14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Mateo
W e’ve spent the entire day holed up in our club here in Rome, sitting down with our capos and hammering out strategies to integrate the new territories. Problems are popping up in every corner.
The biggest issue? We’ve got a lot of new people under our control who aren’t exactly thrilled about being absorbed into our operation.
For the most part, the men we’ve brought in are pragmatic. They care more about their paycheck than loyalty and will switch sides without too much fuss. But there are always a few loyalists who stir up trouble. Ironically, I respect them the most.
Sabotage has practically become routine. Figuring out who we can trust, running deep background checks on everyone, it eats up time and resources.
Every day is a gamble, trying to weed out the snakes from the grass before they bite. But no matter how thorough we are, there’s always the sense that something important, somewhere, is slipping through the cracks.
Tiero’s ruthless, take-no-prisoners approach is spreading fear like wildfire among anyone who dares stand against us. And while it’s brutal, fear has a way of getting people in line. It’s a powerful motivator, pushing them to think twice before stepping out of bounds.
But fear alone doesn’t build loyalty, and that’s what we need in the long run. But it takes time.
Since Tiero took over eight years ago, he’s made it his mission to foster a sense of community among our ranks.
It’s simple. Stay loyal, and we protect you. Betray us, and the consequences won’t end with you. Your entire family will bear the weight of it, or the blade.
That’s the message, clear as day. Fear may keep them in line for now, but loyalty is what will hold everything together.
“Why do you keep staring at that waitress?” I ask Rom after the last of our meetings has wrapped up, and Tiero and Santino are deep in conversation.
The club staff arrived about half an hour ago to set up for tonight, and I’ve noticed Romeo’s focus drifting more than once to a cute brunette across the room. She’s not his usual type at all, which makes it even more curious.
“She looks really familiar.”
“Probably because you fucked her.”
“No. I’d remember that. She reminds me of someone I grew up with. But it couldn’t be her, could it? She’d never…” He doesn’t finish the sentence and gets a far-away look on his face.
Fascinated, I watch him as he seems to dissect the girl’s every move. Then my attention shifts to my brother. His eyes are locked on Santino’s phone, and even with his face like stone, I sense the fury rolling off him in waves. Whatever he’s seen has him ready to explode.
Shit. What happened now?
“I think it really is her,” Rom mutters, rubbing his chin, and I glance back at him. “The way she moves her head when she laughs…”
“Since when do you remember the way a girl laughs?” I ask, amused.
This is a side of Rom I’ve never seen before. And trust me, I thought I’d seen it all.
“Shit, there’s a ring on her finger,” he says next, ignoring me altogether.
“Hardly unusual. Girls wear rings.”
“A wedding ring, idiot,” he snaps.
Rom is on his feet the next second, striding purposefully toward the mystery girl. The sudden movement catches everyone’s attention, and I see both Tiero and Santino glance up from their conversation, their eyes narrowing in confusion.
“What’s gotten into him?” Santino asks.
“The brunette who currently looks like she’s about to faint,” I reply as we watch my best friend grab the girl’s elbow, ushering her outside. “He’s been gawking at her since she walked in. Did you not notice?”
“I thought he was scouring for his next lay,” Santino replies dryly.
“Enough of this bullshit,” Tiero mutters. “We have bigger problems.”
“What is it this time?” I mutter, wishing this day would just end already.
My mind is already halfway home, picturing a long soak in the jacuzzi. And then, maybe Mariella is going to play the guitar and sing again, hidden away under that old oak tree.
The thought sneaks in uninvited, but I don’t fight it. Her voice has been stuck in my head ever since I heard it last night.
“Uberto went through Rizzo’s phone records,” Santino says, his voice taut with frustration. “There are several numbers saved under labels like ‘Rat One,’ ‘Rat Two,’ and so on.”
The implication hangs heavy in the air. Fuck!
“Our rats?” I ask, even though I know the answer already.
Tiero nods.
Of course, they’re our rats. Well, at least we know about them now.
“How many and who?” I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on.
This day has been shit, and it’s getting worse. We only seem to scratch the surface of this mess.
“Three,” Tiero replies, his tone clipped. “Uberto uncovered the identity of two, but not the third one.”
I exhale sharply. “Great. Just what we need. Any leads on the third?”
“No, all dead ends so far,” Santino says, his frustration clear. “Whoever it is, they’re going to great lengths to stay hidden.”
I curse under my breath. “So who are the other two?”
Santino turns his phone to show me.
Fuck!
Two men we thought we could trust implicitly.
“Bring them in,” Tiero orders.
“And their families?” Santino asks.
Tiero doesn’t answer right away, his gaze distant as he considers the situation. “Leave them for now,” he finally says, “until we get their confessions.”
“We could put them in a holding cell,” Santino suggests, hoping to cut off any potential escape routes. “Otherwise, they might slip through our fingers.”
Tiero throws Santino an icy glare, daring him to defy his orders.
Wisely, Santino just nods. “Of course, boss,” he says, his tone clipped but compliant as he turns to leave.
Waiting until he’s out of earshot, I face my brother. “Why did you hesitate? We don’t spare traitors’ families.”
“I’m not sparing them. I’m collecting more evidence.”
“Tiero, you can’t show weakness. Now more so than ever.”
His spine stiffens, and his face glazes over. Usually it’s reserved for everyone else, but I’m not intimidated.
“I’ve proven in the last few weeks how ruthless I can be.”
“Taking out our enemies is one thing, sparing a traitor’s family is another. The rules are well known for generations. You betray us and your whole family dies.
“Trust me, I’m not a fan of that rule either, but Great grandfather had good reason to put it in place. It makes our people think thrice about turning against us. Killing off a traitor is not enough of a deterrent to others. Taking out their entire family and everyone they hold dear, is.”
“Do you honestly believe you need to explain the rules to me, brother?” Tiero’s voice has turned stony and threateningly quiet.
I hold his gaze. “I know why you’re hesitating,” I say, softening my tone.
Tiero’s eyes flicker across the still empty club before coming back to mine. I look around too to make sure we can’t be overheard.
“You’re hesitating because Ella wouldn’t approve of taking out women and children. And Antonelli just had twins.”
He lets out a breath and I know I hit the nail on the head.
“It’s the only reason you let Sofia live,” I continue.
“It wasn’t the only reason,” he replies coldly. “She was leverage against Molinaro.”
“Molinaro is dead. Yet, she’s still breathing.”
Tiero pinches the bridge of his nose with one hand while rubbing his neck with the other.
“I get this is far from ideal,” I go on. “I like it as little as you do. But everyone in la famiglia knows the consequences of betraying us. If you let Antonelli’s family go, it sets a dangerous precedent.”
“I’m not letting them go. I’m delaying bringing them in,” he says through clenched teeth.
I ignore his comment. “Before Ella you would never have hesitated. But now you worry she will judge you for it, don’t you?”
“Because she will. And it will turn her away from me even more.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him she’s not here now. But he doesn’t need the reminder.
“Then we make sure she will never find out.”
“This can’t be guaranteed and you know it.”
“But we will try our damnedest. Tiero, you’d normally be the first to remind me that business is business. This has to come first over our personal lives. This affects your position as Don.
“No hesitating.”
He gets up, cursing under his breath, and turns away, his shoulders tense as he strides toward the bar. The soft clink of glass echoes as he signals to the staff, and they quickly pour him a whiskey. He downs it in one go, the burn doing little to ease the frustration radiating off him.
He knows I’m right. It’s not just about the individuals involved; the lives of many more are at stake.
Tough decisions have to be made. Cold, calculated choices are part of the job, no matter how much they suck.
“I’m going to Brazil next week,” Tiero announces as we drive back to Carloso.
I turn to him in surprise, watching him as he looks out the window.
“Brazil? Why? Everything is running smoothly with the Rodriguez brothers. They won’t take kindly to an audit.”
“I’m not meeting with them. I’m going to the Formula One Grand Prix.”
Fuck, he’s losing it. I stare at him.
Ella is into Formula One. She had a grandfather who worked in the industry or something like that. Tiero took her to the Italian Grand Prix a few weeks ago. It’s when she ran away.
“You think Ella is going to be there? That would be crazy! I get she loves the sport, but she wouldn’t come out of hiding for it. It would be too risky for her.”
“It’s a long shot, but…” he trails off, rubbing his hands over his thighs.
“But what?”
“I had a dream. It suggested she was in Brazil.”
“That doesn’t mean she’ll go to the Grand Prix.”
“My gut tells me she’s going to show up there. And I will be ready. If it’s another dead end, so be it, but at least I tried something other than sitting around and waiting for others to come up with the answers I need.”
He lets out a frustrated breath.
I get he’s growing impatient. In his shoes, I would be too.
“We’ve always trusted our instincts. If that’s where it’s taking you, go for it. You have nothing to lose.”