Page 33 of Love & Power

The reactions to this news were a mixed bag—some clearly knew whereas others were hearing this for the first time. There was a flurry of chatter between the women until Anselma hissed at them to be quiet, which they did instantly.

“I’m not going to address the topic of the change in leadership in this meeting,” I warned, cutting off any questions before they began. “The reason I asked to speak with you all is because a family meeting has been called for tonight if possible. Otherwise, it will happen first thing in the morning. Tell me how many people can we house on this property?”

“Are you calling in just blood-related family or all those connected to the Raffa Family?” one of the men asked.

When asking Frediano to make this happen, I hadn’t really specified. However, I had a feeling he’d only bring in those where the change in leadership would affect them the most.

“Blood-related,” I answered.

“That’s roughly four hundred people if kids are included,” he shared. “This estate can handle about half that, but if you let the local inns know, we can cover all four hundred.”

“Would they have that many rooms free with no notice?” I questioned.

“You own the inns,” Anselma informed me. “If you need the room, the rooms will be made available.”

“Can I place you in charge of making that happen?” I asked her.

She smiled and nodded. “Leave it to me. I will ensure everything is prepared for overnight guests. Also, Fabiana, our cook, will need to pull in some help from town to manage feeding such a large crowd.”

“Get the help you need. I know this property is maintained with a barebones crew since it isn’t used on a regular basis. Keep in mind we need to keep as low a profile as possible. If anyone asks, we’re simply having a party,” I instructed, then dropped my diplomatic mask to reveal a glimpse of the Raffa madness. “Know this… I am a rational and fair leader, but if you betray me or this Family, you will wish the devil himself rose from hell to save you from the fate you’ll meet at my hands. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes, Madam Raffa,” they answered as one.

“Excellent, Anselma. I leave things in your capable hands. I’ll be out this afternoon, but Master Raffa will be here if you have any questions,” I shared. “Before I leave, does anyone have anything to say?”

A middle-aged woman dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with work boots covered in dirt raised a hand. “I-I do, Madam Raffa.”

“Go ahead,” I urged with a smile.

“Is it true that you’re here to save us?” she asked.

Frowning slightly, I shook my head. “I’m not sure what you mean?”

“It’s not safe here anymore in Nepreea. People are getting snatched off the streets, men are getting shot in neutral territory just for admitting they work for the Raffa Family,” she elaborated, her hands balling into fists. “I lost my husband a year ago, shot in a bar with no warning. Two years before that, my daughter was stolen from me on her way back from buying groceries. I have one child left that I now keep at home with me. He’s only thirteen and doesn’t understand why he can’t go to school or play with his friends, but I can’t risk losing him.”

She paused as her voice cracked and sniffled before meeting my gaze head-on. “Forgive me for being blunt, Madam Raffa, but we are being hunted, and it’s only getting worse. So at the risk of being punished for stepping out of line, I’ll ask again… are you here to help save us?”

Hearing this woman’s plea and being faced with the reality of what Frediano had been trying to tell me before, I realized there was only one answer to give her. “I don’t know if I can put an end to all of this, but what I can promise you is I will demolish the Accardi Family as well as the Leoni Family for the crimes they’ve committed against me and those I have vowed to protect.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her lip quivering as she tried to hold back her emotions. “Whatever you need, just say the word, and if I can help, I will.”

One of the other men wrapped an arm around the woman’s shoulders, comforting her. “As my sister said, any of us loyal to the Raffa Family are ready and willing to fight back. Our hands have been tied up to this point, but we want our pound of flesh from those bastards.”

I raised my hands, staving off the others from adding in their feelings on the subject. “Please know that I have heard you and understand your feelings on this matter. Right now, I need everyone, and I mean everyone across all of Nepreea who are loyal to the Raffa name, to act like nothing has changed. The most important part of this fight is going to be those bastards underestimating me as they do all women in power. This fight won’t be won in an epic battle of village people with pitchforks and guns. That’s exactly what they are waiting for, but I plan to pull the rug out from under them before they realize it’s coming.”

Looking at each of them for a moment, I decided to take a calculated risk, knowing it could be a game changer if it worked. “If you truly want to help me, then spread the word through all your networks. I want to know all the dirty details of the men who have power in the top two families. Who’s sleeping with whom, their drug of choice, if they have a love nest, secret children, debt to an outsider, anything big or small that I can learn will tell me where to strike first. Do you think that will be enough to hold people back from acting rashly?”

“Yes, Madam Raffa, I think we can easily convince them to behave after we explain you have a plan but need our help to make it happen. There won’t be many who will risk fucking up the chance to see those families burn in hell,” the man who’d first spoken assured me. I got the sense he was a respected man among the staff so I believed his assessment.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Zani, Zani Briffa,” he answered.

“Mr. Briffa, if I tasked you with working alongside one of my lieutenants to create a secure way of communicating the information people learn back to me, would you be willing?” I inquired. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel as though people would trust me more easily if you were included in the process.”

He shifted from side to side as if I’d made him uncomfortable. “May I speak honestly without you taking offense?”

Shrugging, I gestured for him to carry on. “Go ahead, I don’t offend easily.”