33. The Irish King (Part 3)

Jackson was drinking Irish whiskey as he was leaning to his desk awaiting the guest who was to come to his mansion  at that time of night. No one called him in the middle of the night except his cousin Terence. No one swore at him over the phone except his cousin Terrence. And no one lived to tell the tale of telling Jackson where to stick his rules except his cousin Terence. He waited for him to arrive in his office. He looked at his watch. He knew his cousin Terence always arrived earlier than he did so he was ready.

O'Neil deliberately didn't knock on the office door and barged in. He narrowed his eyes at Jackson as he walked towards him "You know what you are doing Jackson. You know full well what you are doing." He pointed his finger at him "You are having a party here watching the entertainment from far. I know it was you. I know you did it. You plotted all this. You wouldn't mind a war with Francesco. Why not? He didn't let you have Anna. You want revenge. But you think playing with his daughters life will get you anywhere in my sons good books. He will kill you when he finds out."

Jackson calmly eyed him "I see you forget how you need address me properly each time Terrence. You fail to acknowledge that I have no obligation to do anything for the sake of your alliance with Francesco. Go work for it. You are talking to the wrong man. Go speak to your son and not me. Why don't you go tell him all you know."

Terence gritted his teeth "Don't mock me Jackson. I have nothing to say to my son. I have everything to say to you. You must fix this mess."

Jackson said "Terence. You have nothing to say to him because you have no proof. Let's face it. You can't falsely accuse me. Then your son will have to discipline you for insulting me. We wouldn't want that. Would we?"

O'Neil gave out a dark chuckle "Don't threaten me Jackson."

Jackson said "What are you going to do?"

O'Neil said "I won't. My son will. Now before it's too late hand over the real culprits who caused the near death experience of Vienna. If you don't share the information you know, I guarantee that one day, my son will kill you if before that Francesco or Arturo haven't killed you."

Jackson raised an eyebrow "Arturo?"

O'Neil nodded "Yes. Vienna is his god daughter. Don't forget it. You played god with her life."

Jackson said "That is a baseless and false accusation Terrence. Leave now. Before I lock you up in my basement for questioning. You don't insult me on my property."

O'Neil took a step closer to him "You think truth wouldn't reveal itself. Huh? You paid people to mess with that car. You wanted Angelia dead so Reagan O'Reily had a shot at having Viggo to himself. But of course your plan was sabotaged when Vienna entered the car. You couldn't press the button to blow up the car but your people had already tampered with the car so it could have an accident and once you exploded it then it would be recorded as an accident. This way you wanted Francesco and Viggo off the murder case...."

Jackson said "You have no proof. Go on and tell this story to your son. See what happens."

O'Neil hesitated. He wanted to punch him so bad. Jackson wanted to control the rosarios. He wanted Anna. He still wanted her. Making rosarios into an Irish family was his dream. Then maybe he could use them to kill Arturo. Who knew? Then he could marry Anna. Jackson was a mastermind in manipulation and changing records.

O'Neil said "I won't tell my son. You should tell him. He won't kill you if you come clean. I have taught him to be merciful. But if he finds out himself on his own accord you are a dead man Jackson."

Jackson said "Where is your proof. Say it Terence. Where is your evidence I had done all this?"

Terence said " You destroyed all of it in front of my eyes. But I saw it all. I have no proof but I know the truth and so do you. Come clean and you will be spared by my son."

Jackson laughed darkly "Terence. You amuse me. If anyone should come clean it's you. You falsely accuse me in my own home. I say this demands some penance of some kind from you. You are the one who should beg on your knees for forgiveness after falsely accusing me."

O'Neil sighed "You have a complex plan. I know you. But know I am watching you. I will find evidence to bring you to my sons attention."

Jackson said "You are one Irish traitor Terence. You do know that Irish traitors are not going to have a smooth road."

O'Neil retorted "Sure. You made my road as bumpier as you could. I married an Italian. Didn't I. I love my wife even though you don't count her as one of your own. You made sure I have it tough. But the more obstacles you threw my way just because you could it brought me closer to my wife. So how is that for justice? I am watching you Jackson. Watch your back. If you try to manipulate anyone I know and love, you will pay when I corner you."

Jackson said "I will corner you first Terrence. Actually I already have. If you dare accuse me of anything, you will pay. There is a hierarchy Terrence. Learn to respect it. Your son is on top and then there is me. Don't take me on Terence. You won't win. You can protect yourself and children. But you can't protect your wife. She is Tristan's mother but she can be hit. She is not untouchable by my rules as she is not blood. If I go down I take her down with me."

O'Neil balled his hand into fists. He wanted to punch him but he wasn't sure if it was worth it. O'Neil was fast but so was Jackson. O'Neil fought hard and so did Jackson. It was going to be a bloody battle if he hit Jackson because he always hit back much harder. There was no point for O'Neil being bloodied and bartered in his basement while he had so much to take care of. He was the only Irish who had the backbone to stand up to Jackson. Tristan could do but his son didn't know Jackson as well as he did or rather O'Neil hadn't taught him to keep him out of trouble.

O'Neil said in a deadly tone "of course you are sounding like a coward now. So you can't fight me without blackmailing to go after the Giovannis?"

Jackson said "That hurts you the most Terrence. That's why. I can do a lot Terrence. Don't tempt me. I can destroy you and can cover it up so your son won't find out anytime soon."

O'Neil said "He will find out. He is observant."

Jackson said "I know. That's why I said he won't find out any time soon. Not never. Now take your leave. I have nothing to say to you even if you have more to say to me, you traitor. You are not exactly on my favourite loyal list to convince me to grant you your wishes. Let's see how Francesco deals with the mess. I want him to be afraid of his shadow and he will be. I don't ever leave evidence behind. So good luck proving I am guilty to your son."

O'Neil said "You are risking too much for this vendetta Jackson. I don't understand why start now? Why go after Francesco and try to turn his family into Irish loyalists while you had all this time. Why now when my son says the last word?"

Jackson raised an eyebrow "As if you don't know. Maybe you don't know. Because Terence my organisation is now at its strongest. Even though this is only the transition period, the house of O'Kane is getting much stronger. Maybe you underestimate your son. He maybe seventeen but he is very intelligent. He is the best Irish leader I have ever met. He is your son after all Terrence. You said it yourself. I threw obstacles at you. I made your life hell. You married Sancia when you were meant to marry my sister. You were meant for the house of O'Kane. You broke my father's heart by marrying Sancia when my sister was always meant for you. She wanted you to be Jonas's father and not that low life she had to divorce for being so weak and pathetic ... I made sure you had so much to deal with so you would turn to the Irish but your alliance with Francesco saved you many times."

O'Neil taunted "It must bother you that you can't bring down his empire to force him to kneel to you. He won't bend to you Jackson. No matter how badly you want this, it won't happen. You didn't see Vincenzo as don. You didn't see that coming. If you mess with Francesco and get caught his sons will end you. Francesco is protected."

Jackson said " He is protected ... But no one is invincible. He has to live because Tristan wants him to live. But I want Francesco to kneel to the Irish one day and I will make it happen. If he falls, Arturo will come to the rescue and I will make him fall too. Then I take back Anna."

O'Neil said "You do know it's impossible. You think you can beat the rosarios? You can't. There is so many of them. Even if you get past Francesco and Arturo, then Vincenzo won't let it happen. He has messed up your plans by his existence. I know he has. You can't hurt Francesco and get no retaliation from him. You think he will let you live? Think again. He is smart. You nearly caused the death of Vienna. You will answer for this when the truth comes to light."

Jackson said "Terrence. Go ahead and reveal the truth. Why not?"

O'Neil was tempted to punch him again. Jackson was not apologetic at all putting Vienna in danger. He didn't seem remorseful "How could you do this to Tristan? How could you put Vienna's life in danger?"

Jackson said "I didn't Terence. It was an accident. I didn't think she will get into that car with that andovini girl and I certainly didn't think that her driver was going to drive like a maniac to get the Andovini girl to her cousin's hide out without being traced. I can't predict the future. Can I Terence? I did lend my cars for them to chase the car. If I had known Vienna was going to be in that car I wouldn't have dreamt of doing what I did Terence... I am sorry Terence."

O'Neil didn't think he will apologise but he did. "Go apologise to Tristan. Not me. The next time you risk Vienna's life..."

Jackson said "There won't be a next time Terrence. I am reckless but not careless. Second chances don't exist in my organisation. I failed to spot the holes in my plot and I will make those responsible atone for it."

Terrence said "So are you shooting yourself dead? You are the one who made the mistake."

Jackson took a step closer to O'Neil and his breath was touching his cheek "Don't mock me Terrence. I have self control but I can lose it. I can even put you on trial for falsely accusing me with no proof. I can. So go count yourself lucky. Leave before I change my mind about you. I will make those atone who are responsible for what happened in my own way and move on. It was an accident. There is atonement for accidents. I made you atone for making my sister's life miserable by choosing Sancia. So second chances can exist for my family only."

O'Neil laughed bitterly "Family? You just hurt your family Jackson. Take a good look in the mirror. I can't wait to see you atone for your actions." He then turned around to walk away "Losing Anna is atonement in your eyes for everything that you have done and will do but it's not enough. Francesco hit you where it hurt knowing you are not accepting of his Italian way of life in his organisation. He knew you were wrong for Anna and didn't fall for your vows." Just as he was about to open the door, O'Neil became stunned as a knife hit the spot just above his head. He turned around quick waiting for an attack but none came.

Jackson looked livid "You insult my relationship with Anna too often Terence. One of those days I might cut off your tongue."

O'Neil ignored him and walked out of the room. Just as he left the room he found himself surrounded by guards accompanying him outside. As if he was a threat? Jackson was the biggest threat to himself messing with an Irish king's woman. But again he left no evidence behind. Tristan was going to catch Jackson if he became careless. As he was being accompanied outside to the gate, he noticed the spot where an Irish was made an example of for falsely accusing another Irish. It was the rule. You couldn't accuse someone as high rank in the hierarchy of this Irish mobster network and get out alive. O'Neil was seconds late, only seconds late to protect a witness so he could stay alive to tell the tale. Jackson left no witnesses alive and he did it smartly. Maybe he had let that one slide to teach O'Neil what he was capable of. Jackson was so twisted he was most likely playing games with him. Only Francesco understood Jackson like no other from day one. Even when they were teenagers Francesco was wary of Jackson. He knew who he was dealing with while even O'Neil at times defended him. Vincenzo was like his father. He was ahead of everyone else in ways no one else could be. O'Neil has tried to make sure Tristan could be a good judge of character too but he didn't want to get his son tangled in suspicion against Jackson because he wasn't sure if it was a good idea for his son to take on Jackson so soon. Still many were loyal to Jackson. His son was young and this was only a transition period. Jackson was a dark and dominating character who was to haunt his family and Francisco's family for years. He was an untouchable Irish he wished he was never related to.

Just as O'Neil reached the gate and grabbed his guns from the gates, he noticed a long line of cars were arriving. It was his son who opened one of the doors and gestured for O'Neil to come close. He wanted privacy.

O'Neil walked to the car and got in. As Tristan closed the door he turned to his father "I need your advice."

O'Neil leaned back and spoke in a mocking tone "Don't you have your uncle Jackson for that?"

Tristan sighed "I am serious. I have conflicts. I need your advice. My uncle Jackson doesn't have the best interests of the Rosario family at heart like I do."

O'Neil chuckled "Really? Do you son? Or are you lying to yourself? Do you really care for Francesco's family? Is that why you threatened to go to war with him? Is that why you want to ruin Viggo's life by killing the woman he loves?"

Tristan said "I won't hurt the Rosario family. You do know that father. Francesco Rosario is my godfather. I love his daughter. I took actions tonight but it came natural to me to do what I did. Vienna was dead in my mind for hours. I didn't think she was alive. While she was in hospital I thought she could be dead. I wasn't sure she was alive. I took actions, I made threats. Some threats I meant and some I ... see as unlikely... I need your advice and only you can help me."

O'Neil said "Ask your uncle Jackson." He then thought to himself "He made this mess. He must fix it."

Tristan said "No. I refuse to. You are my father. Not uncle Jackson. Fathers know best. They always do."