For the first time in his life, after believing he was at the top of the food chain in the mafia world, Conrad looked up at a bigger predator.
His arrogance and superior airs, which he had always been proud of—traits forged during his years of glory—were now shattered by a single man he knew very little about.
"What does this mean, Dante?" Conrad asked, sweating cold as he looked at Dante, who remained perfectly calm.
"As I said before, I'm getting rid of distractions, Conrad." Dante was enjoying the sight of this deranged, aging man trembling with fear at the thought that the blood he fathered might be on that silver tray.
Maeve, as Conrad's wife and one of the most affected by the possibility that her beloved grandson—whom she had manipulated into becoming what he was—could be on that tray, couldn't stop her hands from trembling.
Eddie, the head of all these mafia leaders, looked at Dante and asked, "Do you want me to do it?"
"Did I ask for your damn help?" Dante shot Eddie a fierce glare, and the latter simply sighed and shook his head.
"Conrad, we don't have all night." Seeing that things were stalling, Eddie pushed the conversation forward.
Realizing how serious Harry was being at this meeting, and as Conrad's son, Eddie knew he had to do something to move things along.
"To the cashier." He extended his hand toward the tray, grabbed the lid, and removed it.
"Damn!"
"Oh my God!"
Beneath the tray, a human head was placed perfectly, pierced from top to bottom with a knife.
Dante, unfazed, said, "Richie Stevenson, an idiot who thought that killing my father-in-law would make his fentanyl distribution problems disappear. Bastard."
Richie Stevenson, one of those responsible for attacking his family, had been killed as soon as he arrived in London. Not only that—his entire family and every one of his associates were exterminated.
Dante left no one alive. Anyone who dared attack his family would not be spared. "I now declare that fentanyl and any drug coming from the Middle East is blocked from our territory. Anyone who violates my word will end up like him."
Conrad, now a little calmer, grabbed the handle of the knife lodged in Richie Stevenson's head and said, "I would've liked to be there when this piece of shit got decapitated. What a disaster he caused."
"Darling, we should be thankful for this gift," Maeve whispered to her husband, who seemed lost in what he was seeing.
And like a dog, Conrad turned his attention to Dante and said with a smile, "We'll do as you say. We've got no issue with that."
"Good. Then if you're planning to expand your business, we'll remove the Triads, and their cocaine trade will fall into your hands." Dante didn't want anyone else to dominate the cocaine market, mainly because he wanted better quality.
Besides that, the price would triple compared to its current cost, and the drug would begin to disappear from the streets. Those who couldn't afford it would be forced to detox.
Dante wanted to take this business to the upper echelons, where he'd earn the same while selling far less. And most importantly, as he had promised every member of SAMCRO, he would make sure drugs wouldn't reach the streets so easily.
Of course, this was a very complex mission.
"What do you think, Harry?" Conrad looked at his advisor—whom he considered a son—and asked for his opinion.
Harry knew that if Dante was offering new territory, it was because he trusted that his orders would be followed. It was a win-lose game; if they didn't follow the rules, they'd be eliminated like Richie Stevenson.
"I think it's a good idea, but only if we have the support of your soldiers." Harry acknowledged that to face the Triads, they'd need more men.
Dante could handle that, so he clapped his hands. "Good. Then enjoy the party."
All the leaders, having nothing more to add, stood up and got ready to leave. But before Harry could follow Eddie, he was stopped by Cocodrilo, who said, "My boss wants to talk to you."
"Me?" Harry looked confused.
"Yes, just you."
Eddie looked at Harry and said, "I'll see you downstairs."
"Alright, yeah, I'll be there in a minute." Harry followed Cocodrilo, who led him to a more secluded room where Dante opened a bottle of wine.
Pouring two glasses, Dante looked out through the reinforced window and said, "Harry, right? I noticed your skills during today's meeting. You're very capable in this world."
"Thank you, I'm flattered." Harry sat down, took the glass, and waited to hear what Dante had to say.
"The Harrigans are very unstable. I considered removing the old ones and making their son the new head of the family. But after seeing how that old fox controls her husband, I realized there was no other way but to kill them both."
Dante didn't wait for Harry to respond and continued, "But then I noticed you—quiet, calculating, and very observant. The Harrigans are your family; I know you won't abandon them. But what do you think about becoming a boss?"
"A boss?"
"Hmm. The Glass family is leaving London, and with them, the cannabis empire they built. Eddie can't handle the cocaine business now that these changes have been implemented, so I need someone to take over the weed business."
Harry looked at Dante, thoughtful. He had never imagined a multi-million-dollar empire would fall into his hands—something that could make him the luckiest man of the year. "That means a lot, but…"
"You're comfortable, right?" Dante wasn't upset and said, "I didn't choose this life. I built this empire thinking only of having enough power to protect my family. Nothing more, I swear. But now I have something on my hands that's suffocating me."
Harry noticed the fatigue on Dante's face and suddenly understood a lot. "I owe the Harrigans a lot…"
"Then they won't blame you for this decision. Besides, if you take this vacant position, I can offer you protection. You'll be able to live the rest of your life in a mansion like this, fishing and watching your family grow old." Dante, in turn, saw the weariness in Harry—a man who, if he ever stopped, would die.
Harry, who knew this was too much to turn down, said, "I'll think about it."
"I looked into your family. My men took care of eliminating some of Richie Stevenson's people who were trying to build a report on your life, and I saw that you have a beautiful family." Dante extended his hand to Harry and said, "I want to make this world a better place. That's why I do all this. I hope you understand my vision."
"I do. I really do," Harry said as he firmly shook Dante's hand, naturally beginning to consider him a friend.
And just when things seemed to be calming down, Cocodrilo walked in and said, "The FBI insists on speaking with you, boss. They say they need your help."
"Getting involved with the Chinese now that it's known they're only looking for answers about their ambassador's killer in London… I don't plan on getting involved." Dante said this—and then, finally, took the call.