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ours.”
    “Of course,” came a distinctly annoyed reply from Gio’s left.
    “Are you taking issue with territory that has always been mine because I work it better than you, will continue to do so, and have contacts that keep the officials out of it?” Antony asked, turning to stare down a fellow Don. “Because if you are, we can re-discuss the forty blocks of streets I handed over last year out of fairness and the goodness of my very black heart.”
    The boss to Gio’s left coughed an uncomfortable noise. “Keep the shipping district, Antony. I’m just saying, you’re bleeding some of the smaller families dry making them pay out of their asses to work on your territory when needed.”
    “That’s the life,” Antony replied uncaringly. “If they can’t keep up or figure out a better way to work, that’s not my problem. I take no issue with removing them in this much cleaner way. Even if it does take a little bit longer. I will gladly take over Arturo’s capos and his streets when he finally succumbs to the inevitable.”
    “I didn’t say it was Art—”
    “Please don’t treat me like an idiot, Carl. I’m not one of your sons. I know exactly who you’re speaking for. I just don’t give a good goddamn. If he wants to succeed, then he needs to work for it.”
    Gio suppressed his smile at his father’s tone. It was a mixture of don’t-fuck-with-me and I-will-ruin-you. That was Antony’s usual attitude when it came to Commission meetings. There hadn’t been a boss of bosses in decades as far as Gio knew, but his father came pretty damn close to it. Being the dominating family gave the Marcellos that advantage.
    A meeting of the Commission was a delicate and cautiously planned event. It was no easy feat to get the major six North American crime bosses in the same room with their chosen associates without the officials finding out. The location was carefully chosen to assure there were no wires or taps, and those who could, flew into the city privately. Those who did come in from outside the city checked into hotels using fake names and kept a low profile.
    It was an art to make it work and keep it confidential.
    The Commission was comprised of six bosses. All brought along at least one man, although some brought along two or three. It was expected for the bosses to discuss issues that had arisen over the past year and new dealings. If they were invited along, the consiglieres and underbosses would speak with and for their bosses, as well. It was not in any way acceptable for a capo like Gio to address anyone for business discussions unless his opinion was asked for or he was specifically directed to speak.
    Out of the six bosses, five were Dons for their Cosa Nostra families, and one was only considered a leader of his own. The Chicago Outfit never fully accepted the rules and beliefs of La Cosa Nostra, even with their mostly Italian heritage. The leader was a good voice for the small syndicates working around and through him, so his seat on the Commission was a given.
    The Guzzi family came from Ontario, Canada. The boss of that sector always sat to the end of the table with his consigliere and spoke very little unless he needed something directly from someone else, which was rare. He was the easiest to deal with out of the six, frankly.
    There were the three major families from New York, including the Calabrese family, the Donati family, and the Marcellos. They took one entire side of the table for themselves. The three families learned to work together or face the consequences of a bloody inner-city war between them. There were a few smaller families working inside and around each large family—always paying dues—so whoever's territory they fell under, that major family held their voice.
    Every year at the meeting of the Commission, they sat down to redraw territory lines on a map of New York. The lines rarely changed, but occasionally it was needed to simply make a point. It was always a good