CHAPTER 21 MAURO
I stand there, staring at the rectangle of grass beside the tall tree where my little forest home will eventually be built.
It's beautiful here, almost enchanting.
I chose this spot because of how close it is to the hot springs. The natural geothermal energy will let me heat the house and provide hot water, while the windy hill nearby will be perfect for building a specialized low-speed vertical-axis wind turbine designed to prevent bird collisions.
Of course, Renato has offered to let me stay with him at his estate, but I shouldn't be there too often. I broke the most sacred rule of the mafia. I walked away from it, and I did it on the very day it was at its weakest.
The day my capo uncle, Anzo Ferro, was arrested.
Turning my back on the family when they needed me most means…
Betrayal.
Rocco, Luca, and Ennio stayed behind.
Rocco has almost certainly become the new capo by now. And I'm absolutely certain he'll show up here any day now. He will never forgive, never forget, that’s just how he is.
I walk slowly around the square, already imagining how difficult it'll be to get building materials out here. But if Renato and I put our backs into it, we could probably even carry some of it here ourselves.
We have our ways.
Part of me feels hopeful about the future, but another part dreads it.
Will I make it?
Will I be able to build my life here?
You don't just walk away from the mafia. I always wondered what my parents had to do to be allowed to step away from active involvement in the Mafia, but Ennio once told me vaguely it had come at a very high price.
And Rocco would love nothing more than to make an example out of me for trying it on my own, that's for sure.
Saying that we hate each other would actually be an understatement. As far as he's concerned, any excuse is good enough to punish me.
Maybe only my youngest brother, Eliano, can match the hatred I have for Rocco.
Luca always cut Rocco a little slack because being a purple alpha means he never really feels threatened by anyone.
Ennio, on the other hand, treated Rocco like someone he could manipulate and steer wherever he wanted through persuasion and carefully chosen arguments.
Me? I have zero tolerance for serial rapists like him.
I pull out my phone when I hear it beep.
It's a special phone I have, one whose location can't be easily traced.
There's a single text message waiting for me.
"Rocco isn't happy that you disappeared."
The sender is unknown, but I know exactly who it's from. Ennio.
It's my first contact with him in two weeks, since the day I ran.
I type back quickly.
"I told you before. I was never meant for a life in the mafia, and I wouldn't have been any help to you anyway. Anzo being out of the picture is the perfect opportunity for me to start a new life."
I stare at the screen, and a moment later another text comes through.
"You're going to have to deal with Rocco yourself. I'm just warning you that he could show up any day now. But that's not the only reason I'm texting. I hope you've been keeping up with the news?"
"I’m not much of a news follower like yourself, so why don’t you tell me?"
"Well, you should pay attention. This might be of interest to you. Mark Ferguson was arrested."
The text on my screen doesn't seem real. I blink, and then a second text comes through.
"It's a big case, but he still has a chance of getting out of it. He's already contacted us, begging for our help, especially Alessi's. He knows he's the best lawyer for this kind of thing."
Wait. Just wait… I wipe my eyes and read the message twice.
What on earth? It's as if someone has thrown boiling water over me.
My entire body locks up, curling inward.
Mark Ferguson was arrested?
He… the man who seemed untouchable! Growing more powerful, making more connections… But perhaps his arrogance grew along with his influence, until he started believing himself above the law?
My hands tremble as I type the address of a popular news outlet that keeps close tabs on what’s happening across Florida.
And there it is, right at the top.
State Senate Candidate Accused of Sexual Assault…
I click on it and tear through the article with darting eyes. Apparently, incriminating evidence against him had been sent to several news outlets, including a video showing him sexually assaulting a man who had once been the surrogate carrying Mark and Jared's child…
I switch back to the text messages and write to Ennio.
"If this case goes to Alessi, he'll get Ferguson off. Even if the bastard gets knocked out of the race for the state senate, he'll probably never see a day behind bars anyway."
Ennio replies:
"I'm fully aware of that. One accusation isn't enough.
Some Messenger conversations have surfaced too.
An anonymous source handed them over to the police, but it's still not a strong enough case.
If I'm correct in assuming that you kept tabs on Mark's assistants, this is your moment to make a move. "
My moment…
My jaw clenches tight because Ennio is right.
This could be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for the last six years!
Shaking slightly, I log into my email, even though I know that by doing so, Rocco's people, who monitor the IP addresses of everyone connected to the mafia, could trace me. But fuck it…
I quickly pull up the list of addresses belonging to all the assistants, employees, and campaign staff who ever left because of Mark's sexual harassment.
I open a new email.
My fingers stiffen with tension as I start writing.
I know it has to be pretty convincing to make these people feel brave enough to come forward and give their own statements, ones that could finally bury Mark's case.
I write it sentence by sentence.
…This is the moment when you can file a case against Ferguson.
There were purges within the police department some time ago, and many people working with the mafia were fired.
On top of that, capo Anzo Ferro has been arrested, and he had the most connections among the people who could have threatened you.
Rocco has just taken over, and he has neither the respect nor the influence Anzo had.
He has more enemies than friends, and he's focused on consolidating his power and hunting down the brothers who ran.
Right now, this is the perfect time to come forward, while it's safe, and bring this case before the courts.
Give your statements. There won't be a better opportunity than this. This man needs to face justice…
I squeeze my eyes shut because I know sending this email from my own account is an enormous risk, but I have to do it.
I hit send.
The same message, duplicated across twenty-seven addresses, disappears into cyberspace.
I let out a slow breath through my teeth and text Ennio again.
"Do you know what's happening with Jared?"
"Sorry, but I don't concern myself with his fate. All I know is that he's still staying at Mark's house for now, but that could change. He has no right to the house. It's registered to Mark and his brother."
"Do you think I should go see him now?"
"I wouldn't. I'd give him two or three months, at least until Mark's situation is sorted out. If he manages to get out of this, you'll find yourself in an awkward position."
I pull my gaze away from the phone and stare again at the green square I've marked out for my house.
I have to finish building it, make it into a hideout, and figure out how I can contact Jared. And really think through what I can actually offer him at the moment.
I'm a fugitive, for fuck's sake!
I never suspected that my running away would happen at the exact same instant as Mark's imprisonment. This is just a difficult coincidence and is messing with my plans. I hoped I could have more time to settle things with my family, but it may not be the case.
Rocco is on my trail, which could put Jared directly in his path, and that would be a catastrophe. He would kill two birds with one stone.
There's no way I can offer Jared any kind of safety right now. If anything, I'd only make his situation worse.
I press my hands against my temples and rub them. I need to sort it out in my head, and make some sensible decisions.
No matter how badly I selfishly want to do it, no matter how extraordinary this window of opportunity is that has suddenly opened for me, Jared's safety has to come first.
Patience, Mauro.
Find a way.
Set your plan into motion.