Page 15 of Reign Of Triumph
Dad rubs his chin. “I’m not sure she’ll buy it.”
“I’m not waiting a year. Two months at most. Will you help me?”
Dad waits for me to pull into the parking space and shut off the car. He places a hand on my shoulder. “If that’s what you want, Eros, I’ll talk to your mother.” He scans the warehouse and sees that Marco is waiting for us, with Nero standing with him. “Time to make you an underboss officially,” he says with a chuckle.
The room holds over thirty men, and most look extremely concerned that our capo is calling them together. I don’t see Giusto anywhere, and Marco is maintaining his stoic expression, but underneath, I know he’s seething. Nero is standing next to his father, motioning for the men to gather around. Luciano is at the door, keeping watch, with several of his own men.
This particular warehouse has been attacked several times in the last couple of months, and when we have our capo with us, we don’t take any chances. Is it a coincidence that Giusto is never around when his men are being assaulted? I don’t think so, but it’s one more thing to look into.
Just as Marco begins to speak, Giusto walks in with his two bodyguards by his side. His dark hair is slicked back, he’s impeccably dressed in his expensive suit, and his hands wear more gold than Liberace. He has a cool smile plastered on his face, a facade, of course, but he looks directly into my eyes as he comes closer.
The two men on either side of him seem nervous. These are young soldiers. I’ve never seen them before, but they must have been vetted at some point. Nevertheless, I want to know everything there is to know about these men and make a note to find out.
Giusto comes straight to me and clasps my shoulder. “My soon-to-be brother-in-law. This is good news. My Serafina will have someone to look after her,” he says with a loud laugh. I want to wrap my hands around his thick neck as he did his sister and make him gasp for air and feel the same pain. What fucking nerve he has to call her my Serafina. Serafina belongs to me.
The room erupts with applause and whistles. Marco allows this for a moment, then raises his hand. As soon as he does, the room goes quiet.
“There is much to celebrate. However, that is for later. Business comes first. Giusto is going to be working on a special project for a while and, as such, will be stepping back from his responsibilities as your boss. Your new underboss is Eros Palloma. I expect you to give him the same respect and dedication as you show me.” Marco commands. “I feel a change is needed. There have been too many incidents in this territory, and a fresh perspective is required. Do I make myself clear?”
A skinny young man, who is in no shape whatsoever to be a soldier, raises his hand like a kid in high school. Who the hell decided this boy was ready to serve and protect La Famiglia? Marco narrows his eyes when he sees the young man, then immediately turns to Giusto, probably thinking the same thoughts as my own. However, being Marco, he nods his head and gives the young man permission to speak.
“I’m doing my best, sir. I promise to do better, I swear,” he says.
“Your name?” Marco demands.
“Cassio Piemonte, sir.” Cassio’s voice stutters.
“Attilio’s son?” Marco asks.
“Yes, sir.”
Marco’s jaw clenches. “Your father was a fine man and an excellent soldier. I’m sure you’ll follow in his footsteps.” The young man relaxes his worried frown. Marco scans the faces of the others in the room. “Now’s the time to speak up if you have questions or objections.”
Another man stands up. “Eros abandoned us, and for this, his reward is to become an underboss? I’m not challenging your decision; I simply want to understand it. I have the utmost respect for you, Capo, but how can we follow the command of a man who turned his back on us?”
Fair enough. I automatically like this guy. He’s not some idiot to follow blindly along.
“Eros never left us. He was on a mission. It was one that only I, Nero, Luciano, and his father were privy to. It was kept this way for his protection as well as ours. His visits to his parents were infrequent and his contact limited. His sacrifice for La Famiglia is something that cannot be easily quantified. I will say this: if not for his latest efforts, we’d be fighting a war with the Russians and the Triad. We still have enemies, but the imminent danger has passed,” Marco replies.
“Can I have your name?” I ask.
“Alessandro Montebello.”
“I commend you for asking the question that all are thinking but none have the courage to ask. Trust takes time. You don’t know me, but you will. I lead by example. If you’re in danger, I’ll stand by your side. However, if you choose to serve under another underboss, then ask for your transfer, and I will readily agree. I only want men who want to be here. In return, we will prosper. The decision is yours. I can rebuild a team of men. It won’t be the first time I’ve done it, and I can do it again. Don’t stay because you’re being told. Stay if you’re ready to reap the rewards of your hard work,” I tell them.
“Mr. Palloma, I choose to stay,” Alessandro replies.
“Eros,” I insist. “I’m not a formal guy.” I chuckle, and others join in.
“That is all for this evening,” Marco concludes. “Now, we celebrate. Eros and Serafina are to be married, and the union of two families is always a joyous occasion, as well as presenting your new underboss to La Famiglia.”
Nine
Wedding Frenzy
Serafina
Two weeks later…
