THE GRAND PATRIARCH IS BACK

Chp 4 - The No-Holds-Barred Ring

Rafael Blanco a.k.a Don a.k.a Godfather moved reverently towards Jason with his eyes fixed on the ring on his still clenched fist. His men parted and stood to the side as he moved. The people around marvelled at the reason why Don asked his men to stop.

The dreaded leader of the Blanco Cartel, Don was known for never reversing his orders. If the Fitzgeralds are known for being wealthy, Don was known for being more so. Not only stinking rich but the most powerful man in Dengal as he had a crime ring that had a great hold on Dengal and the whole California state.

“Who was this man who could make Don reverse his order?” was the question on the mind of most people that knew of Don. Well, mostly his men and the few people that were still around.

The wedding of the year had been phenomenal for one reason at least. It made history in Dengal for being the wedding where guests had to discreetly leave without giving the happy couple their wishes or their gifts.

After the initial shock of seeing Don and his multitudes of men at the wedding, the moment some guests saw that their backs were to them; they started leaving. They stayed after the debacle started because they did not want to offend the Fitzgeralds by leaving. But at the possibility of a bloodbath?

“I left home with the thought of spending a nice day at this overrated wedding, not the intention of owning a room tonight at a morgue. Fitzgerald be damned. I am outta here” one of the many groomsmen could be heard saying to his partner as they left discreetly.

The chatter around was nothing to Don nor the fact that the happy couple was not so happy anymore.

Fury showed on Matteo’s face as he clenched and unclenched his hands “What is Don doing?” he thought in anger.

When he had called the man because he was his father’s friend. He had not expected him to come here and gawk at the stupid peasant. He expected some bone-breaking by now! He expected head bashing and the possible death of a certain idiot! He would never live this down! Not among his peers and those who were outside his circle.

He saw two of his groomsmen that left earlier. Those bastards had pleaded and sucked up to him for months before he allowed them to the outer sphere of his circle. After all, they were not old money like Fitzgerald. He had only given them a chance to be part of his groomsmen and now? They dared to leave?

He looked back at the others that were still waiting. He knew they would rather be somewhere else. None of them was worthy enough to be his friends but they had served him well and they have their use so he allowed them to be part of his circle. Now, they were acting as if his event was a bore. They would pay!

But for now, he needed to have a word with Don, the man was making him look like a fool.

Nobody was allowed to raise their voice to Don nor were they supposed to approach him without a summon. Matteo knew this of course but his wounded pride made him reckless for a moment and he charged towards where the man stood still looking at Jason’s ring without saying a word.

“Don! I did not call you here to stand and…” he realized his folly when the men closest to him turned in a way that blocked the path they made earlier for Don to walk between their rows.

His eyes widened when he looked up at the emotionless men who formed a wall around Don and Jason. He knew he should stop. Of course, he knew yet he shouted.

“Don, I need to talk to you! This fool ruined my wedding! You can’t just stand and do no…”

Two of the men cocked their Colt guns facing him, still without a single emotion on their faces.

Matteo saw his life flash before his eyes as he knew how ruthless these men could be. He almost did not hear Don’s statement.

In his deadly calm voice that sent fears into the hearts of men, Don said without looking back at him “Boys” and his men dropped their guns.

“Calm yourself, kid, I wouldn’t want you to be accidentally killed. Whatever will I tell your father then?

Matteo shut his mouth. He couldn’t look back at Sonia. No, he couldn’t look at her when he was humiliated so. Jason would pay for this, he would find another way.

Don looked up at Jason’s face and then back at the ring.

Though simple looking, the ring was made of the rarest metal in the world, rhodium, with an intricate pattern of a vined world around the band. An embossed, intertwined G P was the most distinctive part of the ring. It would take the eyes of the known to understand that the symbol was the combination of those two letters.

Don was one of the known. He knew what the ring meant. He merely wanted to be sure that it was not a phoney, which was why he checked but looking at Jason now and as he saw the way the young man looked back at him without flinching; he realized that the man knew the true power of the ring.

Don did what nobody else had ever seen him do. He removed his Fedora hat, held it against his chest in a sign of respect, and inclined his head in a slight bow.

“Grand Patriarch,” he said softly, so softly that others around had no idea of what he said to the young unknown man but what they saw was the respect that Don had accorded him.

Everyone was in awe of the man they had initially thought would be battered today.

Jason acknowledged Don’s greeting with a turn of his ringed hand and he curved his thumb atop his fist, just as he had been taught. Then and only then did Don put his hat back on his head.

“Blanco” Jason smiled “Forgive me for meeting like this. I would have sought you out after this unfortunate incident but then…” he shrugged.

“Forgive me for this disrespect. I have no idea that it was you. I believe you will inform me all about him later. I have been searching for a long while” Don said.

“You will know what you need to know, Don” Jason replied with a smile that looked way older than the man expressing it.

“That is all I ask,” Don said, touching his hat again. “I know of your recent lodging for the past three years. Young Matteo filled me in. Please, let me make arrangements for you”

“I have a place” Jason replied, he knew he had a place. The apartment where he and Sonia lived. Though he had no idea what would have happened to it, he would find out.

“With all respect, Your Grandness. No place of yours before could be fitting enough for your new status. Please give me the honour of doing this for you”

“Not taking what they offered is an insult to them. If they want to do it, accept it” Jason remembered what he was told so he nodded.

Don smiled and motioned to one of the closest men who heard their conversation “Go” was all he said.

“This way, Your Grandness” Don said as he stepped aside and the walls of men around them parted.

Matteo who had not been able to get a better glimpse of Jason since he was surrounded shouted again when he saw how Don was leading the way for him.

“Don, what is this? This is not what I called you here for! This bastard ruined…” he swallowed his foolish statement when he saw the way Don’s eyes narrowed on him.

Don rubbed the bridge of his nose “I will give you that since you are still young and foolish. Go on with…” he gave Sonia’s wine-spattered dress a derisive look “Go on with what is left of your wedding” he said and turned his back on him.

“My father would hear of this! You are humiliating the Fitzgerald!”

Jason, who had intended to tell the men that were now surrounding him for protection to allow Silas to come closer as his friend just stood there gawking, turned back at the last moment and pointed at Sonia.

“I want her to come with us. Right now!”

“What?!” Sonia’s shriek mingled with Matteo’s furious “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Well, kid. Now you have done it” Don simply said and inclined his head.

Wine soaked with a gown devoid of her train, Sonia Pratchet-almost-Fitzgerald screamed at the top of her lungs as two men picked her up with each hand on her upper arms like she weighed nothing.