Chapter 186 The Plans

Chapter 186 The Plans
LORENZO

“I'm afraid Marcello and Antonio are just the beginning. You'll have to go a step further if you want to take total control of your Famiglia,” I muttered before taking a sip of my whiskey. “Eradicate the problems before they become a threat.”

“We already have a list,” Sergio replied. “those fuckers seem to have forgotten who the real Capo is.”

“Don’t forget the elders too, Sergio. They are the cause of everything that’s wrong with our Famiglia,” Sancia said, with that familiar glimpse of darkness in her voice.

She's right. If Sergio doesn't kill them, they'll always challenge him and question his authority. Besides, it's high time the Vincenzo Famiglia abolished all those archaic rules and traditions, but that’s something he’ll have to figure out himself.

“Although they fear and respect Papa, he also accommodated them to an extent, but now with Papa gone, they completely turned their backs on us and did whatever they wanted.”

Smart woman, my tigress already gets it.

“They’ll become a problem if you let them. I think you'll have to respond to them in the only language they understand.”

“And what language is that?” Sergio asked with a grin, although I could tell he already knew exactly what I had in mind.

My tigress might be new at this mafia strategy thing, but she is fucking perfect. Her next words confirm it.

“Fear.” She held his gaze. “The rules don't have to stay the same. This is your time. You're the Capo now. Make examples of them, and the rest will fall into line.”

My dick twitched in my pants. Fuck she’s hot. She glanced at me, then frowned, her cheeks turning a beautiful red.

“Make them respect you as well as fear you, but you should also keep in mind that fear can only get you so far. People ruled by fear can never be completely loyal.”

The entire room went silent as we all stared at her. My lips curled, and I felt a swell of pride in my chest. This is my woman. Mine.

“Damn, you better watch out, boss,” Savio said, impressed.

“Why, she’s hot, smart, and she’s mine,” I whispered proudly, dragging her even closer to me. There was a collective groan, but I ignored them and continued.

“You'll leave first. Assemble your men, and we'll meet up in two hours. I've got important things to do back at home.”

I glanced at Luca, then Savio. They both nodded.

“Have you found out Antonio and Marcello's location?” Luca asked, checking the clips of his gun. “We can't make any moves without knowing their precise location.”

My eyes narrowed in thought. “It's okay if they aren't in the same place. As I said, we can divide and conquer.”

Sergio pulled his phone from his pants pocket.

“Marcello will definitely be at my house. We agreed to meet up for a meeting, which is in two hours, so Antonio should be there too with some of the elders,” he gritted out. “But I'll call Isabella to confirm.”

“I'll do it.”

Lenny quickly grabbed his hand, stopping him. “Let me call my mother.”

They shared a secret look that was suspicious as hell to me. Before Sergio could say anything, Lenny walked towards the bar to make his call.

Sancia glanced at me, and from the look in her eyes, she'd also noticed the exchange.
I wondered if Sergio and Lenny were suspicious of Isabella.

Or if they knew she was fucking around with that fucker.

“I know you said you're doing this for my sister,” Sergio said earnestly.

He glanced at Sancia before his eyes flickered back to mine. “Regardless, I still want you to know that I owe you one for this. If you ever need anything in the future, you can count on me to help.”

For several agonizing seconds, there was nothing but silence as I held Sergio's gaze, my expression unreadable.

A part of me still wants to kill the little piece of shit.

One bullet is all it would take.

But there's one reason sitting so close to me. My feelings for Sancia make that option impossible. I can't hurt her like that, and I won't.

But I don't think I'll ever forgive him for killing Fabio either.

“There is absolutely nothing you can help me with,” I replied, my voice much calmer than I expected.

Sancia inhaled, grabbed my hand, and squeezed gently. Sergio nodded, and for once, I saw something that looked a lot like guilt in his eyes.

Our Famiglias had been at war with each other for over a century, but it had never been unprovoked. There has always been a reason. A retaliation for another betrayal. Another death. Another line crossed.

Except for that year five years ago. But that's something I'll have to ask Sancia about another time.

While Sergio was a made man and had probably done things I could never imagine, I knew this was just another death, another guilt he'd have to work through, just like the rest of us.

“Marcello and Antonio are both at the mansion,” Lenny announced as he strolled back.

“That's it then. See you in two hours,” I said, standing from my seat.

My voice was hard. “It's time we clean up our own house.”

Sergio and Lenny nodded at me, then Sancia, before they followed Luca, Savio, and Rico out to their car.

My gaze shifted to Sancia, who stood up and started towards the door. I grabbed her hand and yanked her towards me.

“You're coming home with me to Villa Marchetti.”

She frowned. “I already told you I'm coming with you all. Mama is there, and now that I know I can't trust Isabella, I can't expect her to take care of our mother.”

“Do you honestly think I would stupidly put your life in danger?”

“I want to help Sergio. This isn't just his fight. It's mine too,” she argued.

“If Sergio still needs your help to Clean House besides mine, Luca's, and Savio's, then he doesn't deserve to be Capo.”

“Sergio is more than capable of leading the Famiglia. He might be young, but he's not stupid or cowardly,” she defended. “I appreciate what you're doing, and I couldn't love you more for it even if I tried, but you can't stop me.”

I arched a brow as she glared at me with that stubborn glint in her eyes. I knew she was worried about her brother, but her safety was my priority.

I believe Sergio has done what he could with the cards he'd been dealt. I know even if I don't help him, he'd eventually figure out his own shit. But what my involvement does is help him get control sooner, which also serves my purpose of getting rid of that asshole.

What both Sergio and I don't need right now is her in the line of fire. Sancia is not a soldier, and she doesn't have to be.

“I'm talking to you, Lorenzo. Did you…?”

Before she could say another word, I picked her up and walked out of the safe house, ignoring her rant and outrage.

Luca, Savio, and Rico were already inside our vehicles.

I strode towards the SUV Luca was in and deposited her ass into the backseat.



Thirty minutes later, we arrived at Villa Marchetti. Luca had barely stopped the car when I dragged her out.

“Lorenzo, you liar! Let me go!” she screamed, drawing the attention of the guards and a couple of my men outside the villa.

“Let go of me, you bastard!” She twisted and struggled as I effortlessly hoisted her over my shoulder.

“You told me you'd try! How dare you lie to me?”

Her screams and insults were doing exactly what I'd planned as I marched through the house with her draped over my shoulder like some kind of spoil of war.

Zetta, Gino, and a couple of the staff stood inside the foyer watching with wide eyes.

“Boss, what's going on?”

“None of your damn business. Get the fuck out of my way,” I growled as I started up the stairs. I heard him ask Luca what happened.

“Damn you, Lorenzo! Put me down!”

“Not happening,” I growled.

She kicked and thrashed, but I didn't slow down. I strode into our bedroom, slammed the door shut, then walked over to our bed and dropped her onto it.

She rolled over, her eyes wide with anger.
“What the hell are you doing?” she spat. “What? Are you also going to lock me up?”

I shrugged. “If that's what it takes to keep you alive tonight, then yes.”

“You arrogant bastard! You can't stop me from going to my family when they need me now more than ever.”

Her voice trembled with frustration, tears welling in her eyes.

And I felt a strange pang in my chest. I knew she was worried about her family and what was about to go down in less than two hours.

I leaned down and pulled her closer, ignoring her struggles. “Of course I'm not going to stop you,” I whispered.

She suddenly stopped moving and frowned, confused. I winked at her.

“I needed you to put on a performance. It's kind of a prelude to what I'm about to do.”

“So, you needed me to be hysterical and pissed?” she whispered, glaring at me.

I smirked. “Pretty much.”

She smacked my chest. “Asshole.”

“Guilty as charged.”

I kissed her hair, inhaled, then I hugged her. Her hands curled in my shirt as she hugged me back. She could probably feel the tension, and like me, she was preparing herself mentally.

I'd like to say that I hated killing, that it affects me like the rest of the people. The truth is, I don't particularly love it; I know it's necessary, and heck, there are times I allow myself to luxuriate in the violence because it speaks to me.

It feeds the Darkness in me, and I’m the best killer I know. But today, it's different. Any other time with a different person, and I wouldn't hesitate.

But this was a man I once considered a friend, and part of my family. I'd treated him with respect and generosity and always thought he was loyal.

Finding out he wasn't who I thought he was was disappointing, but more than that, it was a betrayal. It was pure and utter rage that's brimming inside me.

Because no matter who he was to me, he had no right to take Fabio’s life. Unlike Sergio, who was a pawn, this fucker was a willing accomplice, and for that alone he deserves death ten times over.

“Lorenzo, what are you really planning?” Sancia muttered, lifting her head from my chest, her eyes narrowing. All her earlier anger seemed to have suddenly melted away.

I brushed her hair back from her face and grinned. “Why, mia tigre, I'm catching a rat.”