Chapter 20
TWENTY
Armond Davis
Two weeks prior (Frankfurt, Germany)
I GLARED INTO JEFFREY’S soul as my brother and cousin Monte took turns beating him down. I sat about three yards away, far enough to not get blood on me, but close enough for Jeffrey to be aware of my presence.
His eyes locked on mine after every punch that connected to his face. Defiance pushed through them as much as his swollen face would allow. I admired his grit, his will to show no fear despite his odds. If he weren't an abusive speck of dust, I would’ve offered him a job.
Arlando hit him solid across the face and the crack of his jaw was like music to my ears. The spit, blood, and anguish after was the crescendo to this symphonic performance. The only thing that halted the moment was the buzz of my phone resting in my pocket.
I huffed as I stood. I didn't care who was calling, it had to be for a purpose. This line was restricted to certain family members only. I picked up without saying anything.
“Ciao cugino, scusa per le interruzioni,” my cousin Nicole said after a couple seconds.
“No worries. What you got?”
“Well, as you know, that rap sheet was faker than Kim K's ass and created for an undercover case with the PD. Only thing is, that case was never solved, nobody ever got arrested, and they stopped funding it. That pissed Jeffrey off and he went apeshit. They fired his ass and since then he has been seen with arms dealers across the nation. He was last spotted in Puerto Rico actually, coming out of your resort.”
“Excuse me? The fuck did you just say?”
“He was last seen coming out of your resort, cugino. I’ll send you the footage now.”
My nostrils flared as I looked in his direction.
My brother noticed and stopped mid punch.
Monte already connected his blow. They both looked at me with pause.
They were trying to read me and I needed to know more before I said anything.
I pulled the phone from my ear and went to my messages the second I heard the alert come through.
I scoffed as I watched him leave Brandy's room.
He didn't cover his face. He didn't wear sunglasses and it was well into the early morning.
The sun hadn't broken the horizon yet. This video had to be from a little after I’d left Brandy's room according to the date in the corner.
This motherfucker was bold, I would give him that.
Of course, nobody would suspect a thing when nobody even knew who he was or why he was there. Another country where he could just blend in with the rest of the tourists... he was a smart motherfucker for sure.
“I did further digging into his life and happened to come across information that might be further unsettling to you, Mondo.”
I chuckled. “Mondo? You know I hate that name.”
“But you respond to it.” She giggled.
“Yeah, yeah, what is it?”
“He is somehow our family.”
“Somehow? Now, Nicole.”
“It's a technicality, really.” She tried to play it off and surely she knew how much that pissed me off.
Right before I was about to cuss her ass out, she said, “He's your mother's daughter's second cousin.
Related by her father's side of the family but since she's of your mother's blood... you get the gist.”
“Sadie?”
“Yes, Sadie.”
“My mother’s been busy since our uncle was killed.”
“Sadly,” she replied.
I expelled a sharp breath. This made things a smidgen harder than necessary.
My mother lost her child with my uncle because of her altercation with my father.
She grew depressed, and after about a year, she was with someone else and popped out Sadie a year after that.
She was reckless and now it was coming to stab me directly in the chest.
“So he's under the family treaty?”
“Technically.” Her voice rose an octave. She was second guessing the shit, but I knew just as well as she did what the correct answer was and she didn't need to say it. Simply yes.
“I'll deal with it,” I responded.
“As I know you will. Take care of Brandy, cugino. I know this is all for her. He did some very bad things. Most you are aware of. She wasn't the first. Make sure she is the last.”
“Ciao.”
“Ciao.”
Once the call was disconnected and the phone placed back in my chest pocket, I sighed before looking at my family. They were concerned and ready for whatever I had to say. But it wouldn't be what they wanted to hear.
“Monte, go take over for Serg then send him and Bizzy down here.”
“Aight. Everything good?”
“He's our family.”
Monte shook his head and walked off without a response. My brother's face showed nothing but disgust and venom, my exact reaction. I really didn't know what to tell him as far as the dynamic. He truly wouldn't care anyway. Jeffrey was going to die regardless. I couldn't agree more.
When Serg and Bizzy approached, they greeted us with a nod and waited for their instructions.
“Uccisione,” I said.
Their weapons were drawn and unloaded into Jeffrey in the blink of an eye. Arlando smirked then made his way over to me.
“You know you just broke the treaty, right?”
“Technically I did nothing at all. They are of no relation, so what treaty rule was broken, brother?”
I laughed then patted him on the back.
“You slick motherfucker. I bet you're glad you already got him to sign the divorce papers, huh?”
“I would've worked my way around that. Get the cleanup crew and let's make our way to this gala. I heard the food will be good this time.”
I laughed then headed out. I heard Arlando give a couple instructions then quickly catch up to me.
“Mail his middle finger to our father. Make sure it's in a nice box with a huge bow on it.”
He laughed then pulled out his phone and texted as we walked.
Manuel greeted us and opened the back passenger door. Arlando climbed in first then I got in. I sighed in relief knowing Brandy didn't have to worry about his scum ass terrorizing her world any longer.
My cell buzzed and I let out a long sigh with a few choice words. I needed a minute to calm down, but I knew that was about to be short lived.
“Uncle Vino,” I greeted once I answered the call.
“Nephew. Your father is fucking up my business and you know that doesn’t sit well with me,” he said.
The disdain in his voice let me know my father was playing with more than just my organization. I hated being tied to the man. Any little discrepancy and I was the one everyone turned to, as if I had any influence on that man’s behavior via a simple conversation.
“Mine as well. We’re tying up loose ends,” I explained.
“I’m knowing. Look, Giulia let me know the last auction didn’t go as planned either, stolen property and fake paintings. He’s trying to discredit our family and I’m two seconds from disregarding our treaty and giving him what he deserves.”
“If you don’t, then I will. I have no feelings about it.”
He sighed. “On a normal basis I would ridicule you for speaking such a way about your blood, but he’s dug his own grave for long enough. My sister told me yesterday that he’s been reaching out to her and trying to access funds he left with her.”
“He’s contacted our mother?”
“Yes.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and ran my hand along my face. That probably pissed me off more than anything. He said she was dead to him and if she even contacted him then she was dead. Now he was contacting her? And she’d said nothing?
“Keep your cool. Valencia is safe. You know that,” Vino insisted.
“Yes, she is.”
“Good. Make sure she stays in America for now. In a few days, make sure she’s nowhere near our estate. We’ll be there soon.”
“Noted.”
“Take care, nipote. You have been doing very well. Those little interferences don’t take away from what you’ve accomplished in your organization.”
“Thank you, Zio Vino. We’ll be talking soon.”
“Ciao.”
“Ciao.”
My eyes closed and I rested my head. My father was becoming a thorn in my ass.
I eliminated one problem and here he came bringing another.
I should be feeling good as hell right now about the symphony I just left, yet here I was, disgruntled and annoyed.
I needed to focus on my cousin’s gala and now I just wanted to fly back to America so I could hold my baby. Fuck this whole trip.
I needed to calm down and prepare my mind to put on my best charm and woo a bunch of people into supporting my cousin Dimitri's foundation for troubled youth.
He provided safe spaces throughout the city for kids to go after school. They had activities, free tutoring, and a gymnasium to play ball and other sports.
Having the protection of our family, most of the families felt comfortable sending their kids to us and the kids felt safe when they needed to get away from their families for a beat.
This gala was to expand this experience through the entire country.
Every city receiving a safe space to just be kids.
“I'm proud of you, brother,” Arlando said after a few minutes.
“What for?”
“For doing what was necessary despite the rules.”
“He was no family of ours but thank you. Rispetto.”
“Always.”
Once we made our way back to Cousin Dimitri’s home, I hopped in the shower to let the water ease my day away. My once tense shoulders were beaten into relaxation as the six showerheads had their way with me. I was grateful for the relief.
I hadn’t realized how much of an effect Jeffrey was having on me and his demise was a pressure I could get rid of forever. The only thing consuming my thoughts now was Brandy.
Seeing that genuine smile on her face once more would be worth all this trouble. I hadn’t seen it as bright since Puerto Rico and that bothered me. I knew it was because fear lived within her. Maybe I should call her and bring some relief to her life though I’d much prefer to say it in person.
I called Brandy on FaceTime. Looking at the time, she should be out of all her classes for the day and home chilling.