"Zz… The Harrigans are here. I'm going to inspect their vehicles," said Erick, the man in charge of the mansion's exterior security, as he approached with a metal detector.
In this place, anything could happen, and the last thing they wanted was a line of car bombs exploding in the parking lot.
That's why strict control was being enforced at the entrance to the mansion—once inside, things would be much more relaxed.
"What's going on?" Conrad Harrigan was irritated by the lack of trust shown toward his organization.
"Seems they don't trust us. These idiots will shoot us the second they suspect something," Maeve whispered to her husband as she watched the guards at the entrance.
"I don't think so. They wouldn't be dumb enough to push us out of the business," Conrad replied, though doubt had quietly started to stir within him.
At that moment, the guards allowed them to pass and continued inspecting the next set of vehicles.
"I'd love to own this mansion."
"Don't say that so loud, Dad," Kevin muttered, cold sweat running down his face at his father's blunt remark.
"You're pissing yourself, son," Maeve said, clearly displeased with the fear her son was showing. He looked like a scared puppy.
Harry leaned toward Kevin and said, "If anything goes down, I've got your back."
"I don't think we'd make it out alive if something actually happens, man."
"Well, we have to try," Harry replied, walking toward the mansion entrance, where they were greeted by Eddie, who, like everyone else, wore a black suit.
"How many others have arrived?" Conrad didn't know most of SAMCRO's personal partners, but he hoped to build connections with them to expand his business.
"Most of them. You can make yourselves comfortable in the lounge," Eddie replied, glancing at his watch before gesturing toward the hallway that led to the guest room. "Those who aren't involved in business—like the kids—can wait in the guest room and grab a bite."
"Thanks…" Conrad looked at Kevin to get his family in line.
Kevin turned to his son Eddie, gave him a piercing look, and warned, "Don't do anything stupid or I'll cut your balls off myself."
Eddie, the Harrigan family's idiot, just turned without saying a word and headed to the guest room, looking for something that might entertain him for a while.
As for the rest of them, they entered the room where the meeting would take place.
The figures in this room were diverse—Russians, Irishmen, and Mexicans. Not the Mexicans who handled fentanyl for Richie Stevenson, the Harrigans' enemy now that he believed his son had been kidnapped.
Dante was at war with everyone who opposed his policies. The sale of deadly drugs like fentanyl was being eradicated from his territory, and maybe that had earned him enemies among the Triads.
"Nice weather," Conrad said with a smile, approaching Harry, his most loyal aide—whom he considered a son, though they weren't related.
"Sure is."
"Since they let us in with weapons, I guess they don't see us as enemies. We can relax a little—just keep an eye on my stupid grandson, he's bound to stir up trouble." Conrad's face hardened. Unlike his wife, he loathed that member of the family—born of one of his mistresses.
"Want me to correct him with force?" Harry asked bluntly.
"Break a few bones, keep him quiet for a while. I'm sick of that piece of shit." Conrad had one particular trait that defined him: he was a bloody savage.
He killed those who caused him trouble—and did it personally when it came to people he truly hated or who were close to him. There was no middle ground—it was one thing or the other.
Of course, he couldn't kill his grandson, who was in fact his son. But he could teach him with blood, hoping that might turn him into a man and beat the cowardice out of him.
Maeve saw all this and was about to say something when a series of footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall. Then the doors opened, and in walked Dante, wearing a dark suit, wiping blood off his hands.
"Good evening, gentlemen." Dante extended his arms, inviting everyone to sit down in the room, where only the heads of families had seats.
Everyone brought their right-hand man, but Conrad was the only one who also brought his wife—who had been drinking since she arrived at the mansion.
Harry glanced at Kevin and asked with hesitation, "Is this a good idea?"
"I don't even want to think about it anymore," Kevin replied, taking a seat behind his father in the row of seats reserved for extra attendees.
Dante, sensing it was time to speak, smiled politely and said, "Well, as you all know, the Glass family was attacked. My father-in-law was killed, and my brother-in-law was seriously wounded."
Then, with a more serious tone, he added, "So I have to ask—what the hell were you doing? All of you promised me full control of your territories, and what you've given me is a steaming pile of shit."
"Well…" Carlos, a member of the Mexican cartel controlling part of London, started to speak but fell silent.
"Shut your damn mouth, you son of a bitch. Who were you screwing while enemies were planning the murder of my fiancée's family?" Dante broke eye contact with him and looked around the room.
No one knew how to respond to their boss, who clearly looked ready to start cutting heads.
At that moment, Conrad spoke: "My partners decided to start a war. I just managed to stop one between those idiots, so I didn't hear much about what was happening in the streets."
"That's funny. It wasn't until I got here that I learned a lot of things. One of them is that your grandson killed Richie Stevenson's son and had him chopped up." Dante snapped his fingers, and one of his guards brought in a silver tray hiding something underneath.
"I didn't know that…" Conrad turned to look at Steven, who opened his eyes wide in confusion. "That son of a bitch."
Maeve looked at her husband and said, "Darling, don't get worked up."
"I'll educate that piece of shit myself."
Dante looked at Conrad and said, "I don't want distractions, Conrad—especially not one like the one you gave me. Consider this a gift."
When everyone heard that, they turned their eyes to the tray on the table, all thinking the same thing.
"Eddie…"
Kevin panicked. His hand started to move toward his pocket where his gun was, but he was stopped by Harry. "Don't do anything stupid."
"There's someone on that tray, Harry."
"Don't lose control."
Seeing the tension rising in the room, Dante ordered, "Open it—and then we'll continue the meeting."