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“That’s between Ade and I,” I respond without emotion. It’s one thing that I fucking love about my sister: she’ll never repeat anything that’s said between us to anyone.
“You’re a hard-headed fucker,” he growls. “Okay, so have you thought more about Missouri?”
I nod. “I have. I’m just wondering what the logistics would be. How many men would I have with me when I move there?” We’ll need to start from the ground up and it’s going to take time. Having men already inducted into the Famiglia to move with me means I’ll have men I can trust to help me grow the organization.
“I have fifteen men willing to relocate with you. Those fifteen men are trusted and have requested to be with you. They respect you and want to be at your side as you build the Famiglia.”
“Who?” I ask, confused that fifteen fucking men would want to be with me.
I’ve fucked up a lot. I should never have been made captain. I didn’t take the job seriously and I was always a joker, acting out against my father, something that Rocco and Elio fucking hated. I wasn’t punishing anyone but the Famiglia when I refused to do shit that was expected of me. But when Rocco took the helm, I respected him, and I knew that I’d do whatever it took to show him that I could be good captain.
“Dario,” he says with a sigh. “You’ve proven yourself as a captain. The men respect you. The only person who doesn’t see that is you. What happened when our father was alive has long been forgotten. You are not the same man you were when he was around. You are Dario Gallo, the Underboss of Missouri.”
I sit up straighter, keeping eye contact with my brother, my boss, the man I respect above everyone else.
“Which men have requested a move?” I ask, and he smiles. “Are they good at recruiting?”
“There he is,” Rocco murmurs. “Constante wants to come, and I think he’d be a good fit. He is extremely loyal to the Famiglia, and he will not be able to rise if he stays with me or Elio. He could rise with you.”
I nod. Constante is one of the most hardworking, loyal men the Famiglia has, and he was passed over for promotion by my father, then when Rocco took the helm, he promoted those who had been with the Famiglia longer than Constante.
“I think he’ll be a good captain,” I say, and my brother grins in agreement. “Who else?” Rocco goes through the others, all of whom are known to me, and most are friends. I respect that they want to help me grow the Famiglia.
“There’s also Beppe,” he says, and it’s my turn to smile. “I assume you’ll be making him your right-hand man?”
Beppe has been my right-hand man since we were kids. He’s my best friend and the only person who knew what the fuck was going on in our home. He knew that my father was beating the shit out of me on a daily basis, and I spent a lot of time at his home when growing up to escape my own. There’s no one I’d rather have as my right-hand man than Beppe.
“I think that’s enough men to get us started,” Rocco says as he hands me a thick manilla file. “Here are some properties I've scouted. Find a home, Dario. Once you’ve done that, we’ll get the ball rolling.”
I rise to my feet and take the folder. “Sounds good. I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”
Rocco stands and shakes my hand, pulling me into a hug. “I’m proud of you, Dario. You’re going to be a great underboss.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, still not okay with the praise that’s being heaped on me. “We’ve a lot of work to do to get Missouri on the map for the Famiglia. Tomorrow, we’ll get to work.”
I leave my brother’s house with a renewed determination. I’m not going to fail. I’m going to make it my mission to have the Famiglia be the biggest organization in the state. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m up for the challenge.
I’m not going to fail.
THREE
PORTIA
THREE MONTHS LATER
“What’s going on?” Nell asks me, her red hair whipping around her with the wind. “You’re on edge, Portia.”
I look at the woman who’s been at my side for the past four years and wonder why she always sees the good in people, why she always manages to find something pure in every situation. “Nell, I’m always on edge,” I remind her.
Nell has lived on the streets all her life. Her entire family has been homeless, so she knows no different than the life she’s living. I, on the other hand, have known a life full of comfort and love. I know what the other side feels like, and I know the things that I am missing. A life on the streets isn’t easy. It’s hard, it’s painful, and it’s scary. I’m always on edge, always wondering what’s going to happen next. It’s hard to be constantly on the lookout, never letting your guard down, but I’ve survived the last four years. I’ve managed to grow stronger, wiser, and more confident as each day passes. I’m no longer that scared girl who wet herself while her stepfather held a gun to her head and played Russian Roulette. No, I’m once again Portia Leone, the daughter of Davide Leone. I’m not a pushover. Not anymore.
“You are, and I don’t understand,” she says softly. “We have to be careful, we have our rules, but, Portia, your edginess is on another level lately.”
I press my lips together. I’ve shielded Nell from a lot of things over the years. She’s my friend, the only real one I’ve had in a long time. She’s been at my side since the first week I ran away. The biker didn’t murder me, but he was extremely cautious about leaving me at the bus station. I didn’t tell him where I was going or where I came from. I just needed a ride, and he thankfully gave me one. I got on that bus and went to Indianapolis, where I’ve been ever since. It’s also where I met Nell.
“Where are we sleeping tonight?” she asks, thankfully not pushing me to give her answers. I don’t lie to Nell, ever, but I also don’t tell her the entirety of what happens.
I always believed that I would never be able to kill anyone. The only person who angered me enough to even contemplate it was Marco, but even then, I didn’t think I had it in me. That was until I was six months living on the street and a drunken asshole crept up to Nell while she was sleeping. Being on the street, I find it hard to sleep, so I’m always woken up by the faintest of sounds. The asshole had his pants down and was fisting his cock. I truly believe he was going to rape my friend. So I killed him. He was the first but not the last person I killed for trying to come for Nell. She’s the sweetest person you’ll ever meet, and she pulls on every instinct I have to protect her.
