I flip him the bird, and Ben laughs. Ciro smirks through the front mirror, and Nario cracks his knuckles, his need for violence not in any way sated by the quick fight at the church. If he had his way, I’m sure he’d love to see this meeting devolve into chaos, but that is the furthest thing from our minds and the complete opposite of our end goal. So, the man will return home unfulfilled. Unless we let him join Salerno’s crew and go after the Russians.
“How confident is Salerno of success?” I ask.
“He’s brought a plane full of his bestsoldatiwith him, and he’s as bloodthirsty as ever. Success is guaranteed.” Ben doesn’t look remotely concerned.
“Good. That should be enough to unravel the fledgling Russian organization DeLuca was building,” I say.
“I’m not worried,” Ben replies. “As long as Dom and Franco can rally everyone behind the new leadership and reaffirm their commitment to The Commission, that will take care of the Russians. They know they are no match for a unitedmafioso, and they’ll run back to whatever hole they crawled out of.”
“I still can’t believe you agreed to find a marriage contract for Anais.” Leo rubs the back of his neck.
“I needed something to sweeten the deal.”
“I think getting to annihilate more Russians sweetened the deal enough, but I’m glad you offered that, boss,” I admit. “I dread to think what kind of perv Saverio would have sold her to if left to his own devices.”
Ciro takes a sharp left, following behind Dominic and Franco’s SUV. Behind us, several cars and trucks carrying Outfitsoldatiare all heading toward the restaurant where they conduct business. The guys felt it was the best place to hold the meeting even if it’s going to be more than a little cramped.
“You’re too fucking soft.” Leo thumps me in the upper arm. “If I hadn’t seen you in action, I’d question your made man status.”
I punch him in the shoulder. “I spent years disconnected from my emotions. I’m not going to apologize for having a heart. I know she’s a little bitch, but she’s my cousin, and I have always felt sorry for her. At least with Ben in charge of the marriage contract, he will find someone decent to give her to. She deserves a chance to have a normal life, and I think she just needs someone to show her what love is. Saverio adores her, that much is clear, but he has no clue how to truly care for her or show her the real meaning of love.” I’m aware everyone in the car is listening to me, and I know they’ll just throw this back at me forever, but I don’t care. “Everyone deserves to have love in their life. There is no greater feeling.”
“Pussy,” Ciro grumbles under his breath.
“Whipped,” Nario says behind a cough.
I point my finger in Ben’s and Leo’s faces. “Don’t even try that shit with me. Neither of you have any defense.”
* * *
“Thank you all for being here,” Ben says, a half hour later, standing on top of an overturned crate to address the swollen crowd. Leo and I stand to one side, flanked by Ciro and Nario, with Dom and Franco on Ben’s other side. A deathly hush descends over the space as everyone waits to hear what the big boss has to say. There is barely breathing room in the large basement space as every made man from Chicago has shown up to find out what happens next.
“What has happened this past year has been unsettling for all of us, but we share the same goal. To restore The Outfit to the great entity it once was and to see peace and stability on Chicago streets again.” A few heads nod. “Dominic and Franco have just explained what has happened with DeLuca and I know there were many of you who were not happy with his plans. I imagine you are relieved that Chicago is back in local hands.” More heads bob. “But I know there are men standing before me who supported DeLuca’s aim and who are mistrustful of me and The Commission.”
No one acknowledges this, which isn’t surprising, and the atmosphere shifts as tension bleeds into the air.
“Losing most every US don and their heirs was a massive blow to Italian Americans in this country. There are many families still angry about what happened here, but that is on DeLuca.” Men shift and the tension thickens. “We are at a crossroads now and the decisions we make here today decide the fate of more than just the men in this room. My goal has always been to unite all Italian Americans within the US and to become the most powerful mafia organization in the country. That goal is still achievable if we all wipe the slate clean and start over. I am prepared to do that. The Commission fully supports that mission, and we have new leadership across the US who share our ideals. While it will take some protracted negotiations and many discussions, I believe I can get agreement from everyfamigliato leave the past in the past, so we can all move forward and prosper.”
“You can’t expect us to believe that?” someone shouts out, disbelief threading through his tone.
“Dom and I fully support Don Mazzone’s position, and he is a man of his word,” Franco says as unease filters through the room. “We have discussed this with him in private, and we believe what is on the table is the best possible outcome for everyone.”
“The Commission and I are completely behind Dominic and Franco as your new don and underboss, and other senior level positions will be filled locally. It’s time to give Chicago back to Chicago with no more interference from Sicily.”
“Only interference from New York!” another man shouts.
“We are all on the same side, and The Commission wants to see every territory develop and grow to achieve their full potential,” Ben says, projecting his voice to be heard over the hushed mumblings. “The only other option available to us was to punish The Outfit for the part they played in the mass killing. But where would that get us?” His eyes skim the audience, and there is no denying the sincerity on his face. “It would be a vicious cycle of blame and revenge, and all it would achieve is to unite our enemies against us. None of us win in that scenario.”
“What about the Russians?” someone else asks.
“As we speak, Don Salerno is dealing with the Russians here in the city. Within the hour, they will be no more, and his informants will have spread the news to other Russians in other states. Whatever alliances DeLuca had built are fragile at best. The Russians are notoriously disloyal and fractured. They will crumble amid a united Commission and the most formidablemafiosoorganization to ever exist within the US. We are making history here today, gentlemen.”
I’ve got to hand it to Ben. He’s a natural speaker, and though he has oodles of charm, it’s not bullshit. When the boss speaks, people listen because he’s sincere and he’s believable. I can already feel the tide turning in the room.
More rumblings spread. “We would like to make you an offer,” Ben bellows, and the crowd hushes again. “We want a clean slate. We want men committed to Dom and Franco and the new leadership here in Chicago and The Commission. We want peace restored to the streets so we can all forget about agendas and get on with building our businesses. I’m aware that may be a tall order for some, so if you want to walk away, you can. There will be no repercussions for any made man who wants out, provided you don’t retaliate or side with our enemies to harm us.”
Shocked conversation bounces around the room. “You would seriously let us go free?” a stocky older man at the front asks. “That is not the way things are done. It’s blood in, blood out.”
“This is a new world we’re building,” Ben explains. “While tradition is important, and we will maintain those that add value to our organization, things are changing. I’m not saying this will become a usual rule. This is a special situation, and it requires a special solution. So, I give you my word; you can go quietly if you don’t feel you can offer us your loyalty, and there will be no consequence, provided you don’t cross us. If you choose to stay, you will be rewarded with stability and prosperity the likes of which none of us have ever seen. There is strength in unity, and together we are virtually unstoppable.”
