Page 117 of Koroleva
Five days during which Nonna, Don Giuliano, and Salvatore supported the motion for a confrontation and flexing our muscles to regain leadership. They wanted us to take the bull by the horns and send the damn Chinese on a one-way flight to hell with no chance of return.
With Xia Wang on the team, we had the locations, the strategic enclaves, and knew how to strike them hard enough to hurt.
The only problem was that if we went for the throat, we would spill a lot of blood and, no matter how many people we had bribed, the cops would be on our tails, and that was not in our best interest.
We covered up what happened at the hotel, camouflaging it under a blanket of explosives and enough money to silence experts and investigators.
Gas leak. That's how the dramatic incident, which turned the new skyscraper hotel into a heap of rubble, broken bricks, and twisted iron, was officially described. A loud, clear, and forceful message that placed us in opposition to Cheng.
Logically, no one claimed the bodies of the deceased. Our cleanup team took them to a landfill, submerged in barrels full of acid.
We needed to get to know Cheng's ghost better to devise the appropriate strategy. According to Xia, whom we spoke with via video call, her boss was never on the Peninsula. He visited Spain only a few times, and when he did, he didn't notify anyone.
He remained hidden behind a mask that safeguarded his identity. This granted him absolute anonymity, which was very convenient for moving unseen and protecting his family, if he had one.
"Who is above Cheng?" my uncle questioned, looking at the Chinese woman through the screen. "The one at the top of the pyramid."
"Jing Guo. I thought you knew," she commented nonchalantly.
"Isn't he the guy who was charged in Operation Panda in 2012?" Nikita asked, observing Miss Wang. She nodded affirmatively.
"Yes, exactly."
"I know who Mr. Guo is," my father stated. "He has a record of offenses ranging from organized crime to bribery, smuggling, money laundering, human trafficking, and crimes against the Public Treasury. I read in the newspaper that they are seeking forty-six years and five months of imprisonment for him."
We hid what happened at the hotel, camouflaging it under a blanket of explosives and enough money to silence experts and investigators.
Gas leak. That's how the dramatic incident that turned the new skyscraper hotel into a pile of rubble, bricks, and twisted metal was officially labeled. A loud, clear, and firm message that placed us in opposition to Cheng.
Logically, no one claimed the bodies of the deceased. Our cleanup team took them to a landfill, submerged in barrels full of acid.
We needed to know much more about Cheng's ghost to adopt the right strategy. According to Xia, whom we spoke with via video call, her boss was never on the Peninsula. He visited Spain only occasionally, and when he did, he told no one.
He remained hidden behind a mask that safeguarded his identity. This granted him absolute anonymity, which served him well to move unseen and protect his family, if he had one.
"Who is above Cheng?" my uncle asked, looking at the Chinese woman through the screen. "The one at the top of the pyramid."
"Jing Guo. I thought you knew," she remarked nonchalantly.
"Isn't he the guy who was charged in Operation Panda in 2012?" Nikita inquired, observing Miss Wang. She nodded affirmatively.
"Yes, exactly."
"I know who Mr. Guo is," my father stated. "He has a range of offenses from organized crime to bribery, smuggling, money laundering, human trafficking, and crimes against the Public Treasury. I read in the newspaper that they are asking for forty-six years and five months in prison for him."
"Do you know him?" Xia pressed, amazed.
"By reputation."
"They've been after him for a long time, a tip put him on the police radar. The operation has lasted several years. Jing Guo has always been a cautious man, his inner circle included family members and close associates. His wife handled the management and administration of the many companies that made up the economic structure, and his sister-in-law was the chief accountant.
"Recently, they expanded thanks to trusted men and women. Among them, Mr. Cheng.
"For example, northern Italy is being handled by Mr. Guo's father-in-law, and a cousin of his is in charge of the French Riviera. His tentacles reach higher every day.
"We can't tolerate them colonizing the world!" my cousin exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table, making the glassware shake.
"I'm sorry to say, Mr. Capulet, but it's a bit late for that. It's odd that there's a single place where a member of the organization isn't breathing."