“It’s nothin’ personal... It’s just business.”

“I’ve uttered them words from time to time, but I ain’t never really meant ‘em.” Said Alceo Dentari as he sat behind his mahogany desk. The backdrop of his dimly lit office ensured there were no distractions from his words. “See, I get the whole part about doin’ what yous gotta do to keep from lookin’ weak, but on some level, it’s always personal ain’t it?”

“Take Martin Irwin Trainor for example.” Dentari continued, “From a business point a’ view it ain’t gonna look too good on none a’ us if some socially inept Junkyard Wars contestant gets away with our money. Especially after we gave him chance after chance after chance to pay us what we’re owed. So if he ain’t gonna pay in cash, we’ll make him pay with a pound a’ flesh.”

“But then yous got the personal side a’ things.” He added as a sinister smile spread across his lips, “An’ when it comes time to take that pound a’ flesh... I’m gonna enjoy every minute of it.”

“See, when we say ‘it’s just business’ we’re givin’ the impression we’re doin’ somethin’ ‘cause we hafta.” Dentari continued, dropping his head slightly but keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the camera, “But the grim truth is we’re doin’ it ‘cause we like it.”

“I trust you understand the significance a’ my words, Heidi.”

At his side Tony Di Luca fought back a smile. On the other, Vincent Rinaldi didn't really get it, but he figured he'd nod along anyway.

“I ain’t interested in callin' out your boyfriend none." Dentari said shaking his head, "'Cause my words would just go fallin' on deaf ears. Jeff ain't interested in defendin' that title against someone like me, someone that can snatch it away from him like that."

With a snap of his fingers Alceo smiled broadly.

"Weren't Jeffy supposed to be defendin' that belt at 35?" Alceo asked knowingly, "I thought I read that somewhere. May a' been Twitter. I seem to recall Jeff himself announce to the world he'd be puttin' that belt on the line at 35, but it don't look like that's gonna happen, does it?"

"So you go ahead, threaten me an’ my boys all yous want, we both know your words are just like Jeff Andrews' promises, Heidi..." he shrugged, "Meaningless."

“But I’ll concede, there's one thing I know you meant, an' I ain’t lyin’ when I tell yous the feelin’s more than mutual.” Said Alceo as he leaned into the camera ever so slightly as if to signal he really meant what he was about to say, “‘Cause I hate you too.”

“An’ I ain’t talkin’ a loathin’, or a detestment. I don’t despise you... No, I hate you.” Dentari said making sure to emphasise the ‘hate’. “I have to wake up early just to hate you ‘cause there ain’t enough hours in the day.”

“See, my business mind is tellin’ me to forget about all that for one night an’ focus on cementin’ me an’ my boys as the best team in Defiance.” Alceo said, “It’s sayin’ take them titles an’ show everyone in the back that you are who you’ve said you are since day dot.”

“But then there’s this part a’ me.” He added tapping on the back of his head “This part that’s tellin’ me to wrap my hands around your throat an’ wait for the light to fade from your eyes. This part that’s tellin’ me to hurt you in ways you couldn’t even imagine.”

“I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout dislocatin’ no joints or nothin’.” He said shaking his head, “I ain’t interested in snappin’ no arm or no leg.”

“You should be so lucky, Heidi.” Dentari added, “That’s preschool, that’s child’s play.”

“Instead a’ standin’ around tryin’ to warn me off yous should be askin’ yourself one question...” Dentari said as he weighed out two imaginary objects in his hands, “What am I gonna do? Am I gonna do what’s right for business an’ go for them titles? Or am I gonna listen to that voice that wants to see your blood flow?”

“You want the answer?”

Alceo looked at his empty palms for a second in silence before making his decision.

“Who’s gonna stop me doin’ both?”

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