Book 2: Chapter 42

Book 2: Chapter 42

The next few days were quiet, and Garrett took the opportunity to rest up and start training everyone in their new roles. He was planning to completely overhaul the way that the members of the Family operated, and the first step was ingraining the various principles in the structure they followed. It was strange for people who had all lived in a competitive, tumultuous situation for their whole lives, but the presence of the dream flower took the edge off, ensuring that they at least gave this new way of operating a solid try.

Many of the principles were ones that Garrett had insisted on from the very beginning, and so the members of the Family who worked on the security teams were at least familiar with them. After spending almost an entire day talking with Garrett, Obe had brought each of them in, one at a time, and then reorganized the entire force, splitting into a few different groups. Those that were not as interested in fighting were given the chance to move to the work crews working on the docks or were assigned to the citizen response group, which maintained kiosks in the areas under the Familys influence and was responsible for helping citizens solve issues.

Those who showed the highest commitment to ensuring the safety of the communities around Dreamers Inn were kept on the security team and set on patrols, to ensure that if there were any physical threats, they would be dealt with quickly. The last group, those who either had a knack for fighting, or a particular desire for conflict, were organized into a single group that Obe began to train in some of the military tactics that he remembered, forming the seed of the Familys private militia. This had been Obes idea, and Garrett was happy to not only approve it, but provide funding for both training and arming the men and women in this group.

Most of the Familys strength lay in the forces that Garrett controlled directly, but using them was problematic in many ways. It was great to have the safety of a horde of monsters that lurked under the city, but they were a double-edge sword as using them would turn him into the most wanted villain in the city in a heartbeat. Furthermore, Garrett believed in diversification, and adding a publicly visible team of personal soldiers would go a long way in allowing him to hide the less public forces the Family possessed.

Obe wasnt the only one who had taken to the new command structure, and Garrett found himself spending a lot of time talking to Ryn, who showed a surprisingly adept hand at understanding how to best use the people under her. Within a few days, she had re-written many of the roles, incorporating work that Garrett had not considered in his first draft. Though he knew it was slightly premature, Garrett decided that if she continued to develop in that direction, he would just make her the chief operating officer, giving her control of all of the visible operations under the family.

Apart from Ryn and Obe, the two other people who reported directly to Garrett were Viper, who was in charge of the clandestine activities of the group, and Gavon, who Garrett was going to give a special role. Viper was simply a direct extension of Garrett himself, so there wasnt any friction there, but Gavon was different. Calling the leader of the meat packing plant in, Garrett could sense the tension the man carried even before he entered the room.

Please sit down. Would you like a drink? We have juice, we have wine. I can have Francis get you a beer from the bar.

I dont need anything, Gavon grunted, lowering his bulk into one of the seats.

If you change your mind, let me know.

Wheeling himself out from behind the desk, Garrett handed a piece of paper to Gavon.

You should have seen the new structure that were going to be using, but I wanted to specifically talk to you about your new role, and get your feedback on a few problems Ive been mulling over. Your group is very important to us, and I want to thank you for making the transition so smooth. It's clear to me that you take your commitments and responsibilities seriously, and that is apparent in the way youve conducted yourself during this process.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Noticing that Gavon was starting to glaze over, Garrett coughed and got to the point.

But that's not what I want to talk to you about today. We are planning on bringing other groups under the umbrella of the family, and I want you to lead that effort.

But, were already part of the family, Gavon said, his forehead furrowing.

What I mean, is that I want you to be in charge of bringing new groups into the family. The same terms that we gave you. Independent leadership, but under our flag. Theyll have to adopt the principles of the Family, and sign off on the agreements to act in the best interest of the Family, but the leader of each group will form an independent council, of which youll be the first chair. The first chair will speak to me, and be on equal footing with the other three primary officers of the Family, who are currently Ryn, Obe, and Viper.

Surprised by the offer, it took Gavon a moment to collect himself. Whatever he had been expecting when he walked into Garretts office, it was not this. Ever since he had signed the document agreeing to join his gang to the Family, he had been waiting for the underhanded tactics to begin. In his experience, there was no gang in the world that wouldnt try to consolidate its power and having an fiercely independent subordinate gang was a recipe for disaster.

Instead, the Family had done exactly as they had said they would. They deferred all decisions about what happened on Heifer Street to him, supported his forces when they ran into problems, and proactively helped the citizens who worked in the plant. There had even been a strange change in the air on the street, almost like someone had opened a window and let in fresh air and sunshine. Much of the gloom that typically hung over the plant was gone and even rainy days now seemed full of life. It was a strange shift, but looking at the smiling man in front of him, Gavon knew that he wasnt imagining it. The other shoe had dropped, but the result was not a sneaky way to co-opt control, but rather more responsibility. Finding his mind lost in visions of what it would mean for him to be the leader of the independent forces under the Klein Family, Gavon had to pinch himself, bringing himself back to reality.

Why do you want me to do it? Gavon asked, leaning forward in his chair. Arent you afraid that Ill use a position like this to build up my own power?

I hope you do, Garrett said, grinning. Initiative is one of our principles, after all. But to better answer your question, Im not worried about it at all. Its in the Familys best interest if you and the other groups are as strong as possible, which means letting you do what youre good at without trying to manage every little thing you do. Dont get me wrong, betrayal will be met with swift and fatal retribution. Thats part of the role that Vipers group will play. You might think of it like this.

Thats unfortunate.

It is! I hate the sight of blood, so I cry every time.

What about you, Collette?

Um, my teddy, Silly Bear transforms into a bloodthirsty monster if Im not hugging him. He wont stop attacking other people.

Ah. Im almost afraid to ask about Roy.

Looking up at the mention of his name, Roy just shook his head and lifted the fish in his hand.

Im so hungry, he moaned, putting his head down on the table.

Roys plate is cursed, Collette said, looking genuinely sorry for the thin man. Anything he eats turns into a live raw fish.

Hissing through his teeth, Garrett wheeled himself away, as if afraid he might catch the curse. The other two were bad, but he wasnt sure that he could think of a worse curse than not being able to eat anything but raw fish.

That sounds really uncomfortable.

It's disgusting, Julie said, not mincing words.

It is, but maybe I can help.

All three of the people at the table looked at Garrett, their eyes going wide.

What do you mean by that? Collette asked, her voice full of caution.

I mean that I might have a solution to your curse. Im not a hundred percent sure that it will work, but if you want me to give it a try I can. However, it might be a bit uncomfortable.

You can chop off my ears if it takes this awful fish away, Roy said, staring at Garrett with madness in his eyes. Ill do anything to get rid of it. You can even kill me, just let me taste a piece of bread first!

Taking a breath to gather her courage, Julie nodded.

Even if you want a pint of my blood for a secret ritual to summon the devil, Ill do it.

After hearing the other twos wild promises, Garrett turned to Collette, half expecting her to say something similar, only to be met with an uncomfortable look.

What? Why would I want to get rid of Silly? He is great.