And I’ve still got plans for more destruction.
My intricate knowledge of Lorenzo’s territory means I know exactly which of his businesses to torch. We work efficiently and with impunity, moving on before we’re spotted either by a random pedestrian or patrol officer.
His gambling dens, the businesses he’s been extorting for decades, the laundromat and nail parlors he’s been using as a front for money laundering… All gone within a matter of hours. By the time we’re finished, the smell of gasoline and burning wood has seared itself inside my nostrils, the heavy feel of dirt and grime weighing on my skin. Sirens blare in the distance, a cacophony of sound.
Andfuckdoes this feel good.
Who knew destruction could be so cathartic?
Every time I set a building ablaze, I think about my brother. I think about Elio. I think about all the time and dedication I gave Lorenzo only to be tossed aside because I was too competent. In hindsight, it’s incredibly telling of Lorenzo’s lack of confidence. He’d rather have me killed than improve his own capabilities.
Let’s see who he comes crying to once he realizes his empire has crumbled overnight.
“It’s done,” Johnny informs me when he gets off the phone with the other team. “The fire department’s working overtime, but it’s done. Neither Renato nor Lorenzo has anything left.”
Milo clicks his tongue. “The higher-ups are going to bepissed.”
I toss the remnants of my matchbook onto the ground. It bears the symbol of The Lilac Fountain Bar in SoHo, a dead giveaway for Lorenzo to stew over.
The chess pieces are finally moving where I want them to, and I’m about to capture the king.
* * *
The call goes out at five in the morning. A summons. In-person, too, which means shit’s as serious as it gets.
Hundreds of us are gathered together in a spacious conference room. Our capos sit at the front, the sottocapo at the helm.
Lorenzo and Renato are not in attendance.
Our sottocapo goes by no other name than Gabriele. He takes a long drag from his cigar, fat gold rings adorning his sausage-like fingers. His hair is thinning and grey, the few remaining strands caked in grease. He’s in his late sixties, though nobody knows for sure his real age. The man is a mystery, preferring to rule from the shadows. Public appearances are rare, which is a sign in and of itself that things are about to get ugly.
“Such a sad day,” he drawls, voice surprisingly high for a man of his rotund stature. “I’m sure you’ve all heard by now about the pitiful conflict amid our ranks.”
Nobody responds. Nobody dares.
“I suppose every family has their problem child,” he goes on. “I didn’t expect that we’d havetwo.”
Gabriele snaps his fingers. Two hooded figures are dragged out by the scruff of their collars. Even with his face obscured, I know one of them is Lorenzo. Blood stains his shirt, he has scrapes on his arms and sweat dripping from his neck.
I almost feel bad for the man until I remember the bastard’s been trying to kill me for no other reason than jealousy and out of fear of being replaced. My sympathy went out the window the moment I read his message logs. This plot of his has been in the making for months, but it ends here.
The men are forced to their knees in front of our entire faction, their hoods abruptly removed. Lorenzo’s sporting a nasty black eye and broken nose. If I squint, I’m fairly sure I can see two of his front teeth have been knocked out.
“We are a family,” Gabriele stresses. “We look out for one another. Nothing is more important than our sacred bond. The men you see here before you have forgotten that and have chosen to wage war on each other for their own personal gain.”
“Signore,please,” Lorenzo begs. He sounds pathetic. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Do you think I’m a fool?” our sottocapo snaps. “We found evidence at the scenes of the crime. Your business card was found at The Lilac Fountain, and the Lilac Fountains’ matchbooks were found outside your loan office.”
“Signore, why would I torch Renato’s business and leave evidence behind to implicate myself? That makes no sense!”
“Because you have an ego, Lorenzo. Both of you do. You wanted the other to know who was responsible, but you failed to realize that I’ve had enough of your antics. You forced me to get involved.”
“That’s not—”
“It’s no secret the two of you have had it out for each other for years. I’ve been letting your petty squabbles slide, but now you’ve gone too far. Your reckless behavior has not only brought an immense amount of police attention but has cost the Family millions. This cannot go unpunished. Now, tell me which of your lackeys helped you pull this stunt off.”
Lorenzo squirms. “Nobody helped me because I didn’t do anything.”