started from the bottom

@ddcnte

Arriving early for the meeting was intentional. Dante figured his work would be spoken on, making the meeting much longer than usual. However, he had actual work to do, and a few cases were essential to Giancarlo. Rounding the corner into the room, Dante almost stopped himself from turning around. He didn't. Instead, the man rolled his eyes, offering a fake smile toward the Riley son - taking his usual seat across from him. "You know you Riley boys should coordinate better with your little speeches. Lincoln already gave me an ear full - and I don't need another 'life lesson.'" Dante placed his laptop on the cherry-oak surface, opening it. "Giancarlo understands collateral damage. I disagree that it's my fault Kate walked in front of the bullet at the last second." Dante leaned back in his seat while waiting for his screen to load. "And if you're talking about Sawyer Decker, she's harmless."

“Sure, sure– call it what you want,” Lincoln supplied, nodding like he was going along with Dante’s reasoning, but the doubtful expression on his face said otherwise. It wasn’t like Lincoln couldn’t understand it– who’d show their face after putting another board member’s daughter in the intensive care unit with a bullet hole in her back? Blowing out a long, strained sigh, Link folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. What a clusterfuck. They had soldiers to do shit like this– where had they been? Why risk the life and reputation of a board member? So many questions ran through the younger Riley’s mind and none of the conclusions he was arriving at made sense, quite frankly– which was half of why he’d invited himself into Dante’s office. The other half just simply wanted to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Collateral damage. He understood that it happened sometimes, but that didn’t excuse it. It wasn’t some blanket statement– it was the prelude to the shitshow that could unravel the Enterprise from the inside out if Kate McNulty didn’t survive. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Link knocked his head in another shake, “You better pray to whatever shit god you believe in that that girl makes it,” he mused aloud. It wasn’t meant to sound like a threat– not from him– but more just a fact. If Kate didn’t survive, he couldn’t imagine this ending well for his fellow board member. “Killing a board member’s baby girl doesn’t really spell promotion.”

Dante couldn't help but laugh at Lincoln's words. "I needed that laugh," he thanked. Whatever shit God? Dante didn't believe in gods, angels, devils, or any supernatural entity. They were fairytales, stories told to control the masses and rage unnecessary wars. That was his opinion, anyway. "What makes you think I'm in this for a promotion? I'm comfortable where I am. I worked hard to get to where I am. This little slip-up isn't something Giancarlo will look at and deem irreparable. He understands collateral damage. Why do you think no one got in trouble for the four people dying at the festival when the plan called for one?" Then again, the timing of the bomb detonating came later than planned. Dante shrugged, closing his case file. 

Mikayla eyed the money on the table. It was certainly enough to pay down her mortgage, but Matias had also promised to take care of it for her if she worked as a double agent and fed Dante certain information. It would be suspicious not to take it, but she felt dirty doing so. She finally reached over to take it and slipped it into her purse. “Of course. With the holidays, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to get anything more for you until afterward. Work will be busier than usual.” She slid from her seat, clearing her throat. “If we’re done, I’ll take my leave.”

"Understood." Dante hadn't planned to meet with Mikayla for a while - at least not until February when things settled down from the outcome of the next event. Giancarlo had been planning the New Year's Eve event for a few months however no one, besides the VP, knew the inner workings of it. "We are done. Enjoy your holidays, Mikayla. I'll be seeing you around." Dante offered a curt nod as he sat back against the seat.

“I know, which is why I’m asking you.” Kate said with a small smile. “I figured if anyone could talk to her, it’d be you.” It was a long shot, and one she assumed probably wouldn’t work in her favor. However, what kind of younger sister would she be if she didn’t at least try. “I’m sorry. I just assumed she would have told you.” 

“Yes, sir.” Having a direct line to Giancarlo wasn’t as cracked up as it was made up to be among the other Board Members. After all, it was the Enterprise leader who forced Dante to move from the comfort of his almost a million dollar penthouse in Vegas to the snore-fest of a town that was Tonopah. No witnesses. And Parker. Giancarlo paused. Don’t fuck this up. “Yes, sir.” Slamming his thumb on the pretty red ‘end’ feature, Dante let out a strenuous sigh. He slid the mask over his face, walking to where he had watched Shepherd venture after leaving Madison. Like a predator stalking its prey, Dante stayed in the shadows. He reached his destination. Slowing he pulled out his firearm from behind his back, screwing in the silencing tool. Lining the small pins together Dante let out a breath as he aimed for the Acting Chief’s chest. “Bang.” Dante pulled the trigger fully expecting for the target to drop; instead it was the woman Shepherd had been with. A former Enterprise member and Roman’s little sister - Kate. “Fuck.”

dante nodded at her words finding a sort of comfort in the information given. while he would have preferred for more on either location she'd given him, having a point to start was far greater than a guessing game. "this higher-ranking member," the man began. this fingertips tapped against the table. "this wouldn't be a mr. monroe, would it? or mr. donovan?" within the first few days living in tonopah, dante quickly learned who cole monroe and nathaniel donovan was - along with their affiliation and ranking within the mc. it wasn't hard to spot as both men wore patches on their leather cuts labeling them as president and vice president.

"No, neither of them. His name's Theo Knox. I don't know what his position is within the group, but I know he's ranked. He's got a patch, and a vest he always wears," she explained. She hoped that providing a name would at least make it seem as though she was looking for information, even though she wasn't, and she prayed that nothing bad would happen to the man she'd grown to consider a friend. "I figure... the more I spend around him, the more likely he'll be to slip up and tell me something. Just not quite there yet."

Dante couldn’t help the hearty laugh escaping his lips. Memories of his time with Theo at the fire range came to mind. “I can guarantee you that boy is about as useless as tits on a boar hog. Porch light is on but no one’s home. How he got that patch is honestly a mystery to … well all of us.” And by ‘all of us’ Dante meant the Enterprise. He paused. “Good call; that’s smart. Keep at him. And, if you can move even higher to either Donovan or Monroe, that’d be even better.” A hand dug into his suit jacket, finding the hidden pocket and pulling out a stack of cash. A band of ten thousand dollars. Dante slid it across the table. “For all your information so far. Know it is very much appreciated.”

@ddcnte​

Behind his mask Dante watched those around him carry on. Just like the previous two Enterprise orchestrated events he’d been placed right in the middle of them. The New Year’s Eve party was no different. Gun safely hidden shoved in the back of his pants, suit jacket covering it, the man kept a hand in his pocket as the other held onto an expensive glass of Bourbon. Only but the best for Dante. He’d gone practically unnoticed as he weaved and bobbed through the growing crowd. Exactly how he wanted it. Dante spotted a familiar head of blonde hair by the bar. Above the bar had a count down. There was still a few hours ‘til his assign was to fulfilled; having a little fun could be had. He slid his mask off, topping off the Bourbon. What he didn’t expect was for Sawyer to turn right into him. Still, he had on his infamous cocky grin. “What happened, Princess? Aren’t you in your environment? Isn’t this normally when you go around kissing ass and taking names?” Dante paused, a smirk playing along his lips. “I mean, kicking ass - taking names.”