individual concern, but he’ll never put together something at an organizational level to threaten us. Once he turns up, we can point law enforcement at him, considering his record. Let those idiots do the work for us.” Her voice had fallen into a satisfied cadence. This was a story she liked telling.
“The Karnelli’s are scrambling, even if Rushman managed to get herself killed. Anthony is looking for allies and finding very few. Your work undermining the Libris bookmaking and loan sharking business has them on the precipice. We’ve already sent out a couple of offers to share some business, help them recover without making it obvious we know how badly they are hurting. By the time they get their feet under them, we’ll be so intertwined that they will have to be a vote for us to survive. Manfredi is bound by tradition and squeezed by other gangs on all fronts.”
“What of the lost family?”
“I’ve reached out to the surviving cousins of the Berruti Family in Florida. They are over the moon about the offer to return to New York and reclaim… some of the old territory.”
“Putting them in debt to you directly. Which gives you an ironclad majority in the Commission for everything, just as you wanted. The Maggia is yours, Madam Masque, wounded or no. I look forward to seeing to what heights you can build it while we help each other.”
“To our mutual profit.” She said, standing up and taking her leave. The man watched her leave silently, turning the conversation over in his head, interrogating his memory for every clue, ever nuance and every admission she’d made, intentionally or not. He didn’t look up until his assistant appeared.
“Sir, Madam Masque has left the building alive, as per your orders.”
“Why James, do I detect a note of disapproval?”
“She’s a potential liability.”
“Only in her grandest dreams, Mister Wesley.” The man smiled. “Whitney Frost believes herself destined for a throne, that thought reinforced by her father, the Count. And while she may have his considerable cunning and ruthlessness, she lacks his patience. She understands that her Maggia have suffered severe losses, but her ego blinds her to the reality of our agreement. With the Mafia, the Yakuza, the Tongs, and the other criminal organizations in the city, she will find herself time and time again needing to rely on her new ‘partner’.” Pure venom dripped from the final word. “Soon enough, she’ll find that her influence stops sharply at my whim and obeying my orders will be the only way for her precious Maggia to survive. Just like the others in the city, she doesn’t realize yet that she’s been leashed. Right up until I need to yank the chain.”
He got up, walking over to the window, high above the pavement, looking out over the expanse of Manhattan. His considerable bulk blocked the sun from his assistant. “I made a vow years ago to reshape this city to my own image. In months, organized crime will be mine and mine alone to shape. Through them, either directly or in response to their actions, I will have the political establishment, the press, and most importantly, the real power brokers looking for anyone with a solution. I see a brand new day coming, James.” He turned and gave him a slim smile. “My day.”
