CHAPTER 7: DRAGON’S RECOIL

“My goodness, Michael. I am at a point in my life where I feel like any words that come out of your mouth would make me grow gray hair. I mean, my brain and I are just getting too old for your shit, my dear boss and friend,” Daniele said on the phone as Michael just chuckled.

Daniele D'Ambrosio was his second in command. By the law of the mafia, he is the Mezzaluna family’s underboss. Whatever happens to Michael, he will take over as the boss of the family. The consigliere and head of the capo regime was Alba, so she basically controls the military, and is part of the head of the family as the third boss aside from Danile. The three of them have always been inseparable, so even if he was the boss, Daniela and Alba would always have the privilege to judge him and piss him off.

Michael and Daniel were talking on the phone while Michael was in his office. Daniel was enjoying his honeymoon at the moment, and by the giggles that he could hear from the other line, he knew that his wife was silently listening to the two of them.

“Say hello to that beautiful sister-in-law that I have beside you,” Michael said as he heard a loud laugh from both Daniel and Celestine.

“I hope you’re well, Michael,” Celestine said on the other line which made MIchael smile, “I hope you find this woman and finally date someone. Your whores are beautiful, but I’m putting my prayers on the woman who is able to actually get the attention of the boss of the Mezzaluna family.” He could imagine her wide smile as she talked to him on the phone, and Daniele’s obnoxious smirk.

“I’m looking for a secretary, Tina, not a partner. She’s far too much of a civilian for the mafia. You know that.” He said.

“Yes, brother,” Daniele said, “But if the time comes that your desire for this woman becomes too much, then sooner or later, she’ll have to be part of our world. If you don’t want that to happen, and you’re just looking for a god fuck from her, then you better make sure that the woman is far from this world. She’ll never escape once she’s in.”

Daniele’s words were terrifying, but it was true. He suddenly felt like a bastard now that he realized that he might just put the woman in danger. However, he still had no idea who the woman was and what she was capable of.

They talked and bickered for a few more minutes until Daniele had to end the call. Despite being in the middle of his five month long honeymoon, he was still working for the Mezzaluna family, as well as their company. He needed to take care of the overseas business, as his wife Celestine assisted him.

Michael said his goodbyes to the couple as he proceeded to look through all the papers that were in front of him. He had something big coming up for the company, so he needed to make sure that all of the preparations would be in place. However, as he drank his coffee beside him, a thought came to mind.

If everything goes well, then she might just be able to handle being part of their world, and she could be his favorite lover if she will let him. A wife is something that Michael is not yet considering, but he likes the thought of imagining how the woman would feel if he was able to get her as his personal secretary. It was an unusual situation, but for a woman who intrigued him, he would rather take the risk, just so he could get the chance to dig deeper into the women who caught his entire attention.

A knock pulled him out of his thoughts, and as he looked up, he saw that it was Alba with a serious look on her face. He signaled her to sit across his desk. There was no need for many words as the two of them were able to read each other’s gestures.

“Sorry, boss,” she began and took a deep breath before clearing her throat, “I just received a report from one of our partners in China and they decided to pull out the money that they invested in one of our factories. They said that someone else outbid us for they trust.” She said while a bitter expression spread across her eyes.

“Is it the old Sparo?” He asked, referring to the old king of the mafia that he had encountered nearly a decade ago. She nodded her head as she leaned back on the chair and rubbed her temple while closing her eyes.

“Alba, I need you to secure all of the partners that we have in Asia. Make sure that the companies that are involved in the mafia family will be bound to us,” he said as he began to think more on how to secure the bond with other business people related to the mafia world.

The old dragon, Don Ardente Sparo Mondragon was annoying, but he could never deny that the Don was good when it came to conquering by force. He became the king for a reason, and even he knew that he would have wanted the old man to be his ally if they didn’t have such a terrible history with each other. He thought that the old man’s son, Ardente Kane Mondragon was being a pain in the underworld, but now, the team up of the father and son made it difficult for him to fight them both and defend his title as the new King after an incident a decade ago.

“Boss,” Alba called his attention, “Don Sparo knows that there are other mafia families that he can challenge, so why did he suddenly decide to take a business partner that is not associated with the mafia? I thought that our code prevented us from doing so? He’s one of the best in this game, and yet he’s not following the tradition.” She said in a frustrated tone.

“Well,” he thought of the possibilities, “they attacked by tricking or by blackmailing the civilian business. This is not something that the proud Don would have done. So, I’m guessing that his heir is the one responsible for signaling out our partners that have no ties with the mafia.”

“You should have allowed our men to put a bullet on that old man’s brain when you had a chance that night,” she said as she looked at him in frustration, “You’d be the king, and you’d be able to destroy that family. They’re worse than lowborn families of the mafia.”

Ten years ago, he had a meeting with the old Don, during the meeting, he asked Michael to be a partner of the Mondragon family. Michael was a promising mafia man as he was able to build his small empire by building connections in the underworld. It was rare for a strong mafia family to be built based on relationships alone, since it normally took blood relations and force to build a family. Don Sparo knows that Michael was a rare find if he was able to take him.

However, Michael didn’t want to be under the wings of the old Dragon, because he wanted to overpower him. He wanted Don Sparo’s seat as the king of the mafia, because he knows that a demon like the old Don must be taken down.

Before Michael was able to completely have a heated discussion with the Don after his refusal, a rain of bullets went through the restaurant’s window and hit the old man on the chest a few times, while Michael was hit on his right bicep. Their security guards were able to get to them, but the shooter was never found. Michael lost one of his four guards, but Don Sparo lost three out of his six. That was the day that the Mondragon empire nearly lost their boss, and the Mezzaluna empire began to rise.

“Alba, relax,” he said as he stood up and grabbed a bottle of wine from one of his cup boards and took two glasses, one for him and one for her, “take a drink and relax. I’m as infuriated as you, but we both know that our tempers won’t do anything good.” he said calmly.

“Ma, che sei grullo, Michael? Non dire cazzate!” she said in a sarcastic yet annoyed tone.

(“Are you joking Michael? Don’t talk bullshit!”)

“Michael, I’m the head of your security both in this business and in this family, and that man’s inexperienced son was able to outmaneuver us. That’s a slap on my face and on this family.” She said in a bitter tone.

Alba was not someone who liked failure. She was a true boss, and if she wasn’t his friend and she decided to become a boss, he knows that she would be a fierce opponent in the mafia world.

“I don’t blame you, Alba, but I can’t deny the disappointment that I feel right now. I want you to make sure that every partner that we have both in the mafia and in this business are secured. I don’t care what you do to put every bastard on line, just make sure that you do it quietly and out from the public’s eyes. Civilians must not be put in danger.”

“Fine.” She said and stood up after draining the last of her wine.

“Oh, boss,” she said as she stopped by the door of his office, “About that woman you liked, I think we found her, you’re right, she is interesting.” She said and winked while quickly going out of the room before he was able to ask what she meant.

If Alba was able to find the woman interesting, then he knows that only God can help him keep his hands and attention to himself. He clenched his teeth and rubbed his face. He was getting excited for a weird reason.