[center][u][h3]The Gugliano Compound[/h3][/u]

The Gugliano Family Mansion is a large villa located on the edge of Watervale in one of its less urban, less populated areas, not too far off the beaten road but not too close as to where it would be easily seen by those not looking at it. The mansion is a large compound surrounded by tall iron fences, with four tall guard towers overlooking the massive grounds, which included plenty of open space for Vinnie's unique choices of pets. Across the open area are scores of guards, all patrolling the area, armed to the teeth and prepared to engage with any threat. Those in the [i]business[/i] know that the odds of being able to take five steps onto Vinnie Gugliano's property without an invitation at the front gate is impossible, let alone actually getting through the front doors. 

The mansion itself, a gorgeous Italian villa kept in fantastic condition, is large and spacious, with a ballroom, large dining table, and a pool out back, but even though this main living space was massive and beautiful, it is not the pinnacle of the Gugliano empire. The pinnacle comes from those who know the Gugliano business and head to the wine room, and press down on the front of the big brown barrel of Sangiovese. Those who work for Vinnie Gugliano know that he hates Sangiovese ("it's bone dry!"), and that this barrel is not actually a barrel, but a mechanism that opens a stairway into the true magnum opus of the Guglianos- the Compound.

The actual compound is a massive underground lair of sorts where the Guglianos operate out of. Underground is where Vinnie stores his goods, such as drugs, weapons, et cetera, his pets, his prisoners, his papers, everything that the cops would be able to use as evidence is underground in the hidden compound. The compound is layered with heavy metals to prevent being blasted into or drilled through. Security is tight, with cameras everywhere and passwords required to open every door, of which are changed routinely. For a criminal wanting to hide something, the Gugliano Compound is a paradise. 

At the edge of the Gugliano Compound, behind a set of biometrically-locked carbon steel doors, is Vinnie's favorite room, his conference room. At the center is his best conference table, a purple heart table with platinum edges and a spectacular finish that gave the table a warm, burgundy glow. Across the room are mounted heads of Leftover beasts Gugliano had personally killed, and at the end of the room is Vinnie's desk, ebony and gold, with several screens built into it so Vinnie could monitor his employees.

Right now, the conference room was empty, sans for Vinnie himself, who was seated in his large armchair (supposedly one of Mussolini's armchairs that he had purchased at an auction in Rome for a hefty sum), along with Vinnie's sons, Tommy and Salvatore. Tommy was the younger brother, even though he was taller than Sal at 6'2", with a picture-perfect face and build, almost like an angel masquerading as a human. Sal was a bit shorter at 5'6", and though he was rather muscular, he resembled his grizzly father more, with a crew cut as opposed to Tommy's curly brown hair, and with a patchwork of scars over his face as opposed to Tommy's flawless skin. Most notably, Sal had a large scar over his right eye that was very prominent, and said eye seemed to be almost swollen shut. 

"Alright, listen, boys," Vinnie said to the two of them. "I have big news for the two of you. Cigars?" He asked, holding out two in his large palm.

While Sal snatched it up quickly and grabbed his lighter, Tommy shook his head. "Make sure the vents are on, or it'll get smoky in here very quickly, Papa."

Vinnie laughed. "Vent schment. So concerned," Vinnie said as he flicked a switch on his desk, causing a whir to sound about the room as the vents began to suck Vinnie and Sal's cigar smoke away. 

"Anyway, about what I was saying," Vinnie said as he released a large puff of smoke from his lips. "I spoke to the mysterious fella on the phone, and he's real happy with our organization. Says that if we get a couple more heroes, he'll send us the official invitation to Zero."

"Papa, I'm really not sure about these Zero people," Tommy said softly.

"What do you [i]mean,[/i] you're not really sure about these Zero people?" Vinnie said with a guffaw. "Lemme tell you something, son, that my papa, your grandpapa, he told me about this business. I'll never forget it. He was first introducing me to the trade, like I was to you a few years back, and he came right up to me and told me, 'son, you make sure, when somebody offers their checkbook to you, you do whatever it takes to get them to sign.' Whatever it takes, Tommy! These Zero folks, they have a lot of money in their wallets, kid, let me tell you. If we can get in, I'll have enough money to buy a time machine so I can go back and hear Sinatra live again. Are they shady? Hell yes, but so are we! That's the business, kiddo! Capische?"

Tommy nodded, a little unsure.

"Alright, that's good. Now, let's talk about our..." At that moment, Vinnie's phone began to ring (it was an antique dial phone sitting on his desk). Vinnie looked at one of his screens. "It's your Uncle Johnny," Vinnie said to his two sons (Johnny was not [i]actually[/i] their uncle, but a close family friend and, err, [i]business partner[/i]) before picking up, wrapping the phone's cord around his finger as he spoke.

"'Ey, Johnny! Nice hearin' from ya! What's cookin', [i]mio amico?[/i]"

[@Not Fungus]




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