Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Anyone that helped him is dead,” Rico says. He’s next to Marco, one of the younger Capos in the Famiglia. “And if we sniff anyone else out, we’ll cut their throats too.”
“Ugly business,” Marco repeats, shaking his head distastefully.
I force myself to calm down. I take a few deep breaths before nodding at the assembled heart of the Famiglia. I need these men now, and I need to make sure that I don’t flinch when it comes time to make hard decisions.
“There’s a vacuum left by Frank’s death. He controlled territory and ran important businesses. Marco, I’m promoting you to his position.”
Marco eyes me for a moment, then nods. “It will be my pleasure, Don Marino. Thank you for this honor.”
I nod back at him, scowling at my Capos. “I’m promoting my cousin Luca Marino to the Capo job still left vacant. He’ll work directly with Marco and earn more responsibility as he proves himself. But in the meantime, congratulations, Luca.”
My former driver stares at me in total shock. I hadn’t prepared him for this. But there’s nobody in the Famiglia I trust more right now. I need to stack the ranks of the Capos with my own men. I should’ve been doing that already, long before my father passed away, but I wanted to respect his traditions. I kept the Capos at a set number, which was his preference, but now I can see how that was a mistake.
There’s a murmuring around the table, and I can tell they all approve of my decision. Luca’s well-respected in the Famiglia for his bravery and clear mind. He slowly sits down in the empty chair, looking stunned.
“I’m honored, Don Marino,” he says, bowing stiffly, one hand pressed over his heart. “I’ll serve you and the Famiglia until my dying breath. My life is yours.”
“I know you will.”
The meeting moves on. I name six more Capos to the council, swelling the total number to fifteen. I can tell that surprises most of the remaining old guard, but now they’re outnumbered. Seven men directly owe me their positions, while several more are my peers and close allies. Only the few older Capos are left from my father’s reign.
They’ll remain, as long as they obey.
After drinking and celebrating the new Capos, I finally manage to retire back into my office. I slump down behind my desk and lean back, staring up at the ceiling. My head’s fuzzy from drinking, and all I can think about is Frank looking at me like he wanted to rip out my throat himself.
That man was like a second father to me. I don’t understand why he didn’t come to me with his problems. We could have worked on a plan together. We could have figured out a way to make him happy while solving all our issues. Instead, he thought things were so dire that he had to put a bullet in my head.
It makes no sense. I slump forward, hands curled into fists. Why the hell did he do it? Why did Frank throw everything away to kill me?
There’s a light knock at my door. The only person in the world I want to see right now pokes her head inside. “Do you want some company?”
I gesture for her to come inside. “Close the door behind you.”
She obeys and quietly sits down in a chair across from me. I lean back and shake my head, beckoning her closer. “Please.”
She must hear the pain in my voice because she gets up without a fight. I draw her down into my lap and wrap my arms around her. I breathe in her sweet smell and bury my face in her neck, kissing her skin lightly.
“Are you okay?” she asks, leaning into me.
“I’m fine.”
“Someone in your own family tried to kill you. I don’t believe that you’re fine.”
“He failed. Now he’s dead.”
“Adriano, you can talk to me.”
“What’s there to say?” I kiss her again and hold her tighter. “Just sit with me, alright?”
She goes quiet as she strokes her fingers through my hair. I don’t want to think right now. I just want to feel her close. Her smell, her touch, her voice. She’s the only person in the world who could soothe me right now.
“It’s okay to feel sad, you know,” she whispers.
“He was a fucking traitor.”
“I know, and that makes it worse, right?”
I shake my head. “He got what he deserved.”
“But you loved him, didn’t you? Don’t try to act like you didn’t. I saw the way you were with him. You looked up to Frank.”
I close my eyes. God, I’m so transparent. She can see right through me. “It’s worse because it was him. Any of the others and I’d almost expect it. They’re a bunch of vicious thieves and killers. But Frank, he was like a mentor. He was a father figure. He knew me all my life, and he turned on me.”