Chapter 19
~Dominic~
Screams echo through the empty warehouse in Brooklyn. I pass by the men who are guarding the door when I enter. To the unsuspecting eyes the wide-open space looks like a warehouse used for storing building materials, but it’s a front to hide our illicit merchandise.
Dante meets me at the entrance. “Is everyone here?” He nods as we head towards the back of the room.
It’s time everyone is reminded of what can happen when they cross me.
A demonstration is long overdue. Traitors within the Cosa Nostra cannot be tolerated if the Family wishes to prosper.
They can cause the entire organization to topple.
I'm irate because of what this traitorous piece of shit has done. He almost cost Elle her life. In our world, loose lips need to be closed permanently. I clench my hands looking forward to making an example of the asshole. After this, anyone who’s thinking of selling us out for money would think twice about it.
“Dario has been working on Leo for hours. He admitted to informing the Albanians about Elle’s connection to you. When he mentioned that you were guarding the girl, it piqued their interest. They figured that she was important to you. We think that their goal was to use her as bait.”
“Did he reveal how long he was feeding them information?” “The motherfucker, says that they only contacted him after he returned from guarding Elle in Upstate, New York. I’m inclined to believe him, because he didn’t have an inflow of cash into his account prior to this.”
“Lorenzo wasn’t involved in this betrayal.
” He informs me. I nodded to Dante. Lorenzo was the other guard who had been left behind to protect Elle.
I’m happy to hear that he remained loyal.
As the betrayal of one man is one too many.
It appears that I must remind everyone who the king of this jungle is.
It has been some time since my last demonstration.
When I’d taken over from my father seven years ago, I had to assert myself.
There were things that I’ve had to do that I’m not proud of to secure my reign.
But, it was necessary to maintain control and prevent our enemies from encroaching on our territory.
As time went by, my critics became silent.
They had no choice as the New York Family became more profitable under my direction.
Every made man knows that betraying the Family is a death sentence. It’s forbidden. It’s an unspoken rule. But a reminder is required. So why not….kill two birds with one stone today? Deal with a traitor and remind everyone from the capos down to the lowliest soldier about what happens to one.
By the time we’ve reached the back of the warehouse the screams had died down.
I walk pass all the men assembled in front of the makeshift torture room.
Clear plastic lines the walls and floor of the small room, that’s off the main area of the warehouse.
The men had the foresight to cover the wall and floor to make the cleanup easier.
Leo is tied to a chair in the middle of the room.
His head is slumped forward and he’s motionless.
I address all the men that I’ve instructed to be gathered here.
“Leo here, has betrayed the Family to the Albanians.” A few of the younger soldiers take a step back, intimidated by my intense stare and threatening posture.
The men who’ve been with me longer recognize this side of me.
They know to steer clear when I adopt this persona leaving the carefree one behind.
“He sold information about my future wife to them, putting her life in danger.” There is a hush of silence at this announcement.
If I wasn’t so angry I would be amused by the looks of shock on the men’s faces.
Especially the council members, who probably think that they should have been privy to this information before the rest of the masses knew.
“With my uncle’s plot against me and now Leo’s betrayal…. it has become evident that some of you need to be reminded of what Don Vitelli does to snitches. It would be remiss of me if I don’t demonstrate how traitors are dealt with.”
As I make my way towards Leo, I remove my jacket and hang it on a chair just outside the room.
Unbuttoning my cuffs, I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt.
I stand in front of his motionless body.
There’s blood pooling at his feet and multiple digits that are no longer attached to his hands are lying on the floor.
The bastard has passed out and this wouldn’t do.
I need him awake for what I have in store for him.
“Wake him!” One of the men rushed forward and doused him with a bucket of water. He startles awake and sputters in confusion. When Leo recognizes me, there’s a look of utter terror and resignation on his face. He knows he’s not leaving here breathing today.
“Boss….I’m sorry…..I didn’t know that they would go after her.
” He tries to plead. “Enough! Bastard, you put someone who was under my protection in harm's way. Speaking to outsiders is against our code, we all know this.” By this time, he is weeping.
“Hold him!” Leo tries to thrash about in the chair.
He is held from behind. Removing the blade from the table in the side of the room I return to stand in front of him sliding my finger along the sides of the blade.
“Open his shirt.” Dario rips his shirt open, and buttons scatter across the floor.
Leo whimpers. I press the tip of the knife into his chest, carving out the word: TRAITOR.
Blood seeps down his chest into his pants.
I ignore his screams. I then sink the blade into his abdomen just below his sternum, dragging it down to his navel.
Blood splatters on my shirt and coats my hands.
His breath becomes labored and the contents of his abdomen spills through the laceration.
Stepping behind him, I jerk his head back and slit his throat, putting him out of his misery.
The screams stop abruptly and are replaced by a gurgling sound as he chokes on his own blood.
Dropping the knife, I wash my hands in the sink at the corner of the room.
Facing the men assembled. I take my time to roll the sleeves of my shirt down.
"Let this be a reminder to you all about what happens to traitors.” I walk away and I retrieve my jacket putting it back on.
“Clean this up.” It was a good thing that I had the foresight to wear dark clothing today.
I exited the warehouse with Dario and Dante trailing behind me. Ignoring the council members who were trying to get my attention to ask about my future bride.