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Chapter 49
Leda
After my morning surprise, Lucas got down to business. He set up a link for us to talk to the remaining capos that we had on our side, deciding that it was far safer for us to do it this way and not in person.
So, I sat next to him at the island, staring into the computer that showed the capos on the screen. “Carmine has escalated the war.” There was an edge to his voice. “He’s taken his son and the rest of his family. We need to plan an attack to get them back.”
“An attack?” one of the capos stated. “Why should we care about what Carmine wants with his own family? We aren’t in the business of rescuing anyone, Valentino.”
Others murmured in agreement, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“He’s taken innocent children,” I bit out, ignoring Lucas’s dark stare. “Children that have nothing to do with this.”
“Forgive me, Madame D’Agostino,” another spoke up, no warmth to his voice. “But that’s really none of our concern. That’s a family issue, and we aren’t interested in putting our fucking necks on the line for a snitch like your brother.”
I couldn’t deny that. My brother had gone against everything that would have been considered as loyal to his family, acting against the Mafia family as a whole.
“You don’t understand,” I tried again. Surely they couldn’t just turn their backs on innocent children.
“No, we understand perfectly,” the same capo stated firmly. “You want us to bleed for your family. Simple as that. You promised us vengeance and power, and that’s what we’ll fight for. If anything, we should let Carmine take care of business and then go after them.”
Lucas glanced at me, and I knew that my face was red with anger.
“Listen to me,” I said tightly, wanting to reach into the computer and shake them for their ignorance. “You have no idea what my father wants!”
“And you do?” Another capo cut in, his expression dark.
“You pledged to end Carmine D’Agostino with us,” Lucas growled. “Getting Nico and his family out from under him is part of that.”
“Don’t think you can order us around, Valentino,” came the response. “We’ve been very complacent so far, following your lead, but do you really need a reminder that we are helping you?”
“What do you think will happen when my father kills my brother?” I asked coolly. These squabbling fools! None of them had any sense of strategy, of long term vision. They all had their heads stuck so far up their ass that they could see the back of their own teeth.
One of the capos laughed. “He stays on being our enemy. You see how none of this matters to us? Because afterwards, he’ll still be gunning for us. So if he takes a day off to fuck your brother and his family up, then that’s a day where we get some of the heat taken off us.”
I sat back in the chair, unable to even speak. So that was it. These men were hinting at abandoning us before the war was even complete. All of the flattery and ass-kissing since I rallied them was just another means to an end.
A familiar anger ran through me, and I finally understood what drove my father to murder the rest of the Dons at the Black Dinner. If I could do the same, I would. In a heartbeat.
“We had an understanding,” Lucas finally replied, tension clear in his voice. “Don’t tell me that we have to worry about a stab in our back.”
“Not now,” the capo replied. “But I’m doing the courtesy of telling you that once this war is over, the next one will begin shortly.”
“You fools!” I stood up. “My brother doesn’t matter, I don’t matter to him. Not anymore. My father wants my nephews because they will secure his legacy. Once he has them, he will come down on you without mercy. There won’t be a place in New York you’ll hide. He’ll find you, your families, and make you watch as he tortures them to death over days. He’ll keep you alive, and carve you apart piece by piece. He’ll make you regret ever picking up arms against him. Even if you kneel in front of him now.”
“Him?” one of the capos steepled his fingers and leaned forward. “Or you?”
And one by one, the capos disconnected.
I paced the floor, my anger barely restrained. “I wouldn’t put it past them to betray us way before this war ends.”
Lucas shut the laptop. “Maybe your threat will get through some of them.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
It was the last thing we needed. Our support was already starting to dwindle when we were in a bitter stalemate. And now that my father and Adrian had the upper hand…
“Leda.”
