Chapter 75 - The Rat is in the Trap The day of the meeting arrived, the tension in the air was thick as we drove back to the city. Selena held my hand tightly in the car, her knuckles white with fear. I knew she was scared, but she was also strong. She had been through so much, and she had always come out on the other side. As we approached the estate, I could see the guards' eyes widen as they recognized Selena. She looked beautiful, dressed in all black, her eyes lined with dark makeup to hide the puffiness from the lack of sleep. The sight of her, looking so fierce, made me want to kiss her, to tell her everything would be okay. But this was not the time for romance. This was the time for war. "Remember, Selena, you're in charge. Play it cool. I will be watching on the cameras, but Antonio will be close by if you need him." Her nod was firm, and she took a deep breath, her hand tightening around mine. We stepped into the living room, and there was no mistaking the malicious
The next few days were a blur of strategy and tension. We moved from the bunker to a safe house in the countryside, far from the prying eyes of the city. The twins were blissfully unaware of what was going on around them, cooing and crying and filling our lives with a love that made the darkness outside feel a little less overwhelming. I have always had the Family to fight for but now I had more to fight for - Selena and our children. "Antonio, what's your opinion on our next move?" I asked, pacing the living room of the safe house, my eyes never leaving the baby monitor. Selena was finally asleep. The love I feel for this woman is more than I had ever expected to happen. Antonio looked up from the map he was studying. "We need to draw him out," he said, tapping a spot on the map with a thick finger. "He won't come to us willingly." "Agreed," I said, my eyes narrowing. "But how?" Antonio leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We need bait he can't resist. Som
"I need to go deal with George," I said, reluctance heavy in my voice. Selena nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know," she whispered. "But promise me one thing." "Anything," I said, kissing her forehead. "Promise me that you will make him pay for what he did to me and my mother," Selena's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes pleading. I tightened my hold on her, feeling her pain. "I promise," I said, my voice filled with resolve. "He will pay for his sins. He will never harm you or our family again." With a final, lingering kiss, I pulled away from Selena and dressed, my thoughts already racing to the task at hand. Having to deal with George was inevitable, but now it had a new edge of personal vendetta. I knew Selena's history with her father, and I knew the kind of man he was. The thought of him anywhere near our children angered me. As I walked through the quiet halls of the estate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of victory and relief. We had him. The man who h
George swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out. "Salvatore has a mole," he began, his voice low. "Someone inside the Family has been feeding him information." My heart skipped a beat. A mole? This was new information. "Who?" George smirked, enjoying the power of his words. "Someone you trust." My mind raced through the members of the Family, trying to pinpoint who could be capable of such treachery. "You need to be more specific," I growled. He leaned back in his chair, his chains rattling against the metal frame. "Someone very close to you," he taunted. "Someone who has access to your every move and decision." I felt a knot form in my stomach. Could it be one of my own? Someone who had been by my side all these years? "Name them," I demanded, my voice like thunder. George took a deep breath, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "It's your uncle," he said, watching my reaction closely. "Vincenzo Rossi." The room seemed to
That night, I went to our room, where Selena was cradling Isabella and Michael. They were both fast asleep, their tiny chests rising and falling in unison. Selena looked up at me, her eyes filled with love and warmth. "Selena, I have to leave for Sicily tomorrow," I said, my voice thick with dread. Her eyes widened in shock, and she sat up straighter. "Why?" she asked, her grip on the babies tightening. "We have to find Salvatore and put an end to this," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Vincenzo has been working with him. They think I'm dead, so I have the element of surprise." Selena's eyes searched mine, a mix of fear and confusion. "But what about us? The babies? Why can't we come with you?" I sighed heavily, stroking her cheek. "It's too dangerous for you and the twins," I explained. "This is something I have to do alone. But I promise I will come back to you." Selena's eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into my touch. "I don't want you to go," she
Vittoria's smile was knowing. "There's always a catch," she said. "But I believe our interests align, Joseph. For now, let us focus on the task at hand." The plan was simple yet risky. We would strike at night, when the guards were least expecting it. We would have to be swift and precise, leaving no room for error. Antonio and my men nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "We leave at dusk," I told them. "Be ready." The hours ticked by, each one feeling like a year as we waited for nightfall. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we made our way to the warehouse where the shipment was rumored to be hidden. The tension was palpable as we approached, our footsteps silent on the cobblestone streets. The warehouse was a fortress, surrounded by armed men. But we had the element of surprise and a map of the premises provided by Vittoria's spies. We moved with the shadows, our eyes peeled for any signs of danger. Inside, the air was thi
Eleven hours later, I had Vincenzo and Salvatore back in New York. I had called ahead for all of the Capos to meet. This is the first Il bacio della morte (kiss of death) that I have seen in my lifetime. I had heard rumors of a few during my grandfather's reign as Don, but none since. The jet's engines wound down to a quiet purr, and the door opened, letting in the cold night air. The two traitors stumbled out, bruised and beaten but still alive. The other capos had arrived, and they watched in silence as Vincenzo and Salvatore were brought before them. "This is not how we do things," one of the capos spoke up, his voice filled with disgust. "This is not our way." "Our way is to protect our Family," I said, my tone leaving no room for debate. "And they," I nodded towards Vincenzo and Salvatore, "have betrayed us all." The capos murmured among themselves, but I could see the understanding in their eyes. They knew what had to be done. They knew the gravity of the situation.
The capos looked at each other, their expressions a mix of anger and sadness. The room was thick with tension, and I could feel the anticipation building like a storm about to break. "You both leave me no choice," I continued, my voice hard as steel. "For the crimes you have committed against the Rossi Family, I hereby sentence you to death." Vincenzo's smirk fell, and for the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. "You don't have the guts," he murmured. "You're wrong," I said, my voice cold and unwavering. "I have more than enough." With a nod to my most trusted capo, the two men were forced to their knees, the blindfolds secured tightly over their eyes. They had no idea what was coming, and that was the way it had to be. The room was silent. The only light came from a single bulb swinging overhead, casting shadows across the concrete floor. I stepped closer to Vincenzo, my hand reaching for the gun at my side. "This is your last chance," I whispered. "Confess your si
"Antonio, gather everyone we can trust," I instructed, my mind racing with the potential consequences of this war. "We need to be ready for anything." The house was a hive of activity as the loyalists of the Rossi Family descended upon the safe house. The air was thick with tension and the smell of fear. We had to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. "We need to get the twins out of the city," Selena said, her eyes wide with fear. "They're not safe here." I nodded, my thoughts racing. "I agree. We'll send them to my aunt's in Chicago. They'll be safe there, and it'll be harder for the Sicilians to track them." As we made arrangements for the twins' evacuation, the gravity of the situation settled upon us like a dark cloud. The war was no longer about just the Family's power; it had become personal. The safety of Selena and the twins was paramount. The house phone rang, and the room went silent. I picked it up, my hand shaking. The voice on the other end was cold, calculated,
The ride back to the city was a blur. My thoughts raced with the fear for Selena and the twins, and the anger at the audacity of the Sicilians to invade my home. My grip tightened on the gun in my hand, the cold metal grounding me as we sped through the early morning streets. When we arrived at the house, it was a scene of chaos. Men in black suits swarmed the property, their faces twisted in rage. "Take them down," I ordered my men, and the night air was filled with the roar of gunfire. The battle was intense, the sound of bullets whizzing by, the smell of gunpowder stinging our nostrils. We fought with everything we had, our loyalty to the Family fueling our every move. The Sicilian mafia was formidable, but they had underestimated our determination. As we pushed through the house, I could hear Selena's cries for help, echoing through the halls like a siren's call. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a drum of rage and fear. We found the panic room, the door splintered
The capos looked at each other, their expressions a mix of anger and sadness. The room was thick with tension, and I could feel the anticipation building like a storm about to break. "You both leave me no choice," I continued, my voice hard as steel. "For the crimes you have committed against the Rossi Family, I hereby sentence you to death." Vincenzo's smirk fell, and for the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. "You don't have the guts," he murmured. "You're wrong," I said, my voice cold and unwavering. "I have more than enough." With a nod to my most trusted capo, the two men were forced to their knees, the blindfolds secured tightly over their eyes. They had no idea what was coming, and that was the way it had to be. The room was silent. The only light came from a single bulb swinging overhead, casting shadows across the concrete floor. I stepped closer to Vincenzo, my hand reaching for the gun at my side. "This is your last chance," I whispered. "Confess your si
Eleven hours later, I had Vincenzo and Salvatore back in New York. I had called ahead for all of the Capos to meet. This is the first Il bacio della morte (kiss of death) that I have seen in my lifetime. I had heard rumors of a few during my grandfather's reign as Don, but none since. The jet's engines wound down to a quiet purr, and the door opened, letting in the cold night air. The two traitors stumbled out, bruised and beaten but still alive. The other capos had arrived, and they watched in silence as Vincenzo and Salvatore were brought before them. "This is not how we do things," one of the capos spoke up, his voice filled with disgust. "This is not our way." "Our way is to protect our Family," I said, my tone leaving no room for debate. "And they," I nodded towards Vincenzo and Salvatore, "have betrayed us all." The capos murmured among themselves, but I could see the understanding in their eyes. They knew what had to be done. They knew the gravity of the situation.
Vittoria's smile was knowing. "There's always a catch," she said. "But I believe our interests align, Joseph. For now, let us focus on the task at hand." The plan was simple yet risky. We would strike at night, when the guards were least expecting it. We would have to be swift and precise, leaving no room for error. Antonio and my men nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "We leave at dusk," I told them. "Be ready." The hours ticked by, each one feeling like a year as we waited for nightfall. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we made our way to the warehouse where the shipment was rumored to be hidden. The tension was palpable as we approached, our footsteps silent on the cobblestone streets. The warehouse was a fortress, surrounded by armed men. But we had the element of surprise and a map of the premises provided by Vittoria's spies. We moved with the shadows, our eyes peeled for any signs of danger. Inside, the air was thi
That night, I went to our room, where Selena was cradling Isabella and Michael. They were both fast asleep, their tiny chests rising and falling in unison. Selena looked up at me, her eyes filled with love and warmth. "Selena, I have to leave for Sicily tomorrow," I said, my voice thick with dread. Her eyes widened in shock, and she sat up straighter. "Why?" she asked, her grip on the babies tightening. "We have to find Salvatore and put an end to this," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Vincenzo has been working with him. They think I'm dead, so I have the element of surprise." Selena's eyes searched mine, a mix of fear and confusion. "But what about us? The babies? Why can't we come with you?" I sighed heavily, stroking her cheek. "It's too dangerous for you and the twins," I explained. "This is something I have to do alone. But I promise I will come back to you." Selena's eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into my touch. "I don't want you to go," she
George swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out. "Salvatore has a mole," he began, his voice low. "Someone inside the Family has been feeding him information." My heart skipped a beat. A mole? This was new information. "Who?" George smirked, enjoying the power of his words. "Someone you trust." My mind raced through the members of the Family, trying to pinpoint who could be capable of such treachery. "You need to be more specific," I growled. He leaned back in his chair, his chains rattling against the metal frame. "Someone very close to you," he taunted. "Someone who has access to your every move and decision." I felt a knot form in my stomach. Could it be one of my own? Someone who had been by my side all these years? "Name them," I demanded, my voice like thunder. George took a deep breath, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "It's your uncle," he said, watching my reaction closely. "Vincenzo Rossi." The room seemed to
"I need to go deal with George," I said, reluctance heavy in my voice. Selena nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know," she whispered. "But promise me one thing." "Anything," I said, kissing her forehead. "Promise me that you will make him pay for what he did to me and my mother," Selena's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes pleading. I tightened my hold on her, feeling her pain. "I promise," I said, my voice filled with resolve. "He will pay for his sins. He will never harm you or our family again." With a final, lingering kiss, I pulled away from Selena and dressed, my thoughts already racing to the task at hand. Having to deal with George was inevitable, but now it had a new edge of personal vendetta. I knew Selena's history with her father, and I knew the kind of man he was. The thought of him anywhere near our children angered me. As I walked through the quiet halls of the estate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of victory and relief. We had him. The man who h
The next few days were a blur of strategy and tension. We moved from the bunker to a safe house in the countryside, far from the prying eyes of the city. The twins were blissfully unaware of what was going on around them, cooing and crying and filling our lives with a love that made the darkness outside feel a little less overwhelming. I have always had the Family to fight for but now I had more to fight for - Selena and our children. "Antonio, what's your opinion on our next move?" I asked, pacing the living room of the safe house, my eyes never leaving the baby monitor. Selena was finally asleep. The love I feel for this woman is more than I had ever expected to happen. Antonio looked up from the map he was studying. "We need to draw him out," he said, tapping a spot on the map with a thick finger. "He won't come to us willingly." "Agreed," I said, my eyes narrowing. "But how?" Antonio leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We need bait he can't resist. Som