GIO
With a glance toward Dario, who held vigilance from a safe distance, I issued a silent instruction to the other members of our group situated in the second car.
Taking measured steps, Sebastian and I advanced toward the trio of women, our progress eventually coming to a halt at a calculated distance. It was a standoff, a delicate equilibrium that seemed poised to shatter at any moment. The gravity of the situation was not lost on me as I stated firmly, “Your driver needs to exit the vehicle,” gesturing toward the man who remained cowardly ensconced behind the wheel. It struck me as an unspoken violation of honor that he allowed the women and girls to be the first to step onto this perilous stage while he remained hidden, shielded from potential danger.
My cousin Sophie turned around to the coward and waved at him. He didn’t move.
“If he doesn’t get out soon, I’ll get him out myself and he won’t like that,” Sebastian muttered.
Finally, the man got out with his hands raised above his head and Massimo was on him at once, twisting his arms behind his back. The pussy actually cried out from pain. If Massimo’s handling already got that reaction from him, he wouldn’t like the conversation I and Sebastian would have with him later. Massimo silenced him with a hard hit against the back of the head and dragged the coward away.
The younger girl started crying and Sophie took her hand, but that only made the girl cry harder.
Sophie straightened her shoulders and looked at me. “I’m Sophie. I’m your cousin.”
“We know exactly who you are,” Sebastian said sharply.
I motioned for them to come closer. After a moment of hesitation, Sophie went first then her mother and sister followed. “Wait,” I told them as we stopped in front of the car. “We will check you for weapons.”
Sebastian went over to our aunt, and I turned to the younger girl and reached for her but she flinched away, her eyes wide and terror-filled. “Mia,” her sister crooned. “He won’t hurt you.”
“I will feel your legs and back for weapons. If you prefer not to have my hands on your front, you can lift your shirt, but I need to make sure you aren’t bringing weapons,” I told her firmly.
I touched her shoulders and could feel her shaking under my touch. Sebastian sent me a look. I quickly felt her back then moved on to her calves and thighs. I decided against feeling her upper thighs. “Do you prefer to lift your shirt?”
I was a heartless bastard, but even I didn’t like forcing a girl who had obviously been through a lot of shit to lift her shirt, Still, I had to make sure this wasn’t a trap, and even innocent girls could be manipulated into becoming weapons. With shaking fingers, she lifted her T-shirt, revealing bare skin and a plain black bra but no weapons. I nodded and she quickly moved it back down. “You can get into the car. You, Sophie, will sit in the front with me, and Sebastian will sit with your mother and sister in the back.”
We would be taking them into the Sphere for now while Massimo pressed information out of the man.
Certainly, Millie’s insistence carried a weight that was hard to resist. She urged us to provide shelter for Mia and Sophie, if only temporarily, until a more secure haven could be found for them. Yet, within my thoughts, a hidden motive fueled my willingness to assist. My true intention was veiled, tucked beneath the surface a strategic maneuver driven by the necessity of having Growl, the former Enforcer of the De Fiore, standing by my side. I recognized the potential for conflict, the ominous specter of a confrontation with the De Fiore someday, and Growl’s fierce allegiance could be the ace up my sleeve.
The prospect of encountering resistance from my formidable aunts, Giada and Luna, loomed ominously in the backdrop of my decision. Yet, their reaction defied my expectations, embracing their lost sister with an unexpected warmth. Since the arrival of my conniving uncle, the landscape of our operations had unquestionably smoothed out, casting a more favorable light on our family affairs.
As Mia and Sophie settled into the sprawling expanse of the mansion, Maria’s presence remained discreetly concealed in New York. During the infrequent instances when Millie visited my cousins at their sojourn in the Hamptons, she entrusted our daughter’s care to Dario and Sienna. This deliberate subterfuge was not a mere whim; rather, it was a calculated safeguard. The memory of Mathias’s manipulations, his cruel deployment of Millie as a weapon against me, remained a vivid testament to the lengths our adversaries were willing to traverse. The mere thought of the peril Maria might face if her existence became a pawn in this dangerous game was enough to send shivers down my spine.
The inaugural encounter with Growl was a moment fraught with tension, a perilous dance between my instincts and our binding accord. The desire to eliminate him surged like a tempest within me. After all, he had commanded the mantle of the De Fiore’s Enforcer for an extensive stretch of time. His lineage bore the indelible imprint of Roman Bianchi, entwining him intricately with the currents of our adversaries’ bloodline. He was a scion of Alonzo’s bloodline as well, a fact that scarcely boded well for his character. These connections, these allegiances, hinted at a darkness that might eclipse even his most sincere intentions. Yet, my honor as a man of principle anchored me to the promises made. A pact was forged, his fidelity proven by his instrumental role in dismantling the very foundation of the De Fiore’s power structure. The gauntlet had been thrown, the challenge issued he now stood poised to justify his place in our intricate web of alliances over the forthcoming months.
The calendar unfurled its pages, bringing April into the limelight, and with it, the cumulative impact of three transformative months since Growl’s entrance into our sphere. Seated within the opulent expanse of the penthouse’s living area, Sebastian and I engaged in a discourse that unfolded the chronicles of Las Vegas’ latest developments.
In the heart of our conversation, Sebastian’s words resonated with both a glimmer of hope and a shroud of apprehension. “Their internal strife will span years, a testament to their insatiable thirst for power. The De Fiore is teetering on the brink of collapse. If and when Alonzo Bianchi casts his ambitions toward the zenith of authority, should he ascend to the mantle of Capo, it will be a kingdom built upon the ruins of its predecessor.”
Though his words offered a solace that I fervently clung to, the unease remained palpable within me. My endeavors to weaken the De Fiore had been relentless, an unceasing exertion of force to fracture its edifice. Yet, the memory of my encounter with Alonzo Bianchi cast a lingering shadow, a vivid testament to his relentless tenacity. The chilling aura in his eyes during our last encounter was a stark reminder that his pursuit of supremacy remained an implacable force.
Amidst the discourse, a sudden vibration pierced the air, pulling my attention to the device nestled within my pocket. Retrieving the device, I hastily answered, the urgency evident in my voice. “Romeo?”
His reports had dwindled, a consequence of Mathias’s stringent leash upon his soldiers.
“Has Karsen Pearce found his way to New York?”
Intrigue gripped me, perplexed by the sudden emergence of Karsen’s name. “Karsen? But why? What has transpired?”
The arch of Sebastian’s eyebrow was indicative of his curiosity.
“Carlo Pearce contends that his son has turned rogue, vanished into the ether, leaving not a trace behind. Mathias’s pursuit is relentless, a search for the renegade.”
The repercussions of defection within Mathias’s regime were known all too well a death sentence awaited those who dared to betray him. “And Karsen hasn’t surfaced?”
“He has been absent for a fortnight now.”
A disquieting thought surfaced, clawing at the edges of my mind. “Could it be that he abandoned his post, or has Pearce possibly eradicated him? After all, he has cemented his lineage with a new heir through his youthful bride.”
Romeo sat in silence, his thoughts clouded by a mixture of frustration and disapproval. “I don’t have the answer. Pearce is a wretched individual. Mathias should’ve ousted him ages ago, but he won’t as long as Vernon Ruberti is breathing. He holds his father’s memory in such reverence that he refuses to eliminate the Consigliere he personally appointed.”
His voice carried a palpable sense of disdain, revealing his dissatisfaction with the way matters were being handled within the Outfit. However, his reasons for aligning with us ran deeper, more personal, entwined with his father’s legacy.
“Mathias suspects that there’s a mole undermining the Outfit’s integrity.”
“It’s likely his suspicions heightened after we disrupted his gun supply to that damn MC in Pittsburgh.” Mathias’s tactics were sly and insidious supporting rival motorcycle clubs within my territory to destabilize my operations.
“It’s possible. I’m uncertain how much longer I can ensure my safety.”
I’d long anticipated that Romeo’s covert activities would eventually face jeopardy. “Come to New York. We’ll formally induct you. Once my soldiers have seen your mettle, you’ll ascend to the role of Underboss in Boston.”
A stunned silence lingered. “You’re proposing that I become Underboss?”
“Yes,” I affirmed. The current Underboss of Boston neared retirement, and having only daughters, the prospect of appointing Mathias’s brother-in-law would undeniably rankle him. We delved into the particulars of his induction into our Famiglia before concluding the call. A heavy sigh escaped me as I hung up. “Karsen has vanished.”
Sebastian’s expression twisted in a mixture of concern and disbelief. “Karsen was fiercely loyal. I find it hard to believe he’d defect from the Outfit.”
“I concur.” A grim realization set in. Pearce must’ve orchestrated his disappearance. “Damn it.”
“We can’t let our wives in on this. It would shatter them.”
“They won’t learn of it. They lack means to contact their brother and no way to penetrate Chicago’s secrets.”
Although Millie and I had sworn to share everything, this was a pledge I couldn’t uphold. Learning of her brother’s demise would torment her. The guilt would eat at her, rendering her inconsolable. I had to shield her from this truth.
Sebastian and I fell silent as Millie descended the stairs, Maria cradled in her arms, Harper trailing behind. Maria wriggled playfully, her unruly black hair all over the place.
Millie’s laughter filled the room as she set Maria down. The baby’s bright blue eyes fixated on me, and she began to crawl energetically toward me, her diapered bottom bouncing. Leaning forward, I extended my hands. Maria quickened her pace, emitting infectious, high-pitched giggles. As soon as she reached me, I scooped her up, rising to my feet and launching her overhead like a jubilant rocket. Her delighted shrieks filled the air, and I spun her towards Sebastian’s awaiting arms. He caught her with a playful flourish, their interaction brimming with joy.
Millie’s laughter remained a buoyant, carefree melody. The truth about Karsen was one I couldn’t share. Our family was now our sanctuary. Sebastian showered Maria with raspberries, eliciting even more gleeful laughter. Holding Maria close to my chest, her tiny hand pressed against my lips, she beamed a wide, toothless grin as I planted a kiss on her palm.
For the majority of my existence, the symphony of my enemies’ tormented cries was the sweetest sound I knew. How profoundly foolish I’d been.