26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
BE NICE
Aaliyah
I watched as the vibrant landscape outside whizzed by. In the early morning hours, the sky was painted with hues of orange and pink. I only had a few hours to spare because Antonio’s surgery had been scheduled for today. But there was no way I could get out of this.
Alessandro and I were making our way to meet with the other heads of the Families, the anticipation thick in the air. When news spread of Tony being shot, calling this meeting became their priority. While I didn’t believe they cared about Tony at all, they could have at least trusted that the Family was in capable hands. They automatically looked at the Family as being weak without him at the head, but they underestimated me. Like everyone in this world.
“Are you nervous?” A smile graced Alessandro’s face as he asked his question.
I looked at him, and his contagious smile made me unable to resist smiling back. “I’ve dealt with these types of men for a long time Alessandro. No, I’m not nervous.”
“Don’t underestimate them, Aaliyah.”
I let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Look, I understand your concern Alessandro, but it is them who should be worried. I will not underestimate them, but I do know that they will underestimate me and that will be their mistake.” I grasped his hand then let it go. “Everything will be fine.”
The black town car glided to a stop in front of a grand wrought-iron gate. Although this meeting was supposed to be in neutral territory, I insisted on bringing Abel and Luca along for added protection. I didn’t trust these people and Alessandro didn’t argue with them being with us, so I assumed he didn’t trust them either.
With a slow creak, the gate opened, allowing Luca to drive the car through. As we traveled up the long driveway, the towering trees formed a canopy overhead. After a few minutes, the driveway widened into a clearing, revealing a grand mansion at the end.
“This is where every emergency meeting is held for the Five Families,” Alessandro said. “This belongs to Sonja Romero.”
“And who is that?” I asked because the name was unfamiliar to me. I had never heard of it before.
“The Romero’s are the only Italian family who have roots in all the Italian organizations, so they don’t support any of us. However, whenever issues do arise in any of the organizations, this is where everything is hashed out. With no violence,” he said with his brow arched.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.
“Because I know you, Aaliyah.”
“I only resort to violence when it’s called for, Alessandro. As long as they don’t try to kill me, they will all walk out of here alive.”
A deep sigh escaped his lips, filled with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. “Be nice, Aaliyah,” he said as the car pulled to a stop in front of the mansion.
A smile spread across my face, but I remained silent. My actions only depended on the actions of others. He didn’t have to worry about me doing anything as long as the boys played nice.
With Abel’s outstretched hand offering support, I exited the car and was immediately greeted by a refreshing breeze. I waited until Alessandro caught up to me, and together we made our way towards the front door, with Abel and Luca trailing behind us. When we reached the towering door, it creaked open, and we were met by the sight of an older man in a plain black suit, standing there to greet us.
“How may I help you?”
“We’re here to meet with the Families,” Alessandro said. “This is Mrs. Rizzo, Donna of the Rizzo Family.”
The man’s eyes flickered back to me, then shifted to Alessandro, before he gestured for us to enter. After we crossed the threshold, he shut the door behind us, sealing us off from the outside world.
“Only the heads of each family are allowed in the meeting,” the man said as we followed behind him towards the patio. “All guards must remain in here.”
Abel’s face twisted with discomfort, evident in his expression. Neither he nor I trusted these people, but I had confidence in my ability to take care of myself. I gave him a nod, and even though I could tell he didn’t want to, he reluctantly broke off from me and Alessandro. He followed Luca into the sitting area, where the other guards were already waiting.
“Could you come with me, please,” the man said, the sound of the French patio doors sliding open, echoed through the room.
First, Alessandro emerged from the room, and I trailed behind him, my eyes fixed on the table where the four Dons and their Consiglieres sat, deep in discussion. However, as soon as their eyes landed on me all conversation ceased.
“Gentlemen,” I greeted with a slight nod.
As Alessandro pulled my chair out, all of them stood, showing their respect. At least they all had some manners.
As I settled into my seat, their lingering stares made it clear they were unsure about my presence. However, I had no intention of initiating this conversation. They were the ones who initiated this meeting.
“Donna,” Don Viscuso said, surprise clear in his voice. “We weren’t expecting you.” “We thought Don Rizzo’s Underboss would be acting in your husband’s place.”
You could tell by the way he hesitated to call me Donna, he was reluctant to acknowledge my position. However, he understood disrespecting me in front of everyone would also disrespect my husband.
I vividly remembered the moment when I first met him. He acted as if I didn’t exist, completely ignoring my presence. Tony had warned me he was one of the Don’s who had pushed for a union between a purebred Italian woman in order to preserve the family’s bloodlines.
A wide smile spread across my face. “I’m sure you weren’t, Don Viscuso. So why have you gentlemen called this meeting? As you know my husband is indisposed at the moment, so I’ve stepped in to take over his duties.”
“And that right there is going to be an issue,” Don Viscuso said. “We are Cosa Nostra . We will not recognize your power.”
I tilted my head, studying the older gentlemen intently. As he started to squirm in his seat, a mischievous smile crept across my face. “Whether you recognize me or not, Don Viscuso, I really don’t care.”
The sound of gasps filled the air as everyone at the table reacted. What did they expect me to do? Sit in silence and go along with whatever they said.
“I have the backing of my husband and my Family,” I continued. “And none of you in this room can or will remove me from my rightful place.” I abruptly raised my hand, halting the older man’s words. “I’m not finished.”
With a menacing glare, he held his tongue, leaving the tension hanging in the air.
“Whether you want me here or not, I’m not going anywhere. If you want to remove me from power, then you will leave me no choice but to declare war on any member that goes against my family. And I assure you, that’s a war you will not win.”
“Are you threatening us?” Don Puglisi asked, his round cheeks flushed crimson.
These men definitely didn’t appreciate a powerful woman. But they had better get used to it because this was their new reality. While Tony recovered, I was the person they’d be dealing with. And if they wanted to cross me, then I would be the one taking over their territory and absorbing their families into mine.
I leaned back in my chair, my attention fixed on Don Puglisi. “I don’t make threats Don Puglisi. Just look at it as a friendly warning. I’m not here to step on anyone’s toes, but I will protect my family. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care how much power you think you have. I can guarantee you I have more than all of you in this room. You can remain civil with me, or you can become my enemy. The choice is yours.”
“It’s not wise to make enemies of us, Donna,” Don Viscuso said.
Don Cavallaro from the Cavallaro family and Don Lombardo from the Vitale family were the only Dons who hadn’t spoken. They simply watched. Antonio informed me that these two men had no interest in old-world traditions and were fine with our marriage.
“And it’s not wise to underestimate me, Don Viscuso. My husband’s wishes have been made clear. Each one of you sitting at this table has received notice of those intentions. I hope you abide by what he has decided.”
I shifted my chair and rose to my feet. I didn’t have time to engage with men who opposed change. I was the head of this family until Tony took back the reigns. They might as well get used to it or do something about it. And if it came to that, then I would be ready.
“If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to my husband.”
“We’re not done here!” Don Viscuso’s shout echoed as his hand forcefully collided with the table. “You will listen to what we have to say!”
And they called women emotional.
I leaned forward, placing both hands firmly on the table, while glaring at the old man. If he didn’t calm down, he was going to have a heart attack.
“Don Viscuso, I have not disrespected you and you will not disrespect me. I’ve been nothing but civil despite how you have treated me. I suggest you change your tone when you’re speaking to me.”
“Who the hell do you think you are!” Don Viscuso shouted.
“I am Aaliyah Rizzo. Wife of Don Antonio Rizzo, Jr., daughter of Abasi Sefu. That is who I am.”
At the mention of my father’s name, their eyes widened in surprise. Yes, that was who I was, and it was time that they recognized the person who held the actual power at this table. And it wasn’t them.
“Donna thank you for coming,” Don Cavallero said, interrupting Don Viscuso. “I just needed to make sure I knew where the Rizzo family stood. Being here has told me all I needed to know.”
As he stood, he extended his hand across the table, bridging the distance between us. I firmly gripped his hand. “Thank you, Don.”
Don Lombardo stood next, reached out his hand, and I grasped it. No words were exchanged between us, but I believe he understood my position and I understood his. Don Viscuso and Don Puglisi stared at me, but they were aware of my stance too.
“Gentlemen,” I said before walking away.
Luca and Abel got up and trailed behind me and Alessandro as we walked back into the house, then to the car. As soon as we were inside the car, Alessandro’s laughter resonated inside the vehicle.
“What’s so funny?” I asked. “I thought I handled that pretty well.”
“You did. That was the shortest sit down I’ve ever attended.”
I rolled my eyes. “If they hadn’t been trying to put me in my place, it would have gone on longer and we could have gotten some things done. I don’t like them.”
“I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual,” Alessandro said. “We just need to make sure we keep an eye on Viscuso and Puglisi.”
I was in agreement. I wouldn’t get comfortable in my position. I already had one person after me, I was sure I needed to add these two men to the list.