Looking into my friend’s green eyes, I can see the heavy stress he carries, juggling the secret role of boss while trying to become an attorney. Life as a mafia man is tough, especially when you haven’t yet earned your place as a made man.
If his brother Dillon were alive, Dominic could focus more on becoming an attorney. He would’ve had someone to split the territories with. Like I’ll have with Nick. I don’t miss the anger that’s always there in his stare. He’s mad at the world for taking his brother from him.
The office door opens and Sergio walks in. He’s the boss of all bosses. You can feel the weight of his power when you’re in his presence. Of course, this is the first time I’ve ever had a sit-down with the Don of the five families.
“We’ll have to handle one of those problems together,” Dominic suggests.
“Yes, we will,” I reply.
He would be the perfect man to have by my side when I make a motherfucker pay for Serenity’s fucked up demeanor.
“Dad, I’ll speak to you in a few,” Dominic says, darting out the door.
“Nico, have a seat,” Sergio orders.
I sit in one of the two seats in front of his desk and take another sip of my whiskey.
“Your father called me months ago. Thought you’d pay me a visit.” He smirks over his shoulder as he walks to the bar.
Shit, I knew he would reach out to him. That’s why I waited.
“My father told me to drop it. So I did at the time. He was dealing with health issues.”
“How is he?” Sergio asks, pouring whiskey into my glass.
He scares the shit out of me appearing at my side like that.
“He’s managing. Cancers a fucking bitch.”
“Yeah, it is,” he agrees as he pushes the glass top into the top of the crystal decanter.
Due to my position in the five families and my family’s strong relationship with the Magarellis. I have nothing to worry about. The older mafia bosses are role models for my generation. Except for the Bertozzis. No one looks up to those assholes.
Sergio pats my shoulder. “Your father’s one of the toughest men I know. He’ll beat this.”
“Thank you.”
He rounds his desk. “What’s on your mind, Nico?”
“My ex-girlfriend is Serenity Cichello. We still see each other.”
He chuckles. “I know you do. Magarelli soldiers follow her. They’ve seen you around her quite a bit.” Sergio sips his vodka.
“Our families were at a private dinner at an estate last year. Serenity’s always so strong and unbothered. She asked her father if her family was safe with ours and if their men were patrolling the grounds. I’d never seen her worried like that. Ever since that day, I make sure she feels safe when we’re together.”
He smiles. “Good. She needs that.”
Sergio runs a hand through his dark hair. “I’ll give you some information. I have a feeling once you become a made man, you’ll learn what happened to her, anyway.”
My heart lurches in my chest.
“Only tell this information to those you trust with your life,” he tells me.
“I understand.”
“I don’t think you do. It wasn’t Serenity who told her father what happened. It was her mother. Ettore Vero from DC and the head of the Bratva, Aleksandr Novikoff from Baltimore, wanted Newark, Delaware. It’s a gold mine to run drugs through. Ettore sent his younger brother Gioele, his right-hand man Jeno Mergia, and some muscled fuck Lauro (Lurch) Archioni.The Cichello bodyguards were all slaughtered, leaving Cerese, Krew, and Serenity exposed. Tizáno was in town, occupied with business. Cerese and Krew were downstairs; she was preparing breakfast, getting the kids ready for summer camp. Ettore’s men bound Krew and Cerese in the living room. Lurch dragged an unconscious Serenity down the stairs. Cerese said Serenity’s nose was bleeding. The big bastard hit her in the nose.”
My fists curl on my thighs. He hit her.
