Chapter 7 The Proposal
LORENZO
“Easy, easy men. This is neutral ground; you don't wanna start shooting in my restaurant. Carmello, please refrain from insulting family, especially the dead.” Don Carmello's dark eyes were angry, but he forced a smile.
“Forgive me, Giuseppe, that was a wrong choice of words. Marcello put back your weapons,” he ordered. I did the same to my men. They reluctantly tucked back their guns, but I know they are more than ready for war at any second.
“What I was saying, Enzo was. For two decades, we warred against each other, your grandfather and I, and before that, it was with my father. But our rivalry in the States was honorable; we stayed out of each other's businesses if we could help it, and that's how we've been all these years. You and I know even amongst thieves, there's honor.”
I kept my face blank, but I was this close to yawning with boredom. Everything he’s saying, I already knew.
“The old Pakhan knows this. But this new Pakhan of the Russian Bratva has no honor. He's out for blood, our blood; the fact that you are now the Capo of the Marchetti famiglia at your age means you are ambitious, and you understand what's at stake if we allow our mutual enemy to disrupt our business,” Don Carmelo rambles.
“So, what's your solution? Why am I here?” I asked disinterestedly.
“Our famiglia has warred against each other for centuries; we've lost countless men, but this is the twenty-first century. We need to look beyond our differences if we want to defeat our common enemy,” said his Consigliere.
“I'm offering you an alliance, but I have my conditions,” Carmello continued. My brow arched. I didn't even agree, and he's saying he has conditions.
“I'm assuming you have yours,” he said.
“Of course, but let's hear yours,” I offered. I listened as he mentioned his three conditions, the third one was the one that caught my interest. But I didn't say anything as I listened to him drone on and on.
“I will think about your offer and get back to you,” I said calmly. I already know my decision, but why let the enemy know when you could make him sweat?
They needed me more than I needed them, and I want them to know that. Carmello was not happy with my answer, but he had no choice but to wait for it.
“And your conditions?” his brother Romero asked.
“I will tell you when I make my decisions,” I replied with a grin.
“Thank you, Giuseppe,” Carmello said, nodding his head.
“Until we meet again, Lorenzo. Either as foe or friends, hopefully it's the latter.”
“Hopefully,” I agreed. I nodded as Carmello stood up and strode out of the restaurant with his men. Soon, we could hear their vehicles as they drove away. Only then did Luca and Fabio lower their guards. I still didn't. When you grow up as I did, you know never to let your guard down.
“Are you really going to be Carmello’s son-in-law?” Fabio asked with a mix of bewilderment and disgust. I almost chuckled.
“Fuck no,” I deny, “I'm not marrying his daughter.”
“Is it because she's a Vincenzo? Or is it the concept of marriage that you find distasteful?” Luca asked, sitting in the opposite chair.
“Both, I don't know how you could expect me to marry some spoiled brat. Carmelo was a fool. I don't have to marry his daughter for our alliance to hold. I have agreed to a meeting because there's much to gain from this alliance, and I'd be an idiot not to take advantage of it. But that's all I'm agreeing to.”
“That's one of Carmelo’s three conditions. That you marry his daughter. Come on, Lorenzo, I don't see what the harm is; the girl is fucking gorgeous. Take a look at her and tell me you don't want to tap that. Here just to take a look.” He said, slapping something on the table.
I didn't look, I wasn't interested. I have women I call over to the villa when I need to fuck, and I didn't have to marry any of them to do that. I won't get married just to get a new pussy to fuck.
I grabbed the wine Giuseppe had just poured for me and took a sip. The older man leaned down and picked up the picture Luca had placed on the table. He stared at it then smiled fondly.
“Ah, such a beautiful girl.”
“You know her?” I asked with narrow eyes. Giuseppe grinned.
“Yes, I met them once. You're lucky, Enzo. You get the eldest daughter very nice and peaceful and well-mannered,” he said, putting down the photo.
“Unlike the other one, troublemaker that one, she could cause World War III if given the chance,” he said ruefully. That roused my curiosity; my brow arched as I took another drink of the wine.
“Carmelo has two daughters? I thought he only had a daughter and a son?” Luca asked with the same curiosity.
“That's because not a lot of people know about her; she's his youngest, Sancia.” I rolled the name in my mouth, and I liked it.
“Sancia, that's her name?” I asked blankly, but Giuseppe was no fool; he could probably see he'd pique my interest.
“Yes, I don't know if I should say this, but that girl could have become the Capo if only she were born a man,” he said admiringly.
“Why did you say that?”
“Give me your word as Capo that you won't hurt her.” I nodded. I don't hurt women, that's not my MO. Except in the bedroom, and that's entirely different.
“You have it.”
“Come, I'll show you something,” he said, already striding ahead. I stood up and followed him as both my men walked behind me.
“In the back, only you and Luca.” He glared at Fabio. “You're not coming,” he adds. Giuseppe hasn't forgiven Fabio for shooting his Mercedes a couple of months back in an all-out shootout.
“Oh, come on, Giuseppe, that was an accident,” Fabio whined, grinning like a clown.
“I don't give a fuck. You're lucky I even allowed you inside my restaurant and didn't shoot you at first sight,” he spat.
Fabio raised his hands; shrugging, he sat back down, though it looked like he was pouting.
“Saverino, keep an eye on the restaurant and the troublemaker; I'll be in the back,” he yelled to his grandson, who glanced at Fabio, then nodded and continued taking orders.
Giuseppe has an armory in the back room; I also know there's a safe room in the room because I once hid there, shot, heavily bleeding, and surrounded by enemies everywhere.
He had lied to the enemies that I wasn't there, and he would kill the next person who dared to shoot at his restaurant. I will never forget that he'd saved my life back then.
“What the fuck?” Luca cursed loudly.
Yeah, what the fuck, indeed. Staring at the video taken a couple of years ago. I found myself conflicted with the two dominant emotions inside me; on one hand, hate and anger were churning inside me, and on the other, there was admiration and respect inside me.
The second video, taken a couple of months after the first one, gets me so excited and hard as steel; it was fucking embarrassing, but I can't deny it was one of the hottest things I've seen. Thirty minutes later, we strode back into the restaurant and sat back.
“Now, Lorenzo, don't go looking for trouble; I showed you that video because I promised to give you information I deem useful. You're the Capo now, you have to look to the interests of your famiglia,” Giuseppe nodded at me before walking back to his place behind the counter.
A grin pulled at my lips as I raised my glass for the final time. I chug the drink and let it slide down my throat.
“Luca, call Carmelo and tell him I will marry his daughter,” I said.
“Already? I thought you said you'd think about it.” Luca said, looking at me like I was crazy.
“I have. I've decided he's going to be my father-in-law,” I said, chuckling. Fabio glanced at me with confusion.
“What is going on in your head, Capo?” Luca asked suspiciously.
“I expected enthusiasm from you, Luca, for agreeing to this marriage, not suspicion.”
“I will have to be an idiot not to be suspicious of you, especially when you have that grin that says you are up to something.”
“Ah, Luca, you know me so well,” I drawled with a grin.
“Are you sure I should make the call?”
“Absolutely, but wait until after forty-eight hours. I don't want him to think I'm cheap,” I said with all seriousness. Fabio and Luca burst into laughter, and even Giuseppe chuckled; they thought I was joking. I was damn serious.