Luciano
I didn’t want to admit it to her, mostly because making her even more nervous than she was already was, wasn’t exactly in my best interest, like throwing a gasoline soaked rag into an inferno.
But I was a but nervous too.
The Italian Mafia, wasn’t very used to having a woman in it’s ranks, no matter the level. There was this, almost patriarchal approach to treating our women. Usually seen, not heard, taking care of the kids at home while the husband did the dirty business and fucked his pretty mistresses. Nobody thought of it too much, it was just the way things were done.
But not with Raven, never with Raven.
I almost laughed out loud, thinking about her being a nice, quiet housewife who just kept my clothes clean and my belly full while I went after young girls half her age. It was so ridiculous, it didn’t even come close to making sense to me, which of course meant the idea was going nowhere.
The only other option was of course to try to convince them that she was worth it, that she wasn’t just a regular old broad with a pretty face and a hot body, that I had watched her chase down an assassin, kick his ass, and go along with her night like nothing had happened, like it was the most normal thing in the world to do, she had better aim than anybody else on my body guard detail and man could she fight.
She was special.
“You are awfully quiet.” I heard her mutter behind me, breaking me out of my reverie.
“Huh?”
We walked on, me leading her following but I could feel her eyes on my back, I wondered if she could detect how nervous I was.
“Oh I have known you for way too long Luciano, don’t even try to fool me, I can tell you are nervous.”
I sighed, there was no point trying to lie. “Those men there, they are tough, Raven, tough as fucking nails.”
She looked at me, a mischievous smile tugging at the edge of her lips, “Oh I am used to taming tough men.
I chuckled slightly, typical Raven, making jokes in situations like this. “You don’t happen to be referring to me right?”
“Brave of you to call yourself a tough man.”
I smiled at her, “They won’t see it coming would they, they won’t know what is about to hit them.”
“No, Luciano, they won’t.”
* * *
I stood at the head of the dimly lit room, my eyes scanning the gathered figures in the shadows. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, the moment I will introduce Raven to the underbosses who served under me in the depths of our world.
Serving under me was kind off a misrepresentation, in truth, I was responsible for them, allocating wealth at the right places, settling disputes here and there. I still needed their support to hold on to power.
Which is why I desperately needed them to approve of Raven.
The air is thick with tension, as if the very walls could sense the gravity of this occasion.
I took a deep breath.
“Welcome, gentlemen,” I began, my voice low and commanding. “Today, I present to you my newest employee.” I gestured towards her as she stepped forward, “Raven Gonzalez. From this day forward, she will be an important part of our organization, entrusted with the utmost secrecy and importance.”
The underbosses, their faces shrouded in darkness, exchange skeptical glances. Whispers rippled through the room, but quickly fade into suppressed silence. Raven stood beside me, her presence exuding an air of mystery that matches their curiosity.
Underboss Antonio, a man known for his ruthless demeanor, stepped forward from the darkness. His piercing gaze locked onto Raven, assessing her carefully.
“What makes her worthy of our trust, Luciano?” Antonio questions, his tone laced with skepticism.
I smile, the corners of my lips curling into a self-assured smirk. “Antonio, my dear friend, Raven has proven herself to possess a rare combination of intellect, loyalty, and determination. She has a mind as sharp as a dagger and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the interests of our family.”
Underboss Francesco, notorious for his cunning strategy, scoffed, a great fat man, with a strong Brooklyn accent, he was a pillar of the old guard. “Introduce her to the fire of our operations, Luciano. Let us see if she emerges unscathed.”
I felt my eyes blaze with controlled fury, my patience running thin. “Francesco, you underestimate Raven’s capabilities.”
“As I should,” he said, looking around for support, “We have never had a woman anywhere near our ranks Luciano, she better be damn well good at her job for us to even consider having her here.”
To my despair, I heard a murmur of agreement to his little speech.
I was losing them, I had to take control of this situation, fast too, before it got out of hand.
“I assure you, she is more than capable of withstanding any test you propose.” I replied, staring at him, disdain curling my face.
Francesco steps forward, his cold eyes locked with Raven’s. “Very well. I propose a scenario. Let’s see how long it takes her to fold under pressure.”
“She won-”
“We leave in a world that is unforgiven yo failure Luciano, in case you have forgotten.”
He walked towards Raven, his hands behind his back, “It’s no place for innocent, pretty women like you. I am afraid our young boss here is misguided with his intentions for you, my dear.”
Raven’s voice cut through the tension, her tone steady and unfaltering. “Another step closer to me signori, and I will break your arm so badly you will never be able to stuff your face with lasagna again.”
The room went silent immediately, my jaw dropped open and to my absolute delight, so did Francesco’s.
“What- what did you say to me?”
She gave him the coldest, most menacing smile I had ever seen on anybody in my life, “Exactly what I said, Signori Francesco, you are free to patronize me all you want, and apparently you don’t have the simple courtesy of respecting your boss either, but if you as much as lay a finger on me, you are losing the use of that arm.” She tilted her head sideways, eyeing him as though she was a predator, sizing up prey for dinner, “And if I am in a good mood, I might let you keep your balls.”
For a second, I thought she had gone a bit too far, the world slowed around me as I started to walk towards her, so I could get in between her and Francisco in case he got violent.
You know, for his own safety, not hers, I had seen her take down half a dozen men twice her size in a fight, I had never seen the man as much as jog, she was going to tear him apart of I didn’t intervene.
But before I could take a step, I heard old Antonio begin to chuckle, with half of the table joining him and soon they were all laughing, while Francesco stood awkwardly, blushing an ugly shade of pink.
“Franco my lad.” Antonio laughed, “She is a fiery one, you have got to admit that, imagine getting so owned.”
Relief washed over me as he hobbled back to his seat, a reluctant respect shining in his eyes. I knew the man, a dangerous thug as bad as any. And just like all of them, there was nothing he respected more than strength.
And Raven Gonzalez radiated strength like the fucking sun radiates light.
The room fell into an uneasy silence, before small, isolated clapping slowly turned into an erupting into a chorus of agreement from the underbosses. They recognized the intensity that Raven seemed to show with her every move, the aura of danger that surrounded her.
I turned to glance at her, trying to gauge her mood but her face remained as expressionless as ever, staring into the space.
God she was good.
Once the commotion died down, I turned to address the underbosses once more, my voice sharp and dripping with authority and on my face, a sleek, sly smile.
“Gentlemen, remember this day, for it marks the beginning of a new era.” I turned to gesture at Raven, the smile as proud as I felt, by the time she was done with them, they would be eating out of her hands without even realizing it, “With her in our ranks, we will go way and beyond whatever we are now, or whatever we have ever been. We will create an empire built on power, respect, and family.”
As the applause increased, and the bravos and whistles rang through the room, I stole a glance at Raven, trying to catch her showing something, anything at all.
She was smiling, and before I knew it, I was smiling too.