Page 8 of Savage Angels

“Damn straight,” Dane replies without missing a beat. “We’re family, Sal. When one of us is threatened, we all stand together.”

“And it’s not just you and yours. It’s not the first time the Abruzzis have overstepped,” Onyx says as he crosses his arms across his chest.

“Even if it gets bloody?” I ask, knowing full well that this fight won’t end without casualties on both sides.

“Especially if it gets bloody. You know what they say… blood makes the grass grow.”

I let out a humorless chuckle as does Onyx. Going against Don Abruzzi is like poking a sleeping lion with a stick—sooner or later, the damn thing is going to wake up and tear you apart. But what choice do we have?

“All right, but we need to be smart about this. The Abruzzi Crime Family has deep pockets and powerful friends. If we’re going to take them on, we need allies of our own.”

“Agreed.” Dane nods thoughtfully. “There are other families out there who’ve been just as fucked over by Don Abruzzi’s greed and ambition. You need to reach out to them, make them see we’re all in this together.”

“Strength in numbers,” I muse, my mind already racing with possibilities.

But as much as I want to believe we could pull this off, there is one nagging thought I can’t shake.

“Listen, Dane, I’m not going to lie… I’m scared for my family and yours. If we do this, if we go against Don Abruzzi and his crew, there’s a good chance the shitstorm isn’t going to end at our doorstep. It’s going to come for our wives, our kids… everyone we care about.”

“Sal,” Dane replies, his expression deadly serious, “This is war, and in war, people get hurt. But if we don’t stand up now, and we continue to let Abruzzi keep running roughshod over us, we’re just as good as dead, anyway. Besides…” he adds, clapping me on the shoulder, “… we’ve faced down worse threats than some two-bit crime boss, haven’t we?”

“We haven’t seen anything like the war that’s coming.”

Onyx drags a shoulder up to his ear. “The Abruzzis haven’t seen anything like a war with the Savage Angels. We outnumber you. Yes, we will lose men, but there’s no reason to think we won’t come out on top.”

“Exactly,” Dane says, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Now, let’s get to work and show these scumbags who they’re messing with.”

***

My heart is pounding like a jackhammer, our decision weighing heavy on my soul. As much as I believe in Dane and our cause, I can’t help but think about the backlash Don Abruzzi will rain down on us.

“Sal,” Dane says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You have to focus. We need to act fast if we’re going to stand a chance.”

“All right,” I reply, taking a deep breath. “Let’s hear your plan, Dane.”

“We can’t just go in guns blazing. We need allies… people who aren’t afraid to stand up to Abruzzi and his goons. Other crime families. Plenty of them have a beef with Abruzzi. If we can get them on our side, it’ll give us the numbers within your organization to take him down.”

“Okay,” I say, rubbing my chin. “Makes sense. But how do we convince them to join us?”

“Easy,” Dane grins. “We show them what they have to gain. If we can promise them a piece of Abruzzi’s territory, they’ll jump at the chance to help us.”

“Sounds risky.” The thought of going against Abruzzi still gnaws at me. “What if they turn on us once they get what they want?”

“Then we’ll deal with them when the time comes,” Dane says firmly. “But right now, we need all the help we can get.”

I sigh, knowing he is right. As much as I hate the idea of making deals with other members of the Abruzzi Crime Family, it is our best shot at fighting back against Don Abruzzi and protecting our families.

“All right, let’s do this.”

“Good.” Dane nods, clapping me on the shoulder. “Now, let’s get to work and show these bastards who they’re really fucking with.”

My thoughts race in a million different directions. My family’s safety weighs heavily on my mind, and the thought of taking on the Abruzzi Crime Family sends chills down my spine. The danger is real, but so is the need to protect our loved ones. Dane is watching me, his blue eyes waiting for an answer.

“Listen, Dane, I get what you’re saying, but we can’t just go up against Abruzzi without seriously thinking about the consequences. If we fail, he’ll come after us, our families… it’ll be a bloodbath.”

Dane crosses his arms over his broad chest, his expression serious yet understanding. “I know it isn’t easy, Sal, but we have to do what’s right, not just what’s easy. We have honor and loyalty to uphold. That means putting the well-being of our families and club before any allegiance to that snake, Don Abruzzi.”

His words hit me like a freight train. Part of me knows he is right, but the other part can’t shake the fear that grips my heart. My wife, Emily, and our kids—they are my world. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t do everything in my power to keep them safe?

---