Chapter 4 #2
The two boys looked away, still annoyed, but they nodded. Good enough. We left them standing in the foyer and continued toward the parking garage. The familiar weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders again.
This was it. The first real night where everything was on me.
No Pops, Uncle Matteo, no one to step in. Just us.
We reached the garage, and everyone climbed into one of the black SUVs. I slid into the driver's seat.
"You know where we're going, AJ?" Leo's voice came from the backseat. I nodded, keeping my eyes on the road. "Yeah. I've been there before with Pops."
I turned down the next street, speeding toward the city. "Johnny has been busy, to say the least."
I glanced down at myself. The black suit. The crisp white dress shirt. The Italian dress shoes. I was used to dressing like this. Pops made sure that when we were at school, training, or handling business, we looked the part.
He always said appearances mattered.
When you walked into a room, people needed to know who they were dealing with before you ever said a word. Dressing well wasn't just about looking good. It was about power.
Authority and Respect. That lesson had been drilled into all of us from a young age. So tonight, all five of us were dressed exactly how our fathers taught us.
Like bosses.
"Bro, my father called me today." Marcio's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "He said he won't be back until next week."
I glanced at him. I still couldn't wrap my head around Marcio being second-in-command while my father was gone. Not because he wasn't capable. He was. But because of the age difference and experience. My father and Uncle Matteo had been doing this for years. We were just stepping into their shoes.
"That's crazy." I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I merged onto the highway.
Marcio nodded. "I wonder what Italy is like."
Leo leaned forward from the backseat. "I bet everything there is old."
Raf laughed. "Nah, I want to know what the Basilio Council is like." He looked between us. "From what Uncle Adriano told me, they're some real motherfuckers."
Marcio glanced back at him. "They're bloodline Basilios." He shrugged. "Older and more stubborn, according to my dad."
I stayed quiet for a moment. The council was something we had only heard stories about. A group of people who held generations of power. "I don't know what they're planning." I finally spoke. "But if they think they can come after Capo Adriano Basilio or his family..." I shook my head.
"They're going to learn a lesson."
The rest of the drive was filled with jokes, arguing, and the usual nonsense that came with being around my brothers. For a few minutes, I almost forgot the weight sitting on my shoulders.
Almost. When we finally pulled up to Club Vertigo, I made sure to park around back. The front of the club was alive. Music could already be heard from outside. The line wrapped around the building, people waiting to get inside. I looked through the window for a moment.
Then I turned toward the guys. "Let's go."
I stepped out of the SUV.
My men followed. We moved toward the back entrance, staying aware of our surroundings. I adjusted my jacket and buttoned it before Marcio knocked twice.
The door opened slightly. A man stood on the other side. He was tall. Around 6'5. His expression was blank, but his posture told me everything I needed to know. He was trained. His eyes moved over us before landing on me.
"Boss." His voice was emotionless. I gave him the same energy.
He opened the door fully, allowing us inside. "Take us to Johnny."
He nodded. The man led us down a hallway separated from the rest of the club.
The atmosphere changed immediately. The walls were painted a deep red.
The floors were black. Dim lamps lined the walls, casting shadows across the corridor.
This wasn't the public side of the club. This was where business happened.
The man stopped at a black door and knocked before opening it. Inside was a medium-sized office. Johnny sat comfortably on the couch, surrounded by a few of his men. They were drinking scotch and laughing like they didn't have a care in the world.
That changed the second he saw me. His eyes widened slightly. He knew exactly who I was.
"Johnny." I stepped inside. "Please excuse your friends." My eyes moved toward the other men in the room.
Johnny immediately understood. He gave them a look. One by one, they stood and quickly left the room.
Johnny stood up walking over towards me a scared smile "AJ my man. I was expecting your father." He said with fear in his voice.
I shook my head at him "No he's busy, so I came instead. Johnny you know the rules. Where's the money?" I asked, my voice demanding. Damien and Raf stepped forward, Johnny saw this and visibly tensed.
"AJ I-" but Marcio cut him off, his voice rough and void. "This is your boss, you address him as such."
"Boss, I don't have the money right now, but I will get it within a couple days. I promise. I'm just waiting for a transaction to go through." He pleaded, his hands out in front of him. I tsked and walked around him, my hands in my pocket.
"You know I can't let you off so easily Johnny." I said shaking my head, his eyes popped out his head as Raf grabbed him, pulling his arms behind his back. Damien grabbed his hand laying it on the desk in front of him.
Johnny's breathes came out in pants, sweat was falling from his forehead "No, no please." He cried out. I walked right up to him, looking into his fear and tear filled eyes.
His fear and begging only fueled my power and anger.
"Consider this a warning." I snarled at his face turning around an walked back to my spot next to Marcio, hearing satisfying crunching and screams. I smirked as I looked at the man fall to his knees clutching his hand now with his thumb left.
Raf and Damien stood by my side once again. "You have 48 hours. Next time it will be your head." I said walking out the room leaving the man withering in pain on the floor. The man that escorted us to the back room didn't dare look me in the eyes as I pass by him.
We made our way out the club and back outside. My insides were raging, this must be the Basilio curse my father always talks about. It's a beast, a monster that demands to be fed by fear, pain, and suffering.
I can feel it within me, surfacing wanting to make itself present. But my father always taught me to control it, to reign it in. Only until it is really needed do we let it take full effect.
I looked back at my men as we walk towards the SUV, their faces gard and devoid. They were feeling the same thing as me. I smirked at that. Getting into the SUV I pulled out the back parking lot and made my way downtown.
Heading in the direction of the underground ring my mind wonders back to the first time my father took me there. I was about 5 and clueless to where I was. All I knew is that we were going to watch a fight. Something I loved to do since I was little.
We were in the VIP box watching the fighters.
We were cheering, I was tuff Ingrid my face with hot dogs and popcorn and cookies.
It was one of the best days ever. I was oblivious to the fact that the fighters were fighting to the death.
I was young and innocent then. I can't say that much of myself now.
"You think the ring is gonna be packed today?" Damien asked breaking the silence.
I shrugged "Yea I'm pretty sure. The ring is always packed." Leo answered. "Did you guys ever think of fighting in the ring?" I asked.
"Yea I always wanted to." Raf spoke up. "You?" He asked damien.
"Yea when I was little. I always dreamt of being in the ring. But I knew that I wouldn't have a future there. I am to be with the Mafia boss." Damien answered truthfully.
"Well who says you can't live out your dream tonight? " Marcio said with answered smirk thrown Damien way.
"Yea like that'll ever happen." Damien answered scoffing.
"Why not?" Leo asked. "Because AJ would kill me before I even get a chance to step foot in that ring." Damien exasperated.