[CENTER][SUB][I][COLOR=SILVER]To the soldier, the civilian, the martyr, the victim[/COLOR][/I][/SUB][hr][H3][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]T H I S   I S   W A R
[SUP][COLOR=SILVER]U P D A T E D[/COLOR][/SUP]
[/COLOR][/B][/H3][/CENTER]
[hr]
[INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][I]Status:[/I] [COLOR=DARKORANGE]PRESSING[/COLOR]
[I]Time of Day:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Night[/COLOR]
[I]Weather:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Rain[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Something about being in Pointe Boredaux just didn’t feel right to Jacob as he and his closest squad stood in the alley behind the Circus Maximus casino. Originally one of Roman Locke’s main bases of operations, like so many other possessions of Locke’s it had fallen into the hands of the De Vitis. The Welcome Crew had been summoned here, apparently their investment in gaining the favour of the De Vitis had reached the ears of the right under boss as Salvatore Raymundo exited the backdoor of the Maximus. A fat cigar hung loosely in his mouth as the wide brimmed fedora on his head did its best to deflect the pouring rain from extinguishing it while Salvatore’s pulled his long leather jacket over the vermillion shirt he had left the collar open on. His thick, curled chest hair threatening to pop out as he approached the young gang.

[color=a0410d][b]“So, you punks want to join the [i]fuckin’[/i] big leagues eh?”[/B][/COLOR] Salvatore stated with a puff of his cigar as he blew a smoke ring over the group. [color=a0410d][b]“What makes you think you’ve got what it takes?”[/B][/COLOR] 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]“We want to move up on the food chain.”[/B][/COLOR] Jacob stated. [COLOR=SILVER][B]“Like you, we want our rivals destroyed and we know the rungs we have to climb to get there.”[/B][/COLOR] 

[color=a0410d][b]“What makes you think I have any rivals boy?”[/B][/COLOR] Salvatore asked, his loose hand moving to his hip as Jacob chose his next words carefully all while fingering a switchblade in his pocket.

[COLOR=SILVER][B]“Why else would you risk going against your own boss?”[/B][/COLOR] Jacob replied with a question of his own. [COLOR=SILVER][B]“You boss obviously assigned another man to guard his baby girl, that means you want him disgraced or killed.”[/B][/COLOR] Jacob continued. [COLOR=SILVER][B]“Then, when the heat is off, you can claim the victory yourself and [i]‘rescue’[/i] the girl.”[/B][/COLOR]

[color=a0410d][b]“I like the cut of your jib, kid,”[/B][/COLOR] Salvatore replied. [color=a0410d][b]“You outta go far.”[/B][/COLOR]  He replied before back handing Jacob across the face. The other De Vitis gangsters’ hands went to their guns as the Crew members reached for their knives. 

[color=a0410d][b]“Just gotta learned when to mind your manners.”[/B][/COLOR] Salvatore stated as he stepped back, wiping blood from the signet ring on his hand as Jacob stood up, a large gash in his cheek from the aforementioned ring. A smirk crossed Jacob’s face as he stood up, the bloody gash eerily accenting it into a crooked grin.

[COLOR=SILVER][B]“I’ll keep that in mind.”[/B][/COLOR] Jacob stated, his eyes cold. [COLOR=SILVER][B]“We hired?” [/B][/COLOR]

[color=a0410d][b]“You’ll do.”[/B][/COLOR] Salvatore said as he nodded to a man with a briefcase. [color=a0410d][b]“Give ‘em the goods.”[/B][/COLOR]

The man walked forward, opening the suitcase as Jacob reached inside. Tossing a handgun to Alfonso and  Bastian each, Jacob picked up an SMG as he held up the weapon to admire it before nodding to Alfonso and Bastian as the three members of the Welcome Crew gunned down the De Vitis gangsters before them. 

Falling to the ground, Salvatore cried out in pain as the bullets ripped into him leaving him far too wounded to fight back as Jacob stood over him. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]“I never did say thank you.”[/B][/COLOR] Jacob said as the switchblade appeared in his hand. Driving it down, Jacob stabbed it through Salvatore’s ring hand before removing the signet ring and placing it on his own finger. Twisting the knife as he pulled it out, Jacob rapidly drove it into Salvatore’s rib cage, once, twice, three times more before he ceased leaving the limp body. Searching the man’s jacket, Jacob held up a set of keys as the other Crew members cheered. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]“Next stop, La Petit Mort.”[/B][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT]