Everyone knew I’d been chosen to take the lead. I’d turned it down, but they didn’t know that part yet. Claudius did though. Amelia had taken charge the other day, and I was proud of her for the way she’d handled Raphael, but things had changed big time. Things had changed, and she was in no state to do anything. Not like this. She didn’t know our way. This was all above her. I needed her to be strong, not to take any form of lead in the business, but for herself.
I gazed to the far side of the room at Pa. Ever and always the arm of support as Raphael’s consigliere, the trusted advisor. It was amazing. We all played our roles and did what we did best. We had to adapt to whatever was thrown our way and just know what to do. Pa, though, was consistent. He was consistent in his role always. Always the man you could trust with anything. Your secrets and your life.
“Thank you all for coming,” I began.
I closed the door and stood in front of the large mahogany desk.
They all looked at me with anticipation. As I looked them over, I wondered what Amelia would think when she saw them. The sight of so many raw-blooded gangsters would probably freak her out.
“Needs must,” Saul cooed in that eerie sing-song voice that gave even me the chills. He smiled, revealing a row of silver teeth, and the scar running across his face became more pronounced.
I nodded to him in respect, and he returned the gesture with a curt nod.
“Plans have changed.” Only a few of them knew the original plan to go to the facility in Rockford to get the diamonds, but that was fine. They knew what I meant by saying plans had changed. It meant we had to up our game. It would be the only reason for a meeting like this in Raphael’s house. “We need to hunt and bring down these guys on sight if you see them. Victor Pertrinkov and Tag. Those guys and anyone working for them. But we focus on them. Bring those two down, and the others will disappear like vermin. The plan is this: Claudius,” I looked at my brother, who was staring at me with keen eyes. One bright blue like mine, the other a light brown. I could tell he was worried about me just from the look in them. The cross on his cheek inched higher when he pressed his lips together. “You and The Four stay here with Amelia and Raphael.”
“Really? No disrespect, but you want the best guys to sit around like ducks and play babysitter?” Claudius quirked a brow at me.
“I need you to protect. Today, those guys got on the premises without being seen. We didn’t have backup. There were four of them in the house, and a car drove away with God knows how many. They could have taken Amelia.”
The CCTV and security system were disabled for protection. It was the first thing we’d insisted on when we got to Chicago, but that had been to our detriment. If Raphael hadn’t made an old-fashioned trip wire, we would have had a very nasty surprise.
“I see.” Claudius nodded.
He still didn’t look like he’d accepted my answer, but he would never question me in front of the guys.
“Marcus.” I always addressed my father by his name when we were in company like this. “I need you with Raphael.”
He gave me a simple nod, but the pride that beamed from him as he watched me was evident. He’d probably waited his whole life to see me stand here taking the lead. Me or Claudius. Probably more for me though. I hadn’t told him yet that I was going to disappoint him when I stepped down and took on the clean way of life if I got the chance. If I got the chance, I would go wherever Amelia and I could be happy.
“As for me and my crew, we’ll search for Tag and Victor, hunt them down. Saul, you’re with me, but I need you to call in a favor from the Galluccios.” This was the power we had. The power I had. The other crime families and the Rossis lived together in a symbiotic relationship and cooperated to keep things that way. There were some guys we couldn’t touch because if we did, it meant instant war, others who wanted in on our turf. The thing was, Raphael practically owned Chicago, and they would have a hard time getting anywhere near us to try anything stupid. “Donny and Louis, link up with the capos for the Romanos and the Bellefontes and scour the east and west sides.”
Donny and Louis looked pleased with that. They got on well with those guys.
“Please tell me we get free reign of what we can do,” Donny stated, eyeing me with his sharp eyes. He reminded me of a fox; cunning like one too.
“The orders are this: If you see anyone who shouldn’t be here, kill them.” I looked at Claudius and The Four as I said that. Then I looked to my boys. Saul, Donny, then Louis. “If you see Tag or Victor, kill them. Gather intel from any lackeys you find, then kill them. Don’t give them a chance to get away and regroup. Men, we have to step this game up and do this. Blood for blood. We jump out there on the battlefield and take these fucktards out. This shit has taken far too long already.” That was Raphael’s fault. The man should have just gotten a crew together like I am now to hunt Tag and Victor, but then… I wouldn’t have known Amelia, would never have had the chance to fall for her. No way was I going to let anything get to her. “Blood for fucking blood.”
This was it.
It was time for war.
“Blood for blood,” they all chanted in unison.
“Meeting adjourned. We meet back here as soon as we can regroup. Hopefully with their heads.”
“I like heads.” Saul laughed, whipping out a long reach knife.
“As do I,” Donny agreed, tipping the brim of his fender.
Louis remained silent as always, but I knew he was in. They were the first to leave, then Saul. I walked out, leaving Claudius, Dad, and The Four, but I knew Claudius would follow me.
It was almost predictable.
We walked into Raphael’s office, and he closed the door.
“You looked good out there, little brother. Sure you really don’t want to be boss?” Claudius smiled wide and raised his brows.
I sat on the edge of Raphael’s desk and frowned. “You know how I feel.”
