Re: Blood and Iron

Al Capone was just the first of many names on a list, silently and covertly transferred to the German Mob. The list? Names of major players in America’s criminal underworld. Or at least the biggest names, which Bruno remembers hearing about in his past life.

Anyone who threatened to disrupt the consolidation of illicit power within the United States was silently removed. No “Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre” or other such gruesome headlines would hit the news again for quite some time.

But even if these murders didn’t reach the news, or were printed for public consumption. They still happened, and the fate of the American criminal networks changed forever. After returning to Tyrol, Bruno washed his hands of the event.

He never spoke of it again, nor continued to hold direct ties to the German Mob across the Atlantic. Any further business that needed to be attended to between the two parties was done through a proxy.

The only reason he had even shown his face in New York was to remind Mr. Fritz that he wasn’t some new age aristocrat, he was scum of the earth, and just another boot in Bruno’s service.

Bruno was ultimately right… President Hughes lost the primary later that year, and Calvin Coolidge lost to his opponent in the democratic party. John W. Davis was sworn into office and became the new President of the United States, beginning in 1925.

But it mattered little. Bruno had enough evidence to bring the entirety of the American federal government down if the dirt was leaked to the public. Who sat in the Oval Office actually mattered very little to him.

But what Bruno was most surprised to see was that the wiretaps had not been removed after Hughes left the office. In fact, the new president seemed not remotely aware of them. As if Hughes had not even warned the man.

Either way, German Intelligence did not blindly believe the information gathered from these bugged calls. Rather, they treated it as suspect, only verified if other forms of intelligence corroborated what was said on the tape.

Frankly speaking, none of this really mattered to Bruno, who, during this time of peace, found himself focusing more on his own family than matters that were being delegated to the proper departments.

Erwin was a prime of example of this. Having dropped out of the military academy, to pursue a life as a civilian. He had long since graduated from university, and had taken over his father’s conglomerates as the primary driving force of administrative control.

And to Bruno’s surprise, the corporations from all industries that were tied to his name, and family’s wealth, never operated more efficiently. Erwin had inherited his father’s work ethic, spending most days in the office, securing government contracts, and ensuring that revenue was built on long term and stable growth.

Even the Banking institutions under Bruno’s control were involved in this conglomerate, and under Erwin’s “reign of terror” they had more or less gained national status across the German Reich, and its current/former colonies.

To put it simply, it was a private institution under Bruno’s family line that ensured the German Reich’s economy was entirely free from international constraints and foreign interference.

The old major banking families in Germany and Austria were gone, part of Bruno’s purges, which Erich had committed during the backdrop of the Great War. Their wealth and assets had been rapidly and silently acquired by Bruno’s group after their extermination.

In addition to this, Erwin’s mastery of business and finance made it so Germany’s economy was in a robust state, one that was entirely self-sufficient. Even so, the man and his wife, Alya, had not yet moved away from the old family manor on the outskirts of Berlin.

Hence why, when Erwin returned home from work, and saw his four children rush towards him, he could not help but smile, feeling the burden of being worked to the bone cured in an instant.

Erwin’s oldest child, Erich, named after his late godfather, rushed over to his father. Now eight years old, he was old enough to cause more trouble than either of his parents cared to admit. And yet the boy was very well behaved, with exceptional manners.

“Welcome home, father. How was your day at work?”

Erwin, having smelled the food in the oven that his wife was cooking found his mind distracted by other matters as he rustled his son’s gilded hair.

“Good enough, but better now that I’m home. Did you finish your chores yet? Because if so, you know your mother is not going to be pleased if she finds you here avoiding your responsibilities?”

Erich’s face immediately flushed red… Apparently he was not as well behaved as previously explained. And because of this, Erwin chuckled, noticing the guilt as he leaned down and looked his son in the eyes with a wide smile on his face.

“Better get to it before your mother finds out!”

Just when Erich was about to run off, Alya’s voice came from the kitchen, which was not far away.

“I heard that!”

Erwin looked at his son. Both of them had a terrified expressions on their faces, before the two of them ran off, almost as if they were trying to escape the wrath and fury of a housewife scorned.

Ultimately, there was no punishment that was given, as the family gathered around the table, ate a nice home cooked meal, and spoke about what they had done during the day, before retiring into the evening room to watch some television together.

A device that was only available to households in the German Reich, and the Russian Empire as a result of the brilliant minds working for those two nations, and their collaborative efforts.

—

It had been a year since Eva got married, and she was now not only the wife of the future Kaiser, but the mother of their first child. A young baby boy lie sleeping in the woman’s arms, as she fawned over her offspring with maternal love and instinct.

Singing a song that her own mother had sung to her as an infant. All the fears she had on her wedding night had vanished the moment she and Wilhelm had tied the knot. And now? Eva was balancing the role of a wife, a mother, and a future Kaiserin.

Advising her husband on matters of politics and diplomacy at breakfast, while caring for the children throughout the day. And comforting him in the evening after coming home from his obligations as a man.

Eva had taken naturally to her role, almost as if her parents had groomed her for it her entire life. And as she lay the young infant boy back into his crib, tucking him in gently, and ensuring he was comfortable, she whispered something that only she could hear.

“Sleep well, Bruno, my son. For one day you will be accomplish great things… Just like your grandfather….”

After saying this, Eva left the child’s bedroom and shut off the lights, ensuring that the music box on the nightstand near the cradle played a gentle and soothing tune.

—

Elsa was a different form of a queen than her older sister. She cared little for politics, diplomacy, or other matters of the state. She did not advise Alexei about how to perform his role.

No, Elsa lived a life as a wife and mother first, and a Tsarina second. By now, she had a litter of her own children with Alexei. Each of which was very dear to her, and the rest of their family.

Whether it was Alexei’s parents, and sisters, of Elsa’s siblings, and her own parents. These children born in Saint Petersburg were doted on by all parties. In fact, one might say that was just how Bruno was towards his family in general.

But, Elsa was very much so personally involved in her children’s lives, in a way that was unusual for many aristocratic or noble mothers. And she was also very much involved with her husband’s life.

Whether it was making sure he had his clothes for the day properly set out for him in the morning before either of them left their room, something that was often left to maids in other noble marriages, or on occasion cooking something herself, and giving the kitchen staff a day off.

It was a unique experience for Alexie to come to the woman who played the role of the palace’s caretaker, rather than a woman like Eva, who was following her father’s example.

And on days like today, that Elsa finally had some time to herself, she painted. And what did she paint today? Gone were the paintings that expressed the pain, grief, and sorrow of an entire generation of men.

No, today, she was painting something far more heartwarming. It was the scene of her and Alexei, both embarrassed teenagers, meeting for the first time, in love, but having no idea how to express it.

And after applying the last dab of paint to her latest masterpiece. Elsa gazed at its beauty and nodded with a smile on her face. Her words escaping her lips.

“I hope daddy likes his birthday present!”

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