Chapter 8
Axl
Although I was surprised by Nolan and the rest showing up, I’m glad they came.
This only solidifies the bond between our families.
When we made it back on the patio with the ladies and kids, Ladybug ran straight to James giving him a big hug.
Monica and her parents have come a long way from how they used to be towards each other.
It took a lot for her to get past the way they treated her when she was pregnant with Ladybug.
She still has her moments but I just remind her that they are at least putting forth an effort to be a part of our lives and she should do the same.
I went to my mother-in-law and gave her a kiss on the cheek when I greeted her then I gave Simone a hug also. Harper was excited to see Albert too as she jumped in his arms too. We sat around talking and laughing at the kids as they played in the pool.
Simone excused herself saying she wanted to get her digital camera to take pictures of the ocean view. I looked over at Nolan and raised my eyebrows. If he was going to get her by herself to talk, now was a good time to do so. He gave me a salute before getting up to leave.
Not sure if they talked or not but thirty minutes later Simone came back with her camera and different clothes on. Her hair looked a little tussled too. She paused as she stepped onto the patio as all eyes fell on her.
“It took me a minute to find this baby.” She says holding up the camera then hurrying to the seat next to Imani.
“Mmmhmm” Monica hums beside me as she leans closer and says in a hushed voice, “Now you know damn well she wasn’t looking for that camera.”
I hold in my laughter. “She could have been, baby.” I respond with my hand covering my mouth. Seconds later Nolan walks out with the biggest grin I have ever seen on his face staring at Simone. She gives him the evil eye that has that smile falling off quick.
“Where did you go to, Nolan?” Felix taunts.
Nolan frowns at him because he knows Felix is being messy. “I had to use the bathroom. Something I ate on the plane didn’t agree with me.” He replies he take a seat two chairs down from Simone.
“TMI, brother, TMI!” Monica giggles.
“Momma, can we go down to the beach?” Ladybug frantically asks as she, Andres Jr and the rest wait anxiously for Monica’s answer.
“If you ladies would like to spend some time at the beach with the children, I can have lunch sent down to you while we have our meeting.” Father offers.
“Please, Momma?” Ladybug pleads.
Monica glances at the other ladies. “What do you say ladies, do you want to have lunch on the beach like movie stars?”
“Hell, yeah!” Keirra shouts before turning to Edgar and Granny. “Sorry.”
Granny swats her leg. “Girl, don’t be sorry. Hell, I want to picnic on the beach and sip champagne like the celebrities.” She garners a round of laughter.
“Well, let’s go get changed and meet back here.” Brittney states with excitement.
“Yeah, come on Simone so you can tell us why you needed to change clothes to look for you camera.” Imani teases as she grabs her friend’s hand and pulls her out her seat.
“We’ll see you fellows after your meeting.” Monica states, leaning over and give me a kiss.
“Padre, vuoi assicurarti che abbiano abbastanza sicurezza (Father, will you make sure they have enough security)? I ask father who nods.
“Certo, figliolo (Of course, son).” He replies pulling out his cellphone.
“Hold the fuck up! Did I just hear you speak Italian?” Nolan shouts standing from his chair with a puzzled look.
“Sì, amico mio (Yes, my friend).” I reply with a smirk.
He twists towards Felix and asks, “What the hell did he just say? I know he better not have said anything about my momma!” Felix couldn’t even answer him because he was laughing so hard.
“He said ‘yes, my friend’.” Lincoln offers.
“Damn you know how to speak it too?” Nolan questions in disbelief.”
“Tutto quello che fanno gli angoli, figliolo. Anche a me (All the Corners do, son. Even me)” James replies chuckling.
“What the hell, Daddy, you too?” Nolan booms.
“Don’t feel left out, Nolan. We just found out about Axl last night but Felix and I are gonna take lessons so we won’t be the odd men out.” Adam states.
“Well, add me to those lessons too! Shit, I see being around y’all I’ll probably need it incase y’all try to talk about me without me knowing.” He says with a serious expression.
“Sign me up too.” Reese and Marco say at the same time.
Father snickers as he says, “I will make sure all of you have lessons. I think it will be imperative that you know the language because you will have to make trips back here at least twice a year.”
Nolan sits back down. “Just let me know when the first lessons will be.”
After we calmed down from Nolan’s comical display, we discussed how to deal with the old man. If he was anything like father then I know he was devising a plan to take us down and I wanted to be ready for him.
Father passed out his signature cigars as we sipped on Italian iced tea Luna brought out.
Our spirits were high until Luna came back and informed us Matteo and Luca had arrived.
We composed ourselves and convened in the formal dining room.
I sat at the head of the table with father on my left with Adam next to him and Felix on my right.
Zo, Maxillo, James and the three corners sat in the empty seats on the other side leaving the opposite head of the table and the seat on the left vacant.
When they came into the room, Luca took the seat at the head of the table on the other end while Matteo took the empty seat to his left.
“Thank you, gentlemen for joining us today.” I greet as the servers start to bring out our appetizers of apricot ricotta honey basil bites.
“Thank you for having us.” Matteo replies as he raises his wine glass.
I nod lifting my glass back at him and the others who do the same before we take a sip of the wine.
“Luca, Matteo let me introduce you to my brothers, Felix and Adam.” They raise their glasses.
“Next to Adam is Lorenzo, Maxillo and Marco.” They nod.
“And to the right of Felix is Lincoln, Albert, Edgar who along with my father make up the Four Corners, James their associate and Reese.”
“Nice to meet you gentlemen.” Luca states.
“I’m Luca Mancino head of the Mancino family and this is Matteo Ricci, head of the Ricci family.
Our families have been allies for many years and would like to keep it that way.
Since I have taken over, I have changed a lot of ways my father did business.
He expected me to carry on as he did but I wanted to bring our family into the twenty-first century, not everyone needs to be killed to settle a debt.
There are other ways to recover my money.
Don’t get me wrong though, I will make an example out of someone really quick.
Matteo, like me have taken our families to greater heights than our fathers ever could.
The day of the old Dons running the families have ended.
” He finishes glancing at each one of us.
Matteo nods in agreement. “What Luca says is true, we have come a long way with our families. It’s not just about drugs, weapons or any of that other illegal shit.
We are about building business’ too. I am sure like each of you who have families, you do not want to have the constant threat of rival families or gangs gunning for you or your people.
This is what our families have endured for years.
We still dabble in the loan sharking, drug and gun game but now it’s more about being able to build our empires on Wall Street too. ”
Felix chuckles. “Careful what you say, Matteo. Lincoln here is a Chief of Police.”
Matteo swivels his head towards Lincoln suspiciously. Lincoln smirks at him before saying, “Don’t worry, son, I left my badge at home.”
We laugh right along with him because even if he had it, it wouldn’t do any good over here.
I hold my hand up quieting them down. “Thank you, Luca and Matteo for giving the others your background. Now for reason why I called you here. As I said on the phone last night, my grandfather has called a war within the family. He doesn’t want me to be the head of our family because he did not approve of my parent’s relationship. ”
Luca chimes in. “Si, yes we understand that but from what you told us last night, why didn’t you just end him when you had the chance?”
“That’s because, it would have been too easy plus I want anyone who is standing with him to fall right along with him.
I am not playing games with the old man; he has brought enough bullshit to my family.
Does he have many allies here? I tried to get in touch with Davide but couldn’t reach him.
I did leave a message for him.” I shrug my shoulders.
Luca and Matteo peer at each other before Luca replies, “Your grandfather along with my father were some of the most influential men here. The other heads pretty much did whatever Giovanni said, my father included. But since the new generation of me, Matteo and Davide are leading, their influence has diminished but they still have a strong following among some of their loyal supporters. As far as Davide, well Davide likes to do things his way. He only comes to the meeting of the families because it is tradition and would be looked upon as a disrespect if he did not. I’m not sure if you can count on him, Axl.
Davide likes to do things like our fathers did, which is one of the reasons why we do not associate with him unless we must. He has a every man for themselves mentality. ”
I knew it was something about Davide that didn’t sit well with me. He’s the type that do not play well with others. Well, if he decided to ally himself with Giovanni, he won’t have to worry about playing with others because I will end him too.