I work my jaw as the wheels turn. A light bulb goes off. I nod as my new plan sets in.
The dining room doors fly open and my father walks in. He has a huge grin on his face. He comes to my chair, cups my head and kisses the top of it before doing the same to Jace.
“I know his plan. Riccardo has gotten comfortable and thinks he’s invincible. He doesn’t even care who he speaks in front of.”
“This could be a trap,” Jace says.
“He’s not that smart.” I snort.
“This is true. Where is Dario?” Nonno says.
“He’s walking the dog with Dante.”
Nonno nods. “Go on, what do you have?”
“He’s raising Frances’s boys to think they have a right to the family. He has also pulled Dario in because he believes you’re going to make him Don since Gio is a finook. He thinks you’re hiding Gio here, so no one finds out.”
“I’ve got his finook,” I grumble and grab my shit.
“Hold on. I’m not done. He’s boasting that once Dario is promoted to Don, he’s going to kill you all and take over things. While placing Frances’s sons in your positions,” Dad says tightly.
“Hold on. You’ve mentioned Frances’s sons twice. Why am I just learning about them? How many are there?”
“He has three. They were under Ava’s protection. Your mother made a deal with Frances when the twins were born. No harm would come to them as long as you boys stayed safe.”
“So these sons are important to Frances and Riccardo?”
“They are.”
“I want to know who they are. Do they know me?”
“No, I don’t believe they do. I told you, Riccardo doesn’t count you as a threat. Just Dario and Dante and he has plans for Dante too.”
I lift a brow. “Oh really?”
“Yes, he’s trying to find the pieces for that plan. The goal is to make it so there’s no one to carry the Di Lorenzo bloodline into the next generation. At least no one who can be made.”
I roar with laughter. I can’t stop laughing. Dad and Nonno look at me like I’ve lost it.
“This is his plan? This is what he’s been up to? Fuck outa here.”
Dad smiles. “I have one more thing you want to hear. He’s lost favor with Don Barbieri. He still won’t sanction a hit, but Riccardo’s been banned from Italy. I’m still getting the details on why.”
“Because he’s a piece of shit,” I hiss.
“Be slow to anger and quick to think,” Nonno says.
“This isn’t me angry. This is me ready. I know what I have to do. It’s time.”
CHAPTER 14
Face the Facts
Gio
“I knew it. I knew Frances would betray me. Between that bitter bitch and his father, it was only a matter of time, but you don’t worry about them. I have plans for their family,” Ma seethes as she paces the living area in the farmhouse.
I came here to tell her all Dad found out. He is back at Nonno’s with the twins. Dario is cooking for everyone. I’ll slip back in by dinnertime.
“We should head back to the States.”
“No, Barbieri may have banned him from Italy, but that’s not enough. He’s still untouchable. This could start a massive war. Something you’ve never seen. We have to wait.”
I huff. “For how long? Nonno has been talking about me needing to wait for the twins to help me.”
“Nonno is right, you will need your brothers.”
“They’re fourteen. Need them for what?”
“This is above revenge. You are to be Don. Do you know the target that will be placed on your back? Not just from our enemies. Do you know what the RICO act is?”
“No.”
“It’s the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Let me explain. It’s a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.
“A single charge comes with twenty years. Riccardo did me a favor. I was facing ten counts before he made his move. Those friends of ours were smoothing things over. A nice working mom like me, I couldn’t have done half of what they wanted to charge me with.” She gives a cynical snort and goes back to her pacing.
“What do you have to combat this reality of our lives?” she continues.
“I kill Riccardo and then take over the family business.”
“This is bigger than Riccardo,” she says as she slaps the back of her hand in her other palm. “You have to know the board and be able to see everyone on it. You need to know all the moves and consequences behind them.
“There are reasons for everything we’re teaching you, but you can’t see that because you’re leading with your heart. You can’t afford to do that, Gio. If you do, you will lose everything.”
“Then what am I supposed to do? I’m already losing her,” I bellow.