Mr Hook's Big Black Box

«By Any Other Name»

"Mafia?" Ferrari's eyes were wide in shock. She couldn't believe he'd actually said it. "Did you really just say that?"

"Well, I kind of figured..." Dwayne started, but then looked nervously at their friend. It was true, they'd been best friends through much of their college life. And Kris had always shrugged off questions about a certain part of his family in a way that made it clear their business wasn't legal, but he still seemed to respect them.

"I had skirted the issue for all our time in college," Kris looked down at his feet, "Though I presumed like most of the people in the villages under the group's protection, you would know even if you did not put the words to it. I am a part of the Circle now, I am sure you have gathered from the change in my demeanour since we last met, and my family are taking our places in the shadows of the world stage. Once I may have had second thoughts, but I realise that this is the way things are, and the best thing I can do for the people who would rely on me is to use the circumstances to create the best possible situation for everyone. It takes a firm hand to do what must be done, and I feel that I can curtail the worst excesses of our organisation if my hand is close to the rudder when it moves into new areas. The Circle is just a force, it is not good or bad except the use to which it is put. So I hope you, my closest friends, will understand–"

"I understand," Ferrari interrupted, nodding, "We all have difficult choices to make. And we kind of gathered, just never thought you'd actually use that word."

"Well, it's... I thought that when we've come this far, I should say it plain to Dee, cut through the pretense, and make sure she knows what she's getting into. I never found the time before, but when we're all gathered here, it seems a perfect time for some home truths."

"So what did they want?" Destinee went through to another question entirely, after a brief embrace that told him no kind of family business could come between them, but didn't make any statement on how much she'd already known. "The Circle, I mean. You weren't that close with them, so why did they call you for a favour? And why did you do it?"