24. Enzo
Enzo
24
We’re missing something.
Alec and the others have been trying to figure out how the two attacks are linked. It’s taken a lot more manpower than I would have thought, initially. We’re leaving no stone unturned but it’s a time-consuming process. Physical fights will forever be my preference vs this secrecy shit.
Unfortunately, time isn’t on our side. We’ve had fifty years of peace so the timing of this most recent attack seems significant.
They have to be connected. There’s no such thing as a coincidence like this. Not when we’re on the precipice of a leadership change and expanding our shipping business.
I wish I could find the link. I’m tired of searching.
The air of the warehouse seems to grow heavier with each passing step. This is how it’s going to feel the rest of our lives, I think, sighing. We will dedicate years of our lives to fighting off our enemies and trying to outsmart potential threats.
Loyalty is imperative. The sooner we find the disloyal members, the better off we’ll be.
No matter how many people we have to kill.
I crack my knuckles. I know Nico feels the same.
This warehouse is large. Situated in a prime location along the docks, it is ideal for moving our product.
It’s also full of long corridors and dark corners. I move through it on autopilot, listening as the voices behind us carry loudly.
Fuck. We need answers and we need them fast. My senses are on high alert for any sign of danger or deception, even here, even now.
Whatever pieces of the puzzle that are falling around us, we need to figure it out as quickly as we can. We absolutely can’t afford for anything to go wrong. It’s almost our time to stake our claim to power.
Every step we take echoes in the hallway. Nico’s heavy footsteps thunder as he quickens his pace to walk beside me. Together, we are a formidable force.
People know better than to fuck with us.
As we round a corner, we run into Alec and stop short.
“What is it, cuz?” Nico asks.
Alec looks at us with a somber expression. His eyes betray the gravity of the news he bears.
Whatever he has to say is bad.
"After fifty years," he begins, his voice barely above a whisper, "Lorenzo Cossi has put a hit out on the shipping business of the Venitti's."
Nico and I look at each other as the words hang in the air.
We’re being targeted by the Cossis.
My mind reels with the implications. This is a massive betrayal.
At least we know who’s behind this now.
But the truth is, I take little enjoyment in the knowledge.
Lorenzo Cossi is known for his power and ruthlessness. He has long been a thorn in our side.
For years, we’ve known him to be a rival with ambitions that could threaten to undermine our own. But this is a bold move.
Targeting our shipping business is targeting the lifeblood of our operations. This is more than a hit to a rival; this is a brazen act of aggression that cannot go unanswered.
Nico's jaw clenches in silent fury.
His gaze is locked on Alec's face as if searching for any trace of falsehood in his words.
Alec's expression remains unchanged. His words weigh heavily in our minds.
There’s no room for doubt – what he’s saying is true.
“Why would he do this? Because of Antonia?” Nico asks, finally. “Is this because we refused to unite the families? What the fuck?”
Alec shrugs. “I don’t know, man. I just know this is the information I have.”
“How did he coordinate the shipments?” I wonder, trying to remain focused. There’s a cold fury pooling in my gut and as much as I want to give in to it and rage, my time would be better spent using logic right now.
“Someone told him,” I say, slowly. It’s a heavy accusation to say out loud. Loyalty is everything. If we have a traitor…
The look in Alec’s eye confirms my suspicions. “Yes,” he says, slowly, “It would seem he had inside information.”
He licks his lips and looks at both of us. “I don’t see any other way he would have access to it without a traitor.”
“Fuck,” Nico says, slamming a fist into the wall.
“Do you have proof?” I ask Alec.
He shakes his head and looks around, making sure we’re alone.
"I’ve got some feelers out," Alec says quickly, his voice low and urgent. "I've heard whispers, rumors that suggest Giovanni may have had a hand in this."
I take a step back in shock.
Giovanni.
He’s basically family. Albert’s best friend.
A betrayal at that level would shake our entire organization to the core.
I look at Alec. “How certain are you?” I ask.
Alec holds up his hands and shakes his head quickly. “Not certain enough to say anything just yet. It’s just a suspicion.”
Nico leans against the doorjamb.
“We can’t take it to Father without proof. We need to keep an eye on him. Better to watch than to be wrong.”
I nod my head in agreement.
Betrayal of our family in such a manner is unthinkable. We need proof before we make a call that will end a man’s life.
“What would be his motive?” I ask, wracking my brain for a reason.
“That’s the part I don’t understand,” Alec says. He’s stressed. I can see the worry etched on his face. “But I swear on my life, I’ll figure it out.”
I nod. Alec will do his due diligence, but there’s very little comfort in that. The words are already out there in the world, the suspicion has already been voiced.
There’s no taking that back.
I feel a surge of determination welling up within me. We may be facing our greatest threat yet, but we are Venittis and we do not cower in the face of adversity.
Turning to Nico, I meet his gaze with a silent understanding. We may have been blindsided by this revelation, but we will not be defeated.
We are the future of the Venitti empire, and we will unravel this web of deceit and emerge stronger than ever.
“We need to connect Giovanni with the Cossis and put someone on Antonia as well.” Nico says.
I nod and turn to Alec. “Make sure we do a banking check as well. I want to know how Giovanni’s financials are looking. Maybe he’s in debt to Cossi? Find out.”
“It would be just like Antonia to fuck with us like this,” Nico grumbles, twirling his knife in his hands. Antonia is a bitch. We both hate her. She’s pretentious, annoying, and always in the way – but as far as I know, she doesn’t have a death wish.
Starting a war between her family and ours out of pettiness would be colossally stupid.
She’s not the brightest person I’ve ever met, but surely, she wouldn’t go that far.
If it’s Giovanni – we will find the reason why. We will connect him.
It doesn’t add up now, but it will.
“In the meantime, I want double guards out here at the warehouse to protect our shipments.
Alert our vessels that they could be facing a threat, and they should be prepared to fight back.
I will talk to Mario about reaching out to our customers and our suppliers to make sure our pipeline is still rock solid. The last thing we want is Cossi fucking with them too.”
Nico and Alec both nod.
It’s not the best plan in the world, but it’s something.
We’re going to figure this out. One way or another.