Castaletta Syndicate (IC)

[xXPALADINXx]

Joseph came hurrying in thru the backdoor and nodded at Jimmy with the intention of going straight thru the kitchen and out into the dining room, that was until he happened to see the look on Jimmys face and he stopped and looked at the bodyguard with a perked eyebrow as the man instantly got that lil boy who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar by his Mother look, " Well...I see by the look on your face Bella's passed this way ", then Joseph caught a glimpse of Jimmys finger and he reached down and grabbed the bodyguards hand, and made a mental note of the shade of the smeared lipstick on his finger," I'd suggest you wash that off before going home...so how is the Wife and boy doing these days? ", Joseph pointedly asked, letting the tone of his voice convey the fact he wasnt pleased to find Bella's lipstick on his bodyguards finger," If I remember correctly Nicks got a birthday coming up,yes", Jimmy sheepishly nodded his head yes ," good good, enjoy him while he's still young.Jim...while he still thinks your his whole world,and still thinks you hung the moon....and keep your mind on your duties...leave a note with Mr. Beckham, we'll see about throwing Nick a birthday party at the Mansion".

Joseph turned without waiting for an answer, going over to the sink to wash his hands, the birthday party would be on regardless, He'd learned along time ago that it didnt matter how much you paid someone to risk their life for you, money didnt buy loyalty, treat them decent and with respect and they were more inclined to be loyal for life...but,then again, a decent paycheck didnt hurt matters either.After drying his hands, he walk towards the Diningroom,but stopped when he got to the waiting staffs entrance to and from the kitchen,looking thru the small round window he could see everyone had just begun to take their seats,he reached up and adjusted his tie and straightend his jacket then stepped thru the doorway. His gaze sought and found his wifes eyes and his face softend just for her, He held her gaze as long confident strides brought him to her side, he reached down and placed the palm of his righthand along the leftside of her jaw and tilted her head up to his and he bent over and softly pressed his lips to hers, then raised his head and looked into her eyes for several seconds, even after 27years of marriage, she still caused butterflies to flutter in the pit of his belly. He rose to his full stature then looked to his Daughter then made a point of taking his right index finger and swiping his bottom lip off and let the expression on his face tell her all she needed to know.

Joseph then turned his attention to the others around the table, the look of warmth and affection in his eyes as he came from the kitchen and greeted his Wife was gone, and now he looked to each person surrounding the dining table with a cold,calculating and bold glare as he kept his eyes on the frist new Capo to his right until he had their full attention, then turned his eyes to the new Capo beside the frist one, holding his gaze on that person till he had their full attention and he continued in same fashiom with every new Capo sitting at the table until the room was dead silent and all eyes on him.

" greetings and welcome,I'd like to thank each of you for being here tonite,for those of you whom do not know, I am Joseph Castaletta,third generation Don of the Castaletta Family of which I welcome you all to...to begin I'd like to take this moment and introduce my lovely Wife Samantha, who god only knows why, has been by my side for the last 27 years with each year being better then the one before", he puased a moment as she was acknowledged, " Next is my equally lovely Daughter Isabella,my Underboss,who thankfully was born with her Mothers looks, and regretfully her Fathers temperment ", He paused again as she was acknowledged,then he turned to his immediate right," Next I'd like to introduce Adam Beckham, my Consigliere, friend, and voice of reason when the urge to grab an automatic rifle and start blasting away takes hold of me". again, he paused as Adam was acknowledged,then waved for the Head waiter and his crew to begin taking everyones order for dinner and then continued, " Now, I dont about the rest of you,but am famished, so lets place our orders, then before our meals arrive,I'll go over a few basics I expect of my Capos,then after the meal,I will get to the business of assigning the Crime rings to which each of you will lead, sowith that said, I'll take a brief pause". He gave a nod of his head then sat down next to his Wife and looked over the menu with her.

(( Rather then writing one very long post, Ive broken it into two parts, of course this one being the frist. I will post the second after everyones had a chance to post their thoughts to the Meeting thus far. Thank you and I sincerly hope everyone enjoys and above all else have fun with what Katie and I hope will create friendships among us and last a long time.))

[Oncemore]

Samantha had walked in a few minutes before Joseph and smiled warmly at her daughter, choosing to sit toward the middle of the large table laid out before them. She motioned for Izzy to join her, but the child only gave a slight nod, the one you'd get to let you know that if you'd just drop her off at the end of the street so her friends wouldn't know she was born of parents... Sam stiffled a chuckle, remember Izzys teenage years.

And now look what she's grown into. Her heart hurt for a moment at the thought of what her baby's life could have been and because she was unable to give Joe a boy... what it would now be. She knew what it meant to lead a sydicate, she'd been doing it for over twenty years with Joe. She turned her head as he walked in the room and smiled, her heart rate increasing at the sight of him.

No matter where they were or who was around, Joseph Castaletta was the most attractive, attention grabbing man in the vacinity. She often wondered why he would waste his time and affections on such a simple girl like her, or maybe she did when she was younger. They completed each other and she was well aware of how rare that was in the world at present.

He walked towards her with purpose and when he reached her she had trouble finding her breath. So many years had gone by and it always felt like the first time they'd met, when he'd rescued her from her private hell. She smiled warmly up at him pressing into her gaze the love and respect he'd earned and deserved. His kiss was light, but held so much promise and she struggle to control her response by not pressing further into it. Getting lost to passion in front of his sydicate wasn't becomming and she knew there would be plenty of time for passion later.

She watched him speak verbal cues to their baby girl and then turn his attention to the crowd. There were so many faces and names, some of which she knew, but most were relatively new. Izzy knew most of them because she worked as her daddy's right hand, but Samantha hadn't gotten the opportunity to meet them yet. She smiled warmly when introduced and picked up her menu when Joe sat down next to her.

She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Joseph Castaletta... don't get anything spicy tonight. I know your tongue craves it dearly, but you know what the doctor said about heartburn and your stress, my love." She kiss his ear softly, caught his eye and gave him a knowing smile, picking up her own menu and pointing to the hottest thing on the menu. "I think I'll have that." She chuckled warmly at his expression.

[Katelyn]

Isabella watched her mother enter the room and wondered briefly if she'd ever be that beautiful, or that loved. She nodded to her mom, shaking her head "no" when the woman asked her to join the table with an unspoken gesture. She turned as Faust walked up and admired him unabashed.

He spoke briefly and offered her a glass to share in his recent purchase. She finished her own drink and gave it to the bartender, picking up her new glass and watching him pour her the numbing agent. If one ever wandered what it would look like to put the most vicious animals in the world in a cage and see who might call the others bluff first... this meeting was a lovely redention of such an event. They were family, but they were still killers.

Isabella smirked, "It's not my job to motivate anyone. Money and protection do that. I'm here to make sure you do your job, so its really not motivation as much as direction, leadership and clean up if necessary." She took a long drink of her drink. Faust was someone that kept his distance from her and perhaps in doing so made himself that smartest guy in the room. Perhaps not.

She stiffened slightly when he reached into his pocket, but didn't allow the smooth look on her features to budge in the slightest. She nodded and took another drink. "There have been many district attorneys that have slandered our name, but I assume you're talking about Harry Valence. He's been on quite a tirade, and I'm sure it will not cease anytime soon."

She listened to him for a few more moments, impressed by his skills and abilities of maybe shutting down the fat ass DA that needed to have a bullet put between his eyes. The atmosphere in the room changed when her father walked in. She watched he and her mother react to each other and again her heart ached for what would most likely never be reflected in her own life. As her father turned to look at her, his nonverbal cues were obvious and although she knew she had no control over Jimmy's behavor, it was her responsibility to shut it down. She nodded and turned to Faust, "Let's go eat and we can discuss this after the meeting."

[Countdown0]

"Mr. Valence should be ceasing to be the DA within a week. I'll tell you from experience, the FBI cracks down hard on people like him, especially when a certain computer virus specifically targets websites that they are monitering." William said, grinning and refilling his third shot of vodka. He poured another for Isabella as well, and then looked up at the Don when he walked in, listening carefully to what he had to say. He smiled when Don Joseph talked about Samantha. Joseph had found a person who he could trust and get close to, while still being the most powerful crime boss in the city, and arguably the country. His life was certainly an enviable one, for certain people anyway.

William turned his attention back to Isabella and smiled, nodding when she said that they should eat and save the discussion for later. "Of course. Tell me, does the cook here make a very good steak?" He asked, grabbing the USB and pocketing it ocne again before walking with Isabella to the table that everyone else was at and taking a seat, quite ready for a good meal. A waiter came over to attend to them, and William ordered himself a steak, which they did in fact have on the menu. He declined a drink though, having brought the bottle of vodka with him.

[Scarface]

Adam sat in silence for the few minutes that the rest of the people filtered in to the room, ordering a beer from the waiter. He was lost in his own thoughts when Isabella approached him from behind. Adam wasn't expecting it at all, and jumped slightly at her voice.

"Where’ve you been all day? If she’s prettier than me… I’ll kill her, and her family." She purred.

"Well, Bella, it's not the first time I've heard that threat." Adam smirked, taking a sip from her glass that was now in his hand.

He thought back to last night and the woman that he had met in the bar after his shift. A blonde woman. Swedish. Long legs and a reasonable cleavage. Just the way he liked them. He had left her a note to help herself to the fridge when she woke up.

"Don't worry, nobody is more good looking than you, darling." He told Bella, handing her the glass back before taking a sip of his beer.

Adam watched as she moved towards the bar. He was about to join her, but was then alerted to the boss entering the room. Adam stood up out of respect, greeting him with a nod before retreating back down in to his seat.

Adam listened to the bosses words looking around the room as everybody was introduced, including himself. Adam didn't like being the center of attention, and as all the eyes in the room gazed towards his, he felt slightly out of place. He couldn't help but smirk at the Don's comment though.

Adam ordered the arriabata pasta and another beer, turning just in time to catch Bella by the waist, his hand resting at the top of her skirt, his fingers drumming a tune softly on her side.

"May I have your company while we eat? I'll tell you all about the fun I had last night..." Adam asked her, smiling innocently.

[Gryphon]

Ghost leaned back in his seat, glancing around casually. He searched to room for the bartender, and simply looked at the man until the tender looked up and caught his glare. The man hurried over, leaning down slightly so he could hear over the ruckus in the restaurant. “What would you like, sir?” came the question.

“Three shots of bourbon,” he began, “followed by two shots of tequila, and a large glass of your hardest Grappa. And call me Ghost. I hate when people call me Sir.” He slipped about sixty bucks into the man’s front pocket, patting it twice and making an “off you go” gesture with his hand. He had to take it easy tonight. After all, he did have to drive home.

“Uh, yes sir- I mean Mr. Ghost.” The bartender stammered, backing away to go fix his drinks. Ghost sighed slightly at the man’s nervousness. Being the Capo to the Violence ring seems to shake up the lesser willed characters. It was almost annoying.

As the Don entered the room, Ghost stood from his seat, catching his hat before it fell to the ground. When the Don’s gaze passed over him, he would bow his head slightly before sitting back into his seat. Ghost listened intently on what his boss had to say, looking between the three he introduced. Obviously Ghost knew who the Don’s wife and daughter were; he had met both in person. However he had never actually spoken to Adam, whom he peered at from across the table.

When the Don finished speaking, a tentative waiter cautiously approached him and inquired about his meal. He wasn’t hungry, but he didn’t want to offend the Don by turning down the offer so he ordered the fettuccine with alfredo sauce, and glared at the waiter. “While you’re at it, would you kindly ask the bartender where my drinks are?”

Almost as if on cue, the large variety of drink appeared next to him on a tray, and the bartender sheepishly placed them one by one before him. Ghost grinned up at the man, running a hand across the slight stubble he had acquired over the day. “Grazie.” He said, taking the first shot of bourbon and raising it slightly in a “cheers” fashion, before washing the harsh liquid down his throat. The next two went by just as fast, Ghost placing the glasses stacked upside down on top of each other. He decided hed leave the last two for later, grasping his glass of Grappa and leaning back, gently swirling the liquor in circular motions as he observed his surroundings and waited for his food.

[The Xtreme One]

Roman bowed his head slightly to Isabella as he entered DeAngelo's. She was a great beauty, there was no denying that but she was the Don's daughter and no matter what she looked like, Bella was off limits. If a man did not keep his word then he was not a man at all. Roman remembered the day he was brought into the family, Joseph had seen his talents and he had been doing odd jobs for the family for over a year. When Roman was made, Joseph pulled him to one side and advised him of his own private rule. Don't touch his daughter, Roman had a reputation but he knew he couldn't let it affect business.

Still, no matter how forbidden Bella was, she wasn't the girl that had caught Roman's eye. Lina had taken that position. Like him, she was a native Sicilian who had come to America and hidden her past well. However, Roman liked to know everything about everyone. Knowledge was power and with power came control. Lina had hidden things and Roman had no doubt that he was the only one that knew some of them. She intrigued him, a ravishing beauty with brains, brawn and a presence that lured you in. Roman would freely admit that this was his vice. Women. Sex. Most criminals drank, others took drugs and others resorted to violence. Roman's vice was women and yet, he did not go for sleazy women, like those who worked for Lina. No, Roman liked class, a woman he could seduce....A challenge.

Taking a seat next to Lina, the waiter offered the Caesar of Financial Crime a drink. "Would you care for the wine list, Mr Castiglione?" Roman shook his head as he layed his napkin on the table. "No, thank you. I don't drink" The Don entered and began his speech, he introduced his consigliere and Roman's dark eyes narrowed. That was the position he wanted, in time he would take that position. Roman was going to be consigliere and nothing was going to stop him. When Joseph had finished, Roman ordered the Pasta alla Norma and awaited his food.

[Akholic]

Tony smirked at Bella’s words, player… You have no idea.

He turned to grab a Dos Equis from the bartender, making his way to the table. He took a seat across from Mama and smiled, “Evening, Mrs. Castaletta.” He nodded and picked up his menu, taking a quick drink of his beer. Damn that’s good.

He stood as the Don walked in and nodded his head in respect to the older man. Joseph Castaletta was man he looked up to, a man he wanted to be like when he was more into years. He had a beautiful wife, a strong willed daughter and seemingly the world at his fingertips. What more could you want?

Protection. Protection from the wolf at the door and perhaps the wolf in the room. Tony’s eyes scanned each member of the family, his lack of trust easily creating a feel of hostility toward all of them. He knew that the family was supposed to be trusted, but he trusted no one. Everything was taken from him once and the epic explosion started with the man he trusted most.

He shook his thoughts away and watched as Adam and Bella moved to the table. Either they had a sibling like relationship or there was something just below the surface. Tony picked up his menu and ordered the fish and vegetables. He hoped this didn’t last too terribly long, he had a couple of rounds to make tonight and still hoped that finding time to get laid wasn’t out of the question. He looked at Bella again and the right side of his mouth lifting… ahhh, the possibilities.

[TheStinger]

Richard Mercer

A very successful real-estate company. A black with white stripes 2010 Camaro SS was sitting parked on the other side of the road where the headquarters of the company where. In the car there were two men. On the pasenger seat there was Richard & next to him, on the driver's seat, there was a crew member of his. A brazilian man named Sergio Salvadore. The car was his.

But Sergio was more then just a crew member of Richard. He was his best friend as well. The two have known each other since childhood. They were like brothers. As the two were eyeballing the company's parking lot, Sergio turns his view over to Richard. "Hey man we've been sitting here for 20 minutes! So! How much time do we have left?" He said as he patted Richard on the shoulder.

"We've got 5 more minutes. The owner of the company will leave after that. But before he does that, I will strike." Said Richard as he opened the glove compartrment & grabbed a pair of brass knuckles & a hood that covers the enitre face. "Good luck!" "Thanks brother!" Said Sergio as Richard repiled & they both shook hands & patted each other on their backs. Richard gets out of Sergio's Camaro & watches as he drives away, back to the car shop.

Richard crosses the road & enters the parking lot, looking for the owner's car. Out of the multitude of fancy cars there he wanted the owner's one because it was special. Especially for Richard, since it was the first time he was about to hijack a car made by that specific maker. And there it was. In all it's grace. An all black Ferrari 599 GTO. "God bless Enzo Ferrari for creating the cars that wear his name. So I can steal them & make truckloads of money out of them. And your darling are the first out of a long series." He said as he ran his hand through the entire right side of the car. Then all of a sudden, Richard hears the sound of steps made by expensive leather shoes. He runs, takes cover behind the car & covers his face with the hood.

As the company owner came & opened the car, Richard grabbed the brass knukcles & inserted his fingers of his right hand in it's holes. He then grabs the car door as the owner was about to close it & slams the brass knuckles in the man's face, knocking him out. Then Richard pulls him out of the car, takes the keys from his hand & goes inside. "OMG!" Said Richard as he started touching the dash & steering wheel. He then inserts the key & presses the "start engine" button located on the lower left side of the steering wheel.

The huge V12 engine starts rumbling to life, making the tipical Ferrari sound. Richard presses the pedal all the way down & closes the door as the car was in motion. After reaching the street he makes an instant left & uses the paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel to change gears. Richard dodges car after car, ignores traffic lights, leaving alot of mayhem behind him. Richard was an experienced driver, he wasn't worrying about accidents or losing control of the car. This was his first Ferrari & he wanted to enjoy it. He turns on the radio as the song Godsmack - I Stand Alone was playing on.

The car reached 110 mph & climbing, which is alot given New York's busy traffic. It was suicide to drive like that, the slightest mistake meaning bye bye for Richard. But he loved it nontheless, he was an adrenaline junkie afterall. As he was driving the car concentrated, Richard remembers the meating at De'Angelo's. "Fuckin' shit! I totally forgot about the meating. And i'm not even dressed properly." Said Richard as he slapped himself & almost hit a bus as he dodged it in the last minute. He then makes an imidieate 180 degrees turn & takes a left.

After 2 minutes, Richard reaches De'Angelos, parking the Ferrari in front of the entrance. He takes the hood off his head & puts it in the glove compartment, together with the brass knuckles & his Beretta M9. Richard gets out of the car, slamming the door, locking it & gets inside, imidieatly eyeballing the beauty that was Isabella.

[xXPALADINXx]

Joseph sat close to his Wife as the waiters went about taking everyones food order, her scent was entralling,she always seemed to know just the right amount to apply to stir him and still to this day,he had yet to find or figure out the brand of perfume she wore. He placed his leftpalm on the inside of her right knee and slowly played the tips of his fingers along her soft perfumed flesh between her knee and the hem of her dress. He chuckled softly at her dinner selection and spoke in his low seductive voice that seemed to always make her shiver, " well then, I suppose I'd best get all my kisses now then eh? ", He leaned into her,first taking her bottom lip between his and pulled gently,then her top lip. He lifted hs head and gave the waiter an ominous look as he came up to them for their order and disturbing their moment, " Order for me Dear, you know what I like ", he said with a wink then turned his attention to those around the table, he wasnt pleased with the amount of liquor being served. He looked to and caught the Bartenders attention then made a slashing motion across his throat with the flat off his hand and furrowed brow.

As the last waiter entered the Kitchen,Joseph stood,stroked his Wifes chin with the palm of his hand letting his fingertips trail form her soft skin and then loudly cleared his throat and stood in silence till the room was quite again. He folded his arms behind his back and moved to his right,walking around and behind the people sitting at the table, his eyes one eachone as he came up to, and passed them, " Your Predecessors have been...'retired'...and after a thorough evaluation of your work while a Soldier of the Family by the Underboss anf the Consigliere,and my final scrutinization of their recommendations, You have been chosen as the best to lead your assigned crime rings in these times of economic hardships. You are now Capos of the Castaletta Family,your reputations are set, you will be afforded the rights and priviligies of a Capo..you will have the respect of your soldiers and the people of the community,if any come to you for help,you will give it without thought or expectation of reward except from me...all others not loyal to the Family will fear you...but...any excessive violence toward our enemies unless in time of a war, or initiated by them first will not be tolerated, you will seek the councel of the Underboss or the Consigliere frist. You will have my trust to lead your assigined Rings at your discretion, however...lose my trust in your ability to lead your assigned crime ring, and you will find yourselfs retired,and given the serverity of your failure, I may or may not personally put a bullet in your brain ".

Jospeh made his way back to the head of the table, lifting his hand to trail along his Wifes shoulder as he past around her, then looked to Adam for the folder of assignments,then opened it after taking it from Adam and read over it quickly while holding the room in silent
suspense. He took a brief moment more while looking over the names, the future of the Castaletta Family was going to be in the skill and performances of these new Capos and deep down it scared him, His Grandfather and his Father left him a long and rich legacy, and he was going to do his damndest to insure Bella inherited the same from him when her time came. He looked briefly to his Daughter, his mind seeing the little girl,as if it was only yesterday,surrounded by her stuffed animals and asking him to come join her teaparty...now her she was, a striking figure of a grown woman, fiercly independent and seeking her place in a male dominated world, 'God help the poor bastard that tries to tame her', he thought to himself. Samantha reached out to tap him on the leg drawing his attention back to the room,again he cleared his throat and continued on.

" The assignments are as follows,when I call your name please stand so that the rest of us may be able to put name to face....Mr. Gabriel Delucci will head the Strongarm and Enforcement ring and will be the muscle for the other Ring Leaders, should you be of need of more persuasive tactics, please call, as he prefers to be called,Ghost...Ghost will also, in additon to his duties will be the Underboss's bodyguard"
" Mr. Roman Castiglione will be assigned the Financial Crimes Ring".
" Mr.William Faust will be assigned the White Collar Crime Ring ".
" Mr. Anthony Martinez will be assigned the Drug Trafficking Ring".
" Ms. Angilina Drago will be assigned to the...to put it more politely, the Adults entertainment crime ring".
and last,and certainly not least, Mr.Richard Mercer will be assigned the Auto theft/ chop shop Crime Ring".

joseph closed the folder and gave it back to adam then turned his attention to those round the table and after a moment allowed a warm and inviting smile crack and spread a cross his face, replaceing his matter of fact business tone. He spotted the Maitre'de motion that the dinners were ready to be served and he began to end the meeting " I personally Welcome each of you to the Family and wish to extend my welcome by asking you to remain after the dinner to mingle and relax...get to know one another and take enjoyment in what you have accomplished this day...for next week, you'll all be working your ass'es off, now, lets eat ", he motioned to the bartender to reopen the bar and sat and spent the rest of the mealtime in private conversation with his Wife.