The Bassi Group

by Jeff Ping

  Chapter12

  The Drug Cartels

  “You haven’t experienced any more problems with the local syndicates have you Michael?” asked Lucien.

  “No, I think it has calmed down for the time being. But when the year end profit and loss statements appear they may get pushy again. The old guard may not be happy about the business we are getting. They will figure our customers are customers they have lost. Then there are the drug dealers, they are always pushing us to establish the drug trade in our casinos. So far we have kept them out of our casinos and hotels for the most part. But I don’t know how much longer we can deny them access without a fight.” Mike said.

  “You might be better served striking first. And if the market is rich enough maybe you should talk to Vincenzo about claiming the trade for Mason Entertainment International.” Lucien said.

  “Oh, the market is unquestionably rich enough. But you know Vinny he doesn’t want anything to do with the drug trade. And I don’t feel it is worth pushing him on it.” Mike added.

  “I think it is time for you to take control of your own territory. You will be Vincenzo’s Tony for California and Nevada. But you will have direct control over Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas all the Nevada territory. Vinny will have direct control over all of the California territory. Vincenzo is my heir but I’m still in full control right now. And I think you need to expand our influence into prostitution and drugs. Vinny may change that in the future but for now I say, do it.

  So, Vincenzo may and will give you orders or assignments. If you choose, and I do recommend it, you can use an intermediary below you but never between Vincenzo and me. You will pass any directives along as though they were coming for you. There must be no ties back to Vincenzo or me. All instructions from Vincenzo or I will come directly face to face never by phone or through anyone else only. Routinely, it will be Vincenzo issuing instructions not me directly.” continued Lucien.

  “I think you should explore having your men start handling the drug trade not just at the Palaci Reno but for all of the Palaci properties. Then you will need to approach the other families about supplying their drugs. If they are dealing with suppliers and providing the service you should back off. Offer to cut them in on the profits. Tell them you will provide your own protection. If a third party or independents are working the trade, you should tell them you are assuming all of the drug supply trade.” advised Lucien.

  “If you control the trade, it not only generates more income for us, but it hurts the existing group’s income. That action may precipitate as war with the dealers but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Before you move on the drug trade, study the players. Know all you can about your enemy before you engage him.” said Lucien.

  Mike was taken aback. Lucien talked business directly with him instead of through a third party.

  Controlling the drug trade proved to a greater challenge than Mike had anticipated. There were already foreign organizations controlling the supply and approximately sixty percent of the distribution. The drug supply and even the bulk distribution were split between three major cartels.

  Discussing the syndicates controlling of the drug business with Reese Thompson he informed Mike that he wasn’t happy in his new position. Reese told Mike that Jerry Walker was ready to assume the job of Security Chief. Reese assured Mike that Jerry would fit into Mike's organization just fine. Mike looked at Reese and asked if he would be happier running the drug arm of the business than the casinos.

  That evening Mike and Reese fleshed out the details of a new position for Reese. He would be the interface between the cartel and Mike. All contact with the cartel would be through Reese keeping a distance between it and Mike or Mason Entertainment International. Mike knew that the very things that had terrified Kurt about Reese made him the perfect interface with the Columbians. Given the choice of third world poverty or the wealth equal to any in the world the Columbians would be as brutal as necessary. Brutality was a trait that Reese had mastered as well as any of the Columbians. The newest drug cartel was where Reese felt the most productive meetings could be arranged. The main potential for war was between the cartels. Any cartel wars would be primarily conducted in Columbia not Nevada.

  The following morning Mike flew to San Francisco to meet with Lucien. Lucien sanctioned the plan. Upon his return to Reno, Mike called Kurt and told him Reese was leaving his position of managing the Las Vegas casinos and to identify a replacement for him.

  “I already have a candidate.” Kurt said. Mike was aware that Kurt would be happy with Reese’s departure. Kurt was always a little intimidated and unconformable around Reese because of his reputation as a killer. Mike wondered about his own reputation and wondered if Kurt distrusted him as well.

  “Kurt, I know you don’t care for Reese because you think he is a cold blooded killer. Do I also share that distinction?” Mike asked.

  “Not at all Sir, I trust you. With Reese, I’m afraid that he might kill me for some trespass I wasn’t aware of. And although I understand you will kill also I know that you will do everything within your power to protect me and my family. Just as you protected Lilly.” replied Kurt.

  “Well, I think you should know that Reese had a team monitoring you and your family when we had our problems with Carlo Milo, Ari Mona, and the Rice families. Reece's men were always within reach of your sons as they went and returned from school. They were never more that a few car lengths from you or your wife when one of you were driving your car. Even when your wife went to the grocery store someone was always on the same aisle. When I sent Lilly to stay here I asked for a protection detail to be assigned to your family and her. Reese informed me that a protection crew was already on duty.” I told him. “

  So, you see, Reese was never a threat to you, he took his job as protector very very seriously.

  A month later, Reese and his second in command went to Bogota, Columbia. Reese had arranged a meeting with the Pablo Montoya of the Neiva Drug Cartel. The volume of drugs Reese was able to discuss for Nevada and California exceeded the current level the cartel controlled. Reese stressed that any improvement in their sales would be reflected in a lowering of the burgeoning Cali and Medellin cartels sales. The deal Lucien and Mike had devised was approved by Pablo Montoya. The cartel would supply drugs directly to Reese who would control its distribution. This arrangement was only destined to work well for seven years. But for now it solved a problem and generated a vast sum of money for Mason Entertainment International.

  Chapter13

  The Baby

  A month after closing the drug supply deal Mike found out that he was going to be a father. He told Vinny about the upcoming event during their next monthly phone meeting.

  "I was thinking about asking Lucien and his wife to stand as Godparents to the child.” Mike said.

  "I'm sure Lucien will like that, Mike. In fact he may even want to adopt you." Vinny said with a chuckle.

  Six months later when Mike's son was born. Lucien called Mike and asked if he and Maria could come down to see the infant and Lilly.

  "Of course you are always welcome in our home Lucien." Mike told him.

  The following morning Lucien and Maria knocked on Mike’s front door.

  "Where is he" asked Lucien.

  "Lucien, first the mother." scolded Maria.

  "Of course, of course.... forgive me Michael, Lilly's doing well, yes? Lucien asked.

  Lucien and Maria stayed the week at their apartment in the Palaci Tahoe. But were always back at Mike and Lilly's house by mid-morning until late in the evening.

  At the baptism of Mike and Lilly’s son, Lucien and his wife, the Godparents of baby Lucien Vincenzo Mason, appeared as proud of baby Lucien as Mike and Lilly. Little Lucien’s birth certificate had the Anglicization of his name Luis Vincent Mason… Lilly could only be pushed so far. That evening as family and guests gathered at Mike and Lilly’s home. Lucien casually walked over to Mike and ask”Have you ever been
to Atlantic City Michael?”

  The End

  About the author, Jeff Ping is a retired RF Engineer living in Northern California.

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