The three imposing men in the room engaged in a deep discussion that strayed into morally questionable territory, veering into the realm of the underworld. Sean, in particular, had a knack for viewing problems from unconventional angles, leaving some in the room shocked, even if they didn't fully grasp the implications.
For instance, they speculated: Was Bradley's wife introduced to him by Akomo Appleler? Did he have a preference for threesomes? Was it his father-in-law who seduced his wife first? Laughter erupted as these outrageous ideas circulated.
After a round of joking, the mood shifted as the two men began to strategize how to leverage the intriguing news they had uncovered. Armstrong stated, "These two pieces of information are incredibly valuable. If we expose them, it will inevitably lead to turmoil within the Dimeo Group, and that's when we can act."
Sean paused, his expression thoughtful. "It's not that straightforward. At least, this news won't serve our interests. We can't be the ones to break it, and neither can the media."
"Why not?" Armstrong was puzzled. He excelled at analysis and information gathering but struggled with the nuances of strategic conflict.
"If we expose this news ourselves, it would indeed trigger chaos within Dimeo. But the Italian faction, humiliated by the revelations, would retaliate fiercely, and much of that anger would be directed at me. They would likely resolve the situation internally before we could benefit," Sean explained.
"So, what's our plan?" Armstrong asked, frowning at the realization.
"Gather all the information on the Dimeo Group. I need to study it. With the right ammunition, I'll have to be strategic about how to fire it," Sean replied.
...
Meanwhile, Christopher Mortisati received a phone call with an alarming proposition: "I have very important information for $100,000." He was momentarily stunned and then erupted in anger. "Whoever you are, if you think you can mess with me, your life isn't worth that much!"
"Christopher, I wish you had a brain. Instead of hurling insults, maybe you should consider what kind of news could possibly be worth $100,000," the caller responded calmly.
"You're calling me brainless?" Christopher retorted, his anger simmering.
"Congratulations, you guessed correctly! But I won't be rewarding you. Let's focus on the news—it's about your Soprano family," the caller stated patiently.
Christopher, still fuming, demanded, "What news?"
The caller was taken aback. "Really? Are you this clueless? I'm not charging you for news about my mother's affairs with Falk!"
Feeling foolish, Christopher bristled but pressed on. "Just tell me the news!"
"Tomorrow at 4:30 PM in the underground parking lot of Satino Mall. Bring the money, and I'll tell you where to meet," Sean concluded, preparing to hang up.
"Wait!" Christopher shouted.
Sean responded flatly, "What is it?"
"Why contact me instead of my uncle?" Christopher asked, confused.
"Because you lack intelligence. Your uncle's crew is full of tricky old foxes. I just want the money. Don't forget to bring it!" With that, Sean hung up.
Listening to the dial tone, Christopher's face flushed with rage. He hurled his phone to the ground, shouting, "I'll kill you, I swear I will!"
In the car, Bill and Sean exchanged worried glances. "Boss, if you insult him like that, won't he tell his uncle? Isn't that going to create problems for us?" Bill asked.
"No, he won't," Sean replied confidently.
"Why not?" Bill inquired.
"Because he really is that foolish. The more you belittle him, the harder he'll try to prove himself, especially since what I said is true. He'll want revenge but won't involve his uncle. You think he will?" Sean explained with a smirk.
Bill paused, processing Sean's logic. "Okay, I see your point. It makes sense."
"Make sure you remember everything I taught you for tomorrow. Do it cleanly," Sean instructed.
"Don't worry; I've got it all noted down. I won't mess up," Bill assured him.
The next afternoon, Bill and his crew lay in wait in the underground parking lot of Satino Mall. At around 4 PM, Christopher arrived, fueled by anger. He was determined to confront the person who dared to humiliate him over the phone. He had resolved that even if the news was worth $100,000, he would make that caller pay.
Impatiently waiting in his car, he gripped his phone tightly, shaking his leg in frustration. At 4:20 PM, Sean called again, giving him the number of a parking space before hanging up, further infuriating Christopher.
Finally, at 4:25 PM, Christopher parked in the designated parking space. As soon as he stopped, another car pulled up next to him. Christopher glared at the newcomer, ready to unleash his fury.
A man, Appler's personal doctor, stepped out of the car, looking confused. "Who are you?" he asked, bewildered.
"You son of a bitch, show me the news! If it's not worth a hundred thousand, I'll throw you into the river to feed the fish!" Christopher roared, grabbing the doctor's collar.
"Wait, wait! Who are you? Where is the veterinarian?" the doctor stammered, trying to break free.
Not far away, Bill discreetly opened his car door a crack, taking out a pistol and aiming it through the gap. This position had been carefully chosen to give him a clear shot at Christopher, who was about seven or eight meters away.
"Do it!" Bill commanded in a low voice.
Three guns fired simultaneously, their shots ringing out in the confined space of the parking garage. The private doctor and Christopher were hit and fell to the ground, unable to react in time. The doctor was still alive, struggling to draw his gun, but Bill and his men swiftly approached and finished him off.
Christopher Mortisati lay on the ground, blood pooling around him, his face contorted in a mix of shock and rage. The meticulously planned ambush had gone off without a hitch.
With the immediate threat neutralized, Bill and his team quickly gathered their gear and left the scene, ensuring no evidence was left behind. As they drove away, Bill couldn't help but reflect on Sean's strategy. It had been risky, but it had paid off.
Back at their hideout, Sean awaited their return. "Is it done?" he asked, seeing the grim looks on their faces.
"Yes, boss. It's done," Bill confirmed.
Sean nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. Now we need to prepare for the next phase. This is only the beginning."
As they settled in to discuss their next steps, the weight of their actions hung heavily in the air. They knew that the fallout from this ambush would ripple through the underworld, and they had to be ready for whatever came next.