Page 60 of Blood & Heartache

“There is nothing to apologize for. You lost your husband, a man you loved with all your heart. That isn’t pain you can control, it’s one you must survive. I’m very glad to have you here, though,” I said, gingerly squeezing her hand. “Tonight is going to be full of surprises, and I’m going to need you to trust me. Everything is happening for a reason, and most of that is revenge for Daddy and betraying the Family.”

Her eyes grew wide at my warning, but she simply nodded and wrapped an arm around Jamison’s. “May the saints protect you tonight, Astin.”

Pretty sure I’d long past the point any saint could save my soul, but maybe, just maybe, they’d be willing to watch my back. I might not be religious, but when wading into war, you took whatever help you could get.

I focused on Jamison next. “You’ll do nothing and say nothing. Your only purpose here tonight is to keep your mother safe. If shit hits the fan, you take her and get the fuck to a safe room. Do you understand me?” I demanded, making sure he had a clear picture of who was in charge. I wasn’t my father who felt like he needed to make up for being a shit father to his firstborn. These two were some of the last threads of a family I had, and I’d like to see if I can keep them alive a little longer.

“Understood, Boss,” Jamison answered.

With a sharp nod, I walked to stand before the tables and confronted the sea of faces that made up the Caprioni Family. I didn’t say anything at first but took a moment to study them and see what the mood was in the room before speaking. People were scared, but that’s to be expected. The man who’d led them for thirty years died suddenly, and a person they didn’t know was taking his place. Not to mention that person was a woman. Others I found to be curious or even impressed like they didn’t understand how I could be standing here in the first place. Or maybe it was the blood—could be the blood—but either way, I’d caught their attention which is what I wanted.

“You have all been called here tonight to witness the changing of leadership. My father, Colmazio Caprioni, was assassinated just as my mother was all those years ago…” I paused, knowing that we’d kept this bit of information to ourselves.

The room exploded into cries of surprise, outrage, and one woman burst into tears. Men grew angry, their faces contorting with emotion as they shifted like caged animals waiting to be set free. Originally, I wasn’t going to involve the whole family to deal with Harvey, but it wasn’t just about him anymore. It was much, much bigger.

“I plan to seek revenge for the attack on our Family, and in rooting out who was behind this heinous act, I discovered a snake living among us.” Gesturing to Gramps, the asshole repaid the favor and chucked the head over to me. Thankfully, I caught it with ease, shifted it so Athos’s face was looking out, and then held it up high for all to see. “One of our own has been conspiring for years to ensure I never would make it to this moment. My uncle, beloved by my father, turned his back on us for nothing more than the promise of power.”

At my words, the room was flooded with security lining the walls, making it so no one could leave. Each had their guns in hand, ready to act the moment someone made a move. This seemed to unsettle the crowd as they looked to me for answers.

“Not only did my uncle betray this family, he took it upon himself to start building an army within our own people. Tonight, as my first act as the head of this family, I’ll purge every one of these traitors from our midst. Know now that none of you will survive this night. Step forward, and your death will be quick. Make me find you, and you’ll suffer the same fate as your leader,” I warned.

A man let out a roar and moved to attack me, but I was ready for someone to make a stupid choice. Taking the head, I hurled it at the man, watching it slam into his face, giving me the chance to grab my cane. Pulling the blade free, I lunged forward, spearing the man right in the heart just as he managed to get his gun free. Swiping it out of his hand, not willing to risk him shooting me, I secured my blade in favor of the gun.

The attack had caused the room to fall into chaos as people tried to escape, guns went off, and bodies dropped to the floor. While I knew this wasn’t going to be a calm and orderly experience, I didn’t think everyone who wasn’t in trouble would be so panicked. Two more men came at me, but I picked them off easily enough, but when a mob rushed me, I wasn’t quite so confident. Beating them back with my cane, I shot those where I could to slow them down. Just as a man reached out to grab me, he was yanked back, and a knife sliced across his throat.

“You hurt?” Jace asked as he shot another stepping in front of me.

“Not more than I already was,” I answered, grabbing a man and using him as a shield when I couldn’t aim fast enough to take out his friend. The man in my grasp jerked as the bullets hit his chest, and I shoved him forward to crash into the man.

Then Hound was there slamming his foot into the back of a man, dropping him to his knees before putting a bullet in the back of the traitor’s head. It had to be one of the sexiest moves I’d ever seen, but I couldn’t let myself get distracted as more attacked. There were clearly more than two hundred or so people. Could others be using this as an opportunity to kill me off and take my place? Fat chance I was going to let that happen.

Luca and Ryker joined us, creating a circle of protection with the other two easing the stress on me. Just as fast as the whole thing started, it was over, and bodies littered the ballroom floor, while others wept in the corner huddled together. All the men still standing had guns in their hands, breaths coming fast, and determination on their faces.

This gave me an idea, one I felt would be rather poetic justice for those who oppose me. “Men of the Caprioni Family, listen up,” I yelled, trying to ensure my voice could carry to the back of the room. “Those of you still standing, I ask you now, are you loyal to this family? Will you respect and honor my role as your leader? Do you have the balls to help me rebuild this family into something more than it already is? To have the Caprioni name strike fear and demand respect from all those who hear it? Will you be my people?” I asked, shouting the last question, filling my voice with all the anger and resolve I had.

The roar of voices bellowing their agreement shook the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, it was so loud. Some men pounded their chests, still high off the battle we’d just won as they cheered.

“Then I ask you to put your guns on the floor and pull out your knives,” I ordered and waited a moment as I watched the wave of men doing as I instructed. “Hold your knife in your right hand and cut the left deep enough to leave a scar. Pussy out on this, and it will be proof your oath is of no use to me. Let your blood spill over your gun and the floors of this home.”

Many performed this action without hesitation, while others seemed to build up the courage but followed through. Only three men seemed unable to do what was commanded of them.

“Bring them to me,” I said to the guys. Hound, Luca, and Jace went to retrieve them, so I carried on with the ritual. I’d deal with them after I had complete and utter control of the Caprioni Family.

“The blood you’ve just spilled means we’re Family, and you vow to be loyal to its leader. Those in this family have one oath, you live by the gun and the knife protecting the Caprioni Family. Fail, and you die by the gun and the knife. Do you accept this and acknowledge this oath?” I demanded, standing tall and proud as I waited for their response.

“Alive we enter the Family, in death is when we leave,” the men responded in unison, their voices echoing through the house, claiming it once more by those who understood what those words meant.

“Together we live, defend, and watch this family grow. Those who oppose us will find nothing but death to await them here. We’re a strong, proud Family, and I’ll do everything in my power to see that we stay that way. A battle is coming, one unlike we’ve seen in generations, but I have faith in this Family,” I declared, completing the oath ritual. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked up quite the appetite. The staff has prepared a meal for us all to share, and I’d be honored for you to join me. It will be a time to bond together, heal from loss, and speak of a bright future for this Family.”

The sudden change in tone surprised them, but the men understood more than the women. Battles are won and lost every day in our world. This was a victory and the beginning of setting things right. Those who died here today didn’t deserve to be mourned or thought of ever again. They betrayed the Family and paid the price. Part of that price was to be forgotten, stricken from memory so their sins didn’t carry on.

Everyone filed out of the ballroom and found places in the various rooms where tables had been set up for dinner. I’m glad I instructed them to do it this way instead of just shifting things in the ballroom because it wasn’t really a place anyone would want to eat right now.

Glenda had people on standby for cleanup and body disposal. In a matter of hours, there won’t be a speck of evidence for what happened here today.

Such is the way of the mafia who live and work in the shadows of our world.

Chapter 27