41. Isabella
41
ISABELLA
T he way Nicco speaks about this plan of his almost has me thinking it’s fool-proof, and I haven’t even heard it yet.
“So what’s this plan?” I ask.
“Me, Leo, and Dante have been slowly acquiring the trust and support of my dad’s capos.”
My jaw drops as my mind races with its imagination as to what Nicco’s saying. “Wait, you’re not going to?—”
Nicco nods. “Yes. My plan is to get all of my dad’s capos on my side so I can overthrow him and take over the family.”
A nervous ache erupts in my stomach at what Nicco’s saying. He’s planning on undermining his dad? And he thinks there will be zero repercussions for this?
“Nicco, I don’t know if this is such a good idea.” My nerves are getting the best of me, causing me to fidget.
“My dad has proven not only to me but to his own men that he’s not capable of leading this family. The takeover would be simple, based solely on the fact that he’s not a competent leader.”
“I’m going to need you to break this down some more for me. I’ve never heard of this happening before.”
“It doesn’t happen often, but while I was in Sicily, this exact same thing was going on with a family over there. The don of the Vona family had proven to be unfit for the position. He was making illogical decisions that were costing them money and putting them in a vulnerable position against other families, so his underboss overthrew him.”
Overthrew him.
“Ever since I’ve been back in the city, I’ve been working on opening the eyes of my dad’s capos to really see how he’s been running the family. He’s always been selfish and lazy, constantly looking for the easy way of doing things, and that’s finally caught up to him. Pair that with the fact that everyone knows he’s made an enemy of your brother, now the family is beginning to worry. My dad is doing everything wrong. The only reason he’s led the family this far is because of Angelo Mancini.”
I internally wince at the sound of that psychopath’s name.
“And everyone has started to pick up on that, especially without having a plan after losing access to the port,” he adds. “I approached nearly all of them, explaining, in detail, the plan I have for transportation, and it’s giving them the hope that losing the port took away from them. When it comes down to it, this is a business. We are running a business. Loyalty is important, but my dad’s lack of concern for the family’s business affairs is what’s throwing him under the bus.”
I let out a sigh. “This is extremely risky.”
“There is no risk I’m not willing to take to be with you.”
Shaking my head, I say, “It’s not worth it. Your dad could…” I can’t even get the word out because it’s too painful to say.
Nicco grabs hold of my hands. “Nothing will happen to me.”
“How do you know that? Your dad is ruthless. When he finds out your plan to undermine him, there will be hell to pay.” The nervous ache in my stomach has fully erupted, now extending throughout my entire body, causing an anxiety in me I’ve never experienced before.
Nicco pulls me close to him, so close the heat of his breath fans across my lips. Staring down into my eyes, the look of pure adamancy shines through his, and I already know whatever he’s about to say will change everything.
“Good. Because then that’ll give me a reason to kill him.”