Luciano
“Boss,” Enzo’s voice greeted from the other line.
I glanced behind me to make sure Athena wasn’t close by. Sure I had locked the doors before I left the cabin but one could never tell with Raven. She had her ways of snooping around.
“Enzo, how are things over there?”
“A mess, boss,” he explained grudgingly. “The Consiglieres have had several meetings om wjat to do with your woman ever sknce she found the hideout. Luca’s been going on a rampage demanding to find her and get rid of her.”
Classic Luca. Always thinking with his fit as always.
“Boss you have to come or shit will hit the fan. Many are begining to doubt your worthiness as our boss. I know they’re talking out fo their asses, but talk like this could gain grohnd-”
“If they’re talking about that, then I was right all along. Someone has been planning an uprising. Raven’s appearance just seemed to catalyze it. ” I said, weaving through the woods, Making my way out if the forest.
No one in the mafia knew about this. place. It wss my safe haven. Especially when it came. to times like this. If my people dreamt about turning away from me, then they desrved to perish.
I had noticed patterns like that in New York as well. There was a mole. Sure at first I had thought that it was Giorgia. And that if I sent her away, the leaking of information would end, but it continued. All the way back here in Sicily it contiued. When I found who. was behind it all, I would end him. He would have a fucking bullet out through his head and wouldn’t I love to see it.
“I’m on my way,” I said gruffly, making my way to. a vehicle hidden in the leaves. Tossing the camoflague aside, I slid into my car and zoomed out onto. the road. Counter measures had to be taken. But it was all good. Everything was going according to. my plan. If this went well, then the bastard behind the failed assassinations in the last few years would. be revealed.
I swerved into the mafia house, watching the eyes of my men as they beheld. me warily. All theh had known was pain suffering amd revenge, yet I had always hoped that the mafia would be much more. Perhaps I had hoped in vain.
I got down from the vehicle, ignored the few who bowed their heads in obeisance and stormed into the building. Enzo met me at the door of the. meeting room, worry etched on his face.
“Relax” i urged. “I’ll take care of this, alright?”
“I trust you boss,” he. said, parting my arm in encouragement.
Good. One down, a thousand more to go.
I stepped into the meeting room, staring into the stern faces of the Consiglieres and Underbosses. They all rose to their feet, staring back at me.
“You were gone for quite a while,” Luca commented. His blue eyes oulled into. a narrow slit.
I shrugged, taking my seat at the head of the table. “I had to. make sure my woman. was safe. You all. are quite the vengeful lot.”
“We all?” One of the Counsellors said, his eyes flashing in anger. “You speak. as of you arent one of us.”
“Tell us!” Another backed him up. “Have you cjosen to forsake your people because of a nosy bitch?!’
“Giorgia tells us your woman is a spy,” Giuseppe commented, his eyes unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was pissed or just plainly annoyed. That was the problem. with the old man. Others i could read. I could predict their words actions and thoughts. But not Giuseppe. He had been my mentor when I. joined the mafia. I. liked how he kept all his cards hidden and controlled others by showing them a side he wanted them to respond to.
“You fooled me. You told me she meant nothimg to you.” He accused and I shook. my head.
“I didn’t, ” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. “You had assumed, I had a hidden card up my sleeeve.”
The old man sucked air through his teeth probably imagining beheading me. I couldn’t give a fuck. Whatever he wanted to do, he could do. it. I would like to see him try.
“You fooled all of us then,” one of Underbosses said., A stern look on his face “She has found out about us, she deserves death.”
I chuckled and cleared my throat when they glared at me. “Then that would mean your wives and daughters would need to die as well.” I said, keeping an amused look on my face. The more I attempted to maintain a jovial mood, the less hostile they would be.
“What?!” One of them roared.
Ah shit, perhaps not.
“What?” I asked frowning. “They are also women who know about us. Hell, some of them live in the mafia house right now. Shall I order Enzo to roynd them up?”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Oh I would,” I deadpanned. “I fucking will, if any of you try to touch even a hair on my woman’s head, then your women are in danger.”
“I don’t think that’s fair,” Luca argued.
“How?” I demanded, rising to my feet. “How the hell isn’t it fair? I intend to keep her by my side. If you hurt her then you might as well be hurting me as well.”
“She could be dangerous! We know nothing about her-”
“I dont see how that is relevant to you. You do not need to know shit about her, you just need to fucking trust me and know that i would never put my own people in danger!” I bellowed, slamming my fist on the table. “But none of you do! None of you trusts me! Have I lorded my authority over you like a tyrant?! Have I lived for. myself? I have dome everything I fucking can for you all, so do not rob me of the one person that brings me joy!”
They all stared silently at me, sighing and grumbling underneath their breath. I couldn’t care less.
“If I hear one more shitty thing about Raven or rumours about a damned uprising, then I will not take it lightly. I’m sure you all have witnessed the changes I’ve brought in the past eight fucking years. I’m not Luigi. You won’t find me that easy to get rid of..”
And with that in the air, I walked out of the meeting feeling rather heavy hearted. I guess it kind of stung that they had began to think. of an uprising. If anything, my Consiglieres ought to be most loyal to me. But every bastard for himself I supposed. They were fucking wrong. I had worked my ass off ever since I was a luttle kid to gain the power I had now. The power to command death and lead lives. I would not be dropping it any time soon.
Enzo trudged behind me, trying to. comfort me as he spoke rapidly in Italian. I barely heard a word he said. My mind was filled with several scenarios as I tried to analyze what had been said in the meeting and what hadn’t been said. Who was behind the assassination? Who was the fucking mole?! I hadn’t come to the meeting just to defend Raven’s honour or something. I had come to straighten things out.
I had barely stepped out of the house when Giorgoa stopped before me, striking my face with her palm.
Fuck. that hurt like hell.
“How dare you threaten to kill the women? Have you any shame?!”
I stared at her in disbelief. I had seen Girogia in fits of anger. But I had never been at the brunt of them. Chuckling, I seemed to be doing that a lot lately, I looked away, resisting the urge to return the slap.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this all for some American bimbo! You would turn against your family for a woman!”
“My family turned against me for a woman!” I spat. “I know you instigated them. And it’s funny how they all fucking listen to you! Are you after my throne Girogia?”
Her eyes darkened with anger. “You can keep your filthy throne. And go to hell with it!”
“I’ll make sure to!” I yelled, shoved her aside and stormed off.
“Boss?” Enzo called when I reached my car and I dragged in a long ass breath. I was getting too fucking riled up. I needed to calm down. The more angsty I got, the more I would sink into the fucking quagmire.
“Watch over them,” I ordered. “There’s a mole among them. I don’t know who. I still think it’s Giorgia. Assign trusted men to keep close watch on them,”
“Yes Boss,” he replied and I nodded.
“Thank you Enzo. You’ve made this bearable.”
He grinned and raised his shoulders. “I think the miss is really pretty and fearless too. Have a safe ride boss.”