“Cesare died at only 31 years of age when he was caught alone during an uprising, knocked from his horse, and slaughtered by enemy soldiers. A rather ignominious end to a brilliant career.
“Another point of interest: Cesare was supposedly so handsome that he served as the model for Christ in many Renaissance paintings. Those paintings became the basis for the fair-skinned, European-style Messiah seen in many depictions today.” Niccolo paused, then said wryly, “Quite a bit different from our modern-day Cesare, who’s a bit…lackingin the looks department, shall we say.
“Lucrezia Borgia was the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander and Cesare Borgia’s sister. Being a woman in Renaissance Italy limited her options, but she was no less cunning and manipulative than her brother.
“She married three times – all of them arranged by her father for political gain. The first marriage was annulled. The second ended with the incredibly suspiciousdeath of her husband. Many of her contemporaries believed that Lucrezia poisoned him. Some even claimed she possessed a poison ring she used for the deed.
“Our modern-day Lucrezia isn’t married, nor does she appear to use poison – but she is every bit as capable as her historical namesake, and reportedly far more intelligent than her thuggish brother.
“One other thing of note. Though there is no proof – and some historians believe it was merely slander from their rivals – the Borgia siblings supposedly had an incestuous relationship.”
Several of the women – Alessandra, Cat, and Bianca – scrunched up their noses.
Niccolo continued. “Apparently, our modern-day Cesare and Lucrezia are sleeping together as well.”
Everyone – including me – joined the three women in an expression of disgust.
“In this surveillance photograph taken by the Naples police, please note Lucrezia’s oversized sunglasses. The rumor is she wears them at all times in order to cover a hideous disfigurement.
“When she was 17, she supposedly slept with a foot soldier who worked for the Caproni family. Cesare, who was 19 at the time, gouged out her left eye in a fit of jealous rage.
“Lucrezia fared better than the foot soldier. Her brother reportedly tortured him to death.
“Rather than drive them apart, however, Cesare’s brutality seems to have cemented their union even further. Lucrezia reportedly considered her brother’s actions both justified and… ‘romantic.’”
Our looks of disgust turned to disbelief.
“While Lucrezia and Cesare don’t exactly shout their relationship from the rooftops, it’s an open secret among the clans of theCamorra,who regard it as proof of the siblings’ depravity. Which is saying something.
“TheCamorraare monsters. About three decades ago, they began supplementing the front lines of their operation with children from the poorest neighborhoods of Naples – boys as young as ten. Why? Because there was an endless supply, the kids were desperate enough to risk their lives for a few euros – and they were expendable.
“Low-levelCamorrasoldiers recruit children to be lookouts, then promote them to drug dealers as they get older. The ones that survive are hardened veterans by the time they turn 16. At that point, they’re absorbed into the organization as foot soldiers.
“The kids’ training is for shit, but there’s an unlimited supply, so why stress? If one gets gunned down in a street battle, another ten will take his place.
“TheCamorraare like warlords in the most violent regions of Africa. After all, they both employ armies of child-soldiers. So if otherCamorrathink you’re bad, that’s saying something – and the Caproni siblings arenotwell-regarded by their fellow gangsters atall.
“In the few short years Cesare and Lucrezia have been in charge, they’ve extended their wealth and power far beyond what their father ever achieved. In the process, though, they’ve made enemies of the other clans, who eventually banded together and threatened to wipe the Caproni siblings out.
“However, Cesare and Lucrezia reportedly cut a deal. In exchange for peace, the two siblings offered to kill Don Amato of theCosa Nostra.”
Valentino laughed.
Not like it was funny, but like,Yeah, RIGHT.
Dario, Adriano, Roberto, and Massimo didnotlaugh. They looked uneasy.
Lars and most of the women looked confused.
“Wasn’t Don Amato one of the guys on the Council in Rome?” Lars asked.
“Yes,” Niccolo replied. “Amato is in Naples, and head of one of the powerful Five Families of theCosa Nostra,which include Rome, Venice, Milan, and Sicily.
“Naples has traditionally been a stronghold for theCamorra,but about 20 years ago, Don Amato moved into Naples. He had backing from the rest of theCosa Nostra– including from our own family, thanks to Papa and Uncle Fausto.
“The idea was to get a foothold in the lucrative sweatshops on the outskirts of Naples. TheCamorramake billions of euros annually on counterfeit designer goods that theysell to the rest of the world. Don Amato figured he could get a piece of the action.
“However, things didn’t quite go as he planned.
