Fucking annoying.
But at least Nico is back to his normal self, greeting everyone as we entered the mansion after returning in one piece against all odds.He’s making small talk, being loud, offering everyone a taste of the good stuff as he calls it.Even now, as we wait for Ferro to start the evening meeting he called for tonight, he’s acting like this is the only place he wants to be.Right here, in the middle of this revolution that’s the bloodiest I’ve ever heard of.And if what I’ve overheard the others talking about, it’s about to get bloodier still.
We’re having this meeting in the large dining room.A large dark wood dining table that seats twenty-four dominates the room and all the seats are taken, except the one at the head.As are all the other chairs in the room.I’m leaning against the wall by one of the windows, hoping Ferro arrives soon because my mind’s been spiraling worse and worse all day.Especially after all those near-death experiences on the ride with Nico.If ruin didn’t have other plans for me, I’m sure I’d be dead right now and it’s a very unsettling feeling.
Ferro finally walks in at fifteen minutes after six.He’s not wearing his jacket, just a black waistcoat over his white shirt.No tie, the buttons of his shirt undone, the sleeves rolled up.No cigar.No tumbler of whiskey.No air of quiet superiority.
Just seeing all that makes my mind spiral worse.Are we in trouble?Are we losing the war?
He stands at the head of the table but doesn’t sit.Instead, he bangs on the table with his fist, looking at each of us, demanding our attention without actually calling for it.I stand up straight and face him.
“We did well last night,” he says once the room falls silent.“But now we must solidify our power.”
There’s a lot of nodding around the room, and a lot of grunting in agreement.But I’m sure the same question that’s echoing in my mind is on everyone else’s mind too… how?We killed a lot of people.Left quite a trail of blood.I’m sure those we left alive are organizing some sort of counterattack.But I will not be the one to ask that question.
Ferro paused for effect, then sat down at the head of the table during that pause.Now that the room has fallen silent again, he’s still surveying us all with his dark, yet gleaming gaze.
“I’ll be assuming power tomorrow,” he says.“I have called for a meeting of what’s left of the commission, during which I will announce that I am now thecapo dei tutti cappi.Whoever wants to join me can live.Anyone who doesn’t will die tomorrow.”
It feels like what he’s saying applies to all of us in this room with that too.Like he’s making us that same offer.The tension that suddenly tightens across the room tells me I’m not the only one noticing that.
“I will need all of you tomorrow, and on your a-game,” he says.“I fully expect push back, as should you.”
He turns to the man sitting at his right.A guy called Marco “The Axe” Caputo.That and the fact that he likes to kill with an axe is all I know about him.His eyes and hair are even darker than Ferro’s.
“Where are we on locating the Codellis?”he asks him, and Caputo sits up straighter.
I straighten up too, cursing myself right after for showing how much I care about Caputo’s answer.This is not lost on Ferro whose eyes seem to be burning a hole through my head right now.
“We found their boat in a little town called Irvington, but we’re still trying to locate them.Can’t be far… two women and two injured men… should have them by tomorrow night.”
Ferro nods, his eyes still boring holes into mine.“Go there yourself.Take the new guy, Rovina, with you.And don’t come back without good news.”
Good news in this case means news of the death of Gianna’s father and his bodyguard Rafaelle.And captivity of her mother and other sister.If they’re lucky.I definitely liked it better before, when I could tell her they got away.I try my hardest to keep all that off my face, because Ferro is still staring at me like he’s trying to read my mind.I wouldn’t put that ability past him.
“I’m curious to know how come that injured bodyguard isn’t dead yet.Rafaelle Santi, was it?”Ferro says and my throat closes up.I can’t breathe.Can’t even move my head.
Rafaelle was the head of the security detail for the Codelli family and my direct superior while I worked for them.On the night Ferro took over, I was supposed to kill Rafaelle first.Instead, I only wounded him so that he could help the Codelli’s—including Gianna—escape.It was my last-ditch effort not to ruin the gift she had given me.To thank her for it.
It failed.Gianna and her sister Chiara were taken.But Rafaelle managed to get the rest of them onto a boat and away from the carnage.I hoped they’d just disappear and my role in their escape would never come back to bite me, but I should’ve known it would.
“I stabbed him good.In the guts,” I say, since it seems like Ferro is waiting for some sort of an answer from me.“No idea how he managed to get all the way to the boat with that wound.”
“That’s because Rafaelle Santi is a tough son of a bitch,” one of the others at the table says.“I’ve seen him take five bullets when Tony Codelli was killed and still, he kept coming.You should’ve shot him in the head.And even that might not have done it.”
I will make it my mission to learn this guy’s name and make him my best friend.Because I’m sure he just saved my ass right now, which means I owe him my life now.
Ferro glances at him then back at me.“I’ve heard this story before.And your failure to kill him might actually be a stroke of good luck.He knows where all the Codelli family skeletons are buried.When you find him, bring him here along with the women.Kill the old man on sight.”
“Yes, Boss,” I say.“I won’t fail you again.”
I hope he believes me.But how could he not?In this moment I’d say anything, do anything just to keep his trust.Because I’m seeing my own plans, my dream of getting an army and avenging my family and reclaiming my birth right, burning and turning to ash and dust before my eyes.And I’ve come too far to let that happen.No matter the cost.
“Good,” Ferro says.“Now get to it.I want the good news by tomorrow night at the latest.”
Caputo stands up and nods curtly.“You’ll have it.”
I somehow manage not to ask who will take care of Gianna while I’m gone, even though the question is at the tip of my tongue.But saying that right now would mean my death, I’m sure of it.So I just silently follow Caputo out the door.
