Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
DOM
Six years ago, Boston
I take a long swig of my beer as Ciro claps me on the back. "To my big brother, the best underboss a Don could ask for!"
Ciro's grin is infectious and I can't help but smile back. "I should be the one toasting you, little brother. You're the new leader of the Esposito clan now."
"Only because you stepped aside to let me take over from Papà," Ciro says. "I won't forget that."
I wave my hand dismissively. "Don't mention it. You're better suited to being the boss. Me?" I chuckle and shake my head. "I'm happy to support you from the shadows."
Ciro's expression grows serious. "I know you only gave up the position for Jennifer's sake. For the chance to have a normal life with her."
At the mention of my beloved's name, my chest tightens. "She's my whole world Ciro," I reply quietly. "I'd sacrifice anything for her. I don't want Jenny in this life. "
"And that's why you'll make a great underboss. Family first, always." Ciro's eyes mist over slightly before he recovers, slapping the bar cheerfully. "Drink up! Tonight we celebrate!"
I take another swig of beer, savoring the cold bitterness. Ciro doesn't know how right he is. I would do anything for my family, even give up my birthright. But Jennifer is my family now too. As long as I have her by my side, I'm content to help Ciro in whatever way I can while avoiding the spotlight.
Ciro has always been better with the politics of running the clan anyway. He has the charm and temperament to manage the soldiers and keep the other families happy. Me? I'm better at working quietly in the background, taking care of problems.
And at the end of the day, I get to leave the darkness behind and return home to Jennifer's embrace. To her warmth and light that makes all the shadows in my soul fade away. As long as I have that refuge to go back to, I'll gladly play the silent sentinel while Ciro soaks up the glory. He can have the power, as long as I have the peace that comes from Jennifer's love.
"When are you going to stop dragging your feet and finally ask Jennifer to marry you?" Ciro asks, nudging me in the side.
I smile and take a sip of my beer. "Actually, I'm planning to propose tonight."
Ciro's eyebrows shoot up. "Tonight? Well, it's about damn time!" He laughs and claps me on the shoulder. "So what's the plan, big brother? Candles, roses, you down on one knee?"
"Something like that," I say. "I spoke to Flaminia, like you suggested, and she gave Jennifer her tickets to that opera concert tonight. After the concert, I'm going to have her meet me at the gazebo in the park. That's where I'll ask her."
Ciro nods approvingly. "Ahhh, so you finally agreed and used my wife as an excuse to get Jennifer alone, I like it. See why you should listen to me more often. Sneaky bastard." He grins and nudges me again.
I chuckle. "Hey, a man's got to pull out all the stops when it comes to a marriage proposal. I want it to be perfect." I take another swig of beer as excitement and nerves swirl in my gut.
"She won't be expecting it at all. And that gazebo is so romantic, with the lights and the fountain," Ciro says. "You old softy, look at you sweeping Jennifer off her feet."
"What can I say, she brings it out in me." I smile thinking about how Jennifer's kindness and warmth have changed me. "Honestly, it was genius getting your wife involved. Jennifer will have no idea."
Ciro waves dismissively. "Don't mention it, anything for my future sister-in-law. Just make sure you don't screw it up!" He laughs and squeezes my shoulder affectionately.
I grin back at him, gratitude welling up inside. With Ciro's help, tonight will be absolutely perfect. Jennifer deserves the most beautiful proposal and fairytale romance. After everything we've endured, she's my happy ending.
I lean against my sleek black bulletproof BMW x6 car, fiddling with the small velvet box in my pocket. Inside rests the diamond ring I finally bought for Jennifer
I check my watch, then pull out my phone to call her. "Hey babe, I'm outside the theater waiting for you. I'm with the BMW, and it's parked on 5th near the side entrance."
I smile as I imagine her excitement at the surprise. "I can't wait to see you, I've got a special night planned for us," I say into the phone. "Alright, I'll be right here. Love you, see you soo-"
A deafening boom cuts me off, the force of the explosion throwing me back against the car. I hit the ground hard, ears ringing. Smoke and flames pour out of the theater's wrecked entrance. Screams pierce through the haze as I stagger to my feet.
"Jennifer!" I shout hoarsely, lurching towards the chaos. My heart hammers against my ribs. This can't be happening.
I don't know how long the force of the blast destabilizes me but there are police cars nearby, and some officers have already set up a perimeter. I push through the crowd gathering outside the barricades.
"Sir, you need to stay back!" An officer grabs my arm.
I wrench away from him. "My girlfriend's in there, I have to find her!"
"It's too dangerous, we'll handle search and rescue," he says, holding me back more firmly.
I run a shaky hand through my hair, blinking back tears as the reality sets in. If Jennifer was inside when the bomb went off…
I sink to my knees on the sidewalk. She can't be gone. My fierce, vibrant Jennifer, snuffed out in an instant. The aching hole in my chest threatens to swallow me.
The officer's radio crackles to life. "No survivors found yet, massive casualties reported."
Bile rises in my throat as his words confirm my worst fears. Jennifer is gone. Just like that.
Rage replaces the despair and it burns through my veins like lava. This is not a coincidence. Someone did this. Someone planned this attack to get at me or Ciro. Flaminia was supposed to be there this evening. This was definitely a hit against our Clan.
I think of the ring resting useless in my pocket now. The proposal that will never happen. The officer places a hand on my shoulder, jolting me from my dark thoughts. "I'm very sorry for your loss, sir. We'll provide victim support services..."
I stand abruptly, cutting him off. Right now, all I can focus on is making whoever took Jennifer from me suffer a thousand times over.
As I walk numbly back to the car, my phone buzzes with an incoming call - Ciro. My jaw tightens as I answer.
"Did you hear what happened?" His panicked voice fills my ear.
"She's gone, Ciro," I choke out. "Jennifer's dead."
He swears violently in Italian. "Brother, I don't... I'm so sorry. I know how much she meant to you."
I lean against the car, squeezing my eyes shut against a fresh wave of anguish.
"Those Cosa Nostra bastards," I spit through gritted teeth. "This was them, wasn't it?"
Ciro is silent on the other end of the line.
"Tell me!" I demand.
He sighs heavily. "I found a message at the warehouse. They're taking back the supplier shipment, the whole thing. They’re making us pay for encroaching on their territory."
I pound my fist on the roof of the car. "They promised to honor the agreement! We split the territory, they get their cut of the merch!"
"Yeah well, they lied," Ciro says bitterly. "And then they hit us where it hurts as payback."
Red hot rage courses through me. I think of Jennifer's smile, her laugh, all erased forever by their cowardly attack.
"I'm gonna slaughter every last one of those Cosa Nostra rats myself!" I continue. “I swear on Jennifer's head, I won't rest until I kill those responsible for this.”
“Dom, wait. We should…”
“Ciro, this could have been Flaminia.”
Ciro swears and I hear glass shattering on his end - he must have thrown something. He is breathing hard on the other end but doesn't respond. “You think I don't fucking know that. I do, she was supposed to be there instead of Jennifer.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Get someone on the inside for me. This is my path. I will handle them myself.”
Ciro exhales slowly, processing this. "Alright… I'll give you feedback in half an hour.” He pauses. "Dom please don't do anything rash. We need to plan this perfectly.”
I glance at the still-smoldering theater, steeling my resolve. "Get me the Intel I need, Ciro.”
I end the call and get in the car, welcomed by solitude. Home is the last place I want to be. It is full of Jennifer's memories, full of the life we were supposed to share.
I clench my jaw, holding back the flood of sorrow threatening to crush me. As I pull away from the curb, a single tear traces down my cheek. Even if that is the last thing I do before I take my las breath, I'll get my revenge, I'll kill every one of the bastards that did this.