“Where are they?” I place the knife back into the holder. Samuel came out to me on his thirteenth birthday, crying in my arms for over an hour. Faro doesn’t believe in homosexuality, and has killed men for it. He tells me the plan and shows me his phone. The messages are there while I pull up the tracker on his phone to see he’s at the warehouse. “Boys, we’re going out to cause some mayhem.” I smile. “Samuel, if you show up with me, you’re showing your dad that you’re on my side and not his. You know that I’ll train you and protect you. I need to know the truth.” His eyes are now on me, and something sparkles in them.
“I’ve had your back since you stole my cupcake in preschool. I told you on the my thirteenth birthday that I will follow you through the gates of hell.” I feel the right side of my lips twitch into a smile.
“Let’s go.”
“Mirabella, what’s going on?” Fuck! I forgot about Benvolio being here. “You’re leaving?”
“Business came up, so I need to go. I’ll be back in a few hours.” I walk to him and plant a kiss on his mouth. “Stay here.”
“I’m coming with you. I know how to use a gun. I can help. Train me to help you.” His words send shivers down my spine. Could I have it all with him?
“Boss, the SUV is ready.” Will stands in the doorway. I nod, looking over my shoulder. “I can make sure he’s protected the whole time.”
“He’ll need training as well.” He nods. I smile back at Benvolio and grab his hand. “Let’s go.” We all get into my armor-plated SUV. As we get close to the warehouse, I pull out my tablet and manipulate the cameras so they don’t see me coming. I turn to stare at Samuel. “Samuel, you know your dad is going to be killed for this betrayal.”
“I know. He deserves it. You don’t go against the boss. His ego is taking over his thoughts. He knows how mafia bloodlines work.” I nod. Faro has been like an uncle to me. He was my father’s best friend. I swallow hard with worry that Samuel doesn’t understand what’s going to happen today. Will he betray me to protect his dad? I bite my bottom lip, trying to get my emotions in check. The gun on my hip is making my hand twitch, because I might have to some of my men down today. It’s not even been twenty- four hours since the announcement came from my lips, and now this? I sigh.
“Are you okay?” Benvolio’s breath is on my ear. I nod, not sure how to answer the question with words. We pull up to the door. There’s no one guarding it.
“They’re making their rounds. I’m watching the newsfeed. Let’s go, boys.” We all get out of the SUV. Opening the door, I walk toward the voices. As they get louder I hear Faro telling the men how my inexperience will be my downfall. I pull open the door, letting it slam against the wall. Pulling out my gun, I fire a shot off into the ceiling. All eyes are on me. “Grab Faro.” Will and Roger head to the front.
“What is this?” Faro’s face goes red.
“This is me taking control.” I stand in front of him while Will and Roger have his hands behind his back. “I told you last night this is my job, not yours, and here you are telling the soldiers you’re in charge. Silly boy.” I slap him across the face. “Tie him up.” Samuel grabs the ropes and helps Roger and Will.
“S-Samuel?” The way he stutters his son’s name. “How could you betray me, your father?”
“How could you betray la famiglia? You know that Mirabella is the boss. You’re running a coup.” Samuel stares at his father. I pull out my knife, swiping down Faro’s cheek. He hisses as blood pools out of the slice.
“Faro, I told you last night. The women are in charge. It’s a new era and this is the bullshit I wake up to. Thanks for the computers, by the way. You really should have hired a tech guru to hide your illegal activities.” His eyes flicker to me, pure hatred in them.
“Your father never knew what I was doing behind the scenes, but he signed off on everything.” He shrugs. The three-piece suit that he’s wearing makes him think he’s truly the boss. My mind races back to times where he used to wear jeans and t-shirts until a few years ago. My dad never left the house in anything less than his three piece suit.
“I’m not my dad.” I sneer at him. “I follow through on my promises, and I know everything.”
“Not everything. There are a few secrets locked in my head. I know I’ll be dead, rotting in hell, but knowing the anguish that is coming to you will make dying sweet.”
“Oh, you’re not dying yet. I have plans for you,” I whisper menacingly. I look to Benvolio and Samuel and nod. They remove his clothes while Will and Roger hook him to the torture device in this room. They lock his wrists and ankles so he’s on full display. I turn to speak to the men who showed up here. I shake my head in disappointment. “It saddens me that you made this choice. You chose him over me, and for what? Some empty lies? Promises of riches?” I chuckle wryly. “Changes are coming, and they’re scary. Most of you have known me since I was born, so you don’t see me as your boss.” A man steps forward to speak.
“Faro earned our respect, and you expect us to just give it to you?” I see red.
“Did he earn your respect or your fear?” I step down to face him. He towers over me and he smirks. I knee him in his balls so now I tower over him. “Don’t you speak to me like that again. I’m in charge, and if you don’t like it you can dig your own goddamn fucking grave!” I yell so everyone hears me. “You’re the best of the best, and have been here the longest. Did you not look around the room? Where are the rest of the men? Where are your sons? Not here. Why is that? Because Faro knows you’re the ones who can be easily manipulated due to your loyalty to my father and him.” The men look around the room. Fifty men have questions in their eyes. “My father is dead and I’m in charge. Women are supposed to be quiet and listen to orders from their men, but I’ve been trained by my father and some of you. You know my heart bleeds for this famiglia. I want your loyalty so that I won’t do anything to hurt you. I want your respect, and I will earn it, but not as that teenager who had braces and freaked at the sight of blood.” The men chuckle like they’re remembering how I threw up when I saw my dad torture a man.
“Faro has been making deals with the Russians, who have killed many of our men. I have the proof on the computer and here in my bag. I have his computers at my house. Not only did he betray my father, but all of you as well. You’ve lost children because of his decisions, and you were going to follow him blindly because you can’t see me as the woman my father raised to take over.” I sigh, stepping back up to Faro. His body is bloody and bruised from Will and Samuel cutting and throwing punches. While I spoke with the men they assaulted Faro.
“My dad died during an attack with the Russians. My mom killed herself shortly after,” Will says to me. I nod and he slices the knife down Faro’s sternum. He yells out his frustration and grief.
“There’s a new era coming to us and we will be moving forward!” I exclaim, knowing the men still don’t fully trust me but will follow me. “This is what will happen if you betray me. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” With those words I walk to Faro and roughly grab his cock. “Who knew you liked being beaten to get off.” I slice his cock off like I’m slicing a piece of bread. Tossing it onto the floor, I listen to his screams as I watch blood leaking out of him. “You are nothing! Samuel, your dad is about to die; anything you want to tell him?” I ask coyly. He nods.
“Dad, I’m engaged. I’m getting married in six months and he’s amazing.” Faro’s eyes widen. “Last night, in fact, our engagement was made official when he fucked my tight asshole all fucking night. Then I sucked him off this morning right after you called.” Samuel then slits his dad’s neck. He gurgles as his body flops around. “That felt great.” The blood on Will’s face makes me smile. I kiss his cheek.
“Now, we have business to get to.” I show the men the paperwork and we all sit around, talking about Faro’s big speech.
ELEVEN
MIRABELLA
We finally get backto the house, the men feeling better about me. I know I need to get them on my side, and I should kill them for disrespecting me, but seeing the abuse of Faro in front of their eyes might be the way to go. Benvolio is still by my side. There is a new set of guards roaming the grounds, so Will, Reggie, and Roger can sleep. Samuel left to be with his mom after news of Faro’s death. The absence of the weight of stress from his secret makes his steps lighter as he drove home.