Chapter 02: Not Your Usual Meeting

It was a rainy day, the type of day you would expect to have in the middle of October. Two days had passed since the Don had been transported to the new hospital. John sat in his kitchen with his wife while she prepared breakfast.

"I am worried, you know. My friend is in critical condition, and I can't do a thing," John said, his eyes almost full of tears.

His wife, seeing the condition her husband was in, came from behind him. puts her soft hands on his shoulders, and with a low, calming voice, said, "He will be fine. You know how strong he is."

Hearing his wife's words, the tears started to fade away. A small but hard-to-remark smile appeared on him. "I know, I know."

In a closed room in the back of a small Italian restaurant, Jeje was sitting behind a desk. In front of him sat two unknown persons—maybe family associates.

"Boss, I heard they moved him to an unknown hospital," one of them said.

"Yes, and only a few know where," the other added.

"By orders of who??? Let me guess—it was John, wasn't it?"

Jeje's face turned red, his voice angry and loud. It looked like his eyes would come out of his face if he got any angrier.

"Yes, boss," the two replied in perfect unison, their voices steady and controlled—like they were used to his anger. It didn't scare them anymore.

Jeje regained control over his temper, lowering his voice slightly. The redness in his face started to fade as he tapped his index finger on the old wooden desk.

"I want the location. Fast."

A one-second pause.

"Do whatever you have to do."

The two silently nodded their heads.

"You can go. And while you're leaving, call Mark—he's outside. Tell him I want to talk to him."

The two got up and left the room. Less than a minute later, the door opened.

"You called me, boss?"

"Yes. Bonza Take a seat."

Jeje leaned forward.

"I want you to go to Mike the lawyer. Tell him to inform Mister Carl and John that a secret upper leadership meeting will take place tomorrow—by my orders. Be fast. Don't waste a minute."

"Yes, boss. Don't worry."

Bonza stood up, adjusted his suit, then left the room.

Alone, Jeje finally recognized the smell of the pizza that filled the air. He put his hand on a small box on the desk, took out a Cuban cigar, lit it with a cigar lighter, then proceeded to smoke it while thinking.