12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
WHAT’S HER ENDGAME?
Antonio
“How long do you think we can hide out in here?” Chantal asked while she sat in the arms of her husband, Daniel. “Marianna couldn’t care less about me, but you guys aren’t going to be able to stay hidden for too long before she sends someone to come and get you.”
While my mother and the rest of the family hosted the guests, we convened in my father’s study. None of us could take it anymore. We were all tired. Tired of the people. Tired of the fake concerns and condolences. It had been a long day, and everything was grating on everyone’s nerves. We all needed this time to connect as siblings, grieve the loss of our father with those who felt it.
“I’m fucking done. Let her bitch. I’ve done what I’m supposed to do as the head of this family, now I’d like to grieve my fucking father in peace.”
Agreement echoed throughout the room. We hadn’t been able to grieve our loss because this had to be done, or someone needed to speak to me about shit that didn’t matter right now. Tomorrow, only one day after he’d be in the dirt, my mother requested the reading of his will, not giving a fuck of how his children felt about it. She could handle the rest of the non-necessary bullshit today. My father was in the ground. I didn’t need anyone’s condolences, and they didn’t need me to thank them for coming when none of it was true, and none of it mattered. Their condolences or sorry for your losses changed not a fucking thing. He was still dead, and they all were glad he was gone.
“If I hear I’m sorry for your loss one more fucking time, I’m going to pull my gun and blow someone’s damn head off,” I grumbled.
“You know how it goes bro,” Alessandro chuckled. “Everyone has to pay their respects. If they don’t, it comes across as disrespectful to the new Don. That’s how wars are started.”
It was the first time he had shown any hint of humor since Laney and my father passed away. And I’d never known how much I missed it until now.
Laney was buried a few days ago. It was difficult watching Alessandro mourn her loss. He loved her and they weren’t able to make things right before she died, which I knew was killing him. But every time I asked if he needed to talk, he always declined. He said it wouldn’t change anything.
I made sure to cover the expenses for Laney’s funeral. It was the least I could do. I provided her parents with a severance package as well. She was a loyal employee, and I considered her a friend. They wouldn’t have to worry about anything for as long as they lived.
“Most of these people couldn’t stand Papa,” Chantal chimed in, laying her head against her husband’s chest. “I hate all the fakeness. Just be who you are. If you don’t like the man, why even be here?”
“You know that’s not how it works Chan. Respect goes a long way in this world,” Alessandro said. “Not showing up can cause a lot of unnecessary bloodshed.”
“He’s right, Chan.” Daniel said, pulling Chantal closer to him. “It’s the same in the biker world. Respect is everything.”
“It’s just a bunch of dumb shit that’s all I’m saying,” she responded, shrugging. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is something I could never get used to.”
“But it’s something that kept Papa alive a lot longer than most Don’s,” Alessandro said.
We all sat in silence for a few minutes, letting Alessandro’s words sink in. Among the Five Families, Papa held control the longest, ascending to power at twenty-one, the youngest person to ever do so. He also led the largest organization. For over forty years he ran the Rizzo Famiglia, now that he was gone, it was up to me to continue his legacy.
“It’s doesn’t sit right with me, how he died,” Alessandro blurted out, getting everyone’s attention. “How either one of them died.”
My thoughts were the same, but I only voiced them to Aaliyah. I wasn’t sure how my brother and sister would take the news. Despite my mother’s dramatics today, there was just something in my gut telling me, she had something to do with the shooting especially the way she’d been acting since my father gave us his blessing to marry.
“I thought the same thing,” I said.
Everyone, except Aaliyah, had a surprised look on their faces when they looked at me. Aaliyah and I talked about the potential involvement of my mother in my father’s death. Aaliyah didn’t trust her, and neither did I.
“I’m not sure who had helped her pull this off, but I believe Marianna had something to do with his death,” I continued. “But what I need is proof.”
“Wait. You think she had something to do with Papa’s death?” Anger welled up in Chan’s eyes. “I knew she hated me, but why would she turn on him?”
“Because he never loved her. And she felt the little power she had slipping away when announced my marriage to Aaliyah.” I pecked Aaliyah on the lips before I took a sip of whiskey from my rocks glass. “She would no longer be Donna as soon as Papa stepped aside which we had already discussed would be soon. All the loyalty, prestige, that comes with that would be Aaliyah’s now.”
“But killing him caused you to take over quicker,” Chantal said.
“He wasn’t the target, Aaliyah was,” I said. “Papa and Laney where just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“What’s her endgame?” Alessandro asked. “What would killing Aaliyah do other than cause you to burn this city to the ground?”
“I’m not sure, but Aaliyah picked up on some chatter on the dark web. Something is coming, but we haven’t found out what yet or who is behind it. But we think Marianna has something to do with it.”
“More than this?” Alessandro asked. “More than killing our father? More than killing Laney?”
Alessandro’s eyes were filled with an undeniable fire. He held on to the love for our mother much longer than I had. He always believed she could be redeemed. I knew otherwise. Marianna Rizzo was vindictive and was as evil as they came. There would be no redemption for her. She could only beg for forgiveness and salvation when she met her maker. Which would be soon if I could prove she had something to do with all this.
“Yes,” was my simple response.
What more could I say? Our mother had tried to have kill my wife and, in the process, killed our father and the woman Alessandro loved.
“She can’t get away with this Tony!” Chantal shouted. “She killed him!”
“She killed Laney,” Alessandro said.
“And she won’t get away with it,” I said. “We just need to keep our cool a little longer. Hold on until we have something concrete.”
While seated on my lap, Aaliyah wrapped her arms around me. We’d only been married a little over a week, but it seemed like we’d known each other a lifetime. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was thankful my father had given his blessing and had been there to see the wedding.
Aaliyah ran her hands through my hair. The gentle touch of her fingertips on my scalp made me moan.
“I can’t wait to get you home,” I whispered in her ear. “I need you.”
“I need you too.”
Tapping on the door elicited groans from everyone in the room.
“I told you so,” Chantal said, then taking a sip of the wine she’d been nursing since we all escaped to my father’s private office upstairs. My study now. According to Daniel she was only allowed to have one glass since she was still breastfeeding.
“Come in!” I called out.
Franco’s eyes darted around the room as soon as he walked in. He wiped his palms down his dress slacks.
“Yes, Franco?”
“Sorry for the interruption Don, but the Donna would like you to come downstairs.”
Aaliyah tensed up, and she had every right to do so. My mother was no longer Donna of the family. That would be Aaliyah. Ever since my father passed away, the soldiers have been constantly needing correction on something that shouldn’t require any correction. Both me and Aaliyah were getting tired of the bullshit.
“Well, Franco it’s kind of funny that the Donna is requesting my presence downstairs when she’s sitting right here in my lap.”
My tone made him flinch, and his eyes moved from Aaliyah to mine.
“Sorry, boss, but...”
“Is my mother insisting that everyone call her Donna instead of my wife?” I asked cutting off whatever he wanted to say.
He paused, struggling to confirm what I already expected. His eyes revealed the internal battle of answering honestly or dealing with my mother’s fury. I tapped Aaliyah on the thigh. When she rose, I walked in front of Franco invading his space.
“Franco, who am I?”
He furrowed his brow in puzzlement.
“You’re Don Rizzo,” he said without hesitation. “The bosses of bosses.”
“That’s right, I am all those things. And do you answer to me or my mother?”
“You,” he said.
“You’re right again, Franco. So, I suggest you answer my fucking question,” I said as I calmly could. “Is my mother having everyone refer to her as Donna?”
He lowered his head. “Yes, Don.”
“And what did she say?”
“Boss, I don’t want to snitch.”
“I’m not asking what the fuck you want Franco! I want to know what she said about not addressing my wife as Donna.”
He let out a sigh. “She said not to refer to the black bitch as Donna,” he mumbled like a child would do when they knew they would anger their parents with the answer they were about to give.
Rage consumed me as I balled my fists, resisting the urge to strangle Franco. He wasn’t the issue. My mother was.
“No offense,” he stammered when he saw my expression.
“What else?” I questioned while gritting my teeth. “What else did she say Franco!”
“She said... she said she would never be the Donna of this family if she had anything to say about it, and if we disobeyed her, our families would pay the price.”
I gave Franco a nod and affectionately patted his cheek. He released a sigh, his shoulders sagging in relief. He was young. Maybe nineteen or twenty. He grew up in the life and I didn’t fault him for doing as my mother demanded. He was groomed to follow the orders of the Rizzo’s, but now things would change in this family no matter what my mother said. I was the head, not her. No matter how much she wanted to be.
“Aaliyah is your Donna, Franco. No harm will come to you or your family, I promise. As a reward for the truth come to me tomorrow and we will discuss your future in the organization. I’ve got a job for you.”
His eyes grew larger in surprise. “Yes, boss.”
Franco shifted his focus onto Aaliyah. “I’m sorry for the disrespect Donna. It won’t happen again.”
“Thank you for your apology, Franco,” Aaliyah said. “Could you please tell Marianna, the Don and I will be down in a few minutes?”
He gave a nod and quickly left my office.
I went back to my desk and pulled Aaliyah onto my lap. I’d keep Franco close to me. He was young and impressionable. I would use it to my advantage before others did.
“What do you have in mind?” Aaliyah asked, rubbing her fingers through my hair again.
It was something she did to calm my anger. And if it wasn’t for her, I’d string my mother up and gut her like a fucking pig, for the disrespect.
“Don’t make a scene, bro,” Alessandro said, cutting through my thoughts of how many ways I could torture my mother before putting her out of her misery. “Just wait until the guests leave, then handle everything. So, it doesn’t look like you’re not in control. That’s what she wants. She wants the other Families to question your leadership.”
My mother’s dislike for Aaliyah grew stronger after our wedding, and so did my own hatred for her. When I was younger, I thought my mother’s love was unconditional. Then my view of her changed with her treatment of my sister. The person she was, she couldn’t hide from me anymore. She loved no one but Marianna Rizzo.
“He’s right, Tony,” Chantal agreed. “Marianna knows what’s she’s doing. She’s trying to drive a wedge between you two through your men. Make you look incompetent to outsiders. Don’t let her win. Wait and call a meeting when everyone has left.”
“And what do you think, Bella?” I asked when I gazed into her beautiful brown eyes.
Although I valued the advice of my sister and Alessandro as my Consigliere, Aaliyah was my Donna, and we decided things together when needed.
“I agree. We put on a united front, and when everyone leaves, we let the men know what we expect of them. You and only you are the head of this family. It’s time everyone learned to follow or face the consequences.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
I planted a kiss on her lips, then took a sip of liquor. There comes a time in a man’s life when he had to make tough decisions to ensure the survival of his family. Marianna showed me every day while we shared the same blood, she was no longer my mother—she was not famiglia. The one thing she would find out soon was I didn’t take kindly to people fucking with my family. Marianna’s days were numbered.