Ludovico’s Vengeance
Prologue
“Nothing can prepare you for the moment you find your fiancé in bed with your grandfather. To see the man who you have spent your entire life emulating, balls deep in the woman you have sworn your life, heart, and allegiance to.” I take a breath, getting lost in the awful and chaotic memory. “My entire future came to a crashing halt at that moment. And, if you had asked my mother at the time; that was a problem.”
The older man before me is hunched over and groaning as he tries to catch his breath. His olive toned skin appears to be aged from sun damage, more so than one would expect from the type of life he’s lived. The metal chair he’s tied to is strong enough to keep his large frame in place while I explain myself. At least, until I’m ready to be finished with him.
“Why is it a problem, you ask?” Not that he did ask, but I can’t help the smirk that pulls at the corner of my mouth.
His dark hair has begun to turn silver at his temples giving him a Josh Duhamel look, granted, not attractive like Mr. Duhamel. What? I’m comfortable enough with my sexuality to be able to admit when another man is good looking.
“That would be, because my entire life had already been planned out before I was even conceived.” I chuckle as his eyes dart up to my face, shooting daggers. Hmm, if looks could kill. Lucky for me, they can’t.
“You see, I was born Giovanni Ludovico into a family that would give Don Corleone a reason to pause. Although, I’ll admit, the horse head was a bit much for me to stomach.” A powerful shudder rolls through my body. “You just don’t fuck with women, children, or animals - that’s just basic human fucking decency after all. Not that you’d understand anything about that, right?”
I lean against the cold concrete wall behind me. My arms crossed tightly at my chest as I wait for some type of acknowledgement. Of course, the piece of shit would never give me the satisfaction of admitting what a terrible excuse of a human being he is.
“After the ultimate betrayal from my grandfather and the woman who I thought was the love of my life, I just couldn’t remain in the family business. That's why I left and changed my name to the English translation.” A deep rumble of laughter reverberates through my chest, “It wasn’t a clever change, I know. I’m also aware that my family has likely been tracking me from the moment they realized I had left, but I needed to get away. I’ve been known as Johnny Lewis for fifteen years now.”
An exasperated sigh leaves my lips before I continue.
“It’s been my time as Johnny that has brought me back home.” The man remains motionless as his eyes bore into me. I may keep my mask of indifference in place, but internally I’m reveling in his visible rage.
“I had befriended a few people when I started my own law firm eight years ago in a fairly small city, Central Falls.” I lift my shoulders in a shrug, “One of those people just so happened to be married to a goddess of a woman. I may have developed a bit of a crush, so I avoided her.” A genuine smile tugs at my lips as I remember Hadley, a beautiful woman who has a fuck ton of strength to overcome what she has been through. I had befriended her husband not long after I moved to Central Falls, that was until he became my client and I transitioned the relationship to strictly professional. Granted, that was mostly because I had such a strong attraction to his wife, and I was thankful as hell that I had an excuse to remove myself from the friendship. “After what I experienced with Lucia, I couldn’t bring myself to be around any woman I found attractive. Until he confided in me that he had been cheating on her and beaten her to within an inch of her life. That wasn’t how I expected to be brought back into the fold. But, alas, here we are.”
I lift my hand in front of my face to inspect my nails, as if I care about how dirty my hands are right now. I’ll wash them later; it’s just about the theatrics right now.
“My best friend, Milo, is the one who organized his death for me at my mother's request.” I roll my eyes, “A request she only made after I agreed to return to the family business. The deal being, I get to end Frederico Ludovico myself upon my return.”
Pride fills me when the memory of the man I once longed to be lay bloody and dead in a heap at my feet flashes in my mind.
“I may have been a bit overzealous in the way I handled that, if I'm honest. I've never been a huge fan of the bloody side of the business. Don't get me wrong,” I wink at him, “I can make a motherfucker bleed alongside the best of my men; I just choose not to most of the time. I'm sure you already understand that though.”
We spend a few moments in silence, disappointment rushes through me as I still get no reaction. What a shame.
“Frederico was my first in such a long time, as you can tell, I only dust off these skills for special occasions. Or well, special pieces of shit; such as yourself.”
I drag my blood stained fingers through my hair as I think about everything that’s happened since I killed the head of the Ludovico family.
“Well, damn I'm getting ahead of myself. Allow me to begin from when I arrived at the Ludovico mansion.”