“Talk is cheap, and words are great, but action is what matters,” I say.

  “I agree, but what do you propose?” replies Sal.

  “You leave our communities alone, and if you see us or our people anywhere around Tampa Bay, you leave us alone,” I say as I look at Dennison.

  “How are we supposed to know who you and your people are?” asks Dennison.

  “We’ll create community safe zones and territories,” says Phil.

  “I like that, we can each have our own areas of operation, and, if we need to enter another’s territory, then we tell them ahead of time,” replies Sal.

  “What about the Ghosts?” asks Dennison.

  Sal looks at me and asks, “Can you arrange a meeting with them?”

  “You want a sit-down with their leader?” asks Phil.

  Sal chuckles, smiles, and answers, “You hear that word in one of your mob movies or shows?”

  “Isn’t that what you want though Sal? To meet with the Ghosts leader?” I ask.

  “Yes, I want to work out something with them. They are a very dangerous group,” answers Sal.

  Lauren returns to the dinner table and she calmly puts her steak knife back on the table.

  “So where do we go from here?” I ask Sal.

  “Let’s work on getting Ybor cleared out first, for there should be a lot of viable items in there,” answers Sal.

  “We aren’t doing this by ourselves,” says Phil.

  “Of course not, we will work together to get it done, but we need to keep the businesses, clubs, and shops intact. We can’t just go in and blow things up,” replies Sal.

  “We’ll have to do our homework and surveillance of Ybor and see what is the best strategy for us,” I say.

  “I wouldn’t expect anything different. Brad told me that you were very thorough and detail oriented,” replies Sal.

  “Guess that’s what made me a good surgeon,” I say.

  “You’re a surgeon? We have a couple banged up guys that probably need surgery. Can you help them?” asks Dennison to me.

  I feel uncomfortable providing medical care to criminals, but I keep a calm face and answer, “Let’s get Ybor cleared out and then go from there.”

  Sal senses that the conversation is turning sideways, and Sal stands up from the dinner table and says, “I would like to talk with Ryan alone now.”

  I look at Sal and ask, “Why can’t my friends come also?”

  “This conversation needs to be private between two leaders,” answers Sal.

  “Where will we go?” asks Shaun.

  “You are free to walk around Channelside and to see what are community offers,” answers Sal.

  Sal walks around the dinner table and comes over to me and says, “I want to show you a couple things.”

  I feel Sal is trying to strongarm me as he stands next to me, but my curiosity takes over, and I agree to go with him.

  I exit the room with Sal, we exit the building, and we walk onto an open rooftop that has chairs, a bar, and is open to a great view of downtown Tampa, the Bay, the multi-million-dollar homes on Bayshore Boulevard, the convention center, the hockey arena, and the Tampa Bay cruise port.

  “Nice view you have here,” I say as I look at the water of the Bay that is being lit by lights all around Channelside.

  “It’s one of my favorite spots here in Channelside,” replies Sal.

  Sal pours two drinks and walks from behind the bar and over to me. Sal hands me a drink and says, “Ryan, I don’t know what you’ve heard about me and what you think of me, but at the end of the day I see this new world as an opportunity to achieve greatness.”

  “Why not just take over Tampa Bay and try to control as many things as you can?” I ask Sal.

  Sal smiles and answers, “I’ve seen and learned a lot in my years. I’ve learned what it takes to truly succeed in whatever business or market you are entering, is people. Good people, the right people that are loyal, hardworking, and who truly buy into the cause.”

  Sal’s speech starts to make me think of him more as a businessman than a gangster.

  “Being a member of organized crime must have taught you a lot of things about being street smart and how to succeed,” I say to Sal.

  Sal looks at me and he wonders if I’m being sarcastic, understanding, or an asshole.

  “I meant no disrespect. I meant it as your time in the mafia must have taught you real principles of success and failure,” I reply.

  “My experiences have made me who I am today and probably kept me alive in this crazy world, but I value people that I can trust and count on. Can I count on you Ryan?” responds Sal to me.

  I feel the intense look by Sal and feel like he’s being real with me.

  “Can I count on you?” I ask Sal.

  Sal chuckles, smiles, and answers, “Brad wasn’t lying about you. You are a real piece of work.”

  Sal taps my glass with his glass, and he says, “Salud, chindon.”

  We both drink from our glasses and look out over the darkness over the water in Tampa Bay.

  “To be honest, my group and the Haven want to be left alone. That’s really it, we have a good thing going and we don’t want to have to worry about the living and the dead,” I say.

  “Part of me wishes to be on a deserted island with plenty of food, booze, and women,” says Sal.

  “That’s the dream,” I reply.

  “But people will always want what you have. If it’s not one group it’s another. Times change, but people always want power over things and that’s never going to stop,” says Sal.

  “If it’s not some random people wanting your stuff, it’s the military, or the government,” I say.

  “Exactly. The government has been fucking people over way before the zombies came along,” replies Sal.

  It might be the amount of alcohol in my system, but I’m starting to like Sal.

  I finish my drink, look at Sal, and remember that Brad was ordered to kill me, and I ask Sal, “Was it you or Jacob that sent Brad to kill me?”

  Sal looks at me and answers, “Would you believe Jacob, or do you think it was me?”

  “I guess no way to tell now, but how can I trust you after you had a part in wanting me dead?” I ask Sal.

  Sal grabs my empty glass and says, “Let me get you another drink.”

  Sal stumbles over toward the bar and the door that I previously entered through with Sal opens. Three people enter the rooftop bar and it’s Carmine and two armed men.

  “Are you okay uncle?” asks Carmine to Sal as Sal stands behind the rooftop bar.

  “Ryan wants to know if it was me or Jacob who ordered Brad to kill him,” says Sal to Carmine.

  Carmine sees that Sal is pretty drunk and he tells Sal that he’s had enough to drink.

  “Don’t tell me when I’ve had enough, I decide when I’m done drinking,” replies Sal with an angry tone.

  I see Sal pour some whiskey into our glasses while Carmine watches over Sal.

  “Well, tell him Carmine. Was it me or Jacob?” says Sal as he puts the cap back onto the whiskey bottle.

  Carmine looks at me and says, “It was Jacob. My uncle didn’t see the point in trying to kill you.”

  I instantly feel a sense of relief for some reason that Sal didn’t want me killed, but also remember what Brad has told me about Sal and that Brad’s wife Ola is still being held prisoner by Sal.

  “I’ll help you clear out Ybor, if you give Ola back to Brad,” I say.

  Sal, Carmine, and the two-armed men just look at me.

  Carmine looks at Sal and Sal laughs.

  I wonder why Sal is laughing.

  “You’re a real piece of work,” says Sal as he walks around the bar and over to me.

  Sal hands me my glass, taps the glass with his glass, and says, “Done, if that’s what you need to trust me.”

  Sal drinks his glass of whiskey and I look at Sal.

  “Don’t leave me hanging, finish your drink,” says Sal.

  I down my drink and feel the potent, but very good whiskey hit my body and senses.

  “Anything else you would like to negotiate into your terms of service Ryan?” asks Sal with a joking tone.

  “That’ll work for now, but we’ll talk later with sober minds,” I answer Sal.

  Carmine, Sal, the two-armed men, and I exit the rooftop bar and we make our way down to the street level of Channelside.

  As I’m walking with Sal, Carmine, and the two-armed men around Channelside, I see that Channelside residents respect Sal, but also fear him. People move out of the way and some people seem fearful as Sal approaches them.

  I see Eric, Brad, Lauren, Phil, and Shaun talking in the distance.

  “I want Ola released to Brad right now,” I say.

  Sal stops walking, turns around, and asks me, “Or what?”

  “Or no deal,” I answer.

  Sal sees that I’m serious and notices that no one is around us. After checking to see that no one is around us again, Sal tells Carmine to get Ola.

  “Are you sure uncle?” asks Carmine.

  “Just do it, and do it quietly,” answers Sal.

  Carmine and one of the armed men quickly walk across the street and enter one of the Channelside Towers.

  Sal walks over to me and he whispers, “I’m giving her back to show you that I’m a team player, but don’t think of this as an act of weakness.”

  “Give and take,” I say to Sal.

  “Exactly, but this is a sign of trust. I help you and you help me,” replies Sal.

  “Will you bring Ola to Brad, or does Brad have to go to her?” I ask Sal.

  “Carmine is getting her now and he’ll take her to Brad’s condo,” answers Sal.

  Sal sees Brad talking with Eric and shouts for Brad to come over to him.

  Brad comes over to Sal and me and Sal says to Brad, “I’ve decided to give you your wife back.”

  Brad doesn’t say anything, but I can see that he’s starting to get emotional.

  “Where is she?” asks Brad.

  “She should be in your condo as we speak,” answers Sal.

  “Thank you,” replies Brad and then Brad runs across the street and enters one of the Channelside Towers.

  “Thank you Sal. I know Brad will be very happy,” I say to Sal.

  “Well, to be honest I was going to give her back, if this meeting worked out, as it was Brad that gave me the idea to meet with you,” replies Sal.

  “Are you glad he did?” I ask Sal.

  “Only time will tell, but right now I’m glad this night is going so well,” answers Sal with a smile on his face.

  Lauren, Phil, and Shaun walk towards Sal and me and Sal’s armed man points his rifle at them.

  “It’s okay, they are with me,” I say to the armed man.

  The armed man keeps his rifle pointed at Lauren, Phil, and Shaun, and Sal tells the armed man to stand down and that they are okay.

  “Is everything okay with Brad?” asks Lauren.

  Carmine and the other armed man walk over to us and I ask, “Are they reunited?”

  “Yes, they are back together in their condo,” answers Carmine.

  “We really should be getting back. Lisa has to be worried about me,” says Shaun.

  “Is Lisa your wife or goo-ma?” asks Sal to Shaun.

  “Wife,” answers Shaun with a smile on his face.

  “It was a pleasure meeting all of you and I hope you enjoyed your dinner,” says Sal to Lauren, Phil, and Shaun.

  “I did, thank you,” replies Lauren.

  Sal turns towards me and says, “I look forward to working with you and your people Ryan. We can do big things in this new world, if we work together.”

  “It was a pleasure meeting you,” I reply to Sal.

  Sal, Carmine, and the two-armed men walk away from us and enter the other Channelside Tower.

  “You feeling okay bro?” asks Phil to me.

  “Yeah, why do you ask?” I answer Phil.

  “Oh man, you are drunk. We have to get you back home ASAP,” says Shaun.

  “No puking in my car,” says Phil.

  We all get into Phil’s electric car and Phil exits Channelside.

  “How did the private meeting go with Sal?” asks Shaun.

  “Good, we talked, we drank, and I got Sal to give Ola back to Brad,” I answer.

  “Are we really going to help them clear out Ybor?” asks Phil.

  “I think we have to,” I answer Phil.

  “Well, we are doing our homework first and we are looking out for our people. I don’t trust that Dennison guy,” says Phil as he drives down an empty street.

  “What about Isiah and Bakari? You think they will be okay with us working with Sal?” asks Lauren.

  “We need to worry about us and our community. Isiah and Bakari let us get attacked,” I answer.

  Phil drives us back home to Citrus Oaks and during the drive home, we all wonder about the future, and if it was a good idea meeting with Sal tonight.

  CHAPTER 14

  GO GET HER

  “My head is killing me,” I say to Lauren as I enter our kitchen the next morning.

  “All those drinks last night will do that,” replies Lauren.

  “Yeah, Sal kept handing me drinks,” I say.

  “I’m going to make some eggs and a big breakfast this morning,” replies Lauren.

  “I’m going to get some meds and water in me first,” I say.

  “Good idea, gotta hydrate. I’ll let you know when breakfast is ready,” replies Lauren.

  I exit my kitchen with a bottle of water and enter my man cave. I collapse onto the chair in my man cave and Milo enters my man cave as I lounge on my chair.

  I find some strong headache medication in my man cave and swallow two pills with some water.

  Two notebooks are next to my laptop and I open one of the notebooks. Several other notebooks and pads I was keeping my notes on were at my father’s house and were lost when Bobby G’s house was burned.

  “That’s fucking great, hope I didn’t have anything too important in those notebooks,” I say to myself and then I turn on my laptop.

  My dad’s bugout bag is in the corner of my man cave and I glance at it. I wonder why they burned my dad’s house and not mine.

  I open a document on my laptop and start typing. I type everything that happened recently, my meeting with DK, Isiah, Bakari, and Sal. My head is still pounding, but it feels good to type on my keyboard and let out all the things that are on my mind right now.

  After about thirty minutes of typing in my man cave, Lauren calls me and Fran in for breakfast. I type up a couple more lines, close my laptop, and Milo and I exit my man cave.

  I meet Lauren and Fran at our dinner table and Fran says, “Late night last night, you look like crap,”

  “Thanks mom, I appreciate that,” I reply to Fran.

  Lauren, Fran, and I have breakfast together and Lauren says, “I thought the meal was good last night, a little too much fish for my liking, but overall, it was good.”

  “Oh you had a fancy dinner and you didn’t invite your mother?” replies Fran.

  “It was with another community, it wasn’t here,” responds Lauren.

  “But still, you should have invited your mother,” says Fran.

  “Maybe next time, but I was trying to remember what was said last night and some of the details,” I say.

  “Too much alcohol fogs up the brain,” replies Fran.

  “I can help you with that. You want me to write up some of the things I remember in your notebook?” asks Lauren to me.

  “Either there or on my laptop. I just started a new document,” I answer Lauren.

  “No problem, I’ll get everything I can remember down for ya,” replies Lauren.

  “Any fancy dinners today?” asks Fran.

  “No, nothing like that today,” I answer.

  Lauren, Fran, and I finish our breakfast and Fran asks, “Is Deb’s funeral today?”

  I look at Lauren and answer, “Shit, I completely forgot about that.”

  “I think it was set for noon today,” says Lauren.

  I look at my smartwatch and see that it’s 10:30 A.M.

  I grab my radio and call for Phil, Matt, Jon, and really anyone to answer.

  Matt answers and doesn’t know anything that is going on and is really no help.

  Phil answers me over the radio, “We are having two funerals today for Deb and Drew. They start at noon.”

  I get the details for Drew and Deb’s funeral today from Phil over the radio and then I tell them that we’ll be there.

  “Something just landed in our backyard,” says Lauren as she looks through our kitchen window that overlooks our back patio, covered lanai, and backyard.

  I exit my house through the sliding glass door and see a brown box sitting on my backyard grass.

  A drone comes flying over to me and it rings for me to answer it. I answer the call and Saba’s face is shown on the drone projection.

  “I see my package was delivered,” says Saba.

  “Yeah, the last package I got like this was from DK and it had the walkie with the bomb in it,” I reply to Saba as I walk over to the brown box.

  “Well, this one doesn’t have a bomb in it,” says Saba as I pick up the brown box.

  I look down at the medium sized brown box and Saba says, “I was able to install the upgrade and now you’ll have greater range on your radio, longer charge from the solar cells, and a couple new filters, displays, and abilities. Plus, you can call me and Bakari directly just by telling the mask to call Saba or Bakari.”

  “Very nice, thank you,” I reply to Saba.

  “How was your meeting last night?” asks Saba.

  “It went well, I got pretty drunk, but we worked out a deal with Sal I think,” I answer Saba as I step back towards my lanai.

  “Just be careful with him Ryan, he’s a wolf and someone that I’ve heard isn’t to be trusted,” says Saba.

  “Thank you for the mask and I’ll be in touch, stay safe,” I reply to Saba.

  Saba says goodbye and ends our video call.

  I go back into my house and Lauren asks, “Was that Saba I saw on the drone?”

  “Yeah, he likes doing those video calls on his drones he has around here,” I answer Lauren.

 

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