Damn, but I’d become him without even knowing it.
I felt for Tex, I really did, because I knew better than anyone else what it was like to have ugliness as a legacy. I understood it because I lived with it every damn day, no escape, nothing.
The wind picked up causing a chill to reverberate through the air as the cool air bit through my jacket.
“Crazy,” Nixon said suddenly from behind me.
I didn’t turn around. “What is?”
Chase answered from my left as Nixon stood to my right. “It doesn’t even seem real that we were kids.”
I shook my head. “Childhood? Did we even get one?”
“No.” A fourth voice answered. Tex. “Pretty sure we skipped that part.”
“I would have loved to have had a fort.” Chase stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“At least a treehouse.” Nixon added.
“Or a bad ass lawnmower to ride.” Tex chuckled.
We fell silent, nothing but the wind whistling through the trees and the tension dripping off every one of us.
“How deep does blood go?” Tex asked breaking the silence.
“To the death.” I croaked. “Until the last breath leaves my body.”
Chase lifted his palm to the inscriptions on the tree and pressed his hand firmly against it.
“Sangue in assenza.”
Blood in no out.
Nixon placed his hand over Chase’s.
“Con la morte a trovare la tu libertà, ma è la vita dove si è veramente liberi.”
I closed my eyes as the truth of his statement poured over me. “In death you find your freedom, but it is life where you are truly free.” My shaking hand went over Nixon’s. I didn’t expect Tex to join us, after all, he had to stay numb to the emotions if he was going to follow through.
I was shocked when his hand pushed across mine, he whispered gruffly,
“Se il mio sangue, non sia vana.”
He repeated it in English. “If my blood spills, let it not be in vain.”
“Amen.” Nixon whispered.
“Amen.” We joined removing our hands.
The back door slammed, jolting us out of our moment, possibly the last moment the four of us would have together alive.
“We should go.” Sergio called from the back porch. “Now.”
Tex walked away first, then Chase, and finally Nixon.
I watched as my three best friends held their heads high, no fear visible on their faces, and I had to wonder. Was I leading them to their deaths? Or had I done enough to save them? By telling Tex, had I saved more lives, or just added to the body count?
I made a quick cross with my hands and kissed my knuckles. “May God be with us.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
A corrupt heart elicits all that is bad within us…
Mo
I
WAITED FOR THE GUYS
to leave before taking off after them. Tex had already given me instructions on where to go. I was about to start the car when I heard a knocking on the window.
Trace stood, arms crossed, glaring.
I hit the down button. “What’s up?”
“You’re going to The Commission aren’t you?”
“No.”
“Yes you are.”
“No I’m not.”
“You’re a crap liar.” Trace opened the door and pulled out her gun, making sure the chamber was loaded.
I groaned.
“Don’t worry, I’ll wait in the car but I’m not letting my best friend go there without backup.”
“And what?” I laughed. “You don’t even know what’s going on, Trace. It’s best that way.”
“Mil’s there.” Trace swallowed. “You’re going and Nixon may die. I’m going to be there, in the car, but I’ll be there. If I hear gunshots I won’t run in the line of fire, Nixon’s already threatened me, but if I’m the only one not injured I can at least drive everyone straight to Stephens’s hospital and make sure nobody dies.”
I closed my eyes and nodded. “Fine.”
“You’re going to help him aren’t you?” She stuffed the gun back in her purse and cocked her head towards me. “Tex, I mean.”
I shifted uncomfortably and turned on the car. “Maybe… if I can.”
“You’re going to just waltz right in there?”
“I’m Nixon’s twin.” I grinned. “I have just as much right to be there as he does. After all, I’m a Mafia princess, the guys will be pissed but it’s not like they won’t have bigger issues, plus I have a great excuse.”
“What? Insanity?” Trace rolled her eyes.
“No, of course not.” I slipped Nixon’s phone out of my pocket. “He has my phone instead of his, damn iPhones, can’t tell which is which.”
“Scary brilliant.” She nodded approvingly, her lips pressed together. “Try not to die, okay?”
“Say a prayer that I don’t.”
“Been saying a lot of those recently.”
“I believe it.” I pulled out of the driveway and made my way down to the warehouse. The thing about The Commission… there were going to be too many people in one place to actually meet at a hotel besides the whole possible gunfire thing was kind of an issue. So we were meeting at one the Abandonato family dealerships. The warehouse behind the dealership was normally used for packing and merchandising but it worked and it was extremely clean, plus it helped that when it was built the windows were double enforced along with the fact that there were video cameras everywhere.
We controlled the environment, but we sure as hell didn’t control the outcome. My hands were sweating by the time we made it to the property. It was only twenty minutes from the house, but I felt each one of those minutes as the time slowly ticked by.
“So—” “Trace clasped her hands together. “—here we are.”
“Yeah.” I licked my dry lips. “Here we are.”
The parking lot was littered with Mercedes’ and black SUVs were parked outside.
“I’ll get in the driver’s seat so we have a fast getaway.”
“Right.” I snorted. “Like in the movies.”
Trace smiled sadly. “Yeah.”
“Love you.” I hugged her quickly and hopped out of the car as she whispered, “Love you.”
My boots clicked against the pavement as I made my way towards the door. With a deep breath I pushed against the metal handle and let myself inside. No going back now.
It sounded like a hive of bees as the talking buzzed around me. I walked further into the room. Long rectangular tables were lined in a large U. Coffee and tea sat in pots on each table. Black cloths were blanketed over everything. If I wasn’t in a warehouse I’d think we were in a restaurant.
I cleared my throat. The talking ceased as all eyes fell to me.
I offered a simple shrug and walked up to Nixon holding out his phone. “Figured you may need this.”
He frowned taking the phone from my hands. “I wouldn’t have answered my phone anyway, Mo, you know that.”
“Yeah, but I’m your sister.” I smacked him upside the head for effect. “I worry.”
A few of the men chuckled while others whispered, “Women.”
Nixon didn’t miss a beat he took in my dark clothing and glanced down at my tall boots, a flicker of silver must have caught his eye as he froze and then met my gaze. “What game are you playing at, sister?”
“My favorite,” I whispered. “Hunters and foxes.”
He nodded once then turned. “Gentleman, I’ll be sure she leaves before the meeting starts.”
They waved him off while I walked over to one of the tables and poured myself some coffee.
A hand shot out to touch mine. “My, my, look how you cleaned up.”
Alfonso’s voice made my blood run cold. I jerked away from his grasp and sneered, “Looks like they invited everyone to this party hmm?”
“Only the important ones were invited, the filth just arrived.” He lit his cigar and leaned back in his chair. I seriously almost punched him across the face, instead I rolled my eyes and grabbed my full cup and moved back towards Nixon. Lifting the cup to my lips, I scanned the room, taking in each solid detail. The Campisi’s were seated at the head of the table; Tex was standing near them, but wasn’t speaking. The Nicolasi clan was to the right of The Campisi Family and the other three, Alferos, De Langes, and my family were to the left. Nixon and Chase were talking in hushed tones while the men all laughed and pretended like the world wasn’t ending.
Any minute now, Tex.
Any minute.
He had to strike before the meeting. But he also had to get them scattered better, at this point he’d have to kill by going down a line of men which meant he’d be shot before he got to man number two.
Crap. I set my coffee on a nearby table and shrugged out of my jacket. I was prepared for the worst. With a yawn I stretched my arms above my head and then popped my neck gaining some of the attention from the men in front. When I reached for my coffee, I clumsily dropped it to the floor. It shattered on contact, with a curse I knelt down low, my top dipped giving every man in front of me an adequate view of my breasts.
Chairs slid back and in an instant I had several associates helping me pick up the pieces of my broken cup.
“Careful.” One of the men helped me back to my feet. “We wouldn’t want to get blood on your clothes.”
“It
is
hard to get out.” I nodded innocently.
“Yes, it is.” He said gruffly his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “It really is.” Gross, he was over twice my age and balding. I offered a sweet smile. “Thank you so much, all of you for helping, I’m so sorry, I feel stupid.”
“No, no.” Another man’s hand shot out and gripped my wrist. “It is no problem.” His accent was thick, almost thicker than Alfonso’s. If my count was right, I’d pulled at least three of the Campisi targets away from Tex. It had to be enough. Dear God let it be enough.
Something slammed against one of the tables. I looked up into Tex’s eyes as he leaned over menacingly. “I’d like to call this meeting to order.”
Alfonso sputtered, turned red, then pushed away from his table. “Only the
Cappo Di Cappo
can call the meeting to order.”
Tex’s lips pulled into a predatory smile. “I just did.”
Alfonso’s eyes narrowed. “It has not yet been decided.”
“So let’s decide now.” Tex strolled around the tables then took center stage, holding his hands in the air. “After all, not only did you try to kidnap me, and murder me and Nixon’s sister, but you put ten million freaking dollars on my head.” He threw his head back and laughed. “The family’s worth five times that, if not more.” He grinned tauntingly. “Which means only one thing… you don’t have access to the funds because my father never named you in the first place. You’re here because I allow it, you breathe, because I allow it, you live because I allow it.”
The bosses stood… Luca, Nixon, Mil, Frank and started pacing.
“You,” Alfonso spat pointing his finger at Tex. “Are cursed, an abomination, you should have never been born!”
“Yet.” Tex sighed and lifted his hands into the air. “Here I am.”
“You’re too young.”
“And you’re too ugly, yet you don’t see me yelling that from the rooftops. I’m it. I’m your maker, your creator, your death dealer, your freaking salvation. Take it or leave it.”
“And if we vote and you lose?” Alfonso shrugged. “Will you back down?”
A muscle clenched in Tex’s jaw. He had to do something, the men were starting to talk amongst themselves. I knew what they would say. Tex was young, he wasn’t a sure thing, he wasn’t sane.
“Your own father thought you cursed!” Alfonso spat. “It is a fact, a fact you know all too well. He sent you away, what type of father does that to his only son? He never even came for you.” Alfonso laughed to himself and held up his hands to the men around him. “You deem to put your trust in a mere child who’s own father didn’t even want him? Let us not forget… Tex killed the boss of all bosses, killed him in cold blood.”
“He had help.” Luca’s teeth clenched.
“Guilty.” Alfonso shrugged. “Anyone who helped him would be guilty. Death is the only solution. You kill the
Cappo di Cappo
, you will be killed. You helped formulate a plan to kill him? Your death is mine.”
The Campisis all stood nodding their heads.
Tex’s shoulders straightened.
And I knew, he’d made up his mind. He was going to make an example of strength.
“The Abandonatos don’t want me, the Nicolasis fear me, the Campisis don’t know what to do with me, and the De Langes and Alferos want to stay out of it. So what’s a guy to do?”
Alfonso folded his hands in front of him. “He could die, honorably and allow the families to reign in peace.”
Tex winced and shook his head. “See uncle, that’s the problem, why create peace, when war is so much fun. Does peace bring you more money? No. And I think in the end where the money is, The Family will be. You talk of peace, you preach of honor, yet you still run prostitution rings out of Sicily, pulling girls from their families and offering protection at a price. You say I’m too young, but I say you’re too old, too old to realize the ancient ways no longer work. Fear breeds more fear, manipulate too much and you show your weakness. Peace? Hell no, I aim to bring down the fires of Hell on The Five Arms—and I’m going to start with you.”
Part Three: The Cleansing
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Blood cleanses all that is evil within us.
Tex
I
NEEDED
M
O TO
move a little to the right, but I had no way to tell her that. I also needed a few of the men to get away from Nixon but I couldn’t tell him that either. Instead, I continued threatening Alfonso, forcing him to react. But he was smooth, so good at twisting words.
Mo was right.
It was time for action.
“You’re a stupid, stupid child.” Alfonso’s eyes blazed while the men fell silent again.
I grinned. “My father said something similar, before I put three bullets in his head.”
A resounding gasp was heard as the men started shouting amongst themselves. I held up my hand for silence.
Alfonso clenched his fists at his sides.
“He called me cursed and in the end, I think he was the one who was cursed, after all, he was already running from me. Already fearful of the truth he saw in my eyes, that I would end him. That I would be the death of him. I think he saw it when I was born. I think he knew it in his bones, that I would come for him.”