Chapter 3
Nico
Luigi is sitting at one end of my office, working on his laptop.
He’s one of my right-hand men, along with Aeron, Philip and Andre.
All four of them watch the movements from my Underboss to any reports on soldiers or associates.
Philip is well known to be vicious in his dealings with anyone not true to the family.
It has not been unknown that he will torture a woman if needed.
I cannot say that I’ve not been as bad in my dealings because I have, and would do so again if it meant keeping my men safe.
Only myself and Luigi are in the office right now.
Tiny I sent off to get something to eat and get out from under my feet.
He’s a hell of a bodyguard, but I get sick of people around me all the time, just needing some space to breathe.
“Luigi, I want you to put men on watching Varina’s father.
I have a bad feeling about him.
I’m sure her death wasn’t all it seemed, and I’ve had this.”
I hand him a note that had been delivered to one of the businesses by an unknown woman, and the soldier brought it to Philip’s attention as he was in attendance at the business at the time.
To whomever this may concerns:
I was a friend of Varina and although she didn’t want to get married, knowing that she had no option but to do as her parents asked.
She was, however, doing whatever she could to find a peaceful ‘out’.
She would not, and I’m convinced did not, commit suicide as some suggest.
Someone ran her off the road as she had proof of a wrong-doing that she was going to bring to the notice of Mr.
Nico Vincholetti.
I have a copy of that proof.
No one but Varina and myself know I have this, and if Mr.
Vincholetti wants to see it, he needs to meet me at 1:00 pm at the church with the spire on Saturday 25th of this month.
Unknown but honest, and reliable friend of Varina.
P.S.
Do not allow her parents to know of this or my life could be in danger.
“Philip brought the letter to me.
He is looking into it at this time.
But I want you to find out who this woman is and keep her safe as I want to speak to her.
Bring her here and if we need to, we can keep her under cover until we have this issue with Varina’s father looked at.”
Luigi stands, takes the letter from me, reads it and gives me a nod as he hands it back.
“I’ll check the CCTV and get eyes on who she is, find her and bring her in.
I never liked Terizo Gambolini, and Varina deserved better parents.
I’ll get Andre to dig into what that fuck has been doing behind our backs.”
Watching as Luigi walks out of my office I know he is going to find this woman.
He’s not one for wasting time either, so I can expect a result quickly.
Taking a seat once more behind my desk, I make the decision to get my eyes and ears reporting on what is happening with the Capos I put into place when I took over the family.
So far, none have reported foul play, but you never know if they have been converted by the Capo they are watching.
I divided the whole territory into smaller territories when I took over the family, creating larger areas, but more Capos to keep my eye on.
Enzo Rossi and Antonio Conti are from old families that have been within the famiglia for generations.
They are both reliable, I am sure.
Both quickly gave me their allegiance, and as we have known each other since childhood, I’m sure I don’t have to worry about them.
The third is Terizo, and he was selected to show the older generation I had no issue with them, and that I still see them as reliable and trustworthy.
Now, I’m not sure that is the case, but if I find anyone doing anything they shouldn’t, they will be made an example of.
I have no issues with any of my other Capos, but I’m watching them all none-the-less.
Aeron, Luigi and Philip I know will do whatever is needed.
They are worth more than my Capos to me, but one is going to have to step up as underboss when I remove Lorenzo Palmeri, and he will be removed.
I have no doubt in my mind about that.
Terizo Gambolini will be gone too, probably in the same place as Lorenzo.
Maybe we can send them on their way together.
I can’t hold back the grin when I think about it.
The office door opens and Aeron walks inside.
Now, he has a look on his face that I only see when he is more than a little pissed.
I know Aeron well enough to let him spill what’s eating at him when he’s ready.
“That motherfucker! He’s beaten the shit out of Alexander.
It’s time, Boss, to take out some trash.
I know you have been thinking about it but I know Alexander, and he is loyal to you and the famiglia.
The only thing he is more protective of is his sister.
This has to be about Elliana.”
“Explain!”
Aeron throws himself into an easy chair near the area I keep a row of bookshelves, which also hides a safe and safe room.
“Nico, you know you were more than fair with all the men you placed in top positions within the family.
This is biting the hand that feeds you.
Alexander is the next Underboss if he replaces Lorenzo.”
“No, he won’t be replacing his father.
I’m going to split the family and have two more Capos.
I want to hand over the area I’m overseeing to Alexander if he is up to the task.
I want him brought here so I can speak to him privately about his father and sister.”
Standing and heading to the door, Aeron turns and smirks, “You know the ladies don’t seem to like you, they all run for the hills a…”
Whatever he was going to say stops when I throw the paperweight at him from my desk.
He slams the door behind him, but I can hear him laughing as he walks away.
Rubbing my thumb along my chin, I look out of the window, and consider how many I’m going to remove from the family.
I have had no problems with any soldiers as yet, and our associates know not to fuck with me as they won’t like what happens if they do.
My phone ringing on the desk has me walking over to pick it up.
Seeing it’s Philip, I take the call.
“Yeah, what you got?”
“The woman has disappeared.
We believe she may have been a childhood friend of Varina’s.
Anya De Lillo.
They became very close after Anya’s parents died in a road traffic accident.
She has an older brother that has taken care of her since the tragedy and we think he may have had a soft spot for Varina, too, though we don’t have any evidence that it went both ways.
There’s nothing to confirm that Varina ran away from you to be with him.
They are not part of the famiglia or involved in any of our businesses so they could certainly stay off our radar.
It could also explain why Varina would trust Anya with evidence of her father’s wrongdoings.”
“Come back here, and we’ll have a meeting.
In the meantime, I’ll contact my eyes and ears and see what I can find out.”
“Okay, Nico.
I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”
Twenty minutes later, the office door opens and Aeron steps inside with Alexander beside him.
Now, he’s been worked over and has swelling and bruising all over his face.
He’s holding himself stiffly and favoring his left side, which tells me he has cracked or broken ribs.
Pointing at one of the easy chairs, I step over to the one opposite where he sits, gingerly I may add.
“What the fuck is going on?”
Alexander takes in a deep breath, well as deep as he can, before starting to speak.
“Elli was promised that she could find her love, the one she wanted to marry, and would never be placed in an arranged marriage.
My father promised her that more than once as she was growing up.
“He hit her.
Did you know that? He slapped her when she mouthed off at him when he told her she was going to marry you.
She’s not a weak and mild woman who will bow down to you, and if I’m honest, she’d be a good wife for you, as she’d not take any shit from you.
I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Boss.”
“I don’t want a woman like Varina who was so timid they will just bow down when told.
It’s what I liked about your sister when I looked into her.
The fact she has a voice, and isn’t afraid to use it, it’s what she’ll need.
She will be the top female in the family, and she’ll be the one who keeps wives, girlfriends, and teenagers in line.”
I can’t help the smile that appears at the thought of having a wife like that.
“You know she can fight?”
Alexander asks.
“No, I didn’t.”
I’m surprised at that and turn to look at Aeron, who is smirking.
“Yeah, she can fire a weapon, use a knife and do more than basic hand-to-hand.
I made sure if she was ever taken she had some way of helping herself until I could get to her.
Boss, I would kill the world for my sister.
I would be the evilest fucker walking.
She is a beautiful person, and she deserves to be happy.”
“You helped her, didn’t you?”
I ask, and I’m not going to punish him, as he’s genuinely caring for his sister.
That’s what I’ll need when I have her back, someone she can lean on if I’m not available.
Taking a deep breath, he looks me in the eye and responds, “Yeah, and I would do it again if needed.
If you want my life for that, then it’s forfeited.
I’m happy to give it, as she’s been my rock so many times that I can be hers, even if it’s the last thing I do.”
Aeron steps closer to both of us and looks seriously at Alexander.
“Do you know what your father has been up to? Can you give us anything to tie him down?”
Sighing, then once more taking a deep breath.
“Yes.
I can help you.
I just want it to be known that I think Elli will be perfect for you, Boss, and when you catch her, which I know you will, you’ll have learned enough to win her over.
I can’t help you find her because that would break her trust in me, and if she gets into difficulty, she needs to be able to reach out to me.
But I have every confidence that you’ll find her.”
Andre walks into the office with a huge smile on his face.
“I found Elli boss, and she’s okay.
She’s gotten herself a small apartment, a job at a restaurant, of all places, and she’s driving a very nice pickup truck.”
I don’t miss the side-eye he gives Alexander, and have to grin because she’s not been off radar long but has set herself up with a place to lay her head, and a way of paying her way.
“Who found her?” I ask.
“Hunter Six.”
Andre grins.
“He said he needs an upgrade on his property, so wanted to earn a bonus.”
Chuckling as we all know the Hunters get a bonus once they catch their prey.
This is different, as they had to find and then monitor until I told them to do a retrieval.
We spend two hours listening to the information Alexander has regarding his father.
No way is he going to be the Underboss much longer.
After hearing Aeron laugh at some of the things Alex, as he prefers to be addressed, tells us about Elliana and the tricks she used to play on him, I can only think she has the spirit that I’ve been looking for.
But I’ll have to win her over or she’s liable to cut my throat while I sleep, and from what Alex tells me, she is capable of doing just that.