“No, we cannot.”Alfredo growled.“No one, not even my son can be allowed to do that.He stopped being my son a long time ago.He walked away from the family and turned his back on everything we hold dear.”He stood from the chair then looked at Leon.“Fredo is no longer my son, he has no ties to my family after he brought shame to our name.To his birthright even.His own son Giovano is no longer my family either.He took part in this plot to overthrow the Don and brought shame to our name as well.I no longer acknowledge either of them.”He looked down at Lucas and Juno.“These men are now my only family.Their dear madre is gone now.They are the only ones I will acknowledge and stand behind.I have already expressed my feeling of this matter to the Don and he has acknowledged this decision.I am hoping for your generosity old friend and that you will open your home to me and mine.So that we may miss the penalty my son and grandson will endure.I do not wish to see them executed and if my family is banished there, we will start a new life in America.”
Leon nodded.“I will house you until the judgement is passed.I can even offer you housing until you can find another place to stay here.”
Lucas sagged with relief.
Juno did as well.
Lucinda watched and listened to all of this with wonderment on her young face.
Storm and Frost nodded as did Calderone.This didn’t surprise them in the least.
Chapter Nine
Alfredo stared at hisold friend.Then he raised his fist to his chest, tapping it over his heart in a signal that he valued his old friend’s alliance.He slumped back down in his chair and shook his head.“I do not know why you agreed to do this but I am thankful you did.”
“I did this because thirty years ago you became my friend,” Leon acknowledged.“We watched our families grow up and our friendships survived all these years.You hosted us whenever we came to Italy, remember?”
Alfredo nodded his head as he smiled.
Leon went on, “You insisted that your home was ours and refused to allow us to check into a hotel.But besides all of that, I cannot turn my back on anyone that I hold dear in a longtime, loyal friendship.We all have had our own trials and tribulations over the years but when it gets rough, we help each other,” he spoke quietly.
“Si, I do the same indeed.”Alfredo growled.“Fredo never learned the value of friendship or trust.It was always greed that he would listen to.He wants it all and he would step over his own family’s bones to get what he coveted.”
Lucinda nodded at Alfredo’s words.“Si Senor, my brothers never learned that lesson either.If they wanted something they simply took it and they didn’t care that someone else did the work for that item.Many people saw them do the worst but they knew better than to say anything or do anything to stop them.They knew deep down in their hearts that my brothers couldn’t be stopped.I came here to finally see if one man could dismantle them.What they have in mind is indeed a terrible fate for anyone, but if you do not stop them they will shoot everyone in this house and simply walk over their bodies.Then continue to do their worst to the world.They will build a bridge to Europe and continue to sell everything they can, and that includes women and children.They had already established a network where their men steal children from the streets to sell them into slavery.Women and children and si, even some half-grown men have fallen under their hands and have been sold in order to plump up their bank accounts.I have proof.”She paused as she cried, then swallowed hard.“I have kept tabs on them for a few years.That’s why I came here, senor.I could not stay away when I heard what they had in mind.”She hung her head and went on, “My father has lied and cheated people until he got into a seat of power then he turned his back on those very people that helped him get there.He has no honor or morals and I am proof of that fact as my mother is not and never has been his wife.Another woman was unfortunate enough to have married him.She still lives in his house.She is still there because she can’t leave.He told her once in public that if she ever left him he would hunt her down and shoot her in the head for disobeying him.He treats her like a servant years after she gave him what he wanted, three sons and no daughters.”She looked up at Leon.“I heard from her the day before yesterday.And yes, we speak often as we have a lot in common.She told me that Paulo and Juan should arrive today.”
With her words, the whole room went silent.
Leon looked around and nodded.“Gentlemen, we are going to war.Clear the decks and get into place.The orders are shoot to kill.John, get the copter for Willow, Juno, Jordy and Calderone.”
Everyone moved at once.
John sent a text to the copter pilot.Then he sent out an SOS to every member of his security team and soon men came to the main house.Then some were sent as a border to secure every side of the property.
Sheba, Ari and James as well as Cane and Orrin joined the security men.The girls and brothers had been on four-hour naps.As they had swapped security runs with the Sinners and Sin’s MC.
A half hour later...
