AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The food came and we continued the meal pleasantly. Enzo was actually quite funny, making jokes about Maximus to annoy his brother-in-law and I ended up having an enjoyable evening. That was until Giovanni got a call. He stood up, excusing himself from the table to take it and when he returned, he had a huge, sadistic smile on his face. I knew that smile. It was one reserved for when he had done something deadly.
I gulped as I looked across at Liv. She was looking between Gio and Max who were staring at each other with private glee.
“It’s done?” Max asked and Gio nodded. “Time to celebrate!”
“I’m confused. What are we celebrating?” Cami asked.
“I think we are all wondering that?” I agreed, turning in my chair to look up at Gio.
“The Leones thought they could fuck with us. They stole a huge deal from under our noses this week. Well, now they have felt the cost of their choice.”
“What have you done?” Liv asked, looking a little worried. My heart started thundering.
“We found the newest business the Leones had started in Venice and we burned it to the ground. A sex club called La Casetta. They had spent millions on it. Now it’s ash.”
My ears burned and my eyes widened. Did I just hear him correctly? I don’t know what shocked me more; that La Casetta was owned by the Leones or Gio had just burned it down.
Enzo stood up, walking around and slapping Gio on the back in a brotherly way that showed respect. “Bravo, Boss. A taste of what is to come if they continue to mess with the Buccinis.”
“Did anyone get hurt?” I suddenly blurted, thinking of Rico and all the other workers there.
Gio frowned at me for my question. He shrugged his shoulders, “I hope so. They needed a lesson in responsibility. Any losses are on their conscience.”
Ruthless. I always forgot how my brother could switch to the ruthless mafia boss at the drop of a hat. My mouth hung open, appalled at his lack of concern for life as I looked over at Liv. She was biting her lip anxiously.
“What is wrong with you all? We should be celebrating!” Max argued.
“Celebrating what? All the innocent lives you have just destroyed. People worked there Gio! They could be hurt or killed. They rely on their jobs for survival!” I shouted.
“What is wrong with you tonight, Elle?” he growled. “The Leones wouldn’t think twice about hurting those who work for us. Don’t forget that they started this war. The Barbieris chose to interfere and stole a huge fucking deal from our family! Alessio probably has stakes in this club too, the backstabbing asshole who decided to break a treaty of peace. This is just a taste of what is to come if they want to keep fucking with us.”
I stood up, storming away from the table. Finn followed me outside, as I pulled out my phone frantically and started typing a text to Rico.
Please tell me you are not working at the club tonight?
“Elle, are you okay?” Finn asked as I started pacing the pavement outside the restaurant. He glanced down the road, scrutinising our surroundings. “I think we should go back inside. It’s not safe to be out here now that Boss has started a war.”
I ignored him as my phone vibrated.
No. It is my night off. Why?
I looked up at the black sky with relief and closed my eyes. Thank God, he was safe. My mind was still reeling from the information that the Leones owned that club. I had physically walked into my enemy’s lair and they didn’t even know! My head snapped down when the restaurant door opened and Enzo and two of his own men walked out. He nodded at Finn who gave him a narrowed glare.
“I’d like to speak to Elenora. Alone.”
Finn’s jaw ticked as they had a stare off before I said it was fine. Reluctantly, Finn took a few steps away from us, keeping his distance but staying on guard. Enzo’s soldiers did the same.
“You seemed pretty upset in there. I wanted to check if you were okay?” Enzo asked softly as I grabbed the emergency cigarettes from my handbag.
“Want one?” I offered, holding out the pack. He took one with a smile and I lit us both up.
I stared up at the night’s sky as I relaxed against the window of the restaurant blowing out my first drag. “I just don’t know why it has to be this way.”
“What way?” he asked.
“The rivalry. The brutality. Why can’t we all just get along. The world is big enough for more than one big, bad mafia boss, I am sure.”
Enzo chuckled, taking another drag. “Hmm, that is not how we are raised. From the moment an heir is born, it is instilled in us that everyone is out to get us. That we can trust no one. That the only people who have our backs are our families. But we both know there are snakes in the grass there too.”
