"My story is honestly insane." I give him a summary of recent events, leaving out the name of the Beta Activation facility I’m currently at.
Then I turn the question back to him, curious what he’s been up to.
"I’m doing exactly what I planned years ago. I expected our family to blow up sooner or later. Anzo was never stable."
"What did you plan?"
"Do you remember our uncle, the ever-drunk Tommaso?"
"Yeah, a bit."
Tomasso was my dad’s alpha brother, and along with their other brother, a beta, Renato, they both inherited the family sawmill business. But after Anzo killed our parents, he only allowed us sporadic visits, so I can’t say I know this uncle well.
"I bought Tommaso’s land from him about six years ago. He’d mortgaged it into oblivion to cover his drinking debts. For now, Uncle Renato holds the property in his name, because I didn’t want Rocco or Anzo to know about the transaction."
"Wow. That’s some farsighted thinking."
"Over the years, I built year-round rental cabins there, funded with money I earned from cage fighting."
"Oh, damn, brilliant. You sneaky bastard!"
But, strangely enough, what Mauro did doesn’t surprise me. Out of all of us, Mauro hated Anzo the most. He witnessed our parents’ murder, and he never forgot what he saw. With his mindset, it was only logical he would create a plan B. Or even plan C.
Unlike me…
"If you ever want to visit, or find yourself in trouble, you’re welcome, Eliano. There’s always at least one cabin free. I’ve got twenty now, and more under construction."
Of course, each of my brothers received a substantial piece of forest land from our dad’s inheritance. It was premarital property, so it never became a mafia asset. Anzo couldn’t touch it the way he did with our bank accounts. Of course I also have the land in my name there, but can’t do anything with it as of now.
"So you’re building only on this land you secretly bought?" I ask.
"Of course, only there. Our original plots are under surveillance. Rocco’s people have shown up there, Eliano. Asking around if anyone’s seen us. If I weren’t hiding out and keeping a low profile, it wouldn’t be pretty."
"Wait, what?"
A small wave of shock stiffens me. I swallow hard, my throat slightly constricting.
"Yeah. Rocco’s determined to make an example of us."
"Holy shit, Mauro… you’re serious?Soldatidid really come?"
"Yes. Rocco won’t stop, Eliano. Be very careful."
The cold shivers keep running through me, my fingers clench hard on the phone.
So my decision to come to Calsing Island wasn’t paranoia after all!
Until now, Rocco’s threat of revenge felt distant. Real, yes, but pushed far into the future. After taking over as capo, I assumed he’d be busy consolidating power.
Instead, the bastard went looking for us almost immediately, burning with vengeance over our escape!
He must have felt it was a slap to his face. Knowing his way, the idea of what he could do makes me lose my breath a bit, and my stomach tightens.
"I need to go, Mauro. But let’s stay in touch. My situation here could turn bad. I might need a place to disappear."
"Of course. Be alert, Eliano. Your blog is well secured, but Rocco might still be watching it, tracking your activity, trying to figure out where you are."
He’s right.
