But, then there was the issue involving Francesca and that punk, Fredo Salvatore. That had always been a sore spot which followed the Salvatore’s for years. I’m sure learning that a Cavelli was up to the same tricks made them mad with the hypocrisy of it all. Despite the Salvatore’s acceptance that the boy had to be dealt with, the Cavelli’s never let them forget about what he had done to Francesca. No doubt, all of this was bringing up old wounds.
The car eventually came to a stop outside my house, so I gathered Clara in my arms just as the driver opened the door for me. My sisters were by my side in no time. “She’s out like a light.”
“Should we be worried?” Daniella asked.
I shook my head with a smile. “No. We will be fine. Just go inside. I promise I’ll take care of it.”
Daniella nodded, and the other girls followed her inside the house. Mia kept the door open for me, and I said my thanks as I passed by her and made my way up the stairs. Once in Clara’s room, I settled her under the covers. She stirred, but soon was back to a deep sleep. I kissed the top of her head and very quietly made my way downstairs.
“I hear the Salvatore’s paid a visit tonight.”
I turned my head towards Giovanni, who was smoking in the kitchen. “Those things will kill you.”
Giovanni laughed. “A bullet would kill me quicker.” That was always his response whenever I berated him about his smoking. “Where’s your fiancée?”
I motioned upstairs. “She’s sleeping. She’s had a long day, and it’s been tiring for her.”
Giovanni smiled. “I hear dancing on stage takes a lot out of girls.” He raised his eyebrow to me.
“Shut up, fucker. Go get your own woman, and leave your hands off mine.”
Giovanni laughed. “Luca… Always the fucking hothead.” He shook his head in dismay. “So, where are Pietro and the others?”
I sighed. “They should all be in the study. That fucker at the club gave us some news tonight.”
Giovanni smiled. “So I heard. It’s been a while since he showed his ugly mug around these parts.”
I laughed sarcastically. “Yeah. Until he heard I was in town and about to marry. He’s doing this on purpose. Letting me know he’s still around.”
“He can’t touch you.”
I nodded. “I know, but he’ll always have an angle. There will always be retribution in one form or another. He wants to get back at my uncle, and the best way to do that is to go through me.”
“He wouldn’t dare to come here for the wedding. He knows better than that at least.” I nodded my head. It was always a mutual code that no matter how much you hated each other, you stayed away from family affairs. Business was business. Family matters were left out… No matter what. “Besides, I think he had another angle for visiting you tonight. He wants revenge on the Cavelli’s as much as we do.”
I shook my head at the thought. “This would be the one and only time I would ever side with a Salvatore.”
Giovanni patted my back. “We are all enemies in the same battle. Sometimes, you have to accept the help—no matter where it comes from—but also let it be known that you never owe anybody anything in return for it.”
I huffed out another sarcastic laugh. “I think the thing in return for Fabrizio is Luigi’s head. I know those two hate each other, especially after what went down in Palermo last week.”
Giovanni shook his head. “Luigi never has grown up. He’s the kind of guy who acts before he thinks about the consequences. Beating one of Salvatore’s men and stealing drugs off him was never a smart move. You know he’s an addict, right?”
I nodded. “I’m a little surprised that Fabrizio hasn’t acted sooner on this, but then he always did like to make his victims stew.”
Giovanni smiled. “Yes, and for once, I think Fabrizio is acting intelligently.” I frowned at him, and he continued, “Luigi will be expecting one of Fabrizio’s men. I doubt very much he’ll be expecting you. I take it that is where you’re going shortly?”
I nodded. “Tony’s scoping the place now. I’m going to get the guys and call him in a bit.”
Giovanni put his cigarette out and got up. “Well, let’s get this over and done with.”
We walked into the study and found Pietro, Paulie, and another one of my distant cousins from America, whom I hadn’t seen in at least a year. “Nicoli, how are you?” We came in for a hug, and I noticed how strong he had gotten in that time. He was young—only twenty-three—and very bright, but he was also mischievous. Last I heard, he was stalking a girl at a college in New Jersey because her brother owed him money. He kept vowing to turn up unannounced every day until she relented and went out on a date with him. That’s the kind of guy Nicoli was.
“I’m doing well,” he offered.
I noticed the sly grin on his face. “I take it from that smile that… Lizzie… Is that her name?”
“Elizabeth,” he corrected with a snarl. I knew how much it wound him up; that was why I kept calling her Lizzie. That and the fact that she called herself Lizzie.
“Yes, Elizabeth.” I smiled. “I take it that she finally gave in. What did you do? Hang her upside down and tickle her into submission?”
Nicoli laughed sarcastically. “You’re a little fucker. Maybe I’ll tie you upside down, but I’ll guarantee I’ll do more than tickle you.” I shook my head, knowing full well he couldn’t do shit.
“Shall we get back to the task at hand?” my uncle asked, reminding us.
I nodded. “Of course. I’ll give Tony a call now.” Everyone went silent as I dialled Tony’s number. He answered after two rings. “Tony, what’s the score?”
“He’s just come out from one of the VIP lounges with one of the dancers. Marco, the bar manager, said he’s been going in every hour with a different girl and getting his brains fucked. He’s so high, he wouldn’t notice if Krusty the Clown came into the bar and started doing juggling tricks. He’s snorted so much shit that all he wants to do is drink and fuck as many girls as he can.”
I nodded. “Okay. Keep an eye on him. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Okay, boss.”
Tony hung up, and I turned to everyone. “That fucker’s got a real drug problem.”
Giovanni shook his head. “It’s going to be his downfall.”
I nodded in agreement. “It might make torturing him a little difficult. He won’t feel the pain as much.”
Nicoli smiled. “We’ll get it out of him eventually.”
I sighed. “Yeah, but I’ve got a wedding to attend tomorrow.” I turned to Giovanni. “Do you still have the basement?” The basement was on one of Giovanni’s properties, and it had been used for torture purposes for a number of years. I remember when I was younger hearing whispers of the basement, and it intrigued me so much that I had to snoop. I had to get to my uncle’s house to see. I was only thirteen, but I was curious. I had an inkling, but I never knew the full extent of the torture that went on. Giovanni’s basement was equipped with a surgical bed, scalpels, nutcrackers, pliers, forceps—you name it, he had it. He even had a drain in the middle of the room so he could wash the blood off afterwards. Giovanni’s father was a trained doctor, so he knew all of the ways which could be used to torture someone the most effectively.
What I saw was definitely a shock to my system. I didn’t know who the man was, but whatever he did sure pissed off my great uncle. The guy was strung up with rope and perched in front of his face was the man’s cock. I remember holding myself and wincing at the sight. The moment my great uncle heated a rod and stuck it up the man’s ass, I went running for the hills. I would never forget the screams, though. The ear-splitting scream seemed to follow me for miles back home.
“Of course I still have it. It was my father’s pride and joy,” Giovanni smirked. I learned that his father had died three years ago, and I was saddened by the news. I knew he was a monster in torture, but if he was on your side, he was the sweetest man you could ever hope to meet. We all ha
d a mutual hatred for my father. Even the Cavelli’s disowned him. He was too impulsive, and at the same time, he was too indecisive. He made decisions that made him seem too weak. He was never a born leader, despite how much he wanted to be at the top. That was why he beat my mother. She was from the clever family, the richer family … the more intelligent family. In one simple word, he was jealous. And jealousy can make an evil man out of anyone.
“Can we use it?” I asked, wanting to get this over and done with.
Giovanni smiled. “You don’t even have to ask.”
Luca
It was after two in the morning, but I was pumped. We got to the club where Giovanni gave strict instructions to the bar manager to make sure his men turned a blind eye next time Luigi decided to disappear with a girl. We hadn’t been there long when a red-headed girl smiled and joined Luigi at the bar. She whispered something in his ear. He smiled back and trailed his hand down her back and on to her ass. He gave her a squeeze, got up, and they immediately started walking to one of the VIP rooms. One of the guards nodded to Luigi, and we watched as he disappeared from sight. Once the door was shut, the guard looked across at us, nodded his head, and quietly moved away.
“When do you want to go in?” Tony asked.
“Give him a couple of minutes to get comfortable. He may be packing, so we need to make sure he’s completely vulnerable first.” Tony nodded, and I went back to sipping my drink and checking my watch. I wanted to give him five minutes. Not enough time for him to be finished, but just enough time for him to get undressed and start fucking.
As the minutes ticked by, I became more and more anxious to get this over and done with. I needed Luigi off the drugs and in my uncle’s basement ASAP. There was no telling whether he had snorted more coke off that woman’s fake tits or not.
With that last thought, I shot out of my seat. “It’s time,” I grumbled, as I walked towards the VIP door. As I opened up, I saw the girl laid out naked on the table. Luigi had his trousers around his ankles as he gripped her hips and fucked her. She noticed us, but that didn’t deter her. In fact, she was licking her lips, moaning and playing with her nipples as she watched us. Luigi, on the other hand, was too busy grunting and pounding her pussy to notice that we were standing right behind him.
“Oh, Luigi, baby. Yeah… Just like that. Fuck me harder… Harder… Harder!” she screamed.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I shouted.
“Fuck off. I’m not done yet. Tell Marco he can have his fucking money tomorrow.”
I smiled. That explained why Marco was so compliant with us about turning the other way. That and the five thousand Euros we handed him on the way in.
Luigi didn’t stop, even though he knew he had company. In fact, he started going faster and grabbing her tits. I started to wonder whether I would be so cruel as to rob him of the last climax he would ever have in his life. I knew it was coming soon, so I had to act quickly.
Thinking I was that cruel, I nodded to Tony, and straight away, he walked up behind Luigi, grabbed the back of his hair and yanked him off the moaning woman. “What the fuck?” he growled, but then Tony turned him towards me. His face dropped, and pretty soon, so did his dick.
“Whose going to finish me off?” the woman complained. “I still have ten minutes.”
Without a word, I pulled out a hundred and handed it to her. “Go find yourself a nice, quiet room and finish yourself off.” I gave her a look that told her to do as she was told. She knew the drill. She accepted the cash, pulled on her dress, and strolled out of the room.
I turned my attention back to Luigi. His eyes were wide and his breathing was heavy. His dick was still hanging out, which needed to be out of my face. “Put that fucking thing away,” I ordered.
Luigi did as he was told and frantically pulled his trousers up. Alessandro and Giovanni had a gun aimed at his head, so he knew not to try anything funny.
Once he had the belt done up, I smiled. “That’s better. Maybe now we can have a decent conversation.”
“I don’t know where he is,” he blurted.
I smiled. “So, you know why I’m here. That’s good. At least I don’t have to waste my breath explaining that.”
Luigi’s eyes darted frantically around the room. “I can’t tell you anything I don’t know.”
I started pacing back and forth. “Ah, but you see, I think you do know. He is your brother, after all. That and the fact you know exactly why I’m here. How would you know why I’m here if you don’t know where he is?” He started panicking. I could already see the sweat dripping down his face.
I pointed at him. “You see, your brother dared to touch someone who is very important to me… Someone I love so much that I’m marrying her in the morning. She—like me—is very upset about the fact that your brother’s filthy fucking hands dared to even touch a single hair on her head. Am I making myself clear?” He violently nodded his head. “Now, all I need from you is the whereabouts of Antonio, and I will be on my way.”
His breathing became erratic as the tears welled in his eyes. I could tell he was trying to weigh up what to do. “You will go … if I tell you?”
“Of course,” I lied. “You can get back to…” I waved my hands towards the door. “What it was you were doing before,” I smiled knowingly. I may have been smiling at him, but I was actually disappointed. He looked like he was on the verge of selling out his own brother, and the only form of torture so far was when Tony pulled his hair.
Such child’s play.
“I don’t know where he is. I only saw him last week.”
I tutted and waved my finger in front of my face. “Oh, come now, Luigi…”
“It’s true. I swear. He came to me last week. In fact, he was here at the bar. He told me that he had to hide for a while, but he didn’t tell me where.”
I saw the panic in his face, and it made me suspicious. “Why do I think you’re lying to me?” I motioned to Tony who quickly grabbed Luigi by the neck and started squeezing. The wheezing soon started and his face was turning blue.
“I swear I’m telling the truth,” he garbled. “But…” he started choking again, so I motioned for Tony to release him.
“But what?”
Luigi started breathing heavily, so I waited until he calmed. “Antonio can be kind of predictable. I know that when things have gotten too heavy for him in the past, he has wanted to get as far away as possible. As you know, our father lives in Virginia. Sometimes, he likes to hide out there for a while. That’s where I suspect he is right now.”
I smiled. “Very good.”
I gave a nod to Alessandro, who punched Luigi in the face before he could even react. He was out like a light, but then again, Alessandro had a knack for knocking people out with one hit. That was the sole reason I chose him.
I turned to Nicoli. “Can you get in touch with your men and have them look into this?”
Nicoli smiled. “You don’t even need to ask.”
“What do we do with him, boss?” Alessandro pointed to Luigi who was out cold on the floor.
“He needs to disappear. I can’t risk him telling Antonio we’re onto him.” Alessandro nodded, and with Tony’s help, they picked him up and dragged him out the door.
Giovanni came up and patted me on the shoulder. “It’s after three. Don’t you think you should be getting some shut-eye? You’ve got an important day tomorrow.”
I nodded my agreement and couldn’t help the smile that crept up on my face. I wanted Antonio dead, but for now, he could wait. I would get to him as soon as I had made Clara my wife.
“Look at that pussy-whipped face.”
Pietro and Nicoli laughed, and I looked at Giovanni in disgust. “Fuck off. No one pussy-whips me. I’m the one who does the whipping.” I smirked at Giovanni, and he shook his head.
“I don’t know how Clara puts up with you,” Giovanni mumbled as he walked towards the door.
I walked towards the door with purpose. “She really ha
s no other choice.”
The next morning, I woke up with the biggest fucking hard-on of the century and no Clara to help soothe it for me. What I wouldn’t have given to have been able to sink my cock and my teeth into her right then. I felt like a starved man. With that thought in my head, I looked at my watch and saw that it was just after ten. The wedding wasn’t until three, so I had plenty of time. I just needed to get dressed quickly, nip over to my mama’s house without anyone seeing me, and snuggle in next to my woman. She would be pissed at first, but as soon as I put my hands on her, I knew I would be able to break her. I needed to claim her. I always needed to claim her.
I quickly showered and dressed—careful not to let anyone see me as I walked out my uncle’s door. I had no doubts that Luigi was dead, and Tony and Alessandro were off taking a well-earned rest.
Luca - You Will Be Mine (Sicilian Mafia #2) Page 15
