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MAFIA RULES 36
NIKO “What will you do?” Vincent drones on in my ear, I know he is asking about the Rizzos, Lola has been doing more than hinting at me to do something to help her cousin, my wife is nothing if not resilient when it comes to protecting those she cares about, she doesn’t understand my getting involved makes him look weak. A boss that cannot control his territory? I scoffed. The men of La Famiglia are like sharks angling for blood, at the tiniest hint of weakness, they will eat you alive. Not to mention that I don’t feel like fighting someone else’s war. She and the children are my priority, keeping them safe is all I care about. Though she seems to think he would get better given time, I didn't have the heart to tell her that brutality isn't something you learn, you either have it or you dont, and Carlos Cancio sure as hell doesn't or he would have done the needful by now. Damn it. “Should I do something?” I ask my cousin though my mind is already made. He is silent for a few se
MAFIA RULES 37
My children live in onesies, they have several pretty outfits that were gifted to us and that I had ordered for them, but they’ve not had the opportunity to wear any so today I am definitely taking advantage of the situation. Micaela fuzzed throughout the entire process when I wear her a pretty pink princess dress, and a pair of cute matching sandals, she's almost crying by the time I’m done combing her hair, pulling it into sections, and tying it with white and pink ribbons. As she’s not used to wearing anything with excess material she keeps pulling at the dress and kicking her legs, but she looks like the cutest thing ever. I hand her off to Maria while I get to dressing Angelo. I dressed him in a white cotton shirt with a black bowtie at the front and a black pair of shorts. White shoes and were good to go after a hair comb. “Should we go show Sebby how cute you’re looking today?” I put them in the back of the SUV, ensuring they were comfortable, then got in the front with Iva
MAFIA RULES 38
Gianna mumbles something under her breath I dont hear. “Huh?” "I hate to be the one to say this sweetheart but you’ve stopped trying” At my dropped jaw she raised both hands in surrender “Not to say that you need it, you’re so pretty it’s annoying sometimes, you would look cute even with a sack over your head and without eyebrows, which says alot. But that doesn’t change the fact that if you dress up and look good it shows that you want to be admired and desired, and in return, the male in him would react to that. I hide my face. “Take a look at you now, you’re wearing mom jeans and a white shirt, the Lola I know, the most beautiful girl in the Italian families would never dress thus” she snapped her fingers at me. I gasped in full dramatic effect. Pointing a finger at her, “I should stop talking to you, just for that statement” Used to my antics she cackles like a witch. But I frowned. “What’s wrong with mom jeans? It’s comfy and cute” I say, looking at the light blue pair I
MAFIA RULES 39
NIKO My eyes go around the room noting the men, last night after my call with Lola, we discussed the men and which we expect issues from today, Furio and Aldo have shown where their loyalties lay by providing unyielding support to the Rizzos. Baldo hopes the wedding falls through so he can wed his son to the Cancio Girl, so his support is with Cancio, for now. With made men, It's always the case of, for now. The nine heads of each Chicago family are present, I also note some representatives for the other territories. Severo from Atlanta leans forward and whispers something to Stefano, a made man for the Chicago family. Beside him his Blanco, his eyes meet mine and he looks away immediately. Directly in front of him is Samuele Rizzo and his brother a thin as reed man they call Tito. Having spoken to Silvio De Luca and Elio Ferrari earlier they have opted to stay out of the situation and keep their bloody opinions to themselves. “Your father was an honorable man, he understood agr
MAFIA RULES 40
Katherina left this afternoon. After Maria called me to report that my cousin was held at the door, I rushed downstairs where she Informed me it was fine for her to return. “Your mama said a week, it’d be best for you to return when things settle, you’re staying.” “It is settled” she quipped.Though I don’t know the details I add. “Just to be sure Rafael doesn’t try to reach you or make any trouble” I turned to leave.“He won’t be a problem because he’s dead. Carlos killed him” My jaw drops momentarily, I hadn’t been expecting that, not sure what I was expecting but not that, I suppose I imagined they would put the issue of the marriage to rest and we could all move on. The Rizzos won’t press the issue with Niko present. But with him dead, so is the issue of marriage. “Er… alright then.” I paused as I was still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing, I can’t believe it's done. And issue they’ve been going back on forth on for more than a year now. And why do you say? Father
MAFIA RULES 41
After dinner, we head into the family room for drinks and to chat. Chase, Danilo, and Vincent are at one side talking, Tommy having said he was sitting this one out, muttering something about how he hasn't slept for three days. Eva isn’t here, and unsurprisingly so is Matteo. Hopefully, they sort out their issues. Peacefully. Niko strides in a moment later, a glass of scotch in his hand, I had come in ahead of him when he went momentarily to receive a phone call. He walks right up to where I’m relaxing back on the couch, enjoying another glass of wine, it’s my second and last one for tonight and I’m determined to savor it. “Scoot over sweetheart,” he says when he stops in front of me. I lean back, bringing my glass to my nose and inhaling the sweet scent of grapes. “Why?” I blinked up at him coyly. “I want to sit with you” Call it what you want but Gianna was right after all, he has barely looked away from me all evening, smoldering me in his heat, and I have had to stop f
MAFIA RULES 42
The next morning I woke up feeling a little disoriented and a slight tightness between my eyes, my tolerance for alcohol must have gone to nil if two glasses could give me a mini hang over. I go to check on the kids and see Maria in the living room. “Good morning”She is already dressed in a purple top and a pair of black pants, healed pumps at her crossed feet “Good morning, sleep good?”I nod. Looking around before mouthing “Niko?” I don’t know why I’m whispering though. I must have been far gone dreamland when he joined me last night. Guess the men had lots to talk about.“Gym downstairs” I nod, he seems to be working out a lot these days. As the twins are still asleep, I decide on a shower to feel more awake. brushing my hair up into a ponytail.I’m putting on some moisturizer when Niko enters the bathroom. “Good morning” I look at him from the mirror.“Morning baby,” he says, running a hand through his sweat damp hair, the longer strands are down now, falling into his eyes. I
MAFIA RULES 43
Is this baby Niko? “How freaking cute” I’d know that face anywhere, it looks just like my son. I flip through two more laughing, how long has he had these? Pushing his chair back with one hand, I lower unto the chair as I slip the picture to the bottom revealing another, where he looks about five with his curly hair falling over his forehead."Oh my Gosh" Is it weird that this makes me want to have another mini Niko? That frown and chin?In the next picture, he looks to be about fifteen, fourteen maybe? It’s a half shot, stopping at his waist, he wears a white shirt with a dull brown jacket over it, hands stuffed inside his jacket pocket. I flip to the next and another one after that, he's not smiling in any of the pictures, but the sight of them makes me smile. In the next one, he looks maybe eighteen, but it's a little hard to tell he as seems so tall already, He is in a tank top, cargo pants tucked into half-laced boots, all in black. His face is thinner but the eyebrow is the sa
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MAFIA RULES Epilogue I
My uncle was right, everything will change from now on, the Grecos, Mendoza, and the Oriente arms of the New York Families are no more. Though we weren't particularly friendly with the other two, it wasn't required for the business. The Greco’s however have always been closely allied with the Salvatores, it wasn’t because of that friendship that Julio was my father's right hand and his father before him, as capo it was my decision to choose my right hand, but for decades, that honor belonged to the Greco’s, until Julio fucked it up. With them gone, there is a gap, in the prominent families, and someone needs to take over for the business to run smoothly. As things settled, I just wanted some peace to be with my family, my children, I already missed so much. It was something I would never retreat, I kept them safe. I did what had to be done, even though it hadn't been my Knife in their throat or my orders. My actions lead to their deaths. And their deaths created a power vacuum, one
MAFIA RULES 116
**“We have to leave here, get to another safe house we don’t know who else- this place has been compromised” Arms wrapped under my arms trying to pull me away. I was staring blankly at the Man I'd grown so close with. I didn't know what to do.“We can’t leave him here” Tears spilled down my cheeks. “You think I want to leave him? He was like a father to me, but I have to protect you, he would want you to get to safety”“Miguel…”“Now Lola, Now." he shook me "We have to-“ a phone ringing cuts off the rest of his words. Miguel bends down and searches through Matteo’s jacket to retrieve his phone. I crawl back to him lifting his head into my lap, spatches of blood stained my jeans as I run my fingers through his hair. “Please Matteo open your eyes,” I begged softly.He couldn’t be gone. He felt warm despite the blood pooled on the ground beneath him, he couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t...“It’s Matteo…” I hear Miguel say to the other person on the phone “He’s gone” is all Miguel says
MAFIA RULES 115
I straightened at the sound of a car pulling closer. I know it isn’t Miguel as he’s in the next room, slowly tiptoeing to one of the windows and pushing back the curtains, “Lola don’t do that-“ “It’s Matteo” I gasped in recognition at the dark hair and family face of the man that exists the drive's seat. “It’s Matteo” I repeated “He’s here!” I announced as my heart began to race in my chest. “Stay here, stay down” Miguel ordered, as he headed to the door a gun in hand. I remained at the window, clutching my rounded belly with a shaky hand, the other fisted around the thick curtains as I tried to listen to their exchange. It went on for about half a minute but it was too long and then Miguel crossed back to the porch, he disappeared from my line of sight, and I moved to the door. The bottom of my oversized jeans dragged on the floor over my bare feet as I had left the zipper undone to accommodate my large bump. I’m standing behind the door when it opens and Miguel says “It’
MAFIA RULES 114
“That puta was whoring around dirtying the family line-“ she gurgles, choking as red spills from a thin line across her throat. A hand flew to her neck eyes wide in shock. No one was allowed to speak of that, I took pains in ensuring it remained that way. The consequences would be devastating. I look at the blade in my hand then swipe the napkin beside her tea set to wipe the little blood at the end. I turned around and came to a stop at the dark figure at the entrance. Fuck. “Is it true what she said?” I observe his stance, the pistol hanging loosely at his side, my brows furrowed as I tried to figure out how long he’s been standing there, how much he heard, I let out a sigh, “Tommy…” He sucked in a deep breath, his empty hand clenching into a shaky fist. “Did you know?” Tommy asked calmly. I grit my teeth and wipe the blade once more, then I return it to the sheath strapped to my wrist, soothing down my sleeves to keep it hidden. I turned to my brother fully and asked “Wh
MAFIA RULES 113
Bang! Bang! Bang!!! Gunshots sound as I make my way down the hall of an Italian-styled penthouse. The enemy tries to return fire, but they are quickly overwhelmed by my men. Martino Greco led me to Valentina's hideout like a mouse to the cheese. Pained grunts and shocked yells followed by the thuds of bodies heating the ground, and then quiet. Hmm. I walk in smooth strides past pools of blood, bodies littering the polished wooden floors noting the soldiers Valentina called from her mansion in Italy, I frown at the sight of a falcon tatted on one of the fallen men’s forearms, seems she hired some mercenaries also. Splendid. Last night Valentina sent her men to Mendoza and Orinete households while they slept and took them out in one swell move. It is why I can break in with little to no resistance, half of her man power is gone. Danilo inclined his chin at me then motioned up silently a gun in hand, corked and still at the ready. Chase and Emilio stand beside him each o
MAFIA RULES 112
I stared out the window on the ride back. Like the two times we’ve gone out, I remain in the car while he checks the property, when he signals all clear I open my door and move to the back to get the kids. Miguel goes around the other side and gets started on Angelo’s seat, he undoes the strap holding the child to the seat and then unhooks the chair fully so he can take it inside. “Want to tell me what happened at the clinic?” he questions as we walk. I shook my head nothing. “You don’t really expect me to believe that do you?” “What makes you think I did anything." “Excluding the fact that you looked guilty as hell when we got back, there’s a tear glued to your lashes" he pointed one end of his bottled water at me, "Why were you crying” We entered the cabin and I unstrapped the kids to let them run free. “I just needed to use the bathroom quickly” I paused helping Angelo to his feet. “I called him” I admitted. His expression remains unchanged. “You don’t seem surprised
MAFIA RULES 111
NIKO That evening I left using one of the hidden exist. There's a car parked under the bridge, I pull up behind it, leaving the engine still running as I look out the window, moments later a male form, wearing a black oversized coat blowing the wind takes long steps in my direction as far as his short legs can carry him, the side door opens and he drops down beside me, the smell of tobacco that follows him where ever he goes fills the car. I make no effort to his my frown. Excluding the fact that it was a shitty habit that kills the liver, I imagine it would make stealth impossible if they can smell you from a mile away. And I preferred to leave no traces, unless it was a warning that is. I have half the mind to ask him to exit my vehicle before he saturates it with his unpleasant smell but I need him tonight so I decided to play nice. “How did it go?” Martino Greco smacks his lips once, “Just as you expected boss, Maxim sent another offer, I did as you said while showing some
MAFIA RULES 110
LOLA I’ve been teaching my twins simple words and pointing out items around the house for them. I once read that kids need contact with other people and other kids to stimulate growth, and I’ve been doing what I can to fill that role. "Nana" Angel mumbled pointing at the banana when Miguel walked past eating a banana last night.It is also his favorite fruit. Micaela liked peaches.I also roped Miguel into watching some soap operas airing every evening with me so I’d have something to look forward to and someone to discuss with. Soap operas were always better when you had someone to discuss them with. He acts like he hates them but I swear he secretly enjoys them. He finds it hard to understand the motives of the main antagonists and often wonders why the ‘good guys’ give so many chances.No one is that inherently good. Miguel had said when the main female character got played for the fourth time in twenty episodes. It's plain stupidity. he added his two cents, I shook my head with
MAFIA RULES 109
NIKO -Months later... “Who can we count on?” Tommy asked his chin on his jaw. In front of me at the other side of the desk Matteo cleared his throat and the other turned to him, “Brenadi, Orisi, Ajello, the Sances are a given" he tips his head. With Chase one of my trusted enforcers the head of the Sances family, it was a given, I trusted him to keep his house in check, the others however, "The others will need more convincing" Matteo added voicing my exact thoughts. “That’s four out of twelve” Vincent grunted unable to hide his displeasure. “How can Valentina have eight over us, the bitch has been in Italy for almost three decades," Tommy growls. “Exactly, lots of families owe her favors, she ran this family before us with an iron fist and she never fully removed her claws while my brother was capo, that’s nearly four decades of loyalty from the New York families. "Enough time to amass a fortune's worth of secrets and debts to call in, moreover, a number of the men are too sca
