Mob Sorcery 4 - Ch14

Nicki flew Vince home, before heading back out to do a night shift. This would be her last week doing extra work.

The afternoon passed swiftly. He finished doing the laundry he’d started earlier today, unloading the washing machine into the dryer and putting another load on. While he wasn’t going to waste the energy separating everybody’s clothes, he at least kept the important pieces in different loads. Delicates and enforcer outfits needed to be handled with care.

Nina returned an hour after sunset, which was still far too damn early thanks to winter. She pushed the door open. The rustling of bags accompanied her and Vince smelled chicken.

“Figured we’d eat something simple tonight,” she said. “Especially with no Nicki. Grab some drinks.”

His girlfriend unpacked a couple of boxes of fried everything. Fried tomatoes, fried chicken, fried okra. The second box had a small container of collard greens, which appeared to be the only vegetables that hadn’t been baptized in a bubbling vat of oil.

Vince popped a piece of okra into his mouth with a crunch, both from the still-tender vegetable that had barely cooked in the oil and the fried batter surrounding it. Although it mostly tasted like the coating and the spices in it.

“I bought dips,” Nina said drily, tossing him a small container of chipotle sauce.

They settled in and ate. He kept up with Nina at first, his hunger from using so much magic making itself known. Then her far greater physique overcame him and she kept going long after he finished.

He watched her munch on slices of fried tomato while he sipped a hard seltzer. “What got you in this mood? Did you go train after talking with Fia?”

“Duh.” She tossed a piece of okra at him and he caught it in his mouth. She snickered and threw another.

He missed this one and it bounced away. Nina’s hand snapped out to catch it, then she wolfed it down. Her gaze turned to the silent TV, which showed the news. More nonsense from Davis making threats about magic. Fia or Alessia had mentioned to him idly at one point that the more Davis talked about his crazier ideas, like destroying the US’s agriculture industry, the less the news reported on Wagner’s withdrawal from cooperation with his administration.

Europe would know more about the US’s collapse on foreign policy than the voters responsible for holding Davis accountable. No wonder Immanuel thought so highly of the system.

“Got a lot less done today than I wanted to, but the same goes for you,” Nina said. Then she paused. “Sorry, didn’t mean it like that. We both got plenty done, just not what we intended.”

“I’m guessing you helped Fia a lot,” he said.

She nodded. “Turned out to be the right decision for me to talk to her about the facility rather than you. Especially without you around. Gave her the chance to drop the mask and ask for help. It’s rough being in charge of a job you know will get people killed.”

Vince said nothing and instead sipped his drink. His gaze focused on the TV.

“I’m guessing you killed today?” Nina asked.

“The demons at the data center,” he said. “But Ashley took out a small crew of independents. I left one behind that was still alive, though. He got badly burned in the panic during the firefight, especially when I blindly hurled fire nets. I… don’t know if he got out.”

“It’s the job, Vince. If you eat yourself up over every person you fight, even if they’re far weaker, you’ll go crazy.” She leaned against him, her breasts pressing against the side of his head, and ran her fingers through his hair. “We really should focus on training the next few days. Let the others do the planning, okay? You take on way too much responsibility.”

“I’m getting paid for it,” he said.

She shot him a sharp look. “You’re getting paid to pull off the heist. This is probably the craziest job I’ve ever taken, and I’ve done some nutty ones. Houou’s retaliation will be fierce if they find out it’s us and hold a grudge.”

“No immortal has ever held a grudge. We’re perfectly safe. Not like myth is ninety percent about petty assholes,” Vince said.

Come morning, his phone buzzed him awake. He blearily stared at a message from Ally of all people.

I forgot how many infusions I need to make for the Lionettis and Mei! >.< I’ve got some help, but I’ll be working all weekend. Could you come by on Monday or Tuesday? That’s not too late, right? Sorry!

Vince reread the message a few times before he realized why Ally was so panicked about putting him off.

With the heist coming up, both Alessia and Mei wanted their healing and magic-restoring infusions ASAP. Neither would risk confirming such a massive operation with anything less than the supplies they needed. Vince might take the risk of acquiring supplies the night before, but big organizations preferred certainty.

Ally had promised to make him a custom magic tool using spatial distortion, but needed help from her mother to make it happen. He’d wanted it for the heist, but it might not be ready in time at this rate.

How long would you need for this new tool? he asked. I’m doubtful a weekend will matter, he said.

Only a few days once I confirm with Mama what you want to use it for. Um, I don’t think I got enough info last time. She had so many questions in New York, Ally replied. She also sent along an emoji of a dazed foxgirl with swirly eyes.

It’s fine. I’m busy, too. Monday or Tuesday. Not sure which day, he said.

Either is fine! Just show up whenever.

He figured that was the signal not to badger her if he didn’t turn up on Monday. The meeting with Mei could easily run over time, given it was in the Sommet over lunch.

Plus, the last time he arranged to meet Ally after a meeting with Mei somebody had tried to kill him. He didn’t want to jinx himself.

Nina finally stirred after rolling into the small depression he left in the bed. She rose and collapsed atop him, causing him to drop his phone on the floor.

“Nina,” he groaned. “You’re heavy.”

“That’s just my tits,” she said sleepily. “You like them.”

As if to prove her point, she crawled over his body and pressed her breasts on the top of his head. Her warmth smothered him and her hair shrouded him in darkness. If he didn’t do anything, they’d fall asleep again.

He’d probably die if they slept like this. Nina had like two feet on him, was made of muscle, and had tits bigger than his head. Holding her up for sex was out of the question thanks to her weighing more than human heavyweight boxers.

Fortunately, after a few minutes, she rolled off him. She tossed his phone at him and began to stretch.

“Was that message making you unavailable today or available?” the lioness asked, her tanktop rising tantalizing close to revealing her nipples.

“Available. Ally’s been slammed with requests for infusions,” he said.

She grimaced, and straightened. “We’ll stick with the weaker ones for training then. I bet you used a couple of her good ones yesterday—”

“I only have hers,” he corrected. “Haven’t restocked with anybody else.”

“We should do that, then. Drinking liquid lightning when you’re feeling a little puffed is dumb as shit, Vince.” She poked him in the forehead. “I know you like to stay topped up when using your dragon, because you can burn through your reserves stupid fast with it. Maybe Fia can spare us some of the super infusions during the heist, and your foxy pride-member-to-be is definitely saving you some, but we have most of a month of training ahead of us.”

“Pride-member-to-be?” he asked.

“I heard about your little gift to her. You’ll give her a brushing, she’ll melt, and then you’ll take her first time and have a Yakuza princess attached to your hip 24/7.” Nina grinned. “I haven’t even met her and can imagine her. Sheltered as hell. Probably wears kimonos everywhere, is all ‘Dearest Vince,’ and masturbates furiously to the idea of holding your hand.”

He stared at his girlfriend, then silently strode past her to the bathroom.

“Don’t pretend I’m crazy,” Nina called after him.

They stopped by one of Nina’s suppliers on the way to the atelier to grab some infusions. A small catalyst shop down an alleyway in one of the shadier parts downtown, close to the western edge of the city center. Shelves full of all manner of herb, metal, crystal, and powder lined the tiny store, which could barely fit ten people if they stood shoulder-to-shoulder. They rose some two stories high, but with no ladder, Vince guessed the store-owner flew.

Which made sense given he was an old owl. His wings shrouded him in a cocoon of feathers when he stood behind the counter, making him appear to be a feathered bundle.

“Catalysts?” the owl asked when Nina entered. “Or infusions?”

“Have I ever bought catalysts, old man?” Nina asked.

“Years ago. You never know when somebody is experimenting or taking on a new job.”

Nina grimaced. “The usual. I need a lot.”

“You bought plenty last time.” The owl finally poked his weary head out. The thick lines on his face suggested he was very old. Demihumans aged like humans, but outlived them by decades or even centuries. “A big job?”

“This is for training. Need a lot of weak magic-restoring infusions we can safely take for most of a month. Or two, even.”

The owl blinked, then nodded. “That I can manage. Infusion demand has fallen, but I do not desire to sell my best product in bulk simply due to a temporary slump in demand. The demons and vampires are out in force, snapping up what they can to resell at higher prices. And I’ve heard the foxes are buying far more infusions the past few months than before.”

“Really?” Vince asked. “Don’t Houou supply their own?”

“They do. Which is why there are rumors that they are planning something big. The last shortage was due to the conference crackdown, but now… Worrywarts fear war is in the air, or that the Davis Administration has cut Houou loose.” The owl shrugged. “Not my business, but the market is. I’ll need time to dilute the infusions, Miss Hayes. Come by this afternoon and I can supply you with a suitably packed case of infusions.”

Nina nodded, then reached for her wallet. The owl held out a hand.

“You pay on delivery, as always,” he said. “But thank you as always for the gesture.”

On the subway trip to the atelier, Vince confirmed his suspicions about what he’d heard. The cars were maybe half full, and a simple eavesdropping ward kept the nearby office workers from listening in.

 “Houou’s buying up infusions because they moved the soul egg, right?” he confirmed.

“I’d bet our pay on it,” Nina said. “Mei said they use it to make foci and magic tools, but if the magic from the egg is able to supplement for a catalyst shortage, it can also produce infusions. It’s chump change compared to the big stuff, but important for running a big organization. Especially as Houou doesn’t have the same underworld presence as the others.”

“They don’t?” he asked, confused.

“Houou’s got a lot of power, but the vampires and demons control the bay. More criminally oriented players like the mafia and cartel have sophisticated setups that let them merge their illicit and licit operations. But Houou has a hard line between their legal and illegal ops. They make piles of money, but all that plausible deniability means they’re more vulnerable to disruption.”

His eyes widened. “Like the Lionettis taking out Kaziern, cutting them off from supplying the agribusiness sector with catalysts.”

She clicked her fingers. “Exactly. Same deal with the catalyst supply. They’re buying infusions because they don’t have a good source of it, and can’t easily acquire them. So it’s easier to purchase infusions. Especially in a price slump.”

That made sense to Vince, but it still worried him.

Because Houou hadn’t been in any big fights recently to his knowledge, thanks to the conference. If they were building up their infusion supplies, that implied they were still preparing for one. Maybe it was because of the constant pressure from other underworld players.

Or maybe they knew the Yakuza was up to something. Agent had given him Daji’s soul egg, after all.

Training went smoothly, if slowly. The next few days were a blur.

He maintained focus on his fire tornado spell. Nina couldn’t help him with mental magic resistance, and the payoff from retraining his barrier spell was too little to spend the entire month on.

But he noticed every day he spent on his fire tornado.

By Sunday night, he had it down to under two minutes. He knew progress would slow down, especially as casting it over and over took an obscene toll on his body. Exhaustion set in, even if he downed infusions.

When a meister-tier spell took five minutes to cast, and lasted another minute, that gave Vince plenty of time to breathe. He still downed infusions like bottles of water, but his body felt like he’d given it a workout.

At a third that time, he needed to space his spellcasting out. When he’d trained his dragon, he often tested his endurance by keeping it out. It helped that he only had a few hours most days due to still working night jobs for Immanuel.

Nina noticed his exhaustion and pulled him into her rotations. She used him as a training dummy, thanks to his powerful barrier. It was a lot less strain than casting his fire tornado and acted as a nice break.

Her spells fell well short of their usual power, but she tested out a wider variety. Fists of earth grabbing him. Concrete spiraling around him, and either smashing into him or wrapping around his body. A rain of concrete splinters.

A lot of wizard- and initiate-tier spells, in other words. But cast quickly, and with an intent to then be trained to be used at higher power.

He couldn’t dismiss them so easily. His bread-and-butter were wizard-tier spells he hurled through his dragon. Spell tiers measured complexity, not strength.

Nina wanted ways to attack and surprise foes who would be faster and physically stronger than them. Rather than learning some new trump card, she instead trained in a lot of more basic spells.

“I kind of figured you tended to practice the same punch ten thousand times,” Vince said as they wrapped up for the day.

She snorted. “I do, but you can’t use just one punch for everything. We’re fighting immortals, Vince. If I’ve practiced my best spell ten thousand times, they’ve practiced theirs a hundred thousand. That philosophy is predicated on the idea that we start on a level playing field. We don’t.”

A damn good point. He filed it away.

His “magic core” or whatever the hell was going on inside him gave him a leg up, but it sure as hell didn’t level the playing field against the enemies he fought. Mystic foxes were dangerous as hell.

Alessia let them know the details of the meeting with Mei tomorrow. An expensive sushi restaurant in the Tri Sommet downtown, which had been booked exclusively for them between 2pm and 4pm.

While his boss offered to have cars pick them up, Vince refused. It would be a lot simpler to have Nicki fly them over. She could carry both of them at once, now.

The Tri Sommet glittered amid the downtown skyline as the harpy flew into the middle of the city. Sure, taller skyscrapers had been built since, and more expensive ones, but the Sommet remained a symbol of the city. A trio of twisted spires that used magic to curl toward each other and form a three-pointed horned crown.

When inside them, one didn’t even notice they were technically standing at an angle relative to the planet. They even had skybridges connecting the towers.

Unlike his last visit before Christmas, there weren’t any massive lines in the lobby. Fewer people milled about the marble plaza outside the towers than usual. Presumably as many had yet to return to work.

This was the ritzy part of Aulfair, after all. Many of the sorcerers and businesspeople here were probably still enjoying their winter vacations.

He’d make a crack about the sort of people who used winter as a verb, but suspected he was sleeping with a woman who did exactly that.

“Um, should I find something to do?” Nicki asked as they entered the lobby.

“Alessia said there’d be plenty of room in the restaurant,” Vince said. “She booked the whole thing, after all.”

Nicki gulped, and he practically saw her salivating at the thought of eating the expensive sushi waiting for them.

Lucia greeted them after the rode the elevator to the floor with the restaurant. She wore a suit today. “Yo. You’re early, but that’s probably a good thing.”

“Mei doesn’t do the petty powerplay thing of fat, balding businessmen and keep people waiting,” Nina said. “Best to be here well in advance.”

The sushi restaurant was everything Vince expected it to be. An entirely wooden façade, carved Japanese letters for the restaurant’s name with English beneath them, a suited doorman who appeared to be Japanese instead of another Asian ethnicity easily mistaken for Japanese. A wooden sign stood out front stating “Bookings Only” in multiple languages.

The doorman recognized Lucia, bowed, and opened the door before they reached it.

Two small bars stood inside, with white-clad sushi chefs behind them preparing fish. Refrigerated glass display cases showcased the raw seafood, presumably fished locally where possible. A hallway led to private rooms further within, and there was another situated along the entrance. It wasn’t a small restaurant by any sense of the word.

Alessia, Pola, Fia, and several others sat at the bars, munching on sashimi while chatting. Or most of them did. Alessia appeared to be nursing a cup of green tea and little else.

An unfamiliar wolffolk man sat in the corner next to Fia. He looked old, with completely gray hair, lines along his face, and a long scar down one eye. A large steel earpiece nearly completely covered one of his black wolf ears. He nursed a cup of sake and held a lit cigarette. A magic ashtray kept his smoke in check.

Vince shot Lucia a look, who looked pointedly at Fia.

“He’s old guard,” Lucia said quietly. “My nonna is his age.”

Ah, right. Fia had mentioned bringing in a veteran to help with the heist. This must be him.

The veteran turned and Vince met his gaze. It became apparent the eye with a scar through it was fake, and likely magical. The wolffolk raised his sake cup and nodded. Vince nodded back.

Bouncing off her stool, Alessia walked over with a smile, her tail wagging. “Vince, you made it.”

“I think missing this meeting would be a breach of my contract,” he said drily.

She rolled her eyes and hit him lightly in the chest. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“It’s because he’s more excited to meet his girlfriend,” Pola said, sidling up beside her sister with a barely concealed glare. “We’ve still got a few minutes, Vince. Did you want to enjoy some sashimi with me?”

He didn’t miss the amused expressions of the Lionetti enforcers or Nina’s and Nicki’s snickers. Fia shook her head.

But it was the attention of the restaurant staff, as well the curious gaze of the wolffolk veteran that Vince wondered about the most. He rarely thought much about Pola’s flirting, or Alessia’s… whatever it was. The Lionetti Family brushed it off.

In the eyes of the public, the young billionaire heiresses running the mafia flirting with the young enforcer who had been all over the news might not be brushed off.

“Maybe we should set up wards in whatever room we’re meeting Mei in?” he suggested. “I’ve been advised we’re being scryed on.”

Alessia’s expression turned to stone, and she nodded, all mirth evaporating. Pola scowled.

“So soon?” the sottocapo whined.

Vince blinked, and Alessia sighed.

“Pola’s running security, but she’s not part of the meeting,” she explained. “She’ll remain outside, along with any other guests not participating. That includes you, Nicki.”

Nina pointed a finger at herself, and Alessia pretended to look thoughtful.

“As much as I’d love to leave you outside, there’d be little point to your contract if I didn’t include you for security,” Alessia said.

“And here I thought I could spend an hour or two wolfing down expensive fish,” Nina drawled.

A staff member led them down the hallway and into a private room. A pair of Lionetti enforcers were already inside, checking the room with magic tools. Presumably for any evidence of scrying spells placed in advance.

“I think it’s clean,” one of them said.

“Then we’ll start laying down wards,” Alessia said. “We can’t ward this like the estate, but our main concern here is external intrusion. I feel we’re past the point where Mei Suwa would take direct action against us.”

Lucia, Alessia, and Nina began casting spells and using magic tools to lay down wards over the room. Vince lacked the expertise and tools to help, and merely sat in the corner.

The veteran wolffolk from earlier saved him from his awkwardness after only a few minutes. He poked his head in, gestured for Vince to join him outside, then left.

“Uh…” Vince began to say.

Alessia waved him away. “Go talk to Duilio. I trust him, and he carries an anti-scrying tool on him.”

Did everyone but Vince have some sort of anti-scrying magic tool? Even Nina had one.

Vince stepped out into the hallway, and Duilio stood near the entrance, leading back to the bars.

In the main area, the girls had clustered along one bar. That left one free. Fia nodded at him. It had been intentional, leaving him room to talk to the veteran she’d chosen as handler.

Something told Vince this conversation would be meaningful.

Duilio sat down next to his magic ashtray and lit up a new cigarette after placing it within the device. No smoke escaped it when he placed it in his mouth.

“Pleasure to meet you,” the wolffolk said, holding his hand out when Vince sat down next to him. “I’m Duilio. I’ve heard a lot about you. Seen a lot, too.”

The nearby chef quickly offered them some food and drinks. After giving them some small plates of deep red tuna sashimi and small sake cups, the chef made himself scarce.

“I think everybody can say that about me these days,” Vince said.

“True. But I’ve heard it from different sources,” Duilio said. “Those watching the news see you as the new trend. You’ll make a splash, then they’ll move on. The conglomerates view you either as a threat or opportunity. To the girls here…?” He coughed, then grinned. “The less I say on that, the better. I’m old, and you’re young.”

Well, at least Vince didn’t need to worry about Duilio’s earlier gaze.

“I feel there’s a ‘but’ coming,” Vince said.

“Not a but.” The old wolf shook his head. “I spend most of my talk around the old farts that used to run the mafia, or at least think they did. I’m smart enough to know I sure as hell didn’t run things. Capos come and go. But their opinions still matter, and they’re fired up like they haven’t been for decades.”

“About me.”

“About what you’re doing. You’re out there blowing shit up, taking on the foxes that fucked us over, pushing back against corrupt cops, and seizing territory. The girls are talking like true mafioso, not a club of delinquents that get drunk and scare virgins every Friday night.”

Despite himself, Vince snorted. The Lionettis had that sort of rep back when he first took the job. Probably still did, as it would take time to change.

“Is that why you’re taking the job?” Vince asked.

Duilio sighed, then took a deep puff of his cigarette. “I’m old. You can probably tell, and the girls likely told you.”

“Fia and Lucia have said as much.”

“I’ve known Lucia since she was this big.” He made a roughly baby-sized gesture. “Fia’s new, but we always need new blood. She’s a smart gal. Tough, even if she’s way too serious. Needs to learn that our mistakes don’t need to define us.”

Despite himself, Vince couldn’t but say it. “Some mistakes certainly do. Would the Lionettis even be here if not for the massive fuckups ages ago? I get the feeling you’re from the old country. Italy.”

Duilio smiled wanly. “I am, but I don’t remember it. I was born there. Ma and Pa held on longer than most, but we eventually left.”

“I’ll admit, I can’t imagine it.” Vince scratched the back of his neck. “I know Fia and the other sling around the word blackshirt, but the demons don’t really talk about the end of the Masquerade.”

“Oh, them. When you see the fall of civilizations, I imagine Italy is just another footnote in the book of stupidity.” Duilio frowned, his gaze turning distant. “Most of what I know is the trauma passed on. The US was improving when we arrived, thanks to Wagner and FDR. But I’d come home from school each day and Ma would ask me whether I’d seen any strange men. She’d worry about federal agents coming to take me away, like the blackshirts tried to do to my brother back in Italy. Or that soldiers would sweep in and destroy the Lionettis.”

“I’m guessing that also happened in Italy,” Vince said darkly.

“That’s why they came here. I don’t worry too much about the old country, as much as the current one, and where things are going for my family.” The veteran put out his cigarette and turned to face Vince. “I’ll risk my life for the Lionettis, because they gave me everything. The school I went to? The same as Fia’s and Pola’s, and founded to protect demihumans here. I have kids, but my family’s more than just blood.”

Vince could do little more than nod.

“And I get the feeling you’re beginning to understand that as well. I needed to confirm that,” the wolf continued. “And give a little sage advice, I guess. Old people like to do that.”

“Thanks,” Vince said drily.

Duilio winked, before turning somber again. “I’ll take the handler job. But my biggest piece of advice is long-term. I get the sense you’re half-in, half-out. ‘Independent.’ Maybe that’s nice on paper. But you’re family. Not mafia family, but real family. Tell me, if Alessia asked you whether she should side with the Yakuza, even with all the pressure from the other conglomerates? From family friends like Garn Trippych? What would you say?”

Vince stared at the man.

“Well?”

A sigh escaped Vince, and he finally drank his sake, knocking it back in one gulp. “I don’t like to get involved in politics.”

“Ah. Well, at least your recognize it’s political.” Duilio nodded. “But you also need to realize you’re past the point where you can say you’re uninvolved. What if Fia asks? Or Pola?”

Vince grimaced. Duilio had made his point. “If they sincerely wanted my advice… I’d give it. Even if I don’t understand half of what’s going on, I’d try to help them.”

Relief crossed Duilio’s face. “Good. And I’m impressed you can at least admit you don’t understand it. La Lupa knows we have enough idealogues who can’t admit they don’t have the answer to fucking everything. Cultists in all but name. If there’s one thing I’ll say for sure about the old country, it fell to those people. I worried that Immanuel’s influence might mean you have… opinions.”

“My opinions mostly put me odds with Alessia, to be fair,” Vince said drily.

“So do most, but that’s part of being born with a silver spoon in your mouth. She’s a tough girl, and being exposed to her enforcers helps a lot.”

Duilio began eating his sashimi. Vince took that as a sign the conversation—or at least the serious part—was over.

“Let’s do our best then,” Vince said, holding his hand out.

Duilio chuckled and took it. “I’d try to do more than your best. I don’t expect to survive this job. The best capos of my era could crumple Hayes like a cheap suit, but she can do the same to me just as easily. I’m intel, but can hold my own in a fight. Prepare for everything, and maybe you’ll pull this off.”

Vince tried to keep his expression from showing his worry. Probably failed.

Hearing Nina pressure him over the job was one thing. Hearing a veteran mafia enforcer who had survived so much admit he expected to die was another.

The time to dwell on his decisions ended abruptly, however. The door opened and the Yakuza delegation arrived.

Mei Suwa swept inside, wearing her usual severely cut kimono, and flanked by Kiyoko and Kigenai.