Untitled
Six months later, I sit at Sergio’s desk waiting for him to enter his home office.
“Nico, I heard you were here.”
I stand, button my navy suit jacket, and turn to the familiar voice. “Dominic, how are you?” I pull him into a bro hug.
“I’m doing well. Always into some sort of trouble.”
“Is that why you aren’t at school?” I ask.
Dominic’s in his last year of law school.
He runs a hand down his green tie. “Sort of. I’m the capo of the Magarelli underworld while my dad carries out his duties as governor. What about you?”
“I’m here seeking information about the Cichellos. I’m hoping it will serve as leverage when I take the throne.”
Dominic flashes a knowing smirk. “Whiskey?” He walks to the bar in the corner.
“Yeah, sure,” I say with a thick New Jersey accent.
“My father was good friends with Tizáno’s brother, Ivano. That’s why he and his family had the protection of the five families.” Dominic pushes the crystal glass filled with three fingers of whiskey into my hand.
“Thanks.” I don’t waste time taking a sip of the whiskey.
Dominic eyes me as he drinks his whiskey.
“How do you know this important piece of information?” I ask.
“I’ve worked one on one with my father for years. He often tells me secrets.”
I release a bitter laugh. “My dad said because I’m not a made man, there’s certain info I can’t have access to.”
“Yet you still came to see my father, the head of the five families.”
“Yeah, well, maybe there’s a job he needs handled. I do the job and he gives me missing pieces to my puzzle.”
Dominic smiles. “You’re thinking like a true boss already.”
“Well, kind of. I’ve been talking to my grandfather, Demario.”
Dominic lifts his glass. “He’s a true legend. You’re lucky to have him at your disposal.”
I nod. “I need to be a ruthless boss who makes good negotiations.”
Dom pats my shoulder. “I love it. We have to hang out more often.”
“I agree.”
Looking into my friend’s green eyes, I can see the heavy stress he carries, juggling the secret role of boss while trying to become an attorney. Life as a mafia man is tough, especially when you haven’t yet earned your place as a made man.
If his brother Dillon were alive, Dominic could focus more on becoming an attorney. He would’ve had someone to split the territories with. Like I’ll have with Nick. I don’t miss the anger that’s always there in his stare. He’s mad at the world for taking his brother from him.
The office door opens and Sergio walks in. He’s the boss of all bosses. You can feel the weight of his power when you’re in his presence. Of course, this is the first time I’ve ever had a sit-down with the Don of the five families.
“We’ll have to handle one of those problems together,” Dominic suggests.
“Yes, we will,” I reply.
He would be the perfect man to have by my side when I make a motherfucker pay for Serenity’s fucked up demeanor.
“Dad, I’ll speak to you in a few,” Dominic says, darting out the door.
“Nico, have a seat,” Sergio orders.
I sit in one of the two seats in front of his desk and take another sip of my whiskey.
“Your father called me months ago. Thought you’d pay me a visit.” He smirks over his shoulder as he walks to the bar.
Shit, I knew he would reach out to him. That’s why I waited.
“My father told me to drop it. So I did at the time. He was dealing with health issues.”
“How is he?” Sergio asks, pouring whiskey into my glass.
He scares the shit out of me appearing at my side like that.
“He’s managing. Cancers a fucking bitch.”
“Yeah, it is,” he agrees as he pushes the glass top into the top of the crystal decanter.
Due to my position in the five families and my family’s strong relationship with the Magarellis. I have nothing to worry about. The older mafia bosses are role models for my generation. Except for the Bertozzis. No one looks up to those assholes.
Sergio pats my shoulder. “Your father’s one of the toughest men I know. He’ll beat this.”
“Thank you.”
He rounds his desk. “What’s on your mind, Nico?”
“My ex-girlfriend is Serenity Cichello. We still see each other.”
He chuckles. “I know you do. Magarelli soldiers follow her. They’ve seen you around her quite a bit.” Sergio sips his vodka.
“Our families were at a private dinner at an estate last year. Serenity’s always so strong and unbothered.
She asked her father if her family was safe with ours and if their men were patrolling the grounds.
I’d never seen her worried like that. Ever since that day, I make sure she feels safe when we’re together. ”
He smiles. “Good. She needs that.”
Sergio runs a hand through his dark hair. “I’ll give you some information. I have a feeling once you become a made man, you’ll learn what happened to her, anyway.”
My heart lurches in my chest.
“Only tell this information to those you trust with your life,” he tells me.
“I understand.”
“I don’t think you do. It wasn’t Serenity who told her father what happened.
It was her mother. Ettore Vero from DC and the head of the Bratva, Aleksandr Novikoff from Baltimore, wanted Newark, Delaware.
It’s a gold mine to run drugs through. Ettore sent his younger brother Gioele, his right-hand man Jeno Mergia, and some muscled fuck Lauro (Lurch) Archioni.
The Cichello bodyguards were all slaughtered, leaving Cerese, Krew, and Serenity exposed.
Tizáno was in town, occupied with business.
Cerese and Krew were downstairs; she was preparing breakfast, getting the kids ready for summer camp.
Ettore’s men bound Krew and Cerese in the living room.
Lurch dragged an unconscious Serenity down the stairs.
Cerese said Serenity’s nose was bleeding. The big bastard hit her in the nose.”
My fists curl on my thighs. He hit her.
Sergio continues. “Serenity came to. Lurch abused her in front of her mother and Krew. Jeno sat back in the chair, watching everything unfold. Gioele was fascinated with Serenity. He talked about having sex with her. Cerese told them to leave her kids alone. They only abused her more. Kicking her in the stomach. Jeno threatened to rape Cerese, then cut the baby out.”
I rest my elbows on my knees and slide my hands over my hair as I listen.
Serenity was the only one left untied. She never attempted to rush to her mother’s defense.
Instead, she begged to endure the worst of the torture, pleading to spare her mother because of the baby.
When Jeno made it clear, they’d all die after Tizáno surrendered his territory, Serenity seemed to realize she had nothing left to lose, and she snapped.
She drew a switchblade hidden in her shoe and swiftly slit Gioelo’s throat.
Without hesitation, she plunged the blade into Lurch repeatedly.
Big Lux, the Cichellos’ head bodyguard, had survived the initial assault and retaliated by killing Jeno.
Cerese tried to soothe Serenity, but she was beyond reach.
As a result, Tizáno arranged for Serenity to be placed under a seventy-two-hour psychiatric hold.
This explains Serenity’s demeanor the day she found out I betrayed her. She told Javier to break my arm. She saw me as her enemy. I’ll never forget the coldness in her eyes. It was like the girl I loved disappeared. Standing in her place was a stone-cold mafia princess.
“Does Ettore know Serenity killed two of his men?”
“Yes. One of Ettore’s rats ran back and told him Serenity killed his men.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. That explains why her name isn’t listed in the school’s database.
“Cerese lost their baby girl. Tizáno made the right decision reaching out to me. I was close to his brother Ivano, who lost his life in a gunfight involving some of my enemies. Before he died, I promised to watch over his brother. Serenity treads carefully every day, fearing something might happen to Cerese and Krew. I doubt she’ll ever live in Delaware again.
“She’s not registered under her name at school,” I mention.
“Tizáno and I think it’s best to give Serenity some sense of a normal life.”
I nod. “Why did you tell me everything?”
“It’s clear you’ve got it bad for Serenity. Does she know you’ll never let her go?”
“I tell her I won’t, but I don’t think she believes me.”
“Why are the Veros and Novikoffs still alive?” I ask.
“It would’ve been a bloody war. We were able to strike a truce at the time. Even though Tizáno wanted to kill them all. He would’ve gotten himself killed. I told Tizáno we had to wait to strike.”
“Let me and my men go after them. I have the support of my grandfather, Demario…”
“The Don of the Cosa Nostra,” he finishes for me.
“Yes. I won’t involve the Pituccos or the rest of the five families.”
“I hope you’ll have a well thought out plan.”
“Yes, as much as I want to move right now. I’ll wait until I’m about to take the throne.”
“Dominic will help you. I’ll also talk to Marco.”
I stand to my feet and stretch my hand out toward Sergio. “Thank you.”
He walks around the desk and takes my hand. “Don’t make me regret my decision to help you.”
“I’ll make you and my dad proud.”
Sergio pulls me into a hug.
The New Jersey Don gave me the green light to take those bastards out when I’m ready. Oh, how they’ll pay for hurting what belongs to me.