Chapter 23
Lucy (Caterina)
“What do I know?” I asked Frank. “Well yes we have to know what Enzo already told you.” I took the photo out of my pocket and slammed it on the dining room table. “I know these people are my parents, I know that child is me, I know my name is Caterina and I know my parents threw me away. That is what I know.” John was the first to say “They didn’t throw you away your father had to change your name and surname and hide you the best place was the foster care system.” “Oh yes off course I forgot I also know you all idolize my dead father and I have no idea why?” “Let go to the living room where it’s comfortable.” Nico said. They all got up but I was still sitting what does it matter where we sit? Enzo was the one to ask “Are you coming?” “Do I have a choice?” “Well, if you want to hear the truth it won’t help you sitting here.” I grab the photo from the table and walked behind Enzo to the living room where everyone has taken a seat.
“So, Caterina.” John started “Don’t call me that my name is Lucy.” He threw his hands up in the air “Sorry you probable need to get used to being called Caterina.” “I told you my name is Lucy.” “Fine fine Lucy where shall we start?” John said putting his finger underneath his chin like he was taunting me. “Let start by telling you what we do for a living Lucy.” Nico said. “Okay.” “Well, the 4 of us are the heads of our families and all of us are in the Mafia.” I didn’t know what to do should I laugh or should I just except what they are saying to me but then Nico went on my surname is Nitti” that was ringing a bell from my days on the street, “I’m John Ricca.” That also rang a bell if I wasn’t mistaken most of the bodegas in the area belongs to him and there are talks on the street that if you want drugs or guns, you can get it at his bodega’s. I looked at Enzo “And I’m Enzo Aiuppa” the word on the street was that Enzo was dangerous he had gyms and boxings clubs he even gave classes to girls to defend themselves in Krav Maga classes. They all could see I was thinking.
“By the look on your face we can see you have heard of all of us?” Frank said. “Well yes if I was a rich girl staying in a rich area I wouldn’t have known about you guys but I’ve grown up in the system which means I was a lot on the streets and all your names came up I even dated one of your dealers John.” “Wait what?” Enzo asked shocked. “What? Why are you shocked I might have dated one of yours as well.” Enzo looked at me but I could see the anger on his face. “Do you use drugs?” He asked me dead serious. “Well, I don’t know what the issue is if I did, I mean all of you are known for being drug dealers just different corners of the streets right?” Enzo was getting angrier and angrier with me “CATERINA, are you using drugs or have you ever used drugs?” “My name is not Caterina!” I yelled at him. “You better fucking answer me.” I gave a dramatic pause looking around the room and all of them where waiting for my answer I wouldn’t say they were waiting patiently but they where waiting. “NO okay I tried once but I didn’t like the feeling. SO, NO I DO NOT USE DRUGS!” I yelled at them again. “Good” Enzo said I could see how his shoulders where relaxing after I gave him my answer. “Then why go out with drug dealers?” John asked. “I like bad boys.” All of them gave a small smile because come on I was sitting in a room with 4 bad boys. “Didn’t they try to force you?” John went on “Force me to use drugs?” I asked shocked “Yes.” “I suggest you try and force me to do something those Krav Maga classes Enzo gives have nothing on street fighting.” “Oh” everyone said looking quit impressed.
It got quiet for a while before I said “Okay so all of you are in the Mafia does that mean my father was also in the Mafia is that why you idolize him?” “Yes, angel your father was in the Mafia in fact he was the Mafia King.” “The Mafia King that means the leader, right?” “It does yes, which also means he had a lot of enemies and the only way to get to a Mafia King is through his family and he loved his daughter so much.” Enzo said with so much admiration in his voice. “That would be me?” “Yes, you are an only child.” Nico said “Okay so he had enemies and they wanted me for what leverage to make him do something? What? Why did they want me? And you still didn’t tell me who my father is?” “You come from a long line of Mafia families Lucy even longer than any of us I want to say I think your family line is rooted the deepest in Chicago’s Mafia families.” Frank said. “Who is my father?” I asked again. There was silence in the living room it was like the silence before a storm. “Johnny Capone.” Wait what did they just say my father was Johnny Capone THE Johnny Capone, I met him a few times when I was younger dropping in at some of the homes I lived in bringing proper food for everyone, that was my father. I whispered “Johnny Capone.” And the tears started rolling down my face again.