As soon as my foot touched the cement ground, my nostrils flared against the high winds as I pulled the collar of my black trench coat closer to my body, as each step I took I could feel my body temperature inclining to that of the cold atmosphere around me. Village Grove was nothing I imagined it to be. I researched the city 24 hours before hopping on the private jet, and I was quite impressed with the entire landscape, which nestled below a steep mountain.

"This is the perfect weather to live in," Arsenio comments, a smile covering his face as he looks up into the dimmed sky as snowflakes fall around us. Before they land on the ground, some of them do not even have the chance to stick, being that the sun is about to come up in the next hour or so.

"I would rather live on the beach. I hate fucking cold weather", I groaned in frustration before I opened the door of the Mercedes G-Wagon, as Arsenio hops inside of the passenger seat. I quickly shut the door and removed my gloves, blowing air into them from my mouth before rubbing my hands together to cause friction before I pushed the ignition button to start up the car.

"This should be quite an interesting trip, don't you think", Arsenio adds minutes later after I pull out of the private airfield that was owned by one of the men who are the Gannonville Jets, an NFL team, that was stationed in the city of Gannonville 20 miles outside of the city limits of Village Grove. After having dinner with Verena last night, I had to lie and make up an excuse that I had to leave for my business trip after finishing dinner.

Verena tried to convince me to stay, but I promised to make it up to Cherie when I came back home. "Whatever, The Muthafucker should have been killed a long time ago. I can't believe Dalton's coward ass is still alive after all these years. He has been hiding in plain sight".

Arsenio drums his fingers against the armrest, "Don't beat yourself up about it. You have been preoccupied with other affairs. We still have yet to find any of the Alavarados it seems as though they have disappeared, but I feel like they are hiding somewhere probably in a town like the one we are driving into".

I had so much on my plate, and as the days and months have gone by this past year more and more shit keeps happening. Just as solve one situation, something else. I wasn't hardly getting any sleep, due to having nightmares as well as my mind racing with things I needed to get done. Anxiety. It had to be what was plaguing my mind.

"When is the last time you got some rest Eryx, you look like a fucking zombie, like one of those crack fiends who's looking for a fix". I glance over at Arsenio as he looks at me with concern in his eyes. "Probably before mom passed away, this year has been a fucking nightmare. Verena is worried, but I can't know none of this shit what's going on with me".

Arsenio frowns, "You need to stop thinking that Verena is some sort of fragile doll that you have to constantly shield and protect all the time". I glare at Arsenio, not liking the direction of this conversation. "Verena is my woman and it is my job to protect her". Arsenio then responds, "It is your job as well to be completely honest with her about your feelings, but you refuse to do so because, in your twisted mind, you feel like she will judge you if she finds out she is in a relationship with a psychopath who happens to be mafia leader".

I am taken aback by Arsenio calling me a psychopath. "Damn, I wouldn't call myself a psychopath more like a menace to society". Arsenio laughs, "You are that as well, but the psychopath is what you are first. Hell I might be one my damn myself".

It takes about an hour before I see a sign saying "Welcome to the Village Grove". I was relieved that we were finally here, my legs had become stiff and my stomach was growling like crazy. I needed some food in my system. I drive off the highway and I smile when I see rows of restaurants and retail stores as we drive past many of them.

Arsenio then points, "Let's stop there, I don't think I can wait any longer without having a plate of food". I park the G-Wagon in front of a large diner called Thomas Diner. A few months ago you wouldn't have caught me eating at a place like this but since benign a Verena I have opened my eyes and started trying food from various fast restaurants as well as small cafes and diners.

The aroma of seasoned ground beef hits my nostrils as we walk inside the diner. A young woman is standing at the front counter playing on her phone. We walk up to the counter, and Arsenio clears his throat to get the woman's attention. The woman looks up frowning, but when she takes notice of Arsenio and me, the frown turns immediately into a wide grin.

"Well hello there. What can I do for you two handsome men", she says rather flirtatious as she sets her eyes on Arsenio. "We need a table". The woman blinks her eyelashes before reaching for two menus. "Okay follow me", she then makes sure to switch her hips hard as fuck, I avert my eyes while catching Arsenio staring down at her ass. "Damn her ass is big. I might need to.." "Don't even think about it, we are not here for that. It's plenty of pussy for you to choose back at home".

The woman places our menus on a table near the middle of the restaurant. I take a seat on the left, while Arsenio takes the seat on the opposite side of the table on the right. "I'll be back in a few minutes to take your guy's order".

My eyes roam everywhere inside the restaurant. Although this restaurant was fairly odd, it was clean, there was no dirt or grim on any of the tables, chairs, or windows. I took notice of the food of patrons sitting at a nearby table and it looked quite appealing.

"Well, well well, would you look at that seems as though Dalton might be friends with the owner of the diner", Arsenio surprises me by motioning his head to various pictures on the right corner of the wall of various celebrities who have eaten at the establishment. Many of the celebrities I have met at various events, but my eyebrows raised when I took notice of Dalton standing next to a short, older bald black man who looked to be in his mid to late 60's. This must be the owner, Thomas, I make an educated guess.

As if he could read my mind, Arsenio, I was able to take a picture with my phone with a facial recognition app that he strictly uses when we need to find someone, and that is fact Dalton Rialto standing next to Thomas Grey, the owner of Thomas's Diner. I was contemplating if I seek out Thomas to pick his brain about Dalton. "We might need to find Thomas first just to see what type of man he is", I add before the waitress comes back to the table.

Arsenio nods in agreement. We both order a large platter of buttermilk pancakes, medium well-sirloin steak, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, hashbrowns, and sausage patties. Arsenio and I halted from talking with our mouths so that no one around us could hear our conversation, we then decided to speak solely using sign language. We were conversing back and forth about Dalton, and Arsenio was able to track a residence he lives in a very questionable neighborhood, one I did not think he would even live in. The waitress our food on the table before she excuses herself. Arsenio signs, "It is obvious that Dalton is hiding out by living in the projects because maybe he fears someone can easily find him if he lived in a rather safe neighborhood". I sign back with my hands, "I don't give a fuck if that bastard lives in a cave, I'm pulling his ass out by his legs and he is going to pay for not paying my father the money he owed".

We begin eating our food but are interrupted when the waitress comes back to the table, but she is not alone. "Excuse me, but Mr. Grey wanted to introduce himself to you two". I take notice of an older man standing next to the waitress before she walks off. "I see have some guests in my restaurant. I am very familiar with who you are", he looks directly at me with his hand held out for me to shake. I take hold of his hand and grip it tightly.

"I'm sure you have no idea who I am, but enlighten me please". Mr. Grey then shakes hands with Arsenio. "Mason Vallea, is your father, am I correct. Your mother was Angelina Romani, that was her maiden name before it was changed to Vallea". I was seconds from pulling my machete out of my coat. Mr. Grey takes notice of my demeanor and holds his hands out, "I know your father quite well because we were childhood friends. I grew up with your father as well as your mother. We all lived in the same neighborhood".

I look over at Arsenio and he shrugs his shoulder. I sigh motioning for the man to take a seat. He decides to sit next to Arsenio. "I haven't seen your father since before he became a mafia leader. He tried talking me into joining his mafia organization, but just wanted to focus on starting a restaurant and that's exactly what I did". I nod, judging by Mr. Grey's body language he looks rather calm and relaxed and does not look tense or stiff like he is hiding something.

"I appreciate the honesty, not too many people I come across are open to doing that. So you are aware of who I am. I am Eryx Vallea, and this is my best friend and second in command, Arsenio Hawthorne". Thomas Grey grants me a small smile as he nods his head.

"Mr. Grey I am looking for a man, one you might be very familiar with seeing that you have taken pictures with them sitting on the walls of your diner". "Who exactly are you looking for son". "I am looking for Dalton Rialto and it would be in your best interest to cooperate with me, if not then you just would be apart of a part of the pile of collateral damage, what do you say". I was hoping Thomas Grey chose wisely because did not make a habit of giving anyone a choice.



Eryx has a heart and does not want to kill Thomas Grey, something that is not of the norm for Eryx to do, but there is something about Grey he wants to find out more about. Maybe it has something to do with knowing his father as well as his mother.