Chapter 9
Nico
This morning I’m holding a meeting in the conference room at my main office.
The sign outside states that the realtor’s office is holding a sale day.
It’s a ruse, of course, to cover the fact so many vehicles and men will enter the building.
We cover all bases and have posters around the building giving false information.
If we are raided all the cops will find are sales posters, pamphlets, and fake business cards.
All weapons are to be left in the false floors of the Escalades or other vehicles the Capos arrive in.
We cannot afford anyone to be frisked and caught with anything illegal.
Unknown to all but my most trusted are the false walls where our stash of weapons is held.
Just in case, of course.
We have a false back in the cabinets, and we can even pull out the water cooler to slide open a recess where knives are kept.
I would love to hold these meetings at the mansion office, but it would attract far too much attention.
Keeping the home office and work office, which I consider my main office separate, is the best way to keep the mansion and its staff safe.
Bruno takes a seat on one side of me at the conference table.
I’ve been speaking with him since the early hours of the morning.
He’s always been up on what I am doing and why, because I never worked with Lorenzo, even though he was the Underboss.
I didn’t trust him, and it was only a matter of time before he was replaced or removed permanently, and I didn’t care how that was done.
“Aeron has been up all throughout the night, working on the aspects of each area.
As the new Consigliere, he wants to be able to advise you correctly if it’s needed.
He did tell me he would never challenge you for your position,”
Bruno laughs and I can see what he’s going to say next has amused him greatly.
“He said that it was a shit of a job being the boss and you could keep it until you have an heir you can hand it to.
He’s good at having your back.”
“I never worried that Aeron would challenge me for my position.
He’s not that kind of man, or friend.
He’s like a brother to me, the same as Luigi, Philip and Andre.
You, however, could have been a blood brother in another life.
We are so alike in our thoughts and manner that I often wonder if my father had sired you without us knowing.”
“No, I knew my parents, Nico.
My father was a made man, a soldier for the old Don.
He died in a shoot-out and my mother took me back to her hometown.
When I was sixteen, I left, and that’s when I became a made man myself, and met this little shit of a boy who turned out to be the best friend and non-blood brother I could have wished for.”
Bruno turns and slaps my shoulder, letting me know he means me, but he didn’t have to as I knew it.
“Well, I was two years younger than you, and was just getting on my feet.
I’d already killed my first and probably fifth man at that time.”
I remember those first kills.
They were not as clean as they could have been.
But when you are learning the death trade, you sadly make some suffer.
“Let’s not be morbid.
We have this meeting soon.
Do you have everything clear in your mind?”
“Yes, I know where I am placing the Capos.”
Gail steps into the conference room and holds the door open for the Capos that have arrived.
Silvio DiMarco is the first, and he clearly says, “Don,”
as he gives me a small head dip to show his respect.
“You wait at the end of the meeting, Silvio.
I want to go through the file with you once everything else is done and the others have left.”
“Yes, Boss,”
Silvio responds, referring to me now as Boss as his initial greeting has passed.
Then takes a seat halfway down the table, settling into his seat quietly and calmly.
Terizo, Andre, Luigi, Philip and Alex Palmeri step into the room, give me a ‘Boss,’ word of greeting as they take a seat.
It’s not long before Enzo Rossi, Antonio Conti, and the rest of the Capos arrive.
“Okay, I am not going to waste time.
You know that Lorenzo Palmeri, Enrico Marchese, and Mario Bianchi are all dead, along with their most trusted men.”
Everyone in the room nods, and mumbles, and I have already given Philip the thumbs up to take anyone out if needed, even during this meeting.
“Lorenzo Palmeri’s position as Underboss has gone to Bruno Floro, and you all know he has been my Consigliere for a long time, so I know, and you all know, he’s the ideal choice.
Does anyone have anything to say regarding Bruno’s promotion?”
Silvio, Alex, and Enzo Rossi all quickly congratulate Bruno, and I notice only Terizo Gambolini says nothing.
He’s going to get buried.
I’m positive about that, as my gut is screaming at me to be rid of him.
“Aeron Sava is promoted to Consigliere.
I won’t have any complaints from this point on about any positions I allocate.
If you have a problem, you speak to me after the meeting, and let me lay it out to you, that if the problem is not a legitimate one you will be answerable.”
Saying that I notice again Terizo remains stoic.
But again, congratulations are given to Aeron by everyone else.
“Philip Murano, you will step up as Capo of the East side, taking the area that has been neglected.
You will need to work alongside Bruno and Aeron to create what is needed in that territory.
Report to me every week on your findings and progress.
I also will allocate soldiers to you, and if you have any preferences, you need to say after the meeting.”
I look over at Philip and I know he didn’t want to be a Capo, but he is going to make a first-class one, no matter how he feels about it.
Philip keeps his staunchly straight face as he gives me a slight nod of the head as he replies, “Yes, boss.”
“Enzo, you have spoken to me regarding your territory and the expansion we’ve made over the last years.
I’ve taken into consideration what you’ve asked of me, and I agree we need to split your territory.
I’ll give you the new boundary during the week.”
Enzo quickly nods along with a slight smile, “Thank you, boss.”
I think everyone in the room can see the relief on his face.
“Now, the split of Enzo’s territory is going to Alex Palmeri.
You need to take all the advice you can from Enzo, Alex.
He will not lead you wrong.
Enzo has run a tight ship, but the growth of the territory requires more than one man can control.
You will work alongside Aeron, who will guide you as well.”
Turning I look at Alex for his reaction.
“Thank you, Boss.
I will do all I can to learn from Mr.
Rossi and Mr. Sava,”
Alex replies while giving said men a small nod.
“No need to call us, Mister.
You are an equal with Enzo, so you call him by his name.
Although I have a higher position, I would prefer you call me Aeron when in private settings.
If we are having a full meeting, then yes you would call me by my given title,”
Aeron replies, and he is correct.
I do not want my men having to bow and scrape to others.
They all work for me, and they all need to show respect.
“The west side that was Enrico Marchese’s territory will now be held by Andre Franzone.
Mario Bianchi's territory will now be held by Luigi Di Marzo from this time onward.
I expect all of you in this room to assist in any way that you can if you are asked for it.
Your territory borders touch each other and if I see any sign of trouble from any of you, you will answer to me.”
I make sure that I look into every eye in the room, and again I notice the only one to not hold my gaze is Terizo Gambolini.
“Aeron, I want you to call Mateo Ferenzi and TJ to see me.
Silvio, please stay behind, and Terizo, I want to speak with you in the morning.”
Aeron quickly gives me a ‘Yes, Boss,’ along with Silvio, but everyone notices Terizo scowling and with a sneer on his upper lip.
When he mutters something under his breath, Silvio lunges forward and grabs Terizo around the neck, and one swift movement would snap it.
Silvio looks up to see what I want him to do, and I look at Bruno with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ll take him to the basement and see what is going on.
Philip, you want to come and keep us company?”
Bruno asks.
Terizo struggles more, but Silvio isn’t letting him go, no matter how hard that fucker struggles.
Luigi stuffed a handful of napkins into Terizo’s mouth, so he hadn’t been able to say a word.
I look at Luigi, who shrugs as he states calmly, “I didn’t want to hear a word of whatever bullshit he was going to spout.”
Bruno, along with the two soldiers he’d called into the room, drags Terizo out, and I can hear Bruno cracking his knuckles as he walks past, which, of course, has me smirking.
After dismissing the Capos who I didn’t need to continue speaking with, or informing them of other matters, I can continue with the issue at hand.
“Okay, let us look at this file you have for me, Silvio.”
The next hour is spent going through the information that Silvio has accumulated.
Terizo Gambolini was forcing his daughter into the arranged marriage, even after I told him she had to agree to it.
It also seems he was going to force her to spy on me, with her sister under threat if she didn’t.
He also had been skimming from the customized armored vehicles company we run, which has run into three million dollars at this point.
I throw the papers from my hand onto the table, turn to Aeron and snarl, “Tell Bruno to finish it, and if he doesn’t want to, then I will.”
Aeron nods and walks out of the room to fulfill my order.
Silvio takes a seat and points at the file once more.
“You need to see Enrico and Mario also were skimming.
But I’m sure that Andre and Luigi will find more than I did.
One last thing,”
taking a deep breath, he looks me right in the eye.
“You have Elliana Palmeri promised to you, but you know that her mother, Renata, is as evil as her husband, don’t you? Now that Lorenzo is dead, you can bet Renata will blame Elliana even though she is not here and on the run.”
“I have a team watching her at this time.
Alex warned me she may go after Elli.
If she makes a move, I’ll have no regret placing her next to her husband, and they can both eat swamp.”
I’m not joking at that either.
I would dump their bodies and let the gators have lunch.
“I have eyes on Elli, and if I think she’s in any danger, I’ll have her brought in.
I want to clean up all the mess before I do that if I can.”
Alex taps his fingers on the table, and we all turn to look at him.
“Boss, Elli is more than capable of looking after herself.
You’ll be surprised what she can achieve when she puts her mind to it.
She sees things from a different angle than we do, as men I mean, and I can tell you she’s not worried about what she sees, or how to deal with it.”
Tapping on the door has Mateo and TJ walking into the room.
“You wanted to see us, boss? I’ve left my family with five soldiers, so they should be safe.”
I am impressed he added that last part, or I would have thought he didn’t care about his family.
Sofia needs to be kept safe because I’m sure Elli would kick up a fuss if anything happened to her.
“Yes, I want you to step up as Capo, Mateo.
I want to step out of my territory.
I only ran it because I had to, but I want you to take it over.
I’ll guide you, but you need to step up quickly.
I’ve a mansion in mind for you in that territory which you can have and then settle in.
TJ here is a good soldier, young, but loyal.
I want you to take him as your right-hand man, teach him to be the best he can.
I have ideas for him in the future.”
Both look shocked, but thank me, and place a hand over their hearts while dipping their heads to show respect.
I’m feeling very satisfied with how this meeting has progressed.
I make arrangements for the meetings, and directions that need to be held or given before walking over to my office, and taking a stance in front of the floor to ceiling window which looks over the city.
A tap on the door has me turning my head, and Gail steps inside.
“I have laid a report on your desk, regarding Miss.
Elliana Palmeri.”
“Thank you, Gail.”
I step over to my desk as Gail leaves and closes the office door.
I grin when I see the image underneath the sheet of paper I just lifted.
Elli has had her hair cut.
She’s also had some highlights added.
They look good, and I would think she wanted to change her look somewhat, but it’s too bad.
I see you, I think to myself and grin because she’s one beautiful young woman, and I can’t wait to get to know her.