Chapter 7: Regrets and Meditation

~Flashback~

Sal stood outside the smoky bar, eyes scanning the dark alley for any sign of trouble. It was his job to protect the family, to keep them safe from the rival gangs that had been encroaching on their territory. He knew he had to act fast if he wanted to stay ahead of the game.

Sal's mind flashed back to a time when he was in his mid-twenties, when he first took over as the head of the family. He had just lost his father, and the responsibility of leading the family had fallen on his shoulders.

At that time, the family was facing a lot of challenges from their rival gangs. The streets were filled with violence and bloodshed as the gangs fought for control over the city. Sal knew he had to take drastic measures to ensure the family's survival.

One night, Sal received a tip that a rival gang was planning an attack on their family. He gathered his most trusted men and headed to the rival gang's headquarters. The gang was caught off guard, and Sal and his men were able to take them out with ease.

But Sal didn't stop there. He knew that the only way to send a message to the other rival gangs was to be ruthless. He ordered his men to mutilate the bodies of the rival gang members and leave them out in the open for all to see.

The message was clear: anyone who dared to cross the family would suffer a similar fate. From that day on, the family's power and influence grew. The other gangs became too scared to challenge them, and the family's business flourished.

As Sal's mind returned to the present, he knew he had to use the same ruthless tactics to deal with their current enemies. The family was facing a new threat, and it was clear that the only way to deal with it was to take decisive action.

Sal turned to his sons, his eyes filled with determination. "We need to send a message to our enemies," he said. "We need to let them know that we will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We are the kingpins, and we will not let anyone take that away from us."

Isabella and Anthony looked at their father, a mixture of fear and awe in their eyes. They knew that their father was a force to be reckoned with, and they trusted him to keep the family safe.

Sal led them to the family's weapons room, where they stocked up on guns and ammunition. They were going to war, and Sal was going to make sure they came out on top.

As they left the room, Isabella couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over her. She knew that the family was facing its biggest challenge yet, and she wasn't sure if they were ready for it. But she also knew that her family was everything to her, and she was willing to do whatever it took to protect them.

Sal led them out of the mansion and into the waiting cars. They were going to send a message to their enemies, and they were going to do it in the most brutal way possible. Isabella and Anthony sat in the backseat of one of the cars, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

As they drove through the city, Isabella looked out the window at the dark, empty streets. She knew that they were in for a long and bloody night, but she also knew that her family was the only thing that mattered. She would do whatever it takes to protect them, even if it meant putting her own life on the line.

Sal sat across from the rival gang leader in a dimly lit room. The air was thick with tension and the only sounds were the quiet hum of the air conditioner and the distant sirens outside.

Sal looked the man in the eyes, his own eyes cold and hard. "You know why I'm here," he said in a low voice.

The rival gang leader, a man known only as "the Snake," nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know. You want to take over our territory."

Sal leaned forward. "That's right. And you know what that means for you and your men."

The Snake chuckled. "You think you can take us down that easily? We've been around for years, and we're not afraid to get our hands dirty."

Sal's expression didn't change. "I know you're not. But that's why I'm here. To offer you a deal."

The Snake raised an eyebrow. "A deal? And what kind of deal would that be?"

Sal leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I'm willing to let you and your men go. You leave this territory, and you won't hear from us again."

The Snake looked skeptical. "And what's the catch?"

Sal's smile widened. "The catch is that you leave behind all of your weapons and equipment. You leave with only the clothes on your backs."

The Snake laughed out loud. "You think I'm stupid? I know what happens to guys who walk away from you with their tails between their legs. They end up dead."

Sal's expression grew serious again. "I'm not playing games, Snake. This is your last chance to walk away with your lives. Take it or leave it."

The two men sat in silence for a few moments, the tension in the room almost palpable. Finally, the Snake leaned forward. "Alright. We'll leave. But we won't forget this, Sal. You'll pay for this one day."

Sal simply nodded. "Get out of here, Snake. And don't ever come back."

The rival gang leader stood up and made his way to the door. As he left, he shot one last dirty look at Sal.

Sal sat back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. He knew that he had just eliminated one of his biggest threats. And he knew that the rest of the gangs in the city would think twice before crossing him.