Luciano
I had just left the room, Raven gently asleep when my phone rang.
Picking up and checking the caller ID, I answered. “Enzio, what is going on.”
His voice was strained and hushed, like he was panicking. “Trouble sir, at the headquarters.”
“What kind of trouble?” I asked, my heart rate increasing.
“Alfredo Tonali is leading a rebellion sir.”
* * *
I had called for my driver immediately, speeding off to the headquarters.
It was simple, I had only one reasonable choice. A show of strength so absolute those bastardo wouldn’t have a chance to explain their treachery. After all, they would all be dead men, and dead men tell no tales.
The powerful Chevrolet stopped just at the entrance of the mansion, and taking a deep breath, I got out, spotting Enzio outside as he hurried to meet me while strode up the stairs, trying to keep my face as cold and expressionless as possible.
I reached the large, wooden doors and was just about to swing them open when I heard a familiar voice call out.
“I was starting to wonder when you were going to come around boy.”
I spun around to watch the old man hobbling toward me. Giuseppe Cassano might past his prime, but even with the limp, he still moved as effortlessly as ever.
“Giuseppe,” I nodded gravely, kissing him on both cheeks, “You have been expecting me?”
“Of course,” he replied, a smug smile spreading in his face, “with the recent eh, events, I thought it wise to send Enzio to call you.”
“You did well Giuseppe,” I said, clasping his wrinkled hand and staring into his eyes, “Let me handle it from here.”
“Luciano, my boy,” he said, not letting go of my hand even as I tried to leave, “I know about your intentions. Sit down and talk to me before you make any hasty decisions.”
Hell no, I wasn’t about to let anybody talk me out of this. Leniency with Luca’s betrayal was what led me to this point. If I had done the right thing and put a bullet in his bloody skull, it might have taught the others a lesson.
I hadn’t, so now I had to put down this rebellion. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.
“Giuseppe,” I started gritting my teeth, “I’ve had enough of this division.”
“Me too.” He said calmly, his cool blue eyes never leaving my face.
“Good, then you would agree with me that THAT faction needs to be silenced and eliminated, to avoid a repeat of Luca?”
Chuckling slightly, he placed a skinny but surprisingly strong hand on my shoulders, “Strength, my dear boy, isn’t always measured by death and bloodshed.”
I rolled my eyes, “Not this shit again.”
“You’re the boss now, a leader.” He continued, apparently undeterred, “It’s not just about power but also about maintaining the trust and respect of our family.”
“Look inside there!” I yelled, pointing at the door leading to the hall where I could already here the raised voices arguing heatedly, “Do you know what they are doing? Debating my authority! That’s what they are fucking doing.”
“Luciano-”
“I am the Boss!” I continued, slapping his arms off my shoulders,”Me! If I don’t stamp out this nonsense now, what does that say of me? Huh?”
“You will stamp it out, Luciano.” He replied. “You will, but not by wiping out half of the fucking family.”
“We can always regrow.” I said dismissively.
“Can we? Find loyal, capable soldato, train them and trust them? The truth is that the families are weak Luciano. Even if they don’t admit it, we aren’t what we used to be. Exposing ourselves even further by weakening ourselves isn’t the way to go child, trust me.”
I fell silent, unsure of what to say. He was right, he was too fucking right.
With a yell of frustration, I punched the wall next to me, screaming out my anger and drawing blood.
“FUUUUUUUCK!”
The old man said nothing. Just stood aside quietly, watching me.
I took a few deep breaths trying to calm myself. “I don’t want to be seen as weak, Giuseppe. I need to show them my authority, my power!”
“Luciano, true power lies not in brute force alone, but in the ability to lead and influence. Take this as an opportunity to show your strength in a different way, by swaying their hearts, by convincing them of your vision and why it’s necessary for our family.”
I looked up, gazing into Giuseppe’s eyes, searching for answers. Slowly, I began to understand.
He was right, maybe there was another option after all.
I turned to Enzio, “You did a good job kid, you can go now.”
He nodded, giving a little bow before walking out. Rearranging my hair, dabbing some sweat of my brows and adjusting my tie, I tilted my head at Giuseppe. “Fine, I will talk.”
He smiled slowly, “Good.”
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the other room, Giuseppe following closely behind me.
* * *
They were so engrossed in their argument, they didn’t even see me come in. The air was thick with tension as Vincenzo and Alfredo, two of the oldest Caporegime stood at opposite ends, surrounded by other members of the mafia. I was about to walk straight into the fight when I felt Giuseppe’s strong hands pull me back
“Not yet.” He hissed into my ears. “Wait, observe.”
I looked up at the action, the men getting more agitated as their voices grow louder and more heated.
“He betrayed us-”
“What are you talking about idiot! Luka fucking betrayed us-”
“You believe that crap? You are the idiot!”
“Shut the fuck up you son of a whore-”
I stood in the shadows, my blood boiling as I watched my family fall apart before my very own eyes. Damn you Luca!
Vincenzo Cutticini seemingly convinced Alfredo wouldn’t listen to him, turned to the rest of the men. “Brothers, listen to me! Luciano’s decision to purge Luka’s men was necessary for the survival of our family. We must stand united with our boss.”
I made a mental note to give him a promotion after this was over.
Alfredo Tonali stepped forward, his face angry, “You’re blindly supporting Luciano? We need an explanation! Why would he make such a drastic move without consulting us?”
“Because I fucking said so.” I said, my voice low but loud enough to carry over the crowd as they had become silent. Everyone spun around to stare at me as I walked into the light, my eyes fixed on Alfredo who seemed momentarily speechless.
“Luc- Luciano!” He stammered, blinking like he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“What?” I asked, a butter smile forming on my face, “You plotting against me behind my back? That’s a new low Alfredo”
For a brief moment, it felt like the confrontation was over as he looked to stunned at my presence to speak, but then look of defiance crossed his face as he stood up straight, “Why did you do it Luciano?”
He tried to sound brave, I could tell, but the trembling in his voice betrayed his fear.
“Simple.” I said, “Your buddy Luka, he broke the Omerta, he betrayed the family.”
“Betrayal or not, Luciano,” he continued, “You still owe us an explanation! We are not mindless soldiers. We are your loyal subordinates, and we demand answers!”
“YOU ARE WHATEVER THE FUCK I ASK YOU TO BE!”
Alfredo, fell silent, a look of shock on his face.
“I AM THE FUCKING BOSS YOU SPINELESS TWAT, YOU ARE WHATEVER I ASK YOU TO BE AND YOU WILL DEMAND NOTHING!”
In a voice that brooked no further argument, I turned to the crowd “I am the boss, and I don’t owe anyone an explanation for my decisions. I have the responsibility to lead and protect this family, even if it means making tough choices. You will respect my authority, or face the consequences.”
Giuseppe walked in, the room as silent as a graveyard as he hobbled in between Alfredo and Vincenzo, his eyes shining, “Have you all lost your goddamn minds?” He asked, staring into Alfredo’s eyes.
Alfredo looked down at his shoes, unable to answer.
“Senor-”
“Don’t answer you moron.” Giuseppe snapped, “It was a rhetorical question, you HAVE lost your goddamn minds.” He turned away from him, a look of disgust in his face as he turned to face the rest of the men.
“Luka betrayed the sacred code of omerta.” Giuseppe said, turning He violated our trust and brought destruction upon our family. The punishment for this betrayal is severe. Luka’s supporters had to be eliminated to restore order and ensure our survival.
Alfredo, seemingly having found his voice, looked up, frowning “But Giuseppe, it’s still hard to accept it without a proper explanation.”
“Sometimes, boy, explanations serve no purpose but to weaken us. We must trust in our boss’s judgment and respect his authority. It is our loyalty, and unity that has kept us alive today.” He turned back to stare at Alfredo who looked away again. “You will do well to remember that.”
Without another word, he hobbled out of the room, silence following him. I gave them all a last glance, daring anybody else to speak up.
When I was satisfied they got the message, I strode out too, head held high.
I had won this round, for now.