Five days earlier ...

THEY MET WHERE they always did — in the clubhouse of the Wooded Hills Country Club, which was owned by Titan. Four men sat at the big oak table where they would do their business. Steve stood attentively at the foot of the table in the haze of cigar smoke and cheap aftershave. He looked around at the men who had called him there today, anxious to prove himself to the leaders of Titan. They needed to discuss what to do about Michael's brother, Rhino.

Moe Giovan, also known as the Mole, sat at the table. Steve kept getting distracted by the mole the size of a dime on his right temple. William Cozzoni — Willy — sat to the left of Moe, his trademark cigar sticking out of his mouth. Next to Willy, sat Sammy Salluci, and next to Sammy, was Paul Delemonni. Paul was the cool-headed one of the four and looked to Steve as if this meeting should not be taking place. He squirmed in his seat and tugged at the collar of his shirt. Judging by the perspiration on his forehead, he didn't seem to have much control right at that moment.

They all sat there, smoking and not saying a word. Willy finally broke the silence, "Probably wondering what you're doing here, huh kid?"

Knowing better than to answer, Steve waited them out.

Sammy spoke up, "We have a problem we think you can handle."

There was a pause. "Are you willing to do this for us?" That question came from Moe. Steve waited for Paul to speak, but Paul remained silent. Steve answered, "I'm in. I'll do whatever you ask. Just tell me what you want."

The tension grew in the room. "Are you sure you want this responsibility?" Sammy pressed. "You have no idea what we are going to ask."

"I can handle whatever needs to be done." This was Steve's chance. "I have been ready to step up and prove myself for so long. I'm ready to take charge and show you guys what I'm worth," Steve spoke boldly, even forcefully, hoping the men would see he could be trusted with the responsibility.

"We want you to take care of someone." Sometimes when Moe spoke, the words came out faster than his mouth could move, which made him hard to understand. "This individual is very close to the group and very close to you."

Each member looked at each other, then at Steve.

"Once we tell you what we want from you, there will be no turning back," Moe continued in the fast talking manner he was known for. "If you refuse, do it now. Once we tell you, for the protection of the group, we cannot let you leave this room alive should you refuse," Moe repeated.

Steve straightened his shoulders and stuck his chest out so the men of Titan could see he meant what he was about to say, "I have been a foot soldier too long. It's time I stepped out and made a name for myself. Mr. Giovan, I know of all the connections you have in the city, and because of those connections, you have the right people in the right places. Ask around. You'll find out I'm not one to back down. I'm in. Tell me what you want."

A smile came across Moe's face, "See, boys? I told you Steve was our man and that he could handle it." Moe sat directly across from Steve and stared him down. He took a long drag on his cigar and then blew the smoke right in Steve's face. "We want you to kill ..."

At the word kill, Steve's mind started racing. He could hear everything and nothing at all. Moe's mouth moved, but he didn't hear any words come out. He closed his eyes to focus on what was being said to him. They didn't do that anymore. He could not remember the last time they offed someone, took someone out, or eliminated somebody. All nice ways of saying kill.

When he cleared his thoughts, he heard Moe ask, "Did you hear me, kid?"

"I'm sorry," said Steve. "What is it you want me to do?"

"We want you to kill Rhino." This came from Sammy.

Steve's skin turned cold, yet he started sweating.

Willy asked, "You gonna be alright? Want some water?"

Why would they want to get rid of Rhino? He could not believe they were asking him to do it. His stomach started churning. He was in it now. If he refused, they would kill him. He'd have to act like it would be no problem. "If that's what needs to be done, I'm your man. Do you mind if I ask why, though?" He desperately tried to keep the quiver out of his voice.

They were asking him to kill the man who saved his life — the man who was like a father to him. Rhino had taught him everything, the ins and outs, the scams, and the ways to survive an attack, to get out of a ticket, and to be a ladies' man. He owed all that to Rhino. And now, they want him killed?

"So, can you tell me why?" Steve repeated.

"It won't change how we feel about it," Sammy said.

"He has been squealing like a pig," Willy interrupted. "For years, we've been doing things a certain way, and it worked. Now, we got someone telling others about our business dealings. Nobody else needs to know anything!" By this time, Willy was out of breath and turning red.

Sammy put his hand on Willy's shoulder, "Slow down, big guy. Take it easy. We all want to see this come to an end, but don't get so riled up about it. That's not healthy." That concern from Sammy struck Steve as out of the ordinary. Sammy had the reputation of being a cold-blooded and heartless individual.

Paul took control of the meeting, "It began about a week ago. Rhino started going around to some of the businesses we've dealt with in the past apologizing for what he'd done or what we'd done. He was even going to family members of the guys we'd taken out."

Paul took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow, "Rhino was seen several times during the week coming and going from the police station downtown. Rhino's turned on Titan, turned into a snitch."

What? No. Steve must have heard wrong. Not Rhino. Not a snitch. Paul showed him photos taken of Rhino meeting with different people who had been dealt with in a bad way by the group. There were several photos taken of him going in and out of the police station, never in handcuffs. Steve could see why Michael gave Paul the power that he had. Paul was very deliberate and precise in his presentation of the evidence and yet very calm. Steve also thought that to be unsettling. Paul was so calm while the rest of the men around the table where adamant of Rhino's wrong doing.

Steve looked at all the pictures, talked to the men, and tried to justify to himself what he saw. But in the end, he knew what had to be done to protect Titan, and he'd volunteered to do it. What a fool! How was he going to pull this off? How was he going to live with himself after killing the only person who had ever been a like father to him? Then it hit him. How was he going to explain this to Michael?

"Doesn't the vote need to be unanimous?" he asked.

"We know the rules, Steven," Paul said, "and there are some —"

"We are all in agreement here," Moe looked right at Paul. "All we need to do is to get Michael to come on board. That will be your job, too." Moe worked a toothpick around in his mouth while he spoke.

"And how do you think I could do that?" Steve replied.

"Explain the situation to Michael," Sammy chimed in. "Tell him the rest of the board is for it and that Rhino broke a major rule. He'll have to go for it."

"We feel you are the only one who could make Michael believe that his brother broke a major rule, Steven," Moe continued, "and that he needs to die." That was twice now they called him Steven. He liked that. It made him feel important.

"Rhino will trust you," Willy encouraged him. "It will be a total surprise. You will be the one in control. You will be known as the one who brought down the Rhino."

Steve liked the sound of that, but how would Michael take the news? Well, Steve could worry about that later. First, he needed to figure out how and where. The how was pretty simple — one bullet in the back of the skull. The more he thought about the group's confidence in him to take care of this and the reputation he knew he would earn, the smaller the problem of dealing with Michael seemed. After this, he'd have the whole group on his side.

"Can I have help?" Steve asked.

"Steven," Willy's eyes gleamed, "you can have one person help you. But, you better be sure he can be trusted. It all falls back on you if he squeals. If this was to get out, we wouldn't back you to the police. We would back Michael and whatever he felt was the best way to punish you however he wishes."

"So, choose your partner wisely," Sammy advised. "Make sure you can trust whomever you pick."

With the instructions and deadline set, they left one by one. Each man stopped by Steve to shake his hand and tell him he was a good man, everyone but Paul.

Steve sat there for a moment by himself thinking. He had until the end of the week. If he couldn't get it done by then, the group would find someone else to take care of Rhino and Steve. Steve still could not believe they wanted Rhino killed.

That was not his only worry now. He had to protect himself, too. But, he'd get the job done. Steve left as the first golfers walked into the clubhouse.

SITTING IN HIS car and listening to the ball game while earning time and a half was not a bad deal to Mark Capwell. He needed the extra money. The bad part — and what he really grew tired of — was being a cop on the take, a loner. Mark's best friend was his own reflection.

While sitting outside the coffee shop, Mark swore under his breath as he burnt his finger trying to smash one more cigarette in an already over-stuffed ashtray. Smoke filled the car even though he'd rolled down the window.

He cleaned the dirt from under his fingernails with a matchbook as Joy approached the car. "Hey baby what's the good word?" She stood outside the car in heels that were too high and a skirt that was too short. Her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail exposed a face adorned with way too much makeup.

Mark snapped back, "Not tonight, I'm busy."

"What's the matter big man?" she purred. "Can't handle the job, home, and another woman? Thought you were the man?"

"Shut up!" Mark yelled. "I told you, not tonight." He'd been with Joy the last six months, but tonight he was in no mood for games.

"You're feeling guilty. Having second thoughts about us or about leaving your wife, sweetheart?" Joy leaned in the window and caressed Mark's cheek with the back of her hand.

Mark grabbed Joy's wrist and pulled her halfway into the car. He whispered fiercely, "Look, you no good tramp. I said to get out of here and leave me alone, and I meant just that." He pushed her back out through the window.

She stumbled backward on her high heels and landed on her backside, "You no good son of a —"

"Shut up!" Mark yelled. "Or I'll arrest you for loitering, prostitution, and for being a pain in the —"

"Fine!" Joy stood up and brushed herself off. "But just you wait and see if I'm ever around when you need something!"

Mark got out of his car, grabbed her, and pushed her forward, "Get out of here, tramp!" He gave her a kick and started to chase after her just when his cell phone rang. "It's a good thing for you I have to answer this! Now get out of here." He flipped open his phone, "What?"

The voice on the other end was the same one it always was, "Excuse me, but I feel I need a more proper greeting than what."

"Sorry," he mumbled. "Just dealing with some low-lifes. What do you need?"

"Where are you?"

"Outside the coffee shop," he replied.

"Is the mark in your sight?"

Mark's gaze drifted to where Rhino sat at the counter talking to some guy Mark didn't know, "Yes, he is."

"Does he know he's being followed?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

Mark rolled his eyes, "Yes, I'm sure. I've been doing this long enough to know when I've been made."

"I want you to lose Rhino," the voice ordered. "Stop tailing him."

"I can't do that. What will I tell my boss?"

"I don't care what you tell your boss. I'm telling you to lose the tail and lose it now." The line went dead.

Great, Mark thought. The rumor is true, and they're going to take Rhino out. This was Mark's shift, and he had the responsibility of trying to keep Rhino safe. He didn't like Rhino, but he liked the thought of being in trouble with his boss even less, even though he hated him also. Mark closed his cell phone and put it in his pocket, swearing under his breath.

He never worried about a call being traced because they always called his cell phone and the call was always made from a pay phone. Now, Mark would have to figure out how to tell Ryan he lost the tail. Mark swore under his breath again as he lit another cigarette. He got back in his car, glad to see that Joy had left, and dumped the ash tray contents on top of the pile of cigarette butts and ashes he'd left on the street from last time.

He reached under the front seat and pulled out a flask filled with vodka. Vodka never left a smell of alcohol on his breath, but it sure left a lasting effect on his mind. As he sat there nursing his drink, a car pulled up. Steve looked way too big for the car he got out of. Close to six feet tall with a crew-cut style haircut, his brown hair matched his brown eyes. He wasn't what you would call muscular, but with his broad shoulders and small waist, he looked very trim and fit. He walked into the coffee shop.

So, this was going to be the patsy they would use to wipe out Rhino. Mark started up his car, and a big cloud of blue smoke coughed out of the tail pipe. He revved the engine a couple of times and dropped it into drive. The car lurched forward, and the tires squealed. He tossed his cigarette at the car Steve had come out of making a miniature explosion on impact.

He drove off, wondering what he would tell his boss. When he got to the intersection, he picked up his radio. "My car just died," he told Ryan. "What should I do now?"

Mark could tell by the silence at the other end of the radio that Ryan did not like the sound of this. "Get a squad car to your location now. As soon as they pick you up, head straight to the abandoned garage. Got that?"

"Yes, sir," he mocked, "will get right on that." As soon as he got off the radio, he pulled into the parking lot across the street from The Hidden Agenda. It was his favorite watering hole. He laughed at the irony as he walked across the street and in the door.

He found a spot at the bar and lit another cigarette. The place was filled with smoke, and the jukebox blared out the southern rock song called, "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight."

"Vodka," Mark told Big Jack, the bartender. When Big Jack returned with the shot, he said, "What a fitting song."

"What do you mean by that?" Big Jack asked.

"Well, after tonight there is going to be a small war. A blood bath really, but I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight," He downed the shot of vodka.

Big Jack smiled his famous toothless grin. He slapped Mark on the shoulder, "Want another?"

"Yep," he replied and waited for Big Jack to return as the song continued to play.

THERE HAD NOT been an execution in over five years. The details of who the target was would definitely rattle things. Steve still could not believe he was going to kill Rhino. The more he thought about it, the more personal it became. He shook those thoughts out of his head and put the security of Titan first. If he could keep that in mind, he could get through this job.

He would pick up Rhino as if all was fine, drive him to the garage, and take care of business there. They'd remove the body just like Rhino had instructed him many times before. Then, they would report back to the group.

Steve and Kevin drove up to the coffee shop. Sammy had recommended Kevin to help with the hit. Steve thought it best to take the advice of Sammy, even though he knew nothing about Kevin. He was too afraid to pick someone who might have loose lips.

Steve saw Rhino through the front window, sitting at the counter talking to a stranger. He got out of his 1972 Monte Carlo. It was a deep midnight blue, and even in the dim light of dusk, it had a deep shine.

"Wait here," he said to Kevin.

For a moment, he allowed himself to think back to five years ago when he first met Rhino. His father owed Titan money, and Rhino went to collect. What happened after that he hated to recall. Focus. He once again tried to concentrate on the job at hand.