Chapter 5
Nico
Reading the reports regarding Lorenzo Palmeri has me smirking, because this is the information I need to finally get rid of the weasel.
He has been sitting pretty for far too long, and the time is nearly here to eradicate him like a doctor would lance a boil.
Alex, as he likes to be known, is going to be a great help, and he’s proving his loyalty and worth by bringing the evidence that Lorenzo has been skimming profits from the business for the last five years.
He has a death wish, that’s for sure, because everyone knows you don’t fuck with the Vincholetti Mafia boss, Nico, and continue breathing.
My spy at the casino is watching to see who Lorenzo has in his pocket.
Whether these people are willing or not is of no consequence, because if they are in cahoots with him, they are dead, too.
My review of the other reports revealed no surprises.
There was nothing that personally caught my interest to get involved with.
My Capos are addressing issues effectively, as expected.
But I’m observing them at this point, even the ones that I feel are loyal to me and the Famiglia.
Looking up when the door opens, Bruno walks inside giving me one of his serious looks.
“Alex is willing to go back to his father’s house and observe what is going on.
I don’t think it’s wise Nico, because that asshole has no feelings for Alex or Elli.
He’s not a father in the true sense of the word; he’s just wanting power.
As your Underboss, we have to get rid of him, and fast.”
“No, Alex doesn’t need to go back.
In fact, I think he should shadow you for now.
I want your feelings on how he will perform as a Capo.
Once Lorenzo is dealt with I’m not putting Alex up as Underboss, but I want him as a Capo if he’s got what it takes.
I know he’s loyal.
That is not under question.”
“I can have him with me, but I’ve known Alex a long time, and he’s hardworking, trustworthy, and loyal to you, Nico.
He’s only helped Elli get away because he had feared his father had a similar fate for her, as Terizo had for Varina.”
Giving Bruno a nod of understanding, I tap my fingers on my desk while considering my next move.
“Call a meeting at the warehouse for tomorrow evening.
All Capos and the Underboss are to be in attendance.
Make sure that Aeron, Luigi, Philip and Andre are in attendance, too.
I know they are not Capos, but I want them to be at this meeting nonetheless.”
A tap on the door has both myself and Bruno look at the door, and as it opens quietly I know it’s Gail, my secretary.
“Mr.
Vincholetti a young lady is here.
She says she has information you need to know.”
“Who is it?”
“Sofia Ferenzi…”
Gail replies and cocks her head on one side, waiting for my reaction.
“Show her in, please Gail.”
I always show Gail respect as she works hard, keeps everything locked away safely, and if ever there is a problem, she is one of the first to reach into the top drawer of her desk and bring out her weapon.
She’s never had to use it, but I’m positive she would if needed.
Bruno is as surprised as me that Sofia has arrived here because we’ve been looking for her.
As Elli’s friend, she may know why Elli ran, and what had been going on in the Palmeri household.
Gail leads in a young woman who looks very nervous, but she lifts her chin and gives me eye contact, which shows she’s got the guts to come here and give me information.
“Hello, Mr.
Vincholetti.
I’m sorry to disturb you, but I made a promise to my dear friend Elliana Palmeri that if she had to run, or disappeared, I would come to you and tell you everything that we saw and heard.”
Bruno pulls out an easy chair, facing it towards my desk.
“Please, take a seat.”
“Would you like a drink, Sofia?”
I ask and hope that will put her at ease somewhat.
“No, but thank you.
Can I just say what I need to as I have to get away and into hiding myself?”
Sofia, I can see, is very frightened.
Her hands are shaking in her lap, and she has a sheen of sweat on her forehead.
“Yes, please, in your own time.”
I lean back and relax, giving the impression that we are having a cozy chat and not something that could lead to a death or two.
“Mr.
Palmeri, Elliana’s father has been holding meetings at the house.
He has around twenty men turn up for these meetings, and they discuss taking you out of your position.
But they needed funds first so they have all been skimming money from any places they can.”
Sofia stops speaking when Bruno growls under his breath and stands, stepping over to the window, keeping his back to us.
“Do you know which men they are?” I ask.
“The Capos we saw ourselves were Mario Bianchi, Enrico Marchese and Silvio DiMarco.”
Sofia swallows hard, and I know this is like signing her own death warrant, but I’ll make sure she is safe for her loyalty to me alone.
“Thank you, Sofia.
I will make sure you are kept safe, so don’t think I’ll toss you aside and forget your loyalty to me and the Famiglia.
Now, can you tell me who else?”
I can see she’s still shaking, but she’s squared her shoulders and being as strong as she can be.
“The men who are loyal to the Capos that we saw with our own eyes were, Pietro Laurenti, Domenico Fiorini, Cesare Scarlatti, Antonio Neri, and Renato Napoli.
But we didn’t know who the others were so I can’t name them, Mr.
Vincholetti.”
“Thank you again, Sofia.
Bruno, make arrangements for Sofia and her family to be placed in one of my safe houses.
Put men on who you can personally guarantee will keep them all safe.
Make sure Mateo knows he can take out anyone that is a threat to Sofia or his family members while in my house.”
Bruno, who had turned from the window when Sofia had spoken, gives me a nod and holds his hand out to lead Sofia out of my office.
But before they leave, I speak once more, “Sofia! Do you know why Elli ran?”
“Her father slapped her after he’d always promised he would not place her in an arranged marriage.
He has never been kind to Elli, always putting her down, trying to keep her subservient.
However, Elli isn’t like that.
She is spirited and thanks to Alex, she knows how to look after herself.
She contacted me only once after she ran to say she was safe; she has a job and has made a friend.
But she knows if her father catches her she’ll disappear permanently, or end up like Varina Gambolini.”
Sofia has tears in her eyes as she finishes speaking, and I give her a nod, showing I understand.
“Elli is my bride.
When I catch her that is,”
I give Sofia a grin followed by a chuckle.
“She’ll not come to harm while I am in charge.
She’s going to make a grand wife and she’ll lead the women of the Vincholetti Mafia.
She’ll do it with pride and she’ll do it superbly.
I’m positive about that.”
Sofia gives a smile that is genuine, and I can see she’s imagining Elli in her role as the Boss’s wife.
“She will, but please give her a title.
One that shows who she is and what she means to you and the Famiglia.”
“Oh, I will do that, Sofia.
I just have to catch her first.
But I’ll let her have some time while I clean up the mess.
You stay safe, Sofia, and tell your father I will speak to him soon.”
“Thank you, Mr.
Vincholetti.”
Twenty minutes later, Bruno walks back in with Tiny by his side.
We spend over thirty minutes discussing who is within the web to take me down, and arrange their collection within the next few days.
Tiny is sticking to me like I’ll disappear any moment.
But I have an ankle, shoulder and waistband holster, complete with my favorite weapons.
I also have a knife strapped to the underside of my forearm.
Never let it be said I’m not always ready for whatever is going to happen.
A knock on the door and it opens allowing Andre to step inside.
“Sorry for disturbing you, but I thought I’d update you on what Elli is doing.”
“Let’s take a break, but come back to this.
Bruno, collect Aeron, Luigi and Philip.
I want them here so we can fill them in before the meeting tomorrow.
Now, Andre, fill me in on what my sweet bride is doing.”
I take the seat once again behind my desk and watch as Andre smirks.
“Well, she has a job, as you know, at the restaurant.
It’s going well so far.
She’s working hard, keeping herself under the radar.
Her friend is Tiana, Tia for short.
She’s a firecracker, Boss.
She’d make a good Capo’s wife because she’s not scared of anything.
She has connections to the local street gang, and they, although not friends, have a kind of respect for each other.
The leader of the gang is called Spinner, and he’s damn sharp at getting things done. But he’s been watching over Tia and Elli, making sure nobody bothers them. I’ll make sure he’s rewarded for that at a later date. Oh, I’ve been told he’s gotten knives and guns for them too, so Elli will be armed and dangerous.”
Andre smirks again because he knows how dangerous Elli can be from the comments Alex has made.
“I want you to watch them, make sure they are safe.
Have teams alternate so they are not obvious.
I can’t bring her in until we have this mess cleaned from my capos and underboss.
I hope Elli won’t hold it against me when I take out her father.
Oh, I want information on her mother, too.”
I add about her mother as an afterthought, but if she has sat and watched Elli go through hell and done nothing she’ll take her place beside her husband.
“Okay, will do, Boss.
Anything else?”
Andre, I can see, is already thinking of his next job.
“No, but I want you here while I explain what’s happening and what’s going to happen.”
As I finish that sentence the door opens and my right-hand men walk in.
Each takes a seat at the long table and waits for me to fill them in.
I give them all the information on my underboss wanting to take over the family, the capos that are involved and their men who are standing firmly behind them.
It's a long meeting, and by the time we’ve finished we are ready to do whatever is needed to clean house.
Starting with Lorenzo Palmeri and his men.