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Chapter 1
Silas
The amount of power in the room would have terrified many a weak man, but not me. I thrived in situations like this.
I was more powerful than everyone in this room. I’d made my place in the world by taking what I wanted, when I wanted, and however I wanted. I had more money and influence than anyone else here in the club tonight and every single one of them knew it. They all gave me a wide berth for a very good reason. If they didn’t, they’d wind up at the bottom of the Hudson River.
A blonde waitress in a cute little black dress made her way to me, leaning down and giving me a pretty smile as she balanced a platter of drinks on her shoulder. I came here often enough that the owner of the club knew what I drank, and he had it sent to me as soon as I took a seat. The waitress slid a crystal glass full of the best whiskey they had in the joint. She leaned down in such a way that I had a rather enticing view of her ample cleavage and I smiled with enjoyment, letting my gaze linger just a little bit to make her beam with pleasure that I’d noticed. I’d seen her here before and she was very good at keeping my glass topped off. I returned her smile, letting her know that I appreciated her effort as well as the drink.
“Compliments of Richie Lozano,” she whispered, and I grinned knowingly in her direction. I slid her a hundred-dollar bill and waved her off so that I could pay attention to the rest of the people here. She nodded with understanding and went on her way. I glanced in her direction as she served some of the other men at the table, before moving on to serve the rest of the club. She had a tight little ass too and her dress only set it off.
I could appreciate a beautiful woman, but that’s not why I was here. Tonight, I wanted information. And I was going to get it.
Four of the five mafia families that ran New York City were here. The Bonannos, the Columbos, the Luccheses, and even the Gambino mafia families were all gathered tonight. There was no open hostility on the surface, but it was so incredibly palpable that it was hard to ignore. One wrong move and Bar Emporia would light up in a hailstorm of bullets. The back of my hand was casually lying against my thigh, one quick motion away from unholstering my own gun in case it proved necessary. Ever vigilant, I kept watch on everyone, knowing that this much tension could prove dangerous in less than a second.
Carefully, I turned my head as I gazed at everyone in the bar. I recognized a number of the major mafia family players, including Vincent Gambino and Nick Lucchese, both pretty high up in their respective chains of command. The families were spread out from one another, each in their own booths as they surveyed everyone else in the bar.
The families hadn’t met like this before. Ever.
Tonight, there was a reason though and an important one at that.
There was a woman. A single woman who could change the balance of power in the city if she was ever found. Her identity was a mystery, a bastard daughter of the Genovese family who had been hidden away and forgotten. For a long time, she’d been whispered about and many had doubted that she even existed at all, but I knew different. I’d known her mother.
My fingers tightened into a fist and I had to remind myself not to get lost in memories of the past. I had to remain focused on the meeting at hand. It would be dangerous to allow myself to get distracted and not just for me, but for my men too.
They surrounded my table like bodyguards, each of them leaning casually against their chairs or on a nearby wall, ever ready to strike at a moment’s notice. I’d known them all for a really long time. We had years of history and we stuck together. We protected each other, no matter what and tonight would be no different.
Dean caught my gaze and glanced over at the Luccheses. I followed his signal and casually turned in their direction, watching as their nervous whispering began to ascend the quiet chatter of the room. Matthew Lucchese finally slapped his hands noisily against the table and stood up, boldly making his way toward me. His expression was full of concern and I sat back, lifting my chin rather arrogantly as I appraised him. He was smart enough to nod in respect, but Eric stiffened anyway. He took a sidestep closer to me and placed his thumbs in his belt in a silent threat. Matthew disregarded him entirely and Eric grunted in annoyance.
“You should tell Nick that he doesn’t need to send his underboss to send a message to me. He should do it himself,” I began. The waitress returned with a box of freshly cut cigars. I chose one and lifted it with my fingers. She plucked a lighter from her pocket and lit it for me. I took a long drag before I turned back to Matthew, blowing the smoke from my lips in a haze that aimed right at his face before it rose up toward the ceiling. The scent of honey, coffee, and toasted almonds floated around me. I didn’t smoke often, but I could appreciate a good Cuban cigar from time to time.
Matthew dipped his head with feigned indifference, carefully ignoring the smoke that was making his eyes water like a little bitch.
“You know how he is, Silas,” the man answered, and I smirked. Matthew was right. Nick Lucchese was a bastard, and he knew it. He liked testing me and if ever given the chance, he’d be the one to put a bullet in my forehead without a second thought. I had more power, money, and influence than him and he knew it. He hated it, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
“What did Nick send you to tell me, Matthew?” I asked coolly.
“He wanted the meeting to officially begin,” he offered. I glanced around and the other kingpins were watching our interaction as well, waiting for me to say the word. As much as they all hated to admit it, every last person in this room would answer to me. They knew what happened to those who didn’t.
For the most part and as long as they didn’t encroach on my authority, I let them be. I didn’t get involved in their petty squabbling. Sometimes it was drugs or territory or even a woman. Tonight though, it was about a child that was born twenty-two years ago to a woman who had almost destroyed the Genovese family from the inside out.
Her name was Isabella and she’d been the kingpin’s wife. She had a child, but the baby hadn’t been the kingpin’s daughter. Isabella had an affair with his underboss, a crime that was so forbidden that both of them ended up dead as soon as their secret was discovered.
She’d given birth before she was kil
led though. A bastard daughter who would inherit an incredible amount of power if she was ever found.
For a long time, the daughter’s existence or lack thereof hadn’t mattered, but things have a way of changing unexpectedly. Vittorio Genovese and his new underboss had been found dead last night, hidden away in an alley as if they were just some forgotten trash. He’d never had any children. No heirs. He’d never named anyone to take his place either because he was a cocky son of a bitch who thought that he’d survive anything until he didn’t. Turns out that you can’t take a bullet point blank to the face and walk away with your life.
If this mythical daughter was ever found, the Genovese family would continue to hold their power in the city. If she wasn’t, however, they’d be torn apart by the other four families here. The men sitting in this room wanted to find her, but they didn’t intend to let her take her place as a mafia queen.
