Business & Pleasure 1

Dante felt and heard a satisfying pop as he stretched his arms up in his lounge chair by the pool of the Kawaguchi Hotel. Wearing a simple pair of dark blue swim trunks, a pair of blue and black tennis shoes and an open white hoodie the past few days at the resort had been a much appreciated experience.

Everything from the water park, to the casino, the buffet and spa had been top of the line. The gambling in particular was a thrill seeing as he'd made it normal to win at slots no matter the machine. He didn't guarantee hitting the jackpot to maintain some of the thrill but that was fine with him. Milly meanwhile had shown herself to be a terror on the card tables. Whether it was blackjack, spades or poker his fiance had cleared out everyone there with a smile on her face.

It wasn't all fun and games however. The Jackson heir had also met up with various figures within Area 11. Several businesses tycoons, manufacturers, and even a few new faces within pop culture. People who could make him even more cash but typically wouldn't associate with him were now in his pocket and ready to aid him should the time come. Not bad if dare say so himself.

"Boss." Nigel's voice broke Dante from his reflections.

Looking to his left Nigel Haywood was of similar height to Dante maybe half an inch taller and a couple years older. The Haywood family had been in service to the Jackson family for generations.

He had his dark green hair in his typical wolf tail style with his emerald green eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. Rather than relax like the twins and Ichiban had he still wore a white dress shirt and tie with black slacks and dress shoes with a matching blazer.

"Is he here?" Dante asked.

"Yes. And the other one will be here shortly." The older man confirmed.

"Lets not keep him waiting then."

A short walk to a secluded booth and Dante was sitting across from David Wilson. A somewhat rotund man with a shaved head and light brown eyes behind a pair of rectangular glasses. He was currently dressed in a bright orange Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts with the cord of a straw hat hanging from the mans neck.

He was the owner of the Golden Goose Spa (an honestly stupid name in Dante's opinion) and moonlighted as Area 11's best info broker. With an array of listeners ranging from various members from the staff, to delivery drivers, clients, and god only knows who else the 40 year old man had built quite the little empire for himself.

And of course Dante had secured his loyalty with the earrings.

"Ahhhh! Dante my favorite mafioso! How have you been my dear friend?" The heavy set man waved cheerfully.

"Well enough David." The Jackson heir nodded in greeting. "I trust you have what I want?"

"But of course." David waved over a young woman and she came forward with a manilla folder. Dante accepted it with a nod and opened it for a quick scan and frowned thoughtfully.

"So others are making moves." It wasn't surprising. He hadn't made it normal for the other families to idle and ignore the moves he'd been making. Only his parents and their closest confidants were made ignorant until he would come out and say he'd taken everything from them.

And Dante certainly wasn't the only person Marcus Jackson had angered over the years. The crime syndicate in Area 11 was ruled by the Seven families with various gangs and criminals serving under them. And House Jackson had usurped control thanks to the groundwork laid out by Dante's great-grandfather, his grandfather using it to work up the ranks his entire tenor as family head with Marcus having taken over as top dog at age 18.

Needless to say several families weren't happy with the change. House Conner was neutral although Dante suspected they were simply playing the long game as his great-grandfather had in the past. Houses Vicktors and Stark were in the Jackson pocket but as the folder showed the current family heads weren't loyal enough to stand aside when weakness was spotted. And finally the ones working against them actively were Houses Churchill, Williams and Anderson.

Now of course Dante could easily say it was normal for all the other families to accept him as the over all leader but he didn't because of one reason.

He wanted the challenge and to give them actual proof of why they should fall in line. To show them he was truly superior to them and the only choice as leader.

But that was for later. For now he'd focus on finishing his vacation. Afterwards he'd put the next several final touches on taking over his household and ousting his father as head of the family.

"My thanks David." He nodded to the heavy set info broker before rising to leave. "Your money will be wired by the end of the day in the usual account."

"Always a pleasure Dante. Do come by the spa if you ever get the chance." David laughed as he raised his hand to call a waitor over.

And with that Dante took his leave only for Nigel's phone to go off. The greenette answered swiftly and with several confirmations nodded for Dante to follow.

Soon they had walked to a simple hotel room guarded by the twins. Walking inside he spotted Ichiban standing in a corner looking out the window while on the bed were two figures.

To the right was Milly dressed in a yellow and green two piece bikini with a similarly colored sarong and flip-flop sandals. On the left was a familiar ebony haired Eleven in a white shirt, black skirt and heels. The blonde had been in the midst of comforting the Number in service to House Churchill when he'd walked in.

"Hello Ms. Kanagawa." He said pleasantly enjoying the combination of fear and excitement that flashed on her face at his entrance. It was nice to know he'd left such a lasting impression in their first meeting, "I do hope what you've brought me is worth my time."