Anthony

I sorely underestimated how quickly Nico would react to me visiting Violetta. He’s desperate to marry her, but why now? I think it has something with him getting Don from his father. It makes the most sense. It’s not ideal that my violet  is back with Nico. At least, she had the good sense to text me on the burner phone. She might not trust me, but she did reach out to me in desperation. So, I’ll take it. 

Nico acted impulsively, which means he must be feeling desperate. I might be able to use that to my advantage. The hard part is going to be getting Violette away from him. I know he is going to keep her under lock and key. I might have a chance to steal her back at Nico's grand birthday party, but that’s months away. Even then it might be hard. He clearly knows I’m in pursuit of Violetta. 

The feud between the three families has been going on for decades. The three Italian families have been fighting for control over the Italian parts of the city for far too long. The Russian, Japanese, Mexican, and Irish mobs or whatever they choose to be called each have  parts of the city. The Italian’s clearly have more territory, however, the divide in our own territory has always been in issue. One I fear that might lead to the other ruling illegal operations might come for us. I already know the Russian’s are eager to gain the Italian territory. Even if the territory the Russians desire are technically the DeLuca’s responsibility, it  still doesn’t bode well for my family. I need to find a way to meet with Nico. Maybe enemies isn’t the way to go anymore. I fear what that might mean for the Italian mafia keeping its strong grip on the city. 

Nico won’t let Violetta go, and neither will I. So that’s problem number one I suppose. Nico is a hot head. That Italian temper is strong in him and Violetta has the stubborn nature of a typical Italian woman not wanting to be told what to do by men. Violetta’s need to escape the mafia life is a problem because she’s never escaping this world. There is only one way to truly escape the underworld and that is death. 

So, I have two people I have to deal with on different levels. Nico will mostly take forever to see reason and Violetta, well, who knows with her. Either way, I have my work cut out for me in more ways than one. There’s a knock on my office door. I’m in my private townhouse at the moment. I head over to my door and open it to find Lorenzo, my friend and trusted second in command. 

“I take it you know Nico snatched Violetta this afternoon?” Lorenzo questions as I let him in. 

“Yes, thankfully Violetta was smart and texted me on the burner phone. Impulsive asshole.” I reply before I start pacing. 

“You knew neither of them would make this easy. You need Nico if the Italians plan to keep their reigning rule as top dog in the city.” Lorenzo reminds me, heading over to my wet bar. 

“I know. Nico is never going to give me Violetta. He will wage a civil war to keep her, but I don’t want to give her up. I know they have a history I can’t compete with, but she was mine before I knew she was also his. I shouldn’t have to sacrifice everything. I have given up a lot to become Don. I thought the one thing I had nailed down was having a wife, but Mario had to be a greedy dick. The hope was that Violetta would come to me naturally, and she still could. However, it’s harder with her being in Nico’s clutches now.” I vent my frustrations. 

“Why don’t you two just share her?” Lorenzo suggests, helping himself to some brandy.” “She was promised to both of you so toss her back and forth if it means avoiding a civil war. I know you don’t want to give her up, but you might have to. It might come down to what’s more important to you. Your family legacy or a girl you only know through stalking her. It’s harsh, I know, but that’s what it might come to.” Lorenzo explains. 

“ Sharing that’s something I guess.” I ponder out loud. I never thought about sharing my violet with Nico. I might have to, but do I want to? It’s not the worst idea because it is a compromise for both Nico and I, but Violetta might not see it that way as she is determined to be her own free spirit that might get her killed in the underworld where women are to be displayed as prizes. 

“With how stubborn Violetta is, she might need two men to put her ass in line and she has the perfect two lined up.” Lorenzo adds, taking a sip from his glass before her pours me one as well. “Either way, you have to figure out what matters the most to you. I know you want Violetta, but is she worth the hassle? You have so many other women who would  jump at the chance to be your wife” He says bringing me the glass he poured. I nod my head in thanks as I take it before I down the whole thing in one gulp. 

“I know I do, but I don’t want those women. I want Violetta. I know that sounds foolish, but I can’t help it. What I need is to talk to her and Nico. Nico might not even be aware of the danger the Italian mafia is to losing its rule. He’s so consumed with becoming Don that I don’t know if he realizes there is war about to blow up his front door. A civil war between the two of us fighting over Violetta is not something we need right now. Not when we have enemies waiting to strike at any sign of weakness.” I say, setting the glass on my desk. 

“Sounds like you need to have a meeting with Nico. I would meet with Nico first before you have Violetta join your discussion. That’s if you decide to even include her.” Lorenzo questions going back over to the wet bar to put things away while he finishes his drink. 

“See if you can reach out to Nico’s second in command. Maybe we could use him to help get to Nico in a civil manner. I don’t want to ambush him because that might come off as a threat which I don’t want when I’m there to talk about peace.” 

“I’ll see what I can manage. For now, I suggest you get some rest, Boss. At least you know Violetta is safe from our enemies.” 

“True, she is at least safe with Nico. I know he will keep her will protected. It’s better than her being vulnerable on her own. Still, let’s keep eyes on Violetta the best we can and maybe in the meantime she will text me. I also think of other ways to meet with Nico in case his second in command turns out to be a bust.”  

“You got it, Boss. Don’t forget you have dinner with your sister and her fiance tonight.”

I groan. “Don’t remind me. I hate that little leach she got knocked up by. I don’t trust him at all.” 

“Don’t worry I have eyes on the leach. He is certainly not to be trusted. He’s not been properly vetted.” 

“You know we can’t properly vet him.” I remind Lorenzo. I would love to properly vet the leach my sister started dating around the time I killed my father. I knew that killing him would mean I was responsible for Sofia. She is eighteen going on nineteen with no direction in her life. She started dating some Irish boy named Conner Conely. It didn’t take long before she got pregnant. My sister swears she’s on the pill and that they used a condom, yet she still got pregnant. According to the doctors it’s rare but does happen, however this is the underworld and nothing happens without reason. Rare is often a term for suspicion. I can’t doubt my sister is pregnant because I’ve seen the sonogram pictures I also question. I’ve had it confirmed by doctors I trust. The conception of the child is what I question. I can’t rule out that Conner is a potential spy the Irish planted. 

“I know, but maybe just a little.” Lorenzo suggests. 

“No. Tempting, but no. I need to get ready for this bullshit family dinner. Keep me posted on everything.” I direct. 

Lorenzo bids his goodbye and leaves me in my office. I sigh in frustration. There is too much at risk right now. I’m tense. Too tense. I need a good fuck, but it’s hard when all I want is the one woman I can’t have. The one woman who is in the hands of my enemy. By all rights, Violetta is my enemy because she is a Calla. It seems it’s falling upon Violetta, Nico, and me to carry on our family legacies. The question now is, can we unite to save our asses or are we doomed to be knocked down from the top tier?