Early morning, Hardy sat at his desk, surrounded by a stack of newspapers. He had asked for copies of every major paper so he could scrutinize them thoroughly. The media coverage was almost uniformly in line with the narrative Hardy wanted: portraying the recent gang violence as a successful police crackdown on drug dealers.
Hardy knew the power of public opinion. A single word could make or break reputations, and with the right spin, the gang conflict had been recast as a story of police triumph. Public fear was calmed, politicians were shielded from blame, and the North Shore Gang was effectively erased from the city's concerns. Hardy was the main beneficiary of this well-crafted narrative.
Bill entered the office, looking tired but visibly excited. "Boss, the figures are in. We've taken over twelve properties from the North Shore Gang, including their headquarters. We found 1.28 million dollars in cash, along with a large stock of supplies—more than 30 racehorses and hundreds of greyhounds. These assets are incredibly valuable."
Hardy nodded. "And the management of these assets?"
"Don't worry about that now," Bill replied. "Focus on clearing out the site. The Irish have many partners, so once the site is stabilized, we'll start distributing the assets."
"Understood," Hardy said. "What about the Jewish gang?"
Bill's expression grew somber. "It's not good. The Jewish gang is in chaos. After the deaths of Mr. Seagal and Boss Fred, and the attack last night, they're extremely anxious. I've been in touch with them, and they're worried."
"Let's address it," Hardy decided. "Contact Alan Payne and arrange a meeting with the Jewish gang representatives. I want to handle this personally."
Bill complied, and shortly after, Alan arrived at the office, looking exhausted from the previous night's events.
"Alan, how are things with the Jewish gang?" Hardy asked.
Alan shook his head. "It's a mess. The deaths of Mr. Seagal and Boss Fred have thrown everything into turmoil. There have been attacks on our operations—tobacco warehouses, casinos. The situation is dire."
"The Jewish gang is vulnerable," Hardy said. "If we don't act decisively, the remaining Irish factions will seize the opportunity. I need to know if the Jewish gang can withstand another attack."
The room fell silent. The Jewish gang leaders, already anxious and on edge, exchanged worried glances. Hardy's words had struck a nerve. The mention of Raymond, the formidable force behind the attacks, made the threat seem even more imminent.
As Hardy and Bill entered, the tension in the room was palpable. Hardy greeted everyone with a nod. "Good morning. I came here to discuss the future of the Jewish gang. Siegel was my boss, and the Jewish gang was his property. I don't want to see it disappear."
Surprised murmurs filled the room. "Mr. Hardy, why would you say the Jewish gang might disappear?" someone asked.
Hardy explained, "The Irish saw an opportunity in the chaos of the mafia conflict. Yesterday, the Corleone family was attacked, and last night, they retaliated, killing several key figures. With Mr. Seagal and Fred dead, the Irish aim to take control of Los Angeles and specifically target the Jewish gang."
Alan confirmed Hardy's assessment. "It's true. Last night, I was threatened by Hemiweis to either bring the Jewish Gang into the North Shore Gang or face death. They made it clear they would target our industries if I didn't comply."
Hardy continued, "This attack involves not just the North Shore Gang but also other Irish forces, with Raymond as the mastermind behind it."
The room grew quiet. Raymond's name alone was enough to unsettle everyone. The Jewish gang was in no position to withstand such a powerful adversary.
Bill, standing beside Hardy, surveyed the leaders of the Jewish gang. One of them finally spoke up. "Brothers, Mr. Hardy is right. The mafia is in disarray, and no one will protect us. Although Hemiweis was dealt with, we can't be sure others won't come for us."
He turned to his allies. "I propose we merge with the Bill Gang. The Jewish Gang was originally Mr. Siegel's property, and we were once part of the same family."
Another leader quickly agreed. "I support merging into the Bill Gang."
One by one, the leaders voiced their agreement. In the end, all eyes turned to Alan.
Alan, having anticipated this outcome, nodded. "Mr. Hardy, you saved me from Hemiweis. Given the Jewish Gang's situation, I fully support merging with the Bill Gang."
Hardy addressed the room. "Is there anyone who opposes this merger? If anyone has objections, now is the time to voice them. I want no discord over this."
The leaders, understanding the dire situation, remained silent. No one dared to oppose the merger, recognizing that joining the Bills was a far better option than facing an uncertain and perilous future alone.
"Agreed," came the unified response.
Thus, the Jewish gang formally merged into the Bill Gang, ceasing to exist as an independent entity.
The next day, at a meeting of the newly formed Bill Gang, Hardy announced significant changes. "With the merger, the name 'Bill Gang' no longer fits. From now on, we are officially known as the 'Los Angeles Company.'"
The merger also brought major changes to the organization's structure. The gang transitioned from its traditional model to a corporate system. Bill Pitt was appointed President, Alan Payne as Vice President, and Charles Simon as Finance Director, with various action team leaders and business managers taking on new roles.
In summary, the Los Angeles Company had emerged from the merger stronger and more organized, ready to dominate the city's underworld.