Jose took out his cellphone and dialed a number, “Vlad, the Don of the Abate Family is dead, what’s the news on your end?”
“It’s all done here, your Under Boss is also dead, I am the newly assigned Don, you just need to create a scene there to explain to your remaining members,” replied Vlad from the other end.
“Great, it seems the person you vouched for is trustworthy. In that case, I will trust this operation,” Jose responded.
“Don’t worry, you will soon get to know the person I mentioned, and I’m telling you, this person is more frightening than the Sicilian Family,” Vlad said.
Jose grinned, “Maybe you’re just exaggerating, Vlad? I find it hard to believe such a person exists.”
Vlad laughed, “I’m telling you, I cannot defeat this person in hand-to-hand combat, even those who trained under him for just a week are highly intimidating.” Vlad said.
Jose thought Vlad’s explanation was too much, so he ignored it and just said, “Okay, inform me when I can meet him and learn about our next steps.”
Vlad, knowing Jose didn’t believe him, just sighed and said, “Alright, don’t worry, as long as this person has our backs, we will achieve our goal.”
“Alright, I’ll trust you, for now,” Jose replied before ending the call.
After ending the call, he spoke to himself, “If this person truly has the same goal as us, I will give my full support, but if not, I don’t believe I can’t take him on.” His eyes turned cold as he looked at the body of their former Don.
Shortly after, someone entered the room, took the body of the Don of the Abate Family, cleaned up the scene, and made sure no traces of the crime were left behind.
….
Lucas stood in front of the villa, watching Victoria and Vivian as they strolled through the garden, deep in conversation. Just then, Lucas’s phone rang, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen and saw it was Lorenzo.
“Lorenzo,” Lucas greeted, his voice steady and composed.
“Boss,” Lorenzo replied respectfully. “I wanted to inform you that Vlad’s plan was successful. He’s now the new Don of the Mercado Familia. Also, Jose has successfully cleared out the Don of the Abate Familia, according to Vladimir’s report. However, some members of the Abate Familia haven’t returned yet. They’re currently on an expedition with the Sicilian and Costa Families.”
Lucas nodded, absorbing the information. “Good work, Lorenzo.”
“There’s one more thing, boss,” Lorenzo added. “Jose expressed a strong desire to meet you. He wants to meet the head of the alliance.”
Lucas considered this for a moment. “Let’s arrange to meet at the farmhouse this Friday,” he decided. “Victoria and Vivian will be out at the salon, so I’ll have time to meet them.”
“Understood, boss,” Lorenzo agreed, his tone respectful and efficient. With nothing more to add, he ended the call.
Lucas lowered the phone, his gaze returning to Victoria and Vivian, who were now laughing at something one of them had said. He felt a sense of calm wash over him, knowing that everything was proceeding as expected.
After a while, Victoria approached Lucas with a gentle smile as Vivian entered the villa. “Love,” she said softly, “Mom and I are heading to the mall later to buy a new dress for her sister’s upcoming birthday.”
Lucas furrowed his brow slightly. “Speaking of sister, I haven’t seen or heard any relatives from your mom or dad’s side.”
Victoria paused, her expression thoughtful. “Well, it’s a bit of a story,” she began. “My father, never really mentioned his parents because they passed away when he was young. He had to raise himself, which is why he rarely talks about them.”
She continued, “As for my mom, Vivian, her family doesn’t know she’s married to such a wealthy man. They believe she left with someone poor, which led to her being cast out from the family. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight, so there’s nothing about her on the internet or in the news. Her relatives are unaware of her current status.”
Victoria sighed, “When I disappeared for over 20 years, Mom stayed home, almost forgetting she had other family. But now, she’s decided to reconnect with them at her sister’s birthday celebration. It’s happening at Via Appia Antica, just outside the central part of Rome.”
Lucas reached out, gently squeezing Victoria’s hand. “That sounds like a big step for her. I’m sure it will be an emotional reunion.”
Victoria nodded, a small smile returning to her face. “Yes, it will be. I’m just glad she’s ready to face her past and reconnect with her family.”
“Let’s head inside and eat. I’ll join you both for the dress shopping,” Lucas said with a smile.
Victoria nodded, taking Lucas’s arm as they walked into the villa for lunch.
After enjoying their meal and taking some time to relax, the trio set off for LDL Mall. They were dressed simply, maintaining a low profile, but the store staff recognized Lucas and Victoria immediately, greeting them with polite enthusiasm.
As they browsed through the elegant designer dresses, Victoria held up a beautiful emerald green gown. “What do you think of this one for your sister?” she asked, turning to Vivian.
Vivian examined the dress, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “It’s lovely, but honestly, it’s been over 20 years since I last saw her. I have no idea what her style might be now.”
Lucas chimed in, “How about this one?” He pointed to a delicate lavender dress with intricate lace detailing.
Vivian nodded thoughtfully. “That might be a safe choice. I just hope she likes it.”
Victoria smiled, trying to imagine her aunt. “It’s strange to think we have family we’ve never met. I hope they like what we pick.”
The sales associate, who had been quietly assisting them, nodded in agreement. “Excellent choice, Miss Victoria. This dress is one of our finest.”
With the dress selected, they moved on to find gifts for Vivian’s other relatives. As they wandered through the mall, Lucas picked up a beautifully crafted leather wallet. “This could be a nice gift for your brother if you have one,” he suggested.
Vivian shrugged, a bit uncertain. “I hope he likes it. It’s hard to choose when you don’t know their tastes anymore.”
Victoria added, “Maybe we can find something more general, like a nice set of teas or chocolates.”
Vivian nodded, appreciating the idea. “Yes, something like that might be best. It’s been so long, I just want to make a good impression.”
With their shopping bags filled with thoughtful gifts, the trio made their way back to the car and headed to the villa.
…
Time flew swiftly and it was already Friday. Vivian and Victoria, the mother and daughter, left to get their hair done at the salon, as the reason for their makeover was Vivian’s sister’s upcoming birthday. Lucas headed to the farmhouse to meet Vlad and Jose to discuss their next plan.