“It is no surprise to anyone here that I am aiming high with my plans,” Angelo says, looking at each of us.“So to stop your wondering, I will tell you what I’m aiming for now.”He pauses dramatically, looking at each of us in turn.The blond Russian rolls his eyes, suggesting he doesn’t appreciate these theatrics.I’m happy to learn I’m not the only one in the dark about Ferro’s plans.
“I am aiming for the top of the New York mafia,” Angelo announces.“There will be no more Five Families and no more Commission when I’m done.”
A very deep collective silence follows Angelo’s words.My mind is just one long sigh of,Well, shit, and no other thoughts.
That’s a tall order.New York has been run by The Commission made up of the Five Families instead of a single man since the 1930s.And here’s this guy, wanting to make himself king of kings again-thecapo di tutti capi.Talk about wanting the impossible.And having a death wish, since the whole reason the position was abolished back in the day was due to it being such a huge target on the back of whoever held it.Someone was always lining up to steal it.
“How?”I ask, calling myself all sorts of stupid in my head the moment the word is out of my mouth.
But that’s just another example of how the curse on my family works.Everyone is glaring at me now, Nico especially.His advice for dealing with Angelo so far has been to keep my head down, speak only when spoken to, and to just do what I’m told.
Angelo turns to me, his dark eyes blazing despite the serene expression on his face.
“I will worry about the how,” he says calmly.“Your job is only thewhat.As inwhatyou must do to aid me.”
This time I manage not to ask any more stupid questions.
“I suppose you want Chicago to handle just thewhattoo?”Costa says, following it up with a booming laugh that echoes in the silent room.I suppose he’s here because by abolishing The Commission, the position of the capo of the Chicago Outfit will also be left open.Probably for him.
“Parts of my plan are already in motion, parts are pending, and then there is the parts you all will play,” Angelo says.
Great, he’s already acting like an almighty ruler.I’ve never had a good experience with men who did that.Dante Moretti was one of those, thinking himself above all others.But I kind of like Angelo.He’s nothing like Dante and he’s got the type of charisma that can fill a room and despite his blazing eyes still trained on me, I think we could be friends.
“I’m fine with sticking to the what,” I say, ginning at him and maybe the tension between us drops by a few degrees.
“Good,” he says and nods.“Because you’re part of the plan already in motion.”
He turns back to the others.“I’ve called you here today for you to meet each other.So you know who is enemy and who is friend.”
The Russians are looking at me like I will never be their friend.But as long as they stay out of my way, I will stay out of theirs.I suppose I have Angelo to thank for them not coming after me.
“What’s the timeline for all this?”Costa asks.
“The next few weeks,” Angelo says.“We’re close now.Very close.”
“And what will we be doing?”the regal looking Russian asks.
I think he’s trying to sneer, but his accent is messing him up.
“You will help me cut down the Codelli family,” he says.“Each of you has a grievance with them, which is why you’re here.And I now have two men on the inside with them.And the second is the one who will deliver them to us on a silver platter.”
He walks in my direction and I step out of his way, thinking he means to pass me.Instead, he wraps his arm around my shoulders.“This is Matteo Rovina of LA.And the newest member of the Codelli family personal security team.”
Nico and the Russians already knew this, but Costa barks another of his booming laughs and claps his hands to boot.“You sly dog.I didn’t know you had someone so close to the family.That should make our job much easier.”
Angelo keeps his arm around my shoulders as he nods.“It will.So be ready to move, because all the pieces are almost in place.”
He releases me and I kind of miss the weight of his arm holding me down.But it’s already been replaced by the weight of responsibility.Half the guys in this room already want me dead from before.If I fuck this up, the rest will too.Every move I make seems to be plunging me deeper into a hole I’m digging for myself here.
But there’s no backing out anymore.
Chapter25
GIANNA
Dad sentword that he wanted to see me in his office at noon.The message came via Rafaelle who was even more grim-faced and silent than he usually is when he delivered it.He didn’t answer any of my questions about what Dad might want, or even say much beyond telling me to be there.
My sisters and I have come up with so many possible answers since then that my head is spinning and my stomach feels like I’ve had way more to drink last night than I actually did.
