CS: The Cappollas (Cont. VII)
Max glanced down at the floor and then slowly back up at Tony, “Your son is arrogant and jealous. He is false in most of his moves and is transparent in both his intentions and feelings. He is well built and I can tell his pride that he has been well educated though he has probably fallen far short of his full potential. He is ruthless and vulgar despite his cultured upbringing and although this would indicate that he is not to be trusted, he probably is the most likely one to be loyal if he really likes you. His rage is the kind that is valuable, as it is not one that blows completely out of proportion but probably makes him quiet and introspective. He is outwardly blustery because he thinks that is the way to intimidation. Overall, he is very insecure about his shortcomings which number in the tens. Probably not meant to be a big time player like you, not at least right now.”
Tony cocked his head as the assessment came out, “You do know that you’re insulting my son.”
“It is an opinion. My opinion based on observations. There is always a chance I am wrong.” There was a pause as the two stared down each other, “Though I rather doubt I am.”
Tony continued the stare for a moment, letting smoke roll out from his nostrils and slowly rising to his feet as he set the cigar down on the bar counter and stared out a small window behind him. It barely let any light in, as night had descended on the house quickly. “You know, Max, I run a tight ship around here. My father wasn’t like me. He tried to let the business run itself and let all his guys do what he thought was right. They held him up for many years, and then when they finally tried to apply themselves it was too late. The Cappollas were crushed and it cost him dearly, because he took the brunt of the problems. Nobody expected me to do anything with the family after its downfall. But I did. I was able to build this up to something great. I didn’t let the fucks who have called the shots in the past push me around. I wasn’t about to have my dick held by a bunch of fuckers who didn’t know the first thing about how the business worked. I cut those bastards loose and I formed what now exists as the Cappolla crime syndicate. It isn’t big. It isn’t strong in muscle. It isn’t powerful in intellect and arms. But what it is is it’s a god damn money making machine. Nobody brings in the cash like the Cappollas, not even the almighty Gambinis. And that’s why the Gambinis have sent you here to me, because we don’t have the power or the connections, but we’ve got the funds to help front you and your task of making this a one-sided war.” Tony marched around to the bar counter and grabbed himself another drink, downing it rather quickly as he looked at the security cameras.
“You’re right about my son. He’s not fit for the business and it has been my biggest problem, trying to get him to do what I want. He wants to run business like my father cuz he’s a fucking prick. Yeah, I said it about my own son, but it’s true. The asshole thinks that his degree from Princeton gives him the right to call shots around here. The nerve…I GIVE HIM THAT RIGHT! When the fuck did kids begin to listen to the street hustlers who don’t have any respect for anybody? Huh? Reno was out there in the world, hanging around with a lot of the Gambini fucks who, though they are our Italian brothers, hate our guts for surviving as long as we have, and he’s come home thinkin’ that the Cappolla bloodline is through….through! It ain’t through. Not by a longshot….” Tony marched back around the counter and over to the screens.
“I built an empire from the rubble of the previously fallen one. We’ve got our hands in drugs, gambling, construction, and as many little innovative pies as necessary. We front a lot of operations and that’s why we’ve got the cash. I’m willing to take the risk as long as I know I’ve got guys to back me up if a little heat comes our way. And everybody has been content enough to leave us alone for a long time, cuz we were small and insignificant and because I’ve been the first to push away all knowledge of how things are going with my own finances so that there’s no chance of leaks. Once I know what’s going on, then the next guy’s got to know and so on, so I let Walter, my lawyer take care of it. You may think that unwise, but let me tell you, lawyers aren’t the liars in the world. They’re the martyrs that other companies and people like to blame for their own shortcomings. Walter isn’t out to screw me, though Reno, once again influenced by popular culture, believes he is.”
“Where are you going with this, sir?”
Tony stared for a moment, shocked at the statement, as if he had never once thought that it was uninteresting to discuss his entire family history. He recooperated quickly, “To the point, I like that. Forgive me. I get long-winded and I forget that others mind.”
“I do not mind, sir, but if we are to make haste, which I was under the impression we were, this is taking up time.”