Chapter 2 #2
She finally relents after one last run through. I loved my hair; it gave me a bad boy look. Plus, the girls always wanted to touch it because they said it was so soft and shiny.
“Let us be on our way. I refuse to hear Romano’s mouth if we are late. I swear, sometimes he forgets that its four families that run the syndicate. He seems to think his family is above the rest of ours.” Papà rants as he places mothers wrap around her shoulders.
“Don’t worry, Papà. When I’m Don, I’ll make sure our family will stand out among the others.” I boast.
He gives me a stern look. “No family is greater than the other, Davide. We are a syndicate, which means we move as one. When one moves in a different direction from the others, it can cause our entire foundation to crumble. Giovanni has tried, but he knows we put everything to a vote, majority rules, and if there is a tie in votes, the issue is mote until we all can agree on it. Never think that you are better than the others, they will take that as disrespect and begin to resent you for it.”
“Okay, Papà,” I sigh, but it still didn’t change the way I felt. The Russo family would be greater than the rest, I just wouldn’t rub it in Luca and Matteo’s faces.
An hour and a half later, I was ready to pull my fucking hair out.
This had to be the most boring gala I had ever attended.
The adults seemed to be having a grand old time as they mingled with each other, sipping on top-notch champagne and nibbling on the hor’dourves that was being offered by the many wait staff.
Luca, Matteo, and I sat at one of the tables in the far corner.
Like me, they didn’t want to be here either.
We’ve spent most of our time ragging on the guests.
It was amazing to see how some of these men and women acted just to be in the inner circle of the Dons.
I watched on as my mother had to stare down a few women who got too friendly with my papà.
“And why are you boys not out with the crowd?” A deep voice asks from the side of us.
We turn to see a tall gentleman in a black tuxedo puffing on a cigar, staring at us.
Even with his suit on, you could tell he was extremely built.
He looked to be younger than my papà. Standing next to him was a larger man with an ugly scar that ran down the side of his face.
“Who are you?” I question, glaring back at him.
The gentleman looks at the scarred man, and they both begin to laugh. “Who am I? Well, maybe I should be asking you that, since this is my father’s house.” He takes a puff of his cigar.
Oh shit, this was old man Romano’s son. I’ve heard stories about him, and none were good. He was cold and heartless and was quick to kill a man without thinking twice about it.
“I see you’ve figured out who I am. Yes, boys, I am Andres Romano, and this is my right-hand man, Rocco. Now, who might you fine young gentlemen be?”
“I’m Davide Russo, son of Don Alessandro Russo,” I answer, first staring him in his eyes.
“I am Luca Mancino Jr., son of Don Luca Mancino Sr,” Luca says after me. Andres nods, then glances at Matteo.
“I’m Matteo Ricci, son of Don Leonardo Ricci,” Matteo adds, as Andres nods his head up and down.
“Nice to meet you, future Dons. Maybe we’ll do business together in the future.” He says, before he and his man walk away.
Luca, Matteo, and I gawk at him as he makes his way through the crowd.
Women fawn over him as they reach out to touch him.
He gives them a killer smile that has them swooning.
Men shook his hand out of respect. Andres carried himself like a true Don.
When his father steps down, and he takes over, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
“Wow, that was Andres Romano! I heard he smiles the whole time he’s killing a man.” Luca whispers.
“Yeah, I’ve heard some pretty crazy shit about him too. That’s why they call him the Snatcher of Souls.” Matteo adds.
I smirk because someday people will speak about me in the same fashion. Just then, a piercing sound comes over the speakers. Giovanni stands in the middle of the floor with Andres by his side.
“Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight. This is truly a momentous occasion. As fathers, we watch our sons grow to become the men they are destined to be. We train them into becoming our mirror images because they are the next in line to run our families.” He pauses, scanning the crowd.
“With that being said, I want to formally announce my son, Andres, will officially be taking over as the new Don of our Romano family.” Giovanni turns to Andres and pulls him into a hug.
Andres hugs him back. I don’t know if the other spectators saw it or not, but there was no love in his eyes, as he embraced his father.
I wonder what that was all about. Giovanni pulls back from him, then kisses one of his cheeks, then the other before they both face the crowd who erupts into loud cheers and applause for the father and son.
Now the party was in full swing. Lively, music was blaring as more rounds of champagne were being handed out to the guests.
Papà was the first to shake Andres’ hand.
He leaned over and whispered something in Andres’ ear before giving his shoulder a firm grip then letting go.
Andres smiles, as he nods back at him. Dons Mancino and Ricci congratulated him next.
Even though Giovanni announced Andres as the new Don Romano, he still had to meet with Papà and the other Dons so they could formally accept him.
Papà told me, someday, I’ll have to do the same when it was my time to take over.
Still bored out of my mind and the thought of another kid trying to make a move on Francesca had me thinking of ways to get out of here. Then an idea hits me. I lean over to Luca and Matteo.
“Hey, do you guys want to get out of here and go to a party in the Level?” I ask in a hushed tone.
They both grin at the idea of getting away from this geriatric soiree. I lean in further. “Okay, here’s the plan, we’ll tell our parents we’re not feeling well then ask to have our drivers take us home, but instead of going home, we’ll tell the drivers to take us to the Level. Simple, right?”
Luca rubs his chin. “I don’t know...if all three of us say we’re sick, then they might get suspicious.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna work,” Matteo adds.
I sat back in my chair, trying to come up with another plan.
Seconds later, I sit up again. “Fuck it, I told my papa I didn’t want to come here tonight, so I’ll just ask him if I can leave early and have you guys come back with me to keep me company.
They seem like they’ll be partying into the wee hours anyway, so we can make it back to my house before my parents return. ”
Luca looks into the crowd at his parents dancing on the dance floor. “Now that might work.”
“I’m down.” Matteo chimes in.
“Okay, go ask your parents if you can spend the night at my house, and I’ll let my papà and mother know we’re bored and want to go to the house. Meet me at the front entrance in ten minutes.” I tell them.
We get up, making our way to our parents. Papà and mother are sipping champagne and talking to an elderly couple when I approach them.
“Excuse me Papà, can I speak to you for a moment?” I ask politely.
“Look at you, Davide! You’re growing up to be a handsome young man.” The woman beams, taking hold of my chin with her witch looking fingers.
The urge to pull away from her grasp weighs heavy on me, but I resist. I didn’t want my plan to fail before I even put it into motion.
“Thank you,” I respond, waiting for her to remove her hand.
“You’re quite welcome, young man. I swear if I was sixty years younger...” She starts.
“That’s enough champagne for you, Celia.” Her husband says, taking the flute from her hand.
I have to swallow down the vomit that was trying to escape from my mouth. I’ve heard some nasty shit before, but what she just said topped it all.
“What did you need, figlio?” Papà asks, chuckling.
Taking in a big gulp of air, I reply, “Papà, I’m really bored, and I was wondering if I could head back to the house now? Also, would it be okay if Luca and Matteo could come and spend the night if their parents approve?”
“But the party is just getting started, Davide.” Papà counters.
“Yes, but it’s just getting started for the adults. We’re bored, at least if we went back to the house, we could watch movies or play video games. Please, Papà?” I plead, hoping he would cave.
“Oh, Alessandro, let the poor boys go. There is nothing here for them to do. You wanted Davide to come, and he did. Now, let the poor boy go.” Mother says with a slight slur.
Papà lets out a deep breath, before saying, “Fine, but you boys go straight to the house.”
The notion to jump up and down like a little kid hits me, but I keep my cool. “We will, papà. Thank you!”
“Instruct the driver to come back here after he drops you off.” Papà directs.
“I will!” I say in a rush, as I kiss mother on the cheek then hurry to the front door to find Luca and Matteo. They were waiting for me when I got there.
“Did it work?” I question walking up to them.
“Yeah, we’re good. What about you?” Matteo counters.
“We’re set. Now, let’s go have some real fun.” I answer high fiving them.
Twenty-five minutes later, we were pulling up to the old abandoned house in the Level where the party was taking place.
Kids were standing outside, laughing, and talking with cups in their hands as loud music blared from inside the house.
The driver glares at me with a questioning look when he turns around in his seat.
“Master Russo, are you sure your father said it was okay for you boys to be here?”