Chapter 2 #2
I looked out the window as my arms were crossed against my chest. “Do I need to give you details?”
“You know what today is.”
Suddenly, I became nauseous. I knew what day it was, but unlike the rest of my family, I wouldn’t stay home and wallow in the past.
“It was 15 years ago,” I replied.
Luca slammed on the brakes, causing me to jolt forward with the seatbelt digging into my skin. “Look at me,” he demanded.
I turn my head to face him.
He was livid at my lack of empathy. “I don’t care if it’s 100 years ago. We may have lost Marco, but we won’t forget him.”
Marco was the eldest DeCarlo, who was gunned down in front of my parent's home along with his wife and child. It was hard for my family, but Luca suffered it the most. He was there when it all happened. He watched it all go down. That was the day that changed my family forever.
“He wouldn’t want us moping over it.”
“This day is like a black cloud that lingers over my head. And to get word that you are being a puttana on the anniversary your brother was killed is just disrespectful.”
I huffed. There was no arguing over this.
There was a time when Luca was happy and carefree.
That all changed when Marco passed. Our family was in the lifestyle with our father being the Underboss to the late Don Vincenzo Baricelli, who at the time was the only mob family in Chicago who controlled everything.
Marco was well known and respected enough that people knew not to mess with his younger siblings, especially Luca and me.
Our older sisters Rita and Isabella were closer in age to Marco, while Luca and I were younger.
All Marco wanted for us was to find a path of our own.
Unless you were directly a child of a Don, then no title was ever passed to you; it had to be earned.
The title of Underboss was to fall onto Marco.
He knew no other path for himself and knew there was no stability for us if we chose the same.
Luca was set to play professional soccer overseas straight out of college, and I attended a prestigious private school.
All was going accordingly until his death, which led Luca into the lifestyle, and it's what drove Luca to where he is now.
My brother didn’t get to where he was easy; although I don’t know the details, I did know he sacrificed a lot. But why did our name have to also fall onto my shoulders? I didn’t choose this for myself.
“I went to the cemetery this morning and spent the day thinking about him,” I defended myself. “Sorry that my boyfriend wanted to take me to dinner.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Luca pointed out. “And I guess I’m too old to understand that dinner means getting a quick fuck in the back of a car.”
“Well, a decade age difference has that effect.”
Luca hated it when I got smart with him. “Bethany.” He let out a breath of air. “Out of all days.” His eyes never left the road. He wasn’t an emotional man though I could sense his fragile state through his tough facade.
“I’m sorry.”
Turning into my building, we again fell into silence.
Luca took care of me; I never lacked anything.
He bought me my condo, and I have access to his black card without him imposing a limit.
I know I should be grateful, and I am; I just wish I had more freedom.
I went to college out of state, but the tradeoff was to return home and hold my role as a member of this family.
Little did I know what that truly meant.
I may not have accepted his offer if I had known that my brother would dictate my life.
But Luca would have found a way to get me in line somehow.
Once he was crowned a Don, there was no going back to a normal life.
Luca parked his car in front of the complex and turned it off, but one of his hands remained on the steering wheel. I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Go in and pack a few things. You’ll be staying with me for a little.”
“Luca,” I did my best not to get loud as I protested, “I give you my word, I won’t see Casper again. There’s no need to keep a direct eye on me.”
“It’s not about Casper,” Luca turned to look at me. “I trust you, B, even if it doesn’t always seem that way. I need you to trust me right now.”
Trust was never an issue with my brother. “What’s going on, Luca?”
“Some old friends from California are in town.”
My stomach dropped. Old friends meant rivals or frenemies. Although California was a second home for Luca, it didn’t always harbor good memories.
“Why are they in Chicago?”
“I sold the vineyard in California.”
“You sold Sandra’s vineyard? To who?” That was big. The vineyard held sentimental value to Luca, and he swore he’d never sell it unless something told him it was time to let go. I’d never thought that day would come.
“A random woman—not affiliated. All illegitimate ties were cut off. Not many people are happy about it.”
“Jesus, Luca,” I replied. “What the hell were you thinking?”
My brother was always strategic in his plans, and this seemed erratic.
“It’s a power move.”
“Is it supposed to backfire like this?”
“It was a considered possibility.” Luca looked calm, and I wondered how he could do that under such circumstances. “Antonio will like having you around.”
I smirk, “Of course, use my nephew against me.”
“He’ll need the company when I fly out.”
“To where?” I question.
“Monthly meeting with the trio.”
Luca referred to themselves as the trio, but they were known as il Codice.
In Italian it means the Code. It was made up of the three most powerful Dons in the country.
Any other families were below them. It was an entire hierarchy system put in place.
It was like a democracy for made-men. The DeCarlo Family, the Baricelli Family, and the Morrechi Family were the gods of mobster life.
Every other family fell in line according to what the three would allow, and they always had some cut, which made sure money flowed into their pockets and anything else they had invested.
Luca waited in his car while I packed a few things. When I got back into the car, he was on the phone. I knew exactly who was on the other line by how he spoke. Sitting in the passenger side, I could faintly hear his response.
“Make sure to send a clear message. Anyone who wants to has an issue—to get over it or face the same fate.”
“Will do,” Emilio replied.
“Make sure to make it messy.”
“My favorite.”
My brother had no issue going to any lengths to get his way, and Emilio went to any length to ensure that would happen.