Alessio
Today marked the beginning of the end. Not for us, but for the Baldinis, as we were finally ready for their downfall.
We had moved quietly into the west, preparing for what was about to come. It was a busy day, and I watched from the sidelines as the families checked their weapons one last time. Same as always, each one of them led by their own, and the Fanuccis by my uncle.
Beside me stood Dad, the man who had taught me everything I needed to know about honor, power, and the balance between them.
He glanced at me with a chuckle, “I hope you’re sober today, son.”
I gave him a chuckle in return. Ever since that night when I’d let alcohol get the best of me, he hadn’t missed a chance to remind me of that reckless moment.
After we had returned that night, I made an even bigger fool out of myself by yelling and throwing tantrums like a giant toddler. I refused to go back to the hotel and apparently called out a few individuals for at least one thing I disliked about them.
I wasn’t even going to start on that voicemail, but at least it had pushed me to patch things up with Mena. And, of course, there were the rings I had impulsively bought. Probably the only good decision I made that night.
“Do I look drunk to you now?” I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear his response.
“I wouldn’t know,” Dad spoke, his focus more on the vans than our conversation.
Dad gave Levi and Donni a lot of shit that night, but they weren’t responsible for a grown man letting himself get that drunk. That was my fault, and my responsibility. However, they were to blame for not knocking me the fuck out and dragging me to bed when they had the chance to.
To my surprise, Dad had let me lead this operation in peace without any trouble. He only had one request, and that was that Leonardo and Anson be shown no mercy. It was a simple request because I felt the same.
That mistake I had once made, I would never make again.
Uncle signaled for everyone to gather around me, and everyone immediately stopped what they were doing to follow his command.
“Remember, Alessio,” Dad slapped my shoulder, whispering, “This is about more than just revenge. It’s about securing our future, make sure that no one dares cross the East ever again.”
“I got it,” I nodded. A message needed to be sent, and I knew exactly what that message was. It wasn’t just for the Baldinis, but for the entire underworld. The message was clear: never again.
I scanned the faces around me, each one filled with determination and anger. “Everything is ready to go-everyone knows what they need to do,” Uncle said.
Half of the men would target the Baldini businesses, while the other half would take the mansion by surprise. It would be an instant win since the other families would also be present.
Despite the guests not carrying weapons at their celebration, we knew all too well that they would be within reach. For that reason, it was crucial that whatever needed to be done, had to be done swiftly.
Ten minutes was what we had decided on.
All needed to be done in ten minutes, and then another five minutes to get rid of everything.
The heads of those against us would be coming back with us as a tribute, the bodies burned by a selected group at another location.
Through one final request from Estelle, who had been begging for me to give her another side job, Mikael had agreed to distract the guards and open the gates for us at a specific time.
“The Baldinis wrecked our territory, took someone irreplaceable from us,” I spoke loudly, making sure even the ones in the back could hear me. “They thought they could bury us, but today, we’ll bury them,” I declared.
I received a few nods as I scanned everyone with my eyes. “When we get there, remember what they’ve done to us, they will do to you as well,” I warned them. “And we have to put a stop to it.”
There were murmurs and nods of agreement. A man like the so-called Leone would think he could get away with anything after putting a hit on a Fanucci in such a brutal way.
“No mercy for anyone who refuses to surrender,” I continued, my voice strong. I had made it clear earlier that any wives and children present were to be protected. They had to get escorted out of the mansion immediately and watched closely until it would all be finished.
This decision was made with my family, Naty, Mena and Melody in my mind. If the roles were reversed, I couldn’t bear the thought of them suffering for my actions. Yes, the rule was no mercy-but not to the ones who had nothing to do with it.
Many didn’t agree with it, and perhaps, with time, my perspective might shift as well.
“For our family, for our future, for my brother…” I paused, thinking about the final person. My uncle, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time and had lost his life because of it. “And for Stefano!”
“For Stefano!” everyone roared back, their voices filled with anger and determination.
I motioned for everyone to keep that same energy as we all entered the vans and moved out. Now it was really going to happen, the day I had been waiting for-and I would not be leaving without a victory.
A victory for me meant Anson’s head on a stick, and that would be the only way.
As we moved closer, thoughts of Mena pierced through my focus. She said Anson’s fate wouldn’t change anything between us, and I was hoping she would keep her word.
Time would soon reveal the truth of that promise.
Reaching the gates, I saw Mikael with a cigar between his lips. The man stood calmly, not showing any signs of nerves. Also, he knew how this day would end, that there were only several outcomes and none of them were in the Baldinis’ favor.
Luckily for him, he had gotten the opportunity to step over to the right side before that would happen.
With my van leading in the front, I rolled down the window as he opened the gates and gave him a silent nod.
“Alessio Fanucci,” he greeted me with a wicked grin. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good you stuck to your end of the deal,” I spoke back, showing no emotion. I rolled the windows back up, and we passed through the gates. Everything happened so fast, some of the men had already jumped out of the vans behind me, and in a rush of adrenaline, I did the same.
From that moment, everything became a blur. My focus narrowed to a tunnel vision aimed solely at one person, Anson. And when the first shot was fired, I was on a mission to find him.