Page 219 of Vita Mia

Giovanni nodded. “Tacetta, Anastasio, Cardinelli, much has happened to them as well.”

Don Ballistrieri frowned.

“Your revenge is understandable. But as you see, I’m not Tacetta, Anastasio, Cardinelli. I’m the newCapu di tutti capi.” Ballistrieri proclaimed. “Thanks to the Don of Palermo and thanks to you.”

“What have you done with your renewed power?” Giovanni asked.

“The men of the Camorra are tired of being treated less than equal. You invite us to your table and feed us scraps. Santoro may be a dirt farmer and hot-tempered old fool but he was right about you. Don’t believe me? Look around. These men all belong to clans you destroyed. These men all want new leadership, one family. With my power, I’ve stopped the street wars. I’ve shown them a different way. We have learned from our mistakes, and we are stronger.”

Dominic stood silently and stared at Giovanni.

“My mistakes are many,” Giovanni confessed. “I will admit I fucked up. But my lesson is different from yours. Tell me all about this arrangement you made with the Russians and Santoro and I might spare your family after I’m done with you.”

Ballistrieri’s eyes stretched. He looked back at Dominic and then to Giovanni. He let go a deep belly laugh that rose in pitch with mounting hysteria. He shook his head laughing and smiling. He pointed at Giovanni. “The Poggioreale must have rotted your brain. I was here to offer you a bit of mercy out of respect for Dominic. But fuck that. I’ll be a hero for being the one to finally put an end to you.”

Every man in the room raised their gun and pointed it at Giovanni. Ballistrieri’s smile slowly faded. He took a step forward. “Maybe I will take your wife, the way Piero did. Make her myputtana neraand your kids my pets.”

Giovanni glanced to Dominic for a response. Dominic only shrugged. He then looked at Nico who had said more than once that he was ready to die. Nico gave him a nod. “Before you do that Ballistrieri I’d like to be heard,” Giovanni said.

The Don arched a brow in amusement.

“Say please,” he taunted.

“Per favore,” Giovanni said.

“Granted. What are the final words of a dying man? We all would like to hear.”

“I’ve known your cousin for many years. Piero was a dear friend. But like you he never understood boundaries. He did, however, understand me. The only time he was brave was when I was in a coma. And even then, his bravery had limits. Your bravery has limits. That’s why I invited you to my home to join the clans, to take what was left of him and start again. Because I knew that out of all the bosses you were the most easily fooled, quickly tempted, easily persuaded, and unable to see if you were betrayed.”

“Betrayed? By who? You!”

“You think putting together all of these men from other clans make you strong? It made you weak.”

The men turned then guns on Ballistrieri. Dominic pulled his out from the back belt loop of his pants.

“You don’t play at beingcapu di tutti capi. You don’t play at being Don. Piero said you play at everything, including bravery. These men could never follow a playful leader...”

Ballistrieri glanced to his clan and then to Giovanni. “Santoro is coming for you. I know what he has planned, I can help—“ he stopped speaking when Dominic put the gun to the back of his head. His eyes stretched with fear. One of his men walked into the solarium with a machete. He approached Giovanni and handed it over to him.

“These men are tired. They are tired of the playing at being Camorra. I’m home now. I am going to teach them and you why I am always their Don. And this is no game.”

“Gio! Wait! Wait! Listen to me. Tarzan is coming for your wife and kids. He didn’t tell me about Lorenzo because he has been plotting against us all. Santoro is considering helping him. They both have lost sons. They believe you should too. I know how they conspire. You need me.”

Giovanni turned the handle of the machete in his hand. The sun was slowly beginning to rise. He smiled at Ballistrieri. “I was wrong. Let’s play one more game.” He swung the machete and it landed hard in the Don’s chest. The men all watched as Ballistrieri let go a piercing scream and he died in the room.

---