Luiz placed a hand on Tonio’s shoulder, followed by Donnie and Jake.
“We’re all here,” Donnie said.
They shared a moment, and Tonio, he wanted to break down and cry, but this wasn’t the place. His friends, his brothers, they needed him in that moment to be strong. “So, before we turn into a bunch of pussies, let’s get this set up for when they arrive.”
Slapping each other on the back, Tonio made his way into the kitchen where he saw Juan, serving up some champagne.
“Hey, boss,” he said.
Juan was in his late twenties, and with them taking over, he had more of a chance of making something of himself other than being a mere foot soldier. This was why they had people who were loyal to them. They offered a better way for many more people within The Family.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Luiz wants to make sure they’re comfortable and they don’t suspect anything. Champagne to keep them quiet.”
“What are you hoping to be if we’re successful in turning around The Family?” Tonio asked.
Juan sighed. “I want my family to be safe. Being a soldier, it puts them at risk. There are times late at night when my wife will hear a sound, a bang, and it will panic her. I will check the house, but she was look at me, and say, ‘Juan, I can’t live like this. Our family cannot live like this. Is it worth it?’”
“Is it worth it?” Tonio asked.
“I love The Family. I love being part of something big, and of course the money helps a great deal. My loyalty to you guys is based on your promises. The biggest promise for me, when we’re out, we’re out. We don’t have to pledge our sons or our daughters. We prove ourselves, and we can live happily.”
“You have a son?”
“I have a son and three daughters, Tonio.”
“I didn’t even know you were married.” Tonio pointed at his left hand. “There’s no ring.”
Juan put down the bottle, pulling out a necklace that had a single gold band attached. “I will not put my woman in jeopardy. I love her with all my heart, and after everything I’ve put her through, she picked me. I keep her close to my heart so no one can harm her.”
Tonio nodded.
“You got to learn to love, man. This life, it will chew you up, and spit you back out, and take all your money and fun while they do it. Take life, Tonio, forget whatever past you have, whatever fear. You’re doing something good.”
“I’m about to kill four people in a house full of people.”
“How many other people are you saving? Lucien, he’s a monster. I’ve heard about him, and he’s not good. What you’re doing, it’s bad, but it’s also good.” Juan tapped his arm, offering him comfort.
Leaving the kitchen, Tonio made his way through the house, checking to make sure everything was in place. He didn’t want to risk any of them running. Talking with soldiers, he nodded as they spoke through their task of keeping everyone up and running. After half an hour, guests started arriving, and Tonio grabbed a glass of champagne to blend in. He couldn’t wait until the real action started.
****
Zara had read through the paperwork that Tonio had given her. She had no intention of leaving him. Tonio was her life, and she wanted to prove to him that he was worth staying for.
The silence in the apartment was deafening. This was unlike any other day that he went out to do work. The party he’d talked to her about before, and right now, she just couldn’t sit still.
Pacing the apartment, she listened to music, hating the sounds as it filled the space. Going to the window, she looked out, staring across the city. So many people had no idea what was about to happen, and some would never know. There would be others who heard about tonight who’d pledge their loyalty to the family, granting Tonio, Donnie, Jake, and Luiz, to be their gods.
What would her father think in this moment? Would he be proud, or wish that she’d run as far as she could?
She’d never know.
He’d been killed for shoving his nose where it didn’t belong. After her father was out of the way, her mother fell into a spiral pit of debt, borrowing what she didn’t have.
“Why is this so hard?” she asked.
Still, no answer.
Zara made her way toward the door and paused. She couldn’t go and see her. She’d vowed to never see her mother again, but right now, she needed the distraction.
Leaving Tonio’s apartment, she made her way to the apartment where her mother was staying. She’d told Tonio that he could throw her mother out for all she cared. She was thankful he refused to listen to her. There were times she spoke before she even acted.
Raising her fist, she knocked on the door, waiting.
This would be the first time that she had seen and spoken to her mother since Lucien attacked her.
Her hands were shaking.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, her mother opened the door.
“Zara, honey, I’m so glad,” her mother said, stepping back to let him inside.
“I don’t know why I’m here,” she said.
“I don’t care why. I’m just glad that you are. I’ve missed you, Zara.”
Her mother closed the door, and Zara took a seat on the chair. “This is nice.”
“Yes, it is. Tonio, he allowed me to decorate the apartment, and to bring some of my things from the old pizza shop.”
“Was it all a lie?” Zara asked.
“No. Nothing was a lie. Your father, bless his heart, he did what he had to in order to survive. Businessmen everywhere were failing, the markets, they had crashed, and the bank demanded our loan. We were struggling, and he didn’t want to lose the shop and our home.” Her mother sat down on the sofa beside her. “Neither of us wanted to fail you. I’ll just get us a cocoa.”
She watched her mother go into the kitchen. “Have you been happy?” Zara asked.
“I’ve been able to be happy knowing you’re safe. That’s all I ever wanted for you. When your father died, I couldn’t do that. I failed at everything. I couldn’t handle Lucien, or the pizza place, nothing. I was a complete and total failure.”
Zara didn’t know what to say. She wanted to comfort her mother, but also, she wanted to hurt her, the way that she’d been hurt.
Lucien wasn’t the kind of man you made deals with, and he’d proven that more than once.
“You could have told me the truth.”
“And risk you hating your father? No, I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t allow you to think badly of your father. He did what needed to be done, and there’s nothing I could have done.”
“Did he suffer?” she asked.
“Zara, some stuff, you don’t want to know. He only asked that I not tell you what happened. I don’t think he knew that Lucien would continue with the whole debt thing after he’d gone. It was a deal made between the two of them.” Her mother handed her a hot cocoa. “I even put in some marshmallows in, and sprinkled on some dark chocolate.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’ll always love you, Zara. I’m pleased you decided to see me.”
“I didn’t want to come. I just, I’m in love with Tonio.”
“You are?” her mother asked.
“Yes, I’m totally in love with him.”
“I didn’t see that one coming,” her mother said.
“Do you not like him?” She didn’t care if her mother liked him or not.
“I do like him. He’s a good guy, but his life, Zara, it’s dangerous.”
“I love him, and he’s had a great deal of people leave him, and use him. I’m not going to be one of them.” She didn’t care what Tonio was going to tell her.
She loved him.
****
Everyone had arrived, and Tonio had spotted Lucien West, along with the other three of their enemies. He didn’t care about anyone but Lucien. Tonio sipped at the same glass of champagne that he’d picked up earlier.
Glancing over at Donnie, he saw the signal that said everything was about to go down. His heart was racing. Adrenaline pumped through his veins ready to fuck over their enemies. The future was theirs, and the past was going to remain there.
The doors were locked, all the exits covered, and the house was plunged into darkness. There was a little scream, and then the large television came to life. At first, it showed a woman dancing in underwear. She was looking all sexy, her eyes glazed over as if she was thinking of sex, but she just looked hyped up on drugs to him.
Several guys whistled.
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
“Take it off.”
“Come on, baby, show it all to poppa.”
Tonio scrunched up his nose, sickened by what he was hearing. These men, they had kids, people to take care of.
Suddenly, the screen changed after the woman gave a little kiss.
“What the fuck do you mean?” Donnie asked.
Tonio stared at the screen, seeing Jake’s father tied to a chair. Luiz, Jake, and Donnie were around him, ready to strike.
“It means little shits like you can’t think to run The Family. You don’t even know how to wipe your own ass. You’ve got no chance of taking on The Family.”
“Really? You think that, Dad?” Jake asked.
“No one will respect you.”
“My father taught me that the only way to garner respect is with blood. To kill or be killed. He’s dead, and I’m standing right here in his place. I wonder if he regrets giving life to the man that killed him?”