Grave Digger – Brothers At Arms #4

Everyone waited and watched as Leon made a series of calls. Everything had been quiet since they found Romano in the tunnel area.

They had already boarded up the tunnel from this end but due to the structure being all fucked up by the explosion Barrett had caused, they couldn’t exactly block the other end. No one on the inside had known the tunnel was even there before now.

Click looked down at his screens and went from one camera angle to another. He then flipped a switch and found the tunnel system. He carefully checked all of them and shook his head. There had been three tunnels that had some kind of explosion recently and their cameras weren’t working properly but the other three didn’t show any signs of anyone in there or being disturbed. Then he remembered something Alfredo told them when he first arrived. Click looked up and asked Alfredo, “Old man, how many tunnels did you say this place had at one time?”

Alfredo looked over at him and said, “My dad said there were seven.”

Click looked over at Zeus and said, “We only found six, even with the new tunnel Romano found to get inside, we still only found six.”

Zeus shook his head, “No, we found all seven. There’s two in the kitchen, one in the office, one in Angel’s room and one in my room, then we had one that came out in the still room and another that’s under our feet. That should be all of them.”

Alfredo paused, then reached for his dad’s book again. “Let’s find out if we found all of them or not. I saw something toward the back of the book, a map of some kind, maybe that would show the tunnel system.’ He flipped to the back pages of the diary and began searching the rough drawings Alfonzo had made all those years ago.

The room went quiet for a few minutes, as he looked it over.

Calderone broke the silence, “Old man Ragetti was some piece of work. Like he planned all this over the years, keeping riches in secret places and all for what?”

Leon turned his head to look at his son. “I think he was very shrewd and si, he had to be crazy. However, he played some dangerous games. He must have known that.” Leon smoothed his hand over his jaw. “He built a literal trappola per topi…A mouse trap. Only I am unsure if it was to hide his bounty or if it was to play the ultimate prank.” He then sat up straighter in his chair. “He did his son and grandsons no favor, however. Just look at where we are today, I am about to squash Barrett like a bug and he will lose his own sons as well. Some joke, eh?”

Calderone just kept shaking his head.

Alfredo looked up at Zeus then turned to Leon. “l’ho trovato! My father miscounted or lied about how many tunnels really existed here. Which at this point, is no surprise. He told us he had seven but this map clearly shows nine. He had nine tunnels coming and going.” He paused to consider the possibilities. “Maybe he told Barrett something else. We may never know.”

“È ridicolo, I have a feeling we will know.” Leon growled. “We will know when Barrett tries to come through one of the hidden tunnels and puts a knife to our throats.”

Zeus looked pissed all over again.” We thought we were buy a house and some land, not a game of Sink My Battleship, for fuck’s sake.”

They all went quiet, though the tension in the room felt like most of them were raging with inner shouts.

Suddenly, the silence inside was shattered by the sounds of gunplay outside.

Zeus, Leon and the rest of the brothers came over to watch Click’s cameras. They could see Barrett and his men shooting back at what looked like military men, shooting at them. Barrett’s men scattered and the attacking ‘soldiers’ gave chase.

Zeus looked over at Leon and growled, “Who are they?”

“They are my men.” Leon growled back. “I told you, the hunters will become the hunted. These particular men will hunt them all down and bring them in.”

“Where did they come from to get here this quickly?” Grave Digger asked what they were all wondering.

“They are I Soldati Della Famiglia. The Family’s Soldiers. They were guarding my plane here. I always travel with security.” Leon brushed aside the question. “They have strict orders to capture Barrett and his two sons alive if possible. I want them to face the High Council. I want them to realize the folly of trying to fool the Family. We stand for something in this country and they will feel the rage they have stirred up.”

“My father set the example of disrespecting the Family and Barrett has taken that same disrespect too far,” Alfredo stated.

Leon nodded. “It is a simple concept really.Se si prendono decisioni sbagliate ci si dovrebbe aspettare conseguenze negative.”

Delaney and Alfredo gave agreeing nods to this statement.

The men in the room all stared at them.

Calderone chuckled as he translated it for them, “If one makes poor decisions, one should expect negative consequences.”

Delaney snorted, though she didn’t look amused really. “My dad just got out of jail while thinking his time there had been a cake walk and now he’ll get the idiotic prize at the end of the dumbass rainbow.” Delaney shook her head.

Memphis couldn’t seem to help it as he chuckled.“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

Grave Digger had to chuckle a bit too. He then paused to wonder how the shooting affected his prize. Emily. He left the main room and went to check on her and her son, worrying about how they might react to the sound of gunshots. He opened the door and found her and Anthony huddled in the corner.

Anthony was awake now, too awake in fact, as he was crying in his mother’s arms.

Grave Digger went over and knelt on the floor beside them. He didn’t touch them but instead he gazed into Emily’s eyes.

She looked concerned but not panicked as she asked quietly, “What’s going on out there?”

Grinning, he told her, “According to Leon, the hunters have just become the hunted,” he repeated Leon’s words. “The Ragettis are losing this one.” He thought of Memphis’ line.

When Emily realized what he was saying, her eyes widened and she nodded. “Good. I hope they get what’s coming to them.”

“I believe they will.” Shrugging his wide shoulders, he told her, “One way or another, they will get what they deserve, and right now, Leon is pissed. I thought we brothers would have to fight them and we are willing too, but I’m learning that no one should cross Leon.”

Emily chuckled, and shook her head, “And that is a very good thing. Leon gets a lot done when he’s pissed. My father used to tell me stories about when he was young and all the trouble those two used to get in to.” Grinning, she added, “You’ll have to ask him about the dock and a boat named, Martha’s Folly.” She paused then she seemed to sober up. “I miss that old man like crazy.”

Grave Digger felt bad for her loss, especially as it had made her life a literal living hell ever since it happened. He looked down at Anthony. He saw confusion in his young eyes. “You okay there, little man?”

Anthony nodded. “I guess so. Why is it so… noisy?”

Sitting down on the floor next to them, he smiled at Anthony. “You’re a big boy now, right?”

Anthony nodded as he still looked a bit afraid.

“Ok then, I’m gonna treat you like a big boy and tell you the truth,” Grave Digger said. “You and me we’re men, right?” He glanced down again to see Anthony nod. “Well, it’s a man’s job to protect the women around him. That’s a very important job. A real man never raises his hand to a woman in anger. He will always protect his woman and all the women around him. It’s like a man’s code and he must obey the code, never forget that ok?”

Anthony nodded his head while looking terribly serious. “I won’t. I will always protect my mom.”

Grave Digger gave him a warm smile. “That’s a good thing, because she’s been protecting you too, kiddo.”

Anthony agreed, “I know, but she’s my mom, she has to.”

Emily chuckled and hugged her son closer. “I love you sweet boy, that’s why I’m here. You are my son and I love you.”

Anthony stared up at her.” Mom, I’m a man now. Not a boy, but I love you too.”

Grave Digger chuckled and said, “Ok, I just wanted you both to know you are safe inside these walls. Me and the other guys will do whatever we need to. We will keep you both safe. We are protecting all the women and kids that are under our roof.”

“Are Angel and Lily okay?” Anthony asked.

Grave Digger nodded. “Yep, they are. We got guys watching over them too.”

“Cuz that’s a man’s job, to protect the girls and women, right?” Anthony asked.

“You bet it is.” Grave Digger reached out and tousled his hair affectionately.

“Ok, I will be here prtectin’ my mom.” The kid nodded his small head firmly as he wore a fierce but adorable expression on his face.

Grave Digger fought himself to keep from smiling or bursting into laughter. The kid was something else. Instead of showing his amusement, he asked, “Do you want to move to another room?” He looked over at Emily.

Emily paused to glance over toward the windows. “As much as I appreciate being able to see the outside, could we go to an interior room?” she asked.

Grave Digger knew exactly what she was asking and he agreed with her. “Sure, Come on let’s go. You can share my room until this is settled, alright?”

Emily nodded and got to her feet with his help. She looked over at Anthony still in her arms. “You ready, little man?” She was careful to not say boy again.

“Yes, Mom.” Anthony looked fine now, as he had no fear in his eyes.

They left the Infirmary and Grave Digger led them to his room.

When he opened the door, Emily looked relieved to see there were no outside windows here.

His room was huge with a big bed on one wall. A sofa and a couple of overstuffed chairs ran along the opposite wall. It had an ensuite bathroom as well as a closet. In one corner, there was even a mini fridge and table set with a few chairs. This room would do very well.

She looked back at him and smiled. “This is perfect.”

Grave Digger gave her that warm smile of his. “Good, just make yourselves at home here.” He paused as he realized when this was over he hoped this would be where they both stayed. “Just make sure the door is locked ok?”

Emily nodded then walked further into the room and put Anthony down on the floor.

 Grave Digger walked over to her. “You and Anthony will be safe here,” he whispered in her ear.

Emily smiled up at him. “I know and I do feel safer here.” She paused and asked, “You have to go back, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I have to be there for the MC. There’s food and drinks in the fridge if you want anything. There’s a cabinet above the fridge.” He motioned over to it. “Has chips and even some chocolate chip cookies.” He smirked. “I might be a man and all like I said, but I will tell you a secret.”

“What?” she whispered back.

“In every man, the boy is always there. So my boy likes chocolate chip cookies.”

Emily started a bit as laughter bubbled up and out through her lips.

He gave her a wink and stepped back. This was what he wanted to see in her. Normalcy, smiles and laughter. He was determined to bring this woman some happiness into her life. She’d more than earned it and he intended to give that to her and little Anthony as often as he could. “I’ll bring you both a hot meal later.”

Emily was still chuckling as she kissed his cheek and pushed him toward the door. “Go while you still can, boy. While I have the strength to let you leave.”

Grave Digger chuckled as he left the room and paused in the hall to listen to her turning the lock. Finally satisfied with their safety and the fact that they were now moved to his room, he headed back to see what was happening now. This whole damn thing had gone on long enough. Ever since they met Marty’s sister almost 2 years ago, it had been one horrible event after another.

Everyone seemed to still be gathered around Click’s screens as they waited for another round of the fight to get the supposed glory. He felt like the glory Alfonzo placed into the minds of his grandson and great grands would only lead to defeat. Leon had perused the reasons why. If old man Raggetti thought it was all shits and giggles, he had been mistaken. Severely mistaken.

Suddenly, and as expected, another volley of bullets ensued.

They all watched as one after another of Barrett, Alijala and Romano’s men were put down by the soldati della famiglia. Leon’s security team. The fallen men weren’t dead but they were out of action. One by one, they were tied up and left on the ground. Only three of the eighteen men who’d fought. had escaped. Barrett and Alijala were two of the three. They ran off into the distance and disappeared in the underbrush.

The security men stopped chasing them and went back for the others. They were now busy loading the wounded men into several trucks.

When all but three of the security men drove the trucks away, Zeus looked over at Leon. “Where are they going?”

“They will take them to medical help I have on standby here,’ Leon explained. “Then to my plane where they will be held in a cell area.We cannot allow them to go free, they are part of this treason, whether they wanted to be or not. They chose to follow Barrett and his sons, so now they will be treated just as Barrett and his sons will be.”

“What about Barrett and Alijala?” Delaney asked. “They’re still out there and free. What will happen to them?”

“Oh, my dear.” Leon shook his head. “Not to worry. My men are still out there as well. The battle may have several rounds, but the Vincintis always win the war. And your father is about to discover that they won’t back down and they won’t walk away until this job is finished.”