Chapter 16
Nico
The original plan was to propose to Lili, celebrate her birthday with her family, and whisk her away on a trip to Belize. Sitting alone now, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of the rainforest, all I can think about is having Lili by my side. After Carlo and his men murdered the Rinaldi family, being in the same vicinity as him filled me with a murderous rage. I had never felt such a strong desire to end someone”s life. Extending my trip beyond the initial two weeks allowed me the time to strategize and plan Carlo”s demise. He will pay for his betrayal with his life at my hands.
Flashes of the blood-stained lawn haunt my thoughts, morphing my once peaceful dreams into terrifying nightmares. The image of Lili, once vibrant and alive, now gone, her resting place unknown, torments me. I would give anything to hold her in my arms once more. Sometimes I ponder what I would say to her if she were beside me. There were times when it seemed as though my grief would consume me entirely, driving me to the brink of madness. My heartache is unbearable, craving the sound of her laughter, a sound that brought light to my life. Whenever I was with her, I felt like the truest version of myself. Despite Carlo”s constant attempts to diminish me, Lili”s presence empowered me and gave me the strength to persevere until we could be together. The anticipation of calling her my wife one day filled me with joy, but now that dream is shattered.
My flight leaves in a few hours and I need to get some rest. Though leaving this secluded haven brings a sense of sadness, it is time for Carlo to face the consequences of his actions. I’ll have the element of surprise on my side and he won’t realize it until it’s too late. Power-hungry individuals always slip up, and with Don Rinaldi out of the picture, I can only imagine the shit Carlo is into now. Unaware of the other families” deep-seated animosity toward him, Carlo remains oblivious to their longstanding desire to get rid of him. His actions have drawn unwanted attention to Chicago, inviting the relentless scrutiny of the FBI. Instead of taking responsibility, he deflects blame, leaving others to clean up after him. Now, having orchestrated the massacre of an entire family with the Chief of Police under his thumb, Carlo believes he is untouchable. Lili and her family deserve justice, and I am determined to ensure Carlo pays the ultimate price with his life.
My hands quiver as I retrieve Lili”s ring from my pocket, gazing at the dried blood still etched into the setting. I couldn”t bear to clean it; doing so would affirm her absence and make it real for me. Often, the weight of my grief threatened to overwhelm me, but memories of Lili would pull me back from the brink of madness. Tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I recall the night I proposed to her. We were so happy, celebrating with her friends, relishing our time together. Little did I know it marked our final moments together, the last time I would feel her warmth as she melted into my kiss and the last time I would ever make love to her. No one can replace Lili because she will forever reside in my heart, and she is the only person allowed to dwell there.
Placing the ring in my suitcase, I check my itinerary and set the alarm on my phone, hoping to snatch some rest despite the difficulty. Leaving my mother to deal with Carlo alone floods me with guilt, yet I had no alternative. Staying in Chicago at the time would have been unbearable. Even this secluded refuge hasn’t eased the ache of losing Lili. To honor her and seek justice, I needed a clearer mind. Carlo will pay for taking Lili”s life and for the years of torment inflicted upon me and my mother. My stepbrother Salvatore is prepared to assume control of the family. He’s just as ruthless as Carlo and despite his resentment towards me, he’s shared with me on more than one occasion that he eagerly awaits the day of his father’s demise. Granting him that wish brings me satisfaction.
* * *
As much as I yearned to storm into the compound and confront Carlo, it simply wasn”t feasible. My flight arrived well past midnight, and being Friday, I knew Carlo would be at his safe house with one of his several mistresses. My mother is well aware of his indiscretions but she doesn’t question him about them . To her, his “distractions” provide peace in the middle of her chaotic existence. After today, she will no longer live with an abuser that has her terrified for her life. Over the years, I”ve urged her to leave him, but she’s paralyzed by the fear of his potential retaliation. After Carlo”s death, my mother and I will leave Chicago behind forever. Her own children have only brought her sorrow and heartache, so there”s no reason for her to remain here. She deserves a fresh start after enduring his abuse all of these years.
As expected, Carlo”s car is parked in the driveway of his safehouse. This is one of those rare moments where he leaves the compound unprotected. Despite warnings from Tomas about potential threats, Carlo”s ego prevents him from fearing anyone. Hearing another car approaching, I quickly sprint to the side of the house where the dining room window is conveniently open, providing me with the opportunity to sneak in while they’re preoccupied in the bedroom. As I attach the silencer to my gun, I overhear voices engaged in an argument, but it”s not a woman”s voice accompanying Carlo”s—it”s a man”s.
“Why the hell haven”t you been answering my calls?!” Carlo demands angrily.
“The more pressing question is, how is Liliana still alive when you were supposed to eliminate them all?!” Antonio shouts in frustration, pacing back and forth across the room.
Wait, Lili is still alive! My mind reels as I try to process what I just overheard. Quickly pulling out my phone, I switch to video mode to capture their conversation. The phone shakes in my hands as I struggle to comprehend this revelation. Pure rage courses through me, tempting me to shoot both of these fuckers on the spot, but this is even better. Bringing this evidence to the feds will ensure Carlo”s empire comes crashing down, and there”s nothing he can do to stop it.
“You stood by and let her murder my sweet Bianca, you bastard!” Carlo yells, lunging at Antonio, who easily evades the attack and pins Carlo against the wall.
“I had no choice!” Antonio defends, releasing Carlo and taking a step back with his hands raised. “I had to comply with everything she wanted, or she would”ve known I was working with you,” he continues. Holy fucking shit! They orchestrated this entire thing and my Lili survived!
“Tomás, Edoardo, and Bianca are dead. It”s only a matter of time before she comes for me, and that can”t happen,” Carlo says urgently. “You have to take care of her, Tony. She trusts you and won”t suspect a thing.”
“You should get out of town with your family until I”ve dealt with her,” Antonio suggests. “It will throw her off her game and make things easier. She”s every bit of what Paolo trained her to be, and I can”t risk her surviving again.”
Paolo placed his trust in Antonio, offering him a home and stability, only to be betrayed in the end. Loyalty holds no weight in the mafia world. No matter the pledge of allegiance, greed and power always come into play, masking ulterior motives. I keep recording as these traitors conspire to eliminate Liliana. Let them scheme all they want; once I gather all the evidence, I”ll show this to Lili and expose the true monster behind it all.