Matteo’s POV
I was disappointed at first then a smirk danced around my lips as I imagined the best way to destabilise him then give him a taste of real pain. If he thought that I was just young and powerless then all of them would see why I was called a Moretti.
Angelo whistled lightly at my back and I could tell he was also thinking of the best method to smash his neck, but I wouldn’t let him act on his thoughts, seeing that the fight was mine.
“This is going to be fun, Matteo. Should I send him to his brother’s fate in a split second?” He teased and I shook my head, my eyes fixed on the idiot who was surprised that there was no trace of fear from me.
“You don’t have to, the fight is mine. But you can take care of his minions, I bet you’d like to perfect your new skills on them.” I replied, schooling my expression into a mask of ferocious calmness.
Pietro wouldn’t like the next thing that would happen to him.
“Drop the gun, Pietro, who knows, your death might be less painful.” I urged with a low dangerous tone which had him shivering even though he tried to maintain his stoic countenance.
Unfortunately, I could see through the mask and his eyes showed that he was depending on the few droplets of courage he had. I liked his defiance, at least he didn’t drop his hand like any other sensible person would have done.
“Not everything can be forgotten, Capo. You killed my brother for nothing and thought that there wouldn’t be a retribution?” He snarled, taking more steps towards me.
“That’s not the proper way to speak to your Capo, but it’s fine since you won’t leave this place alive.” I retorted calmly.
He huffed and my eyes caught the quickness of his hands on the trigger. I’d already pulled out a sykes fighting knife from my holster and I flung it at him, the knife heading directly for his wrist which held the gun.
The gun fell off and then I jumped from the platform, the other soldiers who tried to shoot were shot by Angelo and the rest of my loyal soldiers. His eyes held trepidation when he saw how charged I was. He would be a scary lesson to whoever thought that they had the audacity to hurt me.
“Why don’t you give a little apology before your death, huh?” I sneered, eliciting a growl from him.
“Never,” He refused blatantly and spat on my face.
Anger burned in me as I pulled out the knife from his wrist and dug it into his right thigh which I’d aimed at. I smiled when I struck his femoral artery knowing that he would bleed in a few minutes when struck.
He fell to his knees, blood oozing out from his thigh and forming a pool around him. His face turned ashen and when I swung my gaze at all of them and their respect for me was visible.
By the time I returned to the platform, more than five soldiers were dead in their own pool of blood.
“Does anyone else wish to join their fate?” I hollered, my voice reverberating through the hall.
They all kept quiet and I took their silence as a negative answer to my question. Not like anyone would like to be carved out or made to bleed within minutes. It was just too sad to imagine.
“Let’s proceed,” I said and Francesco brought the knife which we had been using for initiations.
We usually sterilise it after initiating any new Made man and even though Angelo was my brother, he didn’t agree to be initiated fully at a younger age since he didn’t agree with what we did as an organised crime syndicate. But he was still a part of the mafia by blood.
I granted him that privilege since our father died before he got to the age of being a made man.
“Today, we are gathered here for the initiation of Angelo Moretti, my younger brother, into the Outfit. He was supposed to become a part of us but he was yet to discover who he truly was. Fortunately, he knows his truth and since he is my younger brother and he has already done some rites when he was younger, he’d like to complete it while I make him my consigliere.” I announced and there was a roar of disagreement amongst most of them.
They didn’t see that coming but I was Capo and I made the decisions even if they liked it or not.
“Silence!” I yelled and silence reigned in the hall.
I jumped down from the platform so that I could stare into their eyes and monitor their emotions while I was talking.
“Most of you here weren’t even fit to become underbosses, captains or even soldiers, yet I gave you the opportunity and you showed your worth. Which of you is capable enough of being my consigliere? Aren’t your positions enough for you?” I seethed.
“He’s not a part of the Outfit, why did he decide to join now?” A voice croaked from the crowd.
I traced the voice to an old man who leaned on his stick. He was the uncle of Pietro and Alessio. I sauntered towards him while thinking of the best way to question him without feeling sentimental.
A poor uncle just lost his nephews, surely, he was feeling sad about it.
“That shouldn’t be your problem, Vincenzo. Don’t forget that we haven’t discussed why your territory has been yielding less income for weeks now.” I replied coldly and he shut his mouth while averting his gaze from me.
“Do you all have anything to say before the initiation proper starts?” I asked and glanced at all of them.
When I got no response, I returned to the platform and collected the knife from Francesco and passed it to Angelo who placed the knife on the back of his wrist.
“You know our oath, Angelo. ‘Bound in blood, together forever till death’,” I reminded him as I watched him slit his flesh.
Blood gushed out as he chanted the oath, then everyone said it as well. After that, he climbed down the platform so that they could congratulate him.
I nudged him to address the people since he had become the next after me. He cleared his throat, causing everyone to pay him attention.
“I understand that my ambition to become a consigliere is surprising but I’ve seen how things are going on presently and I decided to step in. I want to take the Capo for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Outfit and I promise not to do anything that will be detrimental to the Outfit.” He finished his speech and everyone gave him a round of applause.
?
We returned home later in the evening after doing some paperwork at the office and hanging out in the club for a little celebration. Though I did all of that, my mind kept thinking about Aurora and how she was faring alone.
I rushed to her room and knocked softly on her door. She asked me to come in and when she did, I met her sitting on the bed, reading a cookbook.
“Are you alright?” I enquired, noticing that her face wasn’t so bright.
“Yes. Where have you been?” She asked, not taking her eyes off the book.
“We went for some business.” I briefed and she gave a side smile.
“It’s sad that I’m your girlfriend yet you don’t trust me. I’d like to go to bed right now, can you turn off the light when you leave?”
My eyes widened in surprise as she stretched on the bed, pulling the covers over her.
“What have I done to you, Aurora? Why have you been acting so cold to me?” I interrogated her gently, feeling a stab of pain in my heart that she was withdrawing from me.
Her eyes were shut but when they opened, I saw real pain and sadness. I was at loss of what could be troubling her but if it were possible for me, I’d take it away without hesitating.
“I can’t explain anything right now, Matteo, but if anything happens, I want you to know that I love you very much.” She stated tenderly, palming my cheeks while my ears tingled in delight.
She loved me?