Page 112 of Sweet Dominion

“Rectum?” Banks looked at Marcy. “What the fuck did I miss?”

Marcy wore a hard expression. “Dima is explaining that it would be impossible for Lei to put a table inside your ass.”

“Thank you, Dima.” Banks smiled and folded his hands in front of him. “However, I think it would be more important to discuss Law 480.”

Everyone turned to him.

I had to scan my head for that law. There were a few that had stuck in my mind. Laws about assassination attempts, how to deal with Syndicate traitors, their code of silence, and of course, Law 480.

Perhaps this law stuck because I could see how this one would have pertained to me.

The origins of Law 480 were buried deep in the Diamond Syndicate’s bloody history. It went back to the Syndicate’s early days, when the founders were still carving out their territories in Paradise City, still figuring out what the Syndicate would become.

Back then, the Syndicate was more a loose collection of gangs than the organized powerhouse it would evolve into.

And like all gangs, loyalty was paramount—but so was fear.

According to Leo’s accounts in theEssence of the Cloud Dragon, the founders kept everyone in line through a mixture of respect and terror, but that balance was fragile, constantly on the verge of tipping into chaos.

The story goes that one of the founders, a man named Joseph Castiglione—they’d called him, Mean-Eyed Joe—well. . .he had a wife who was beloved by everyone in their small, twisted world.She was kind, generous, the type who could calm even the most bloodthirsty men with just a smile.

But Mean-Eye Joe’s second in command, Richie ‘The Bull’ Santoro was tired of not being in control. In an attempt to get what he wanted from Mean-Eyed Joe he kidnaped his wife.

It was only meant to be a quick attempt—she stay over a night and then he release her once all his demands were met.

But the Bull’s plan went awry when one of his underlings, a hothead named Mickey, got jittery.

Apparently, Mickey had a drug problem and he wasn't thinking straight. In a fit of paranoia and withdrawal, he attacked Joe's wife in her sleep, leaving her battered and bloody.

When Mean-Eyed Joe found out what happened to his wife, his rage was uncontainable. He stormed Richie’s hideout and killed not just Richie but every single person who had been involved.

Dimitri’s mother called an emergency meeting.

That part had made me smile.

His mother had been one of the only female founders, yet it seemed she was the most feared. Perhaps, they truly didn’t understand Leo in those times.

Either way, she’d come up with Law 480 and added it to the Diamond Syndicate’s code: No family member of any member of the syndicate shall ever be harmed or killed.

Violation of the law could result in loss of territory, control of business, and/or even death, depending on the level of violation.

Banks is saying Lei violated Law 480?

Anger surged through me.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I shook my head, wanting to jump in and curse Banks out. But I didn’t know Dimitri like that and I wasn’t officially apart of the Diamond Syndicate. This wasn’t just some group of friends hanging out.

This was old street codes and gangsters who killed for a living.

"As you know, Lei,” Dimitri spoke, “When someone raises a violation of Law 480, not only must I take it seriously, the Syndicate is required to immediately set both parties down to discuss it. That means that this discussion cancels out the rules of the East. And as you also know, this is an agreement your father signed long ago and you signed later upon taking his place.”

Lei’s jaw twitched. “And you thought today at the cookout would be an appropriate time?”

“I hoped that all of us being surrounded by family and the celebration of life would be an inspiring theme to geteveryoneto listen and come to a semblance of peace.” Dima pointed to the front of the house where the path lead to the steps. “That looks like a good place. Set everything over there.”

All of the men in yellow headed that way with the table and chairs.

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