Chapter Nine
Marcello
Devastatingly Beautiful
Last night was both beautiful and devastating. I made love to Safia, which opened up windows in my mind, body and soul that I never knew were closed. As I came down from that emotional high, I found out that the girl I loved had been tormented by the loss of her family and lived in constant fear for her life.
The most devastating part of it all was having to kiss her goodbye, leaving her in the care of her uncle, and pulling out of her driveway without her. I wanted nothing more than to keep her here with me, to protect her, to make sure the carefree laughter and smiles she so easily gave to me remained a part of her.
Instead of holding her in my arms, I spent the night scouring the internet, reading everything I could about her family’s demise. The tragedy of three people being killed in a car bombing, leaving one surviving family member had been national news.
As I sat across from my father the next morning at the breakfast table, I understood clearly what power move I had to make. It was as if the universe had aligned itself with my needs and provided the answers before I knew I needed them.
“So, about Nonno”s proposition,” I began cautiously, stirring my coffee absentmindedly. “He wants me to prepare to step into Vito”s role as the capo.”
My father nodded thoughtfully, his gaze steady as he processed my words. “I had a feeling you would want to talk about that this morning,” he replied evenly, setting down his mug with a thoughtful expression.
“I”m ready,” I admitted, my voice resolute. “Vito was barely older than I am when he took over, and he has proved to be a capable capo. I will do the same.”
My father leaned back in his chair, studying me with a sense of pride. “It”s a big responsibility, Marcello,” he acknowledged quietly. “But you have the strength and intelligence to handle it.”
I swirled the coffee in my cup. “What about Safia?” I asked, my voice portraying the worry that had kept me awake the night before.
“Who is Safia?”
“Turns out, that’s Lanay’s real name.”
My father raised an eyebrow. “Well, it’s a beautiful name. And I think it fits her better than Lanay.”
“It does. I like Safia,” I agreed, the name rolling off my tongue with a sense of rightness.
“And I’m assuming,” he continued, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glint, “that based on the smile on your face, last night was a night of firsts for you two.”
“Dad…”
“Remember, Marcello,” he said, his tone both serious and teasing, “I don’t ask questions I don’t already know the answer to. What you shared last night is still written all over your face.”
I sighed, unable to keep the grin from spreading across my face. “She’s incredible. And very important to me. And if I take on this role, maybe I can protect her better. Maybe I can have more power to keep her safe from whoever is after her.”
“There is someone after her?” my father questioned with a quirked brow.
I hesitated, the image of Safia”s face flashing through my mind. Her safety, her well-being, overshadowed every other concern. “I”m not sure anyone is after her,” I admitted, swirling my coffee. “But there”s something else I need to tell you.”
He leaned forward, his interest piqued. “What is it?”
“Safia,” I said quietly. “She’s been through so much. More than anyone knows. And if taking on this role means I can protect her better, maybe it’s worth it.”
My father was the most powerful influence in my life. If anyone would help me keep the girl that I loved safe, it would be him. So, with full confidence that I could trust my father with Safia’s secret, I explained to him the true reason we were just learning her name. I told him all the horrors she had experienced. I explained about the witness protection program and how her uncle had entered the program with her.
“Then, you know what you have to do,” my father said resolutely. “Every good man will protect what belongs to him, and I assume after last night, you are claiming her as yours.”
“I have claimed her as mine since the day I first laid eyes on her. She is mine.”
“Then, son, she’s yours to protect.”
“She is,” I confirmed.
“Well, then she is mine to protect as well. I will consider her as I would a daughter. We will use the full power of my security and any other resources I have to protect her,” my father said, excusing himself to his study.
When I left the kitchen, I had a new sense of purpose.
***
I met up with Romeo an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. The warehouse had seen better days, but it was the location I intended to start my new luxury car dealership.
Romeo was already there waiting when I arrived. He leaned against his sleek black Mercedes, the epitome of effortless cool. He had hustled a lot of drugs just to get that car, and he was proud of it.
He looked up as I approached, his face breaking into a grin.
“Marcello, my man! Long time no see,” he called out, clapping me on the back as I reached him.
“Yeah, it’s been a whole twelve hours,” I replied, returning his grin.
We settled on the hood of his car, the metal warm from the sun. For a moment, we just sat there, taking in the view of the desolate property surrounding us.
Then, I broke the silence.
“I need to talk to you about something important,” I began, my tone more serious than usual.
Romeo glanced at me, his expression curious. “What’s up?”
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “After my talk with my grandfather last night, I’ve decided I’m getting serious with my life. I’m about to step into Vito’s shoes as the capo of Columbus, so shit is about to get real, quickly.”
For a split second, I saw something flash in Romeo’s eyes—a flicker of something dark. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Man, that’s huge,” he said, his voice steady. “Congratulations, capo! You deserve it.”
“We’ll see how it goes, and you can congratulate me later,” I humbly replied.
His initial reaction lingered in my mind, but I shook it off, chalking it up to my own nerves.
“You’re going to be great,” he commented.
“So, listen. You’re the person I trust the most, and everyone needs someone they can trust beside them,” I said, clasping a hand on his shoulder. “How do you feel about being my right-hand man, my consigliere?”
Romeo’s eyes widened slightly, then he leaned back, a slow grin spreading across his face. “You serious?”
“Dead serious,” I confirmed. “I don’t want you wasting your time with petty street deals anymore. We’re about to do bigger things. Much, much bigger.”
I paused, letting my words sink in before continuing. “Soon, I plan to open my own luxury car dealership as a front. We move high-end cars, but we also move product. We’ll start importing goods—drugs, contraband, whatever gets us the most profit—through the dealership. On the surface, it’s all about selling cars, but underneath, we’ll have a network that makes money hand over fist.”
Romeo’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “That’s some next-level shit, Marcello. I’m in.”
“Good,” I said, relieved. “We’ll make sure everything is airtight. The dealership’s legitimate business will cover our tracks. We’ll use the shipping containers and transport logistics to move our goods. The profits will be insane.”
Romeo nodded, clearly impressed by the plan. “And we’ll keep it quiet. No flashy moves, no unnecessary attention. Just smart business.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. “We keep our heads down and build something that no one can touch. And in return, you’ll be more than just a dealer. You’ll be my partner, my confidant.”
He extended his hand, and I shook it firmly. “Always got your back, Marcello. Just like you got mine.”
“Always,” I echoed. “We’ll get E-Smooth and Altoni in on it too; we will do this together.”
As we leaned back against the car, I allowed myself a moment to imagine the future. With a solid plan in place, I felt more confident than ever. I could see the path ahead, and it was lined with opportunities and wealth. More importantly, it was a path to secure my future with Safia.
She needed someone with power and strength. Someone that could drive her enemy from the shadows into the light. She needed me to crush them underneath the strength of my empire, but first I had to build it.
I would give her everything she desired.