Sal Gabrini: Just The Way You Are by Mallory Monroe Page B

they ice him anyway?   Who the fuck are these people?”
    “We don’t
know who we’re dealing with,” Nicky said.   “That’s the problem, boss.   And
our crews are getting scared.   They’re
wondering if we’re paying attention.”
    “They’re
wondering if you’re paying
attention,” Angelo said bluntly to Sal.
    “They need
to know what’s the game plan,” Nicky continued.   “They need marching orders.   They
need to know that Sal Luca Gabrini and the Gabrini machine has their backs.   We’re their front line bosses, but we aren’t
enough.   They want to hear it directly
from you.”
    “Where are
they?” Sal asked.
    “We
assembled them in the dining hall, but we thought we’d give you some background
first.”
    But Sal
wasn’t interested in them giving him shit.   He stood up, causing them to quickly stand too, and made his way into
the dining hall.   His underbosses didn’t
hesitate to follow.   Angelo looked at
Nicky with a flustered look as they walked.   But Nicky just nodded his head.   He might have been a mover and shaker compared to Angelo’s position in
the organization, but compared to Sal’s position, he was powerless.
    When Sal
entered the dining hall, nearly a hundred men were present.   They all rose to their feet on his arrival,
and he told them to sit back down.   Sal
and his underbosses remained standing.
    “I’m going
to make this as plain as I know how,” Sal said.   “We’ve had three deaths.   All
three were crew chiefs.   Deacon was in
the line of succession.   Which means
whoever these fuckers are, they will not stop until we cede territory to them,
which will not be happening.   We aren’t
ceding shit to anybody.   Your blood,
sweat and tears turned Chicago our way.   All of the businesses you’re running now are legit, and those that
aren’t just aren’t, but that’s beside the point.”
    The men
laughed.
    Sal
continued.   “I’m working overtime to keep
our grip on power as sound as I know how,” he said.   “I’m working my ass off.   I don’t know who’s pulling this shit.   I wish I did, but I don’t know yet.   I’ve heard some west coast mafia outfit was
behind it, I’ve heard some east coast brotherhood was behind it.   Whoever the fuck it is, we’re going to find
them.   I’ve got my men from here to L.A.
working their sources like they’ve never worked them before.   I’ve made this my priority.   But I’m not here to give your asses a report
card.   I’m here because I’m disappointed
in you.”
    The men, and
their bosses, were stunned.   Disappointed in us ? their faces seemed
to say.
    “Why would
you be disappointed in us?” one of the men asked outright.
    “Because
you’re complaining about process,” Sal said.   “You’re complaining about what you don’t know.   And your complaints feed the beast.   Your complaints make our enemies stronger.   Because they know they’re doing damage.   They know they’ve got you by the balls and
all they have to do is yank.”
    “What should
we be doing?” another man asked.
    “Daring them
to come for you,” Sal said.   “Dare their
asses!   You’re a member of my fucking
crew.   What are they going to do to you?   We run this town.   We’re the baddest fuckers in this town.   You roam in packs.   You watch your backs.   You see anything wrong, and I don’t care if
it’s your own men displaying that shit, you kill it.   You don’t wait for it to kill you.   You take it down!   You let our enemies know we will not go down
without a bloodbath.   Their blood,” Sal added.
    And then he
let out a harsh exhale.   “There’s a war
going on for the soul of this town.   Either we defend it, or they take it.   What I want you to do, to a man, is stop worrying about who the fuckers
are and start realizing who you are!   This
shit stops with Deacon’s death,” Sal said forcefully, and every one of his men
applauded loudly.
    “Get