Page 5 of Capone
“It was nice doing business with you, Mr. Carter.” Cara stood as she shook hands with our sixth client of the day. We all followed suit as he and his client, Mercedes, made their way out. Mr. Carter had just hired two of our guards for six months while Mercedes went on her very first tour. She was an up-and-coming singer who always drew large crowds. With her going on tour, it was bound to get worse. But we could handle it. I already knew which of my guys I would be sending.
We had sealed the deal with every client so far today. Every last one of them had signed contracts for security for at least three months. Business was booming. The girls were geniuses. To watch them up close and personal was surreal.
I never thought I would build the life I had for myself. Growing up, my life had been planned from the time I took my first breath. There were no questions likewhat do you want to be when you grow up?
From the time I was eight years old, my father had started to groom me to take my rightful spot as my brother, Enzo’s, underboss, as he took his position asthe Don.That’s right, my father was the head of the Ferrari Mafia. My father ruled NewYork. When I was younger, I couldn’t remember a time when I could just be a kid.
There were no playdates, and I was only allowed to have a few friends. I wasn’t able to live a normal childhood. My life was always at risk. And for that, my father always made sure to keep a detail on me, my brothers, and my mother.
The older I got, the more I began to resent my father. I didn’t want any part of that life. Every time I tried to voice that, my father would just sayyou don’t have a choice. It's you and your brother's birthright to step up once I step down.
For years I went through all kinds of tests to see if I was capable of being a feared and respected boss. It wasn’t until I was fifteen years old that I started planning my escape.
Our family was leaving a restaurant when we were ambushed. My father caught a bullet to the chest, and Enzo… he was shot in the head. I’d never forget my brother’s lifeless eyes as he lay on the concrete bleeding out.
He was only seventeen!
Unlike me, Enzo wasn’t only ready to take over, but he was excited. He always respected the fact that I wanted no part in that life, though. It wasn’t meant for everyone, and I was one of those people. I didn’t want a life of constantly having to look over my shoulder.
The security had managed to get me, my mother, and my younger brother, Matteo, into the SUV.
While we drove away, I watched as the remaining guards scooped my father off the ground before loading him into a truck and driving away. He was rushed to a hospital while the coroner took Enzo’s body to the morgue.
My mother’s screams would forever be engraved in my brain. She had to watch her eldest son and husband be shot down like dogs. My little brother, who was only ten at the time, was terrified. He held onto my hand for the remainder of that day.As we sat in a closed-off waiting room at the hospital with our distraught mother, I made up my mind that I had to get out.
There was no way I would live like this. In my opinion, bringing children into the world, living this kind of lifestyle, was selfish. My brothers and I didn’t have anything to do with whatever dealings my father had going on, yet people were still attempting to take our lives.
Once the doctor came in and told us my father would live, I knew what he was going to say the moment he got me alone. Now that Enzo was gone, I would be expected to take his place and become the Don. I avoided my father as much as possible. With my father’s recovery, plus planning Enzo’s funeral, it made it easier for me to hide out in my room.
I made it about three weeks. My mother came into my room and told me my father wanted to speak with me. I’ll never forget that conversation.
“You wanted to see me, Dad?” I asked as I walked over to his bed.
He was still recovering. He sat up in bed, propping himself against the headboard.
“I know losing Enzo was hard. You always looked up to him. But now that he is gone, you are no longer the underboss, Luca. You will be the Don.”
Frustrated tears sprang into my eyes. How many times did I have to tell him I didn’t want this!
He shouldn’t even want this. He just buried his son. Enzo hadn’t even been gone an entire month, and here he was jumping right back into business as usual. Sometimes I question whether my father even truly loves us. Sure, he says it from time to time, but his actions say otherwise.
“I don’t want this, Dad,” I told him for the hundredth time.
“You don’t have a choice! It is your birthright! I built this legacy, and it is you and your brothers’ responsibility to take over.”
I stood there, chest heaving and balled fists. I was livid. He wasn’t listening. He just did what he always did. He started talking about expectations and how I would now begin spending more time with him so I could learn how a true boss moved.
Little did he know, I would never sit at the head of his table.
For years, I looked into enlisting in the military. I knew my father would be furious, but I didn’t care. A few times, I wondered if he would kill me. What I was going to do was considered treason in a way. The only thing that could save me was my mother. My father knew she loved us more than herself, and after losing Enzo, I didn’t think my father had it in him to put her through that twice.
By the time my eighteenth birthday came around, I had my plan mapped out to perfection. I left a note for my parents explaining where I was going and why. I didn’t give out too many details because I knew my father would get his men to come after me and drag me back.
With the money I had managed to save over the years, I bought a bus ticket and made my way to California. Once I settled into my motel, I began the process to become a Marine.
After I had officially passed every test and exam, I was deployed to Germany. It was hard not having any family to communicate with. I felt alone now more than ever, but I didn’t resent my decision. Although I felt lonely, I was happy.
Before I knew it, two years had coasted by, and I had a life for myself. One day, I looked at the date and realized it was my mother’s birthday. Taking a chance, I called her phone.
