Page 8 of The Runaway Bride

“Do you know which men they are?”I ask.

“The Capos we saw ourselves wereMario Bianchi, Enrico Marchese and Silvio DiMarco.” Sofia swallows hard, and Iknow this is like signing her own death warrant, but I’ll make sure she is safefor her loyalty to me alone.

“Thank you, Sofia. I will makesure you are kept safe, so don’t think I’ll toss you aside and forget yourloyalty to me and theFamiglia. Now, can you tell me who else?” I cansee she’s still shaking, but she’s squared her shoulders and being as strong asshe can be.

“The men who are loyal to theCapos that we saw with our own eyes were, Pietro Laurenti, Domenico Fiorini,Cesare Scarlatti, Antonio Neri, and Renato Napoli. But we didn’t know who theothers were so I can’t name them, Mr. Vincholetti.”

“Thank you again, Sofia. Bruno,make arrangements for Sofia and her family to be placed in one of my safehouses. Put men on who you can personally guarantee will keep them all safe.Make sure Mateo knows he can take out anyone that is a threat to Sofia or hisfamily members while in my house.”

Bruno, who had turned from thewindow when Sofia had spoken, gives me a nod and holds his hand out to leadSofia out of my office. But before they leave, I speak once more, “Sofia! Doyou know why Elli ran?”

“Her father slapped her afterhe’d always promised he would not place her in an arranged marriage. He hasnever been kind to Elli, always putting her down, trying to keep hersubservient. However, Elli isn’t like that. She is spirited and thanks to Alex,she knows how to look after herself. She contacted me only once after she ranto say she was safe; she has a job and has made a friend. But she knows if herfather catches her she’ll disappear permanently, or end up like VarinaGambolini.” Sofia has tears in her eyes as she finishes speaking, and I giveher a nod, showing I understand.

“Elli is my bride. When I catchher that is,” I give Sofia a grin followed by a chuckle. “She’ll not come toharm while I am in charge. She’s going to make a grand wife and she’ll lead thewomen of the Vincholetti Mafia. She’ll do it with pride and she’ll do itsuperbly. I’m positive about that.”

Sofia gives a smile that isgenuine, and I can see she’s imagining Elli in her role as the Boss’s wife.“She will, but please give her a title. One that shows who she is and what shemeans to you and theFamiglia.”

“Oh, I will do that, Sofia. Ijust have to catch her first. But I’ll let her have some time while I clean upthe mess. You stay safe, Sofia, and tell your father I will speak to him soon.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vincholetti.”

Twenty minutes later, Bruno walksback in with Tiny by his side. We spend over thirty minutes discussing who iswithin the web to take me down, and arrange their collection within the nextfew days.

Tiny is sticking to me like I’lldisappear any moment. But I have an ankle, shoulder and waistband holster,complete with my favorite weapons. I also have a knife strapped to theunderside of my forearm. Never let it be said I’m not always ready for whateveris going to happen.

A knock on the door and it opensallowing Andre to step inside. “Sorry for disturbing you, but I thought I’dupdate you on what Elli is doing.”

“Let’s take a break, but comeback to this. Bruno, collect Aeron, Luigi and Philip. I want them here so wecan fill them in before the meeting tomorrow. Now, Andre, fill me in on what mysweet bride is doing.” I take the seat once again behind my desk and watch asAndre smirks.

“Well, she has a job, as youknow, at the restaurant. It’s going well so far. She’s working hard, keepingherself under the radar. Her friend is Tiana, Tia for short. She’s afirecracker, Boss. She’d make a good Capo’s wife because she’s not scared of anything.She has connections to the local street gang, and they, although not friends,have a kind of respect for each other. The leader of the gang is calledSpinner, and he’s damn sharp at getting things done. But he’s been watchingover Tia and Elli, making sure nobody bothers them. I’ll make sure he’srewarded for that at a later date. Oh, I’ve been told he’s gotten knives andguns for them too, so Elli will be armed and dangerous.” Andre smirks againbecause he knows how dangerous Elli can be from the comments Alex has made.

“I want you to watch them, makesure they are safe. Have teams alternate so they are not obvious. I can’t bringher in until we have this mess cleaned from my capos and underboss. I hope Elliwon’t hold it against me when I take out her father. Oh, I want information onher mother, too.” I add about her mother as an afterthought, but if she has satand watched Elli go through hell and done nothing she’ll take her place besideher husband.

“Okay, will do, Boss. Anythingelse?” Andre, I can see, is already thinking of his next job.

“No, but I want you here while Iexplain what’s happening and what’s going to happen.” As I finish that sentencethe door opens and my right-hand men walk in. Each takes a seat at the longtable and waits for me to fill them in. I give them all the information on myunderboss wanting to take over the family, the capos that are involved andtheir men who are standing firmly behind them.

It's a long meeting, and by thetime we’ve finished we are ready to do whatever is needed to clean house.Starting with Lorenzo Palmeri and his men.

Chapter 6

Elli

Monday morning and I am at worklater today. I start at 4:00 pm, so I have time to do my first lesson with Tia,and I’m sure she’s not going to like it very much. I smile to myself as Iremember Alex giving me my first lesson, and the way I ached everywhereimaginable the next day.

Two hours later, Tia is red inthe face, sweating like it’s going out of fashion at any moment, and cursing upa storm. Some of her curses I’ve never heard before, but I have a feeling she’smaking them up.

“How many more times are yougoing to make me fall down?” Tia whines while giving me a look that says,pleasedon’t throw me down again.

“Tia, falling without hurtingyourself is important, and now you are able to fall, roll and jump back to yourfeet. That’s only taken ninety minutes. I mean, that is amazing.” Now, I’mdoing my best to bolster her because I can see she really has had enough, but Ineed her to be the best she can be if she comes with me if I have to run.She’ll not hold her own against a made man if she can’t fight, and fight well.

“I’ll do some each day. It willhave to be mornings as we have today, because my boss is a pain in the ass andwill hold it against me if I’m late.”

Tia exits my apartment whilemuttering to herself, which I have to admit is amusing. For all her whining,groaning, and full-on complaints, she worked hard and put all her efforts intolearning what I taught her. She’s not going to like that I’m going to find agym and have her join with me. That thought has me smiling like a fool, and I’mpleased nobody can see me.

I spend the next hour takingmyself through a series of exercises Alex taught me, and then sit calmlymeditating. This calming of the mind has helped me many times when my fatherhas berated me for no other reason than I lived in his house, breathed freshair, and ate his food. Why he had children I’ll never know, because he treatedus both like shit most of our lives.

After making a cold drink, I sitwhile searching on Google for a gym nearby. Not knowing the layout of thestreets around me as yet could be a problem if I have to get out of here fast.That’s something I’ll have to remedy and fairly quickly. I see a gym which isonly three streets away, according to the small map that is on the website.That will be worth checking out as it’s close and has many reviews from clientswho are more than satisfied.

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