Chapter 50

Nico

Seeing Lucky with her parents causes me to have a bang of guilt, I have taken her away from her family. Her brothers are supposed to be here but they’re too strong headed to see sense. Apparently, they think they can take on the world and will find the shooter.

Fucking good luck to them, even I am having difficulty finding out who it was. On other matters, Dario is now here too. I feel better that he is safe within this residence. We have set up one of the master suites upstairs for him with round the clock care. So far, he is refusing to talk to anyone, even though he is now lucid. His withdrawal is not a pretty sight, but he has to tough it out otherwise he’ll wind up dead on the streets.

“You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, Son,” my father says as he comes to stand next to me where I look on at Lucky and her family embracing.

“No more than usual, father. How are you feeling?” His health has started to deteriorate but he’s had a good innings now heading into his early eighties. He coughs, it sounds raspy.

“Nothing I can’t handle. Stop worrying about me. So, this is what it’s come down to is it?” He furrows his bushy, grey eyebrows. I turn to look at him as hard as it is to take my eyes of Lucky. She makes me catch my breath and mesmerizes me. She’s laughing at something her mother says, throwing her head back to expose her long, slender neck. I want to sink my teeth into it and mark her.

“What’s that?” I ask him giving him my full attention. Lucky glances over and is that a faint smile I see? I’m sure her lips are slightly turned up. I nod at her, she turns away. Maybe having her family close by will soften the blow a little.

“I said this is what his has come to has it? Gianluca’s and Santangelo’s under one roof. What a fucking mess.”

I contain my temper, always he has something to say. Instead, I bite my tongue before I respond. “You know this is the only way. Do you expect for us to go to war with their family? We’re both as powerful as each other right now with our shares of the city. I want full control. Her brothers are not going to hurt me when she is married to me.”

“You think not?” he scoffs at me and raises his eyebrows.

“The bond will mean that we are all one family, you know that. And nobody breaks the bond.”

“Don’t they? Then tell me son why was your brother handing your money to that cunt Lucien Monletto in the casino? What was that all about? Dario has crossed the line; he has broken the code of conduct in this family. A total waste.”

Now I am clenching my fists by my side, because no matter what anyone says. Dario is still my kid brother, he always will be and whatever happens, I will always. ALWAYS, have his back. “He is lost, father you know that. He needs help and nobody is giving it to him.”

“Lost his way,” my father spits out. I wipe my face where it landed. “That boy has had everything handed to him on a silver platter, he was born with a fucking silver spoon in his mouth. What he needs is to be taught a damn lesson not molly-cuddled like a fucking baby.” It always surprises me when my father at this old age, can be so cold, vehement and callous.

“He will have the help he needs father.” I go to walk away.

“Over my dead body, he needs to be dealt with. He is a lose cannon. This family can’t tolerate betrayal and he has betrayed you, Nico. How do you know he didn’t take a pop at you? Huh? Tell me that.”

I turn and glare at my father, rage burning inside me. Lucky comes up behind me, I feel her hand on my shoulder. “You okay, Nico?” It’s the first time she has ever willingly come towards me. Perhaps she senses something is not right, and has witnessed the heated exchange between my father and I.

She leaves her hand on my shoulder, I place my hand over hers, feeling the warmth of her silky skin. “All is fine, Princess. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“It doesn’t look like it to me.”

“What would you know, Gianluca go back to your family and stay out of our damn business, you are nothing to this family,” my father’s tone is like ice. Right that it is.

“Do not ever fucking talk to my future wife like that. It is unacceptable. I am the Don of this family; you made me the leader now show some respect to my future Queen.”

“Ha, no fucking way. Over my dead body.”

I glare at him narrowing my eyes. Lucky flicks her long mane over her shoulder and tilts up her chin. It’s her defiant look, I can imaginer her emerald eyes are flashing at my father right now.

“Maybe we should do something about that then, Don Santangelo.” She taps me on the shoulder and goes back to her parents.

My father stammers and clutches his chest, dramatic as ever. “How dare that little bitch talk to me like that? She would be dead if it wasn’t for this family.”

I give my father my full attention. “Don’t push it father, you are an old man, and I will do whatever it takes to be King of New York City. You failed but I won’t. It is in my blood, it is her my heritage, and I will take exactly what is mine and if anyone disses my future wife again, they will have me to answer to.” I turn my back on him and storm off to where, I have no idea, but I need to get away from my own flesh and blood.

I take the stairs two at a time passing Tony as he comes down. “You okay? What’s going on?”

“Father is what is going on. I don’t like the way he treats Lucky.”

“Not being funny, Brother but she is the enemy. I get you need this alliance and eventually it will be the best thing for our family. But you can’t expect an old man like father to accept it. Nor for that matter, Dario. They’re cut from the same cloth. They don’t see the bigger picture.”

“I have legalized nearly every business venture, I have made us personally with your help of course, the most successful, richest, most powerful family. With the Gianluca name attached to us, we will be unstoppable. We will rule the city and the forces. I will not have anything stand in my way.”

Tony nods and lets me stomp by. I need some space away from everyone.

“By the way,” he calls up after me causing me to halt at the top of the sweeping, grand staircase. “It’s definitely a woman. We’ve run the images through some special software that only the top agencies have and it’s throwing back that everything about the person is female.”

“Thanks Tony, any news on the list you were creating.”

“We have some leads. I’m getting our special ops team together; we’ll be making some house calls in the next few days.”

“I want to be present.”

“I don’t think so, Nico. It’s way too dangerous. You need to stay here; you and Lucky have the targets on your back not me.”

I rake my long fingers through my hair. “Fuck’s sake.” I pause. “Fine, do what you need to do. Send me the file via email with all the pictures and I’ll see if I recognize anyone from them.”

“I’ve already looked, and I can’t see anyone who sticks out. We’re not eliminating males either, you know it’s best we cover everyone who has had access to that type of weapon.”

“Good, thanks for the update. I’ll be down for dinner, and Tony, please keep our father away from Lucky and her family.”

Tony nods. It shouldn’t be too difficult; God only know how we’ll get through dinner being in such close proximity to one another. I sigh as I let myself into Dario’s suite. A nurse looks up.

“Leave us.” I command, she bows her head and retreats out of the room. Dario looks frail and beaten as he lays in the specially designed home-hospital bed.

“Hey, brother. How are you feeling?” He turns his face away from me. I get that he doesn’t want to talk. Right now, he must be going through all sorts of pain and hell. I take his hand; it feels small and bony.

“We’re just trying to help you, Dario. We know about Lucifer and the casino. Why?”

He still doesn’t respond. I wait and take a seat on the edge of his bed. His eyes look hollow, it saddens my heart to see my kid brother like this. He was such a happy boy growing up, no cares in the world and I have to hand it to my father he tried his best to keep everything away from Dario. A bit difficult though when you have to be trailed by detail everywhere you go and get shot at in your own home on your birthday party.

That was a fucking mess. Dario was just six years of age when gun fire broke out all around us, people were killed, blood was shed, and we were lucky that his protection got him away from his birthday cake table. He lost his bodyguard that afternoon.

“Fuck off and leave me alone, Nico.”

“Can’t do that brother, we’re blood. We’re bound by loyalty to one another.”

I wait for him to respond and when he does, his voice is low and dangerous, “there is no loyalty to you Nico. Not anymore.”