Chapter : 5 [ Capo Di Capi ]

[ Vincent De Niro ]

The sound of crushing bones and heart wrenching cries of the man tied on a chair behind me, felt like music to my ears. It was the starkest reminder of my job. It was the death, danger and mayhem that thrive around me since I had to step up on the throne of capo de capi of De Niro famiglia.

“Capo, he isn’t cracking his mouth open. I must say he is very loyal to his master like a dog.” Marcello, my right hand man said to me.

I turned around and faced the half dead man. It was my normalcy, the copious amount of blood seeped on the floor which lost its original colour and looked more black and crimson due to sedimentation of blood. The basement smelled rotten and putrid. The smell of death lingered in the air.

There wasn’t any window. We don’t believe in giving our enemies a chance to breathe or see light, coming here itself means death. Eventually, they’d go to hell.

“Your boss think he can steal from me and get away?” I chuckled dryly at the man sitting in front of me.

“I…don’t…know..anything. I swear on…my son.” He cried for mercy.

“Alright, then you are of no use to me.” I said and pulled the trigger, his gut wrenching cries turned into ghostly silence in the next second.

“Send this gift to Nicolai, maybe Anton wasn’t enough for him.” I said to Marcello.

I cleaned my gun and thrusted it back into holster.

The basement was freezing cold. We keep the ones we need alive here so they can experience living hell. They have to deal with decaying smell of flesh and rotting blood. A prediction for them, what to come for them in future.

No one screws up with Vincent De Niro and lives to tell others.

“He swore on his son. Maybe, he was telling the truth.” Marcello said as we walked out of the basement and I lit a cigarette to clear my mind.

“He has no children which means he was a liar. Shouldn’t liar be punished?” I raised my brow and he shook his head in surrender motion.

Marcello brought a clean suit for me since he knew I’d be dealing with messy things. He has been with me since I became the capo.

“I heard that Desmond Wilson is secretly meeting Nicolai Ivanov at Vienna. My sources confirmed that he had his younger son and daughter with him when they landed at a private property.” Marcello said and my legs stopped moving in the direction of my car.

Arielle Wilson’s face danced in front of my eyes. Not a moment has passed in last two days when I didn’t remember her innocent face. She is born in a wrong place and wrong family.

“Are you sure that you saw the girl with him?” I asked him and he nodded his head.

I had no clue what was going inside Desmond Wilson’s mind. He was the boss of American mafia syndicate, known for his ruthlessness, dealing of illegal weapon across the globe and human trafficking.  No one is allowed to step into his territory, Nicolai dared and tasted defeat. My uncle Antonio once tried to deal with him but Desmond doesn’t want to get involved with European mafias, he doesn’t trust them. So, when I heard that his son stole from Nicolai and now he wants to meet me, I was more than eager to see what is the old man up to?

 “Yes, Capo, I have seen the pictures he sent to me.” He confirmed and I sucked a deep breath.                                                                                                                                                                   My reputation preceded me. I am the Capo De Capi of Sicilian mafia organization and currently, I am about to meet Desmond Wilson, the haughty old mafia who never compromises with his principles.

“That motherfucker, I thought he was just bluffing but he is actually going to trade his daughter in exchange of a worthless dick for a son.” I gritted my teeth. I recalled his words he said to me during our meeting a week ago.

“Did he say something to you during your meeting with him?” Marcello asked me.

Flashback…

“Pleasure will be all mine if we become good allies, Mr. De Niro.” He shook my hand firmly and offered me a seat. A man served same whiskey for me which I wanted to deny but it’d be rude for my host.

His skin had all marks of battles, fierce and deadly.

“My daughter told me how you saved her from the Russians a few nights ago. I appreciate your heroic efforts but I want something more from you. I hate to beat around the bush, you see I am a busy man and soon I’ll retire and my son lacks the expertise I have. He needs a reliable ally in Europe who has a common enemy as us.” He said, his intentions clearly coming on surface.

“What’s the catch, Don?” I asked him straight and sipped the perfectly aged wine.

“My daughter, you have to marry my daughter if you want us to unite against Nicolai who has gotten back from the Irish, Spanish and Mexican mafias means we have enemies both in America and Europe.” He displayed his common minimum programme and the price was his own daughter.

How could I think American mafias were different from us?

“A marriage? Do you really think I’d agree to this? This trick is done by almost all the old fathers in Europe but I am still single as I don’t need allies. I am well capable of keeping Nicolai in leash.” I chuckled.

“What’s wrong in this? If we become relatives, the chances of one being deceived by the others are slight.” He retorted with hint of frustration. His son looked a bit hesitant and sweating due to his father’s overpowering presence.

“I am not afraid of enemies, Mr. Wilson but I heard your son has stolen something from Nicolai and now he wants his head. You want me to protect your family, specifically your son and you are willing to pay me with a wife, your daughter in exchange. How old is she?” I mocked him as I revealed his true intentions behind this well-planned proposal.

“She’s twenty-one, an adult for marriage. She’ll be a perfect match for you. My daughter is intelligent, well-educated and well mannered. She will give you no reason to complain.” He boasted his daughter. She’s pretty and innocent, I must give it to her but I don’t think it qualifies to become a good wife in my opinion.

I never intend to marry.

“I am thirty-two. I am much older than her. Will she agree to marry me?” I thought it’d stop him from ranting but he leaned back on his chair with a confident smile.

“Don’t worry about her. Women in my family always do as they’re being told. Nicolai wants her in order to spare my son’s life and he’d jump to marry her if I propose the same to him. I’ll have the most notorious men in Europe on my side. Think how it’d reflect on your business, Mr. De Niro. Still, you’re my first preference as a son-in-law.” He passively blackmailed me.

I clutched the glass tightly in my fist. This man had audacity to play tricks with me when I have an upper hand on him.

“Are you blackmailing me?” I raised my brow.

He refilled his glass and sipped the whiskey, “You’re a smart man, Mr. De Niro. You know how trade works in our world. Everyone loves power and when it doubles, you become unconquerable.” He preached like a monk.

“I’d like to meet your daughter first. I want to know from her what she wants.” I said firmly.

“You can’t see her unless you say yes to my preposition, Mr. De Niro. My son’s life is at stake and I’d do everything in power to protect him and my family.” He said, he was firm on his decision.

I thought about Arielle, she was almost sold by her brother and could be dead by now. The dove is surrounded by wolves in her own family’s disguise.

“I beg for your pardon, Don Wilson but I decline your offer. Your daughter is precious but I am not a trader and I do not yield to someone’s wish. I am capable of dealing with my enemies and I won’t mind having your name in the list.” I smirked. He couldn’t win over me.

“Your choice, Mr. De Niro. You were my first choice but Nicolai isn’t bad either if he marries her. In fact, he has shown his interest in her. Our power will be unmatchable and you what it’ll bring for you. Your own family is dysfunctional.” He said, smirking like a sly wolf.

Flashback ends…

“Get the plane ready, we’re flying to Vienna.” I said to Marcello.

The hell will break loose on Desmond Wilson.