Bound By The Past (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 7) Page 18

  Giovanni looked up, realizing what I was saying. I wouldn’t actively search for Orazio. That was my gift to him and Val.

  “If you catch him, he’ll be seen as a traitor…”

  I sighed. “We’ll cross that bridge when we reach it. As of now, we don’t know if he did anything that can be construed as betrayal.” Running away from the mob was betrayal but if that was his only crime, maybe I could be lenient, even if that would send a fatal message to other Made Men considering defecting their duties. As it was the best outcome for all of us would be if Orazio would never show up again.

  I led Giovanni into my office and he sank down in an armchair with Leonas on his lap who freed himself and stormed toward my desk chair. This time he managed to climb up without my help which caused the chair to spin around itself with him. Leonas laughed in delight.

  Giovanni sighed. “What are we going to do once I retire? Who’s going to be Underboss?”

  “We still have many years to decide on that. You won’t retire anytime soon.”

  “I’ll do my best. Livia already tortures me with a low-carb diet. As if a real man can’t deal with pasta and bread.”

  I stifled a smile.

  Rocco would arrive in thirty minutes for our meeting. I always met with Giovanni a bit earlier because I trusted him the most and because I enjoyed our conversations.

  “The attack on the Cleveland lab was a success,” I told him.

  Giovanni nodded distractedly as he stood and spun the desk chair around, causing Leonas’ laughter to grow in volume. Luckily, he was still too young to understand the majority of what we discussed. Once he got older, I’d have to be careful what I shared in his presence until he reached an age that allowed him to deal with the problems of our world and keep secrets. Val wanted Leonas to remain shielded as long as possible but I needed to prepare him.

  My phone rang. It was Rocco, which made my pulse speed up at once. He wouldn’t call so shortly before a meeting unless something had happened. “Yes?”

  “I’m on my way, Dante. I have bad news.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve been reaching out to the MCs in Famiglia territory. They are impossible to negotiate with and stupid as toast but they can’t keep their big mouths shut. And they mentioned a very unfortunate development…”

  My patience was running thin quickly. “Spill.”

  “Orazio has found shelter in the Famiglia. Rumors has it he’ll take their tattoo and serve under Vitiello.”

  My eyes darted to Giovanni who watched me with a small frown. Despite Leonas’ loud protest, he stopped spinning the chair and came toward me.

  I swallowed. “Is this certain?”

  “They mentioned a pregnant Asian cunt, their words not mine, at his side. They moved into an apartment building in the Upper East Side. High security.”

  I looked away from Giovanni, feeling as if someone had punched my stomach. My fingers on the armrest tightened as fury and trepidation overwhelmed me. This was the worst possible news.

  “I’m sorry, Dante,” Rocco said. “I know what it feels like to be betrayed by family. The Famiglia has stolen too many of ours. I’ll be at the mansion in ten minutes.”

  “All right.” I hung up, then stared down at my fingers clutching my phone. This war had become very personal. More personal than I’d ever thought it could be.

  “Dante?” Giovanni asked quietly.

  I met his gaze, wondering how I’d tell him that his son had betrayed us in a way that made it impossible for me to show mercy. And to be honest, I had absolutely no intention to do so, even my love for Valentina didn’t change that. “Orazio has defected to the Famiglia.”

  The color drained from Giovanni’s face. He shook his head slowly then stared toward Leonas.

  I could only imagine what he felt now.

  “I can’t tell Livia. I just can’t,” he rasped as he sagged down in the armchair. “She’s already been broken-hearted when she only thought he’d run away, but now… this? God.” He covered his eyes with hand and took a deep breath. When he looked at me after a couple of moments, his expression was more controlled. “What are we going to do?”

  “We have to tell Val and Livia. News about this will spread. It’s impossible to keep something of this proportion a secret.”

  Giovanni nodded but he didn’t say anything. His hands were shaking. I considered saying something to ease his pain but words seemed meaningless. What could I possibly say that would make losing your only son easier? Especially because I was the man who’d have to hunt him down and kill him.

  Giovanni stood and I did the same. He came toward me on unsteady legs and straightened his shoulders as if he’d come to a decision. “I’ll step down from my position as Captain. I don’t have an heir… my son… my son’s become a traitor to the cause. Our men will ask you to find a new Captain who can take over.”

  Leonas hopped off the chair and stumbled toward us. He hugged my leg, grinning up at us. I grasped Giovanni’s forearm hard. “I won’t allow you to give up your position, Giovanni. You have a duty to fulfill to the Outfit, to me, and to our family. I don’t care what anyone says. My word is law and I want you as my Underboss. No discussion.”

  Giovanni hesitated then he inclined his head. “If that’s what you want.”

  “It is.”

  “I have to go to Livia now. You are right. She needs to hear it from me and I need some time to come to terms with the news too. You don’t have to bring me to the door. Take care of Leonas.” Giovanni stroked Leonas’ head with a pained smile before he hurried out of the room.

  “Daddy! Grandpa, leave.”

  “I know,” I said quietly. Leonas frowned then he rushed back to the chair.

  Valentina appeared in the doorway, looking confused, her hair still damp and piled on top of her head. “I hurried so I could say hi to my father but he practically fled the house. What’s going on?”

  I wasn’t sure how to tell her the horrible truth. My eyes darted to Leonas in my chair. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

  Val stiffened. “Dante, you’re scaring me… is this about Orazio?”

  I moved closer. “Let’s bring Leonas into bed for his nap and then I’ll tell you.”

  “Dante,” Val whispered.

  I touched her shoulder. “Later.”

  Val nodded mechanically and watched as I picked up Leonas who rested his cheek in the crook of my neck, a clear sign it was time for him to rest. “Come, Val.”

  We walked in silence upstairs and I lowered Leonas into his bed. I brushed his hair out of his face then straightened. Without a word, I led Val into the corridor and stepped close to her, cradling her face. Her eyes swam with fear. I wished she didn’t have reason to feel that way.

  “Our contacts in Famiglia territory informed us that Orazio showed up in New York where they took him in.”

  Val’s lips parted but she didn’t say anything. Disbelief followed by horror flashed across her beautiful face.

  “I’m sorry, Val.”

  She shook her head slowly. “That means he’s a traitor…? I don’t understand why he’d join the Famiglia. Why not run away?”

  “I think he might have been working with them for a while.”

  Val pressed her forehead against my chest, shuddering. “Why couldn’t he just run?”

  “His girlfriend is pregnant.”

  Val peered up and realization settled on her features. “He wants to protect them. Being on the run with a child is impossible. He probably thought they’d be safest in the Famiglia.”

  I kept my face neutral. Val needed to make sense of this and her reasoning certainly had merit. Orazio had probably acted with the goal to protect his pregnant girlfriend, but he was far from safe. He would be hunted. I couldn’t sit back when the son of a high-ranking Outfit member defected to our enemies. I needed to eliminate him as soon as possible to make an example out of him. This could spin out of control if I wasn’t careful.

  Val sear
ched my eyes. Even without saying a word, I knew what she was hoping to find, but not this time. Mercy wasn’t going to wait for Orazio once I got him. “You’re going to hunt him now, won’t you?”

  “I have to.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t. You are the Capo. You can determine what direction the Outfit takes in the future. Why plunge everyone into a bloody war that won’t lead us anywhere? Why can’t we just ignore each other? There doesn’t have to be peace between the Outfit and the Famiglia as long as we just don’t kill each other.”

  “Because Luca made this personal. He killed one of my men, he kidnapped Rocco’s daughter, and now he took in my brother-in-law. I won’t ignore this, Val. My men expect me to show strength, and accepting when others disrespect me and the Outfit isn’t showing strength. They’ll be met with the full force of my brutality and vengeance.”

  Val stepped back and slowly made her way into our bedroom where she sank down on the bed. “What did my father say?” Her voice was forced calm, and I hated that she brought up a barrier between us. I followed her. Her gaze was directed at her hands which fumbled with her sweater. She didn’t want me to read her.

  “He’s going to tell your mother now. He understands the consequences of Orazio’s actions.”

  Val huffed. “Consequences of his actions. Could you sound any more blasé?” Her eyes flashed up to mine, full of anger and anguish. “This is my brother, Dante. It’s not an enemy, not a traitor, not a name on a list that you can cross out as if it never meant anything. And no matter what Papa says, this hits him hard. And Mamma…” Val turned away from me once more, gripping the edge of the bed tightly, her shoulder shaking.

  I forced down my own anger and frustration. Val had a lot to stomach, not to mention two small demanding children to take care of. She was exhausted and emotionally vulnerable. “I’m aware of that. What do you expect me to do, Val? I’m Capo. My men expect me to lead them through this crisis. A crisis, which I might add, might have been made worse by Orazio’s actions.”

  She pushed up to her feet once more. “He did it for the woman he loves and his unborn child. What would you do to protect our children?”

  I jerked her against my chest. “I’d do anything to protect you, Anna and Leonas. Absolutely anything, which is why I need to make sure the Outfit stays strong. Luca won’t hesitate to tear down everything I built. The Outfit is Leonas’ legacy. It’s our family’s legacy. I won’t go lenient on people who risk the safety of our family.”

  “Maybe we’d be safer without a war…”

  “Val,” I growled. “Luca began this war and I’ll end it eventually, on my terms and when the Outfit comes out on top. Don’t blame me for what your brother did. He knew the consequences of his actions and he accepted them. How do you know he didn’t pass on information about you, about Anna and Leonas to Luca? We don’t even know the extent of his betrayal yet.”

  Val considered my words but I could see that she didn’t want to believe it. “Do you really think Orazio would have told Luca anything about Anna and Leonas?”

  I cupped the back of her head until she looked at me again. “I don’t know and that’s the problem. Now that Orazio is in New York, you can be certain he gives Luca anything he knows. He needs to stay useful to warrant protection.”

  Val sank against me and let out a shuddering sob. I wrapped my arms around her as she cried. I understood her sorrow and it pained me to see her like that, but I didn’t feel anything but anger for Orazio’s actions. He wouldn’t be met with mercy if I ever got my hands on him. He was no longer family. He was the enemy, even if Val couldn’t see it that way.

  My stomach tightened painfully when Enzo pulled up in front of my parents’ house. Anna bounced excitedly in her seat and even Leonas, who had been bawling the entire ride, looked delighted when he recognized the house. I’d only briefly talked to Mamma on the phone last night. Her voice had sounded hoarse from crying but she’d tried to sound composed.

  I took Leonas out of his seat and Enzo helped Anna out of the car. The door of the house opened and Mamma stepped out, dressed in black as if she was already mourning Orazio’s death. Maybe this was her way of dealing with the situation, pretending he was dead so she wouldn’t have to worry about his fate anymore. If the Outfit ever caught him, death definitely wasn’t the worst option. Bile traveled up my throat considering Dante might torture my own brother.

  I couldn’t linger on the thought, not if I wanted to keep my sanity.

  Anna ripped away from Enzo and stormed toward her grandma. I kissed my mother’s cheek and gave her a shaky smile. Her eyes were puffy and red, but her expression was proud and determined as she turned to Enzo. “Why don’t you go ahead to the kitchen. The staff’s having lunch.”

  Enzo nodded then glanced at me for confirmation. I gave a small nod then followed my mother and Anna, who told her everything about her new finger colors. Leonas was particularly fussy today and the moment I sat on the couch, he slid off my lap and discovered the living room. My mother had a vast collection of expensive vases and porcelain figurines and usually she followed Leonas wherever he went to stop him from smashing one of them. Today she didn’t even glance his way, which showed how shaken she was.

  Anna sat happily on her grandma’s lap.

  “How are you?” I asked softly. We couldn’t really talk with Anna in the room. She understood more than enough already and this situation was definitely too much for a child her age. I kept an eye on Leonas but so far he hadn’t grabbed anything.

  Mamma shrugged, another thing she never did unless seriously out of it. Shrugging wasn’t something a lady should do. “I try to focus on the positive. On you and my beautiful grandchildren.”

  “And Papa?”

  “He’s trying to be strong for me, but for a man to lose his heir, his only son… especially like this.” Her voice died away. “What about Dante?”

  I considered my reply. “He’s trying to protect the Outfit.”

  “As he should. Your father and Rocco are helping him, that’s a good thing.”

  I wasn’t sure really. Rocco, in particular had been trying to stir up the conflict between the Outfit and the Famiglia since Liliana ran off with Romero. He wouldn’t be the voice of reason, and my father was too shaken to make wise decisions. Dante wanted revenge. He wanted Orazio’s death, even if he didn’t say it outright, at least not to me. While I understood him, my heart was torn apart by conflicting emotions. I couldn’t bear the idea that Orazio might be caught and tortured to death for what he’d done. On the other hand, I was furious on Dante’s behalf. Orazio should have chosen another way, not the Famiglia. He knew how much Luca and Dante hated each other. It was like a slap in Dante’s face that his brother-in-law was now part of the Famiglia.

  How much more would this war take from our family?

  Almost six years later

  The wild laughter and screams of Leonas, Rocco Jr., and Riccardo carried into my office. Giovanni chuckled.

  “Those boys are a wild combination.”

  “They are,” I said.

  Valentina’s voice rang out, and the screams stopped.

  “Rocco’s around my age, I really don’t know how he has the energy to raise two small boys.” A hint of wistfulness crossed his face but he hid it quickly. Orazio had been part of the Famiglia for five years now. Giovanni never talked about him, unless Rocco mentioned him.

  “I think they are less boisterous at home than they are here,” I said, my mouth twisting. Rocco’s parenting techniques hadn’t improved much from what Val told me. Maria often confided in her during their weekly meetups about Rocco’s lack of patience. He never hit his children or wife in front of me, fully aware of my stance on the matter. I’d tried to bridge the subject as delicately as possible without risking that he realized Maria revealed what was going on behind closed doors. I doubted it had changed much.

  He considered himself strict, not abusive. I was a strict father but I certainly handled puni
shment very differently to Rocco.

  “How’s baby number three coming along?” he asked conspiratorially.

  Anna had let it slip that Val and I wanted a third baby and now Giovanni and Livia didn’t stop asking.

  The bell rang and immediately silence reigned in the house.

  “I think Rocco just arrived.”

  Giovanni sighed. “Let’s hope he brings good news. If I hear one more word about the Camorra’s victory march in the West, I’m going to lose it.”

  The rise of the Camorra in the West was a worrying development. After Benedetto’s death a few years ago, I’d thought the remaining Falcone clan spread out in the different cities would tear into each other and weaken the Camorra. And initially that had been the case, but then Remo Falcone had grabbed power and went on a killing spree. Now he and his brothers ruled over the West. They hadn’t attacked my territory yet so I had ignored them for the most part. They were volatile, brutal madmen like their father and I hoped they’d eventually kill each other off and solve the problem themselves.

  When Rocco stepped in, I knew we wouldn’t hear good news today.

  His face was red and covered with sweat, and the top button of his shirt was open as if he’d had trouble breathing.

  I pushed out of the chair. “Rocco?”

  “You should sit down again,” he muttered.

  Narrowing my eyes, I walked toward him. “What is it?”

  “I got updates from our contacts in Vegas and New York.” He let out a bitter laugh. “We’re being screwed over on both fronts.”

  “For God’s sake, what is going on?” Giovanni said.

  “Orazio has been made Underboss of Boston.”

  Giovanni’s expression became stone but for briefest moment pain flared up in his eyes.

  I didn’t move, trying to keep my emotions in check, even as a wave of fury rolled through me. “You said on both fronts?”

  Rocco laughed again and staggered over to the desk where he dropped a few photos. His fingers turned white from their tight grip on the edge of the desk. I moved closer to get a look at the photos. It took me a moment to understand what I was seeing. A fighting cage with a blond man in the center.