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“There’s a threat that concerns us all as it’s causing too much attention toward our organization.”
Now, I had their undivided attention by taking offense. I kept my words strong, while my tone took charge.
“A target on a Vitelli, soon to be Moretti,” I quickly added, and fished inside my jacket pocket. I threw the picture that was dated a year ago, with Katia’s face out in the open for all to see. “I took that picture from someone who took orders by an affiliated man.”
Stefano shifted closer to the picture while Borelli stayed composed. I felt Alonzo’s eyes, but mine watched Vitelli, uncomfortable by his daughter’s face as it silenced the rumors into truth. Although, he was more concerned of how the revealed secrets would perceive him than the safety of his only daughter. He didn’t fool me.
I turned my attention back to Borelli.
“If by an affiliated man, you mean one of us, that’s against code.” Stefano’s puffed lips curled.
“And punished by death,” Alonzo’s words sliced in bloodthirst.
“This is a grave accusation, Moretti,” Stefano warned.
“And yet, I haven’t spoken a name,” I replied.
Borelli didn’t twitch. Calm, collected, and in control, he kept his posture, but the more they spoke, the more a vein popped across his forehead.
“I heard about the five deaths in your city. It made the news nationwide. Some named it a serial-killer on the loose while others called it a killing-spree,” Alonzo said next to me, stating the facts and setting the whispers to rest. “The characteristics of the victims are uncanny to yourfiancée.”
Borelli broke character, I didn’t.
I liked the sound ofyourfiancée.
“Mario,” Stefano spluttered. “You must have something to say.”
Cornered, Katia’s father spoke. “Like Moretti has said, we are at war.”
Of course Vitelli’s words wouldn’t help me. No war was known to La Cosa Nostra, it had been private. Taken and forged without rules, until now.
“Who is it, Mario?” Stefano cut clean.
Mario Vitelli didn’t answer, so I did.
“I can’t prove it, yet. Which is why I’ve requested this meeting.”
“If you can’t prove it was an affiliated man, there was no base to call this meeting!” Stefano’s tone raised and a bead of sweat rolled off his temple.
“It will be when our organization hits the news if the next victim is the daughter of a suspected mafioso, Russo.” My patience was running thin. “They will connect the prior deaths and tie them to hers.”
“My question is, why is a woman, a Vitelli, targeted by one of our own?” Alonzo abruptly asked, tired of the broken stories and hunting for the truth.
My eyes met his bright blues. They were wicked and demanding answers. While rumors often began with one person, the wind carried the whispers and split them. When they arrived, they were nothing but shattered shards of information. Most far from the truth.
But I knew the tales Alonzo had heard were untouched. I made sure of it.
Then it dawned on him.
His jaw tensed and his eyes turned to slits. Alonzo’s rigid shoulders fell back onto the chair, and he faced ahead.
“Borelli, you haven’t said a word!” Stefano’s face matched the color of his wine.
“I’m just as surprised,” Borelli spat.
“Was there ever a deal made between New York and Los Angeles?” Alonzo fueled the match I’d lit, and chaos ruptured through.
I held my smile and watched how the order crumbled. The curtain pulled from the sham as egos and lies collided. The fatal and unspoken slaughter that hung above, and the trigger-finger tics that begged to deliver bloodshed.
