Page 13 of Once Upon A Christmas Kiss
“Hurry back,” Antonella says, leaning in to kiss me again.
“I’ll be back soon, Baby,” I say, as my lips turn up, pivoting; I walk to the truck.
I drive back home, pressing the gas; the truck roars as I go through the streets. The slow rain falls onto the windshield, making the night lights glow and sparkle, like Christmas. Finally, I pull into the parking space, turning off my truck. I get out, walking towards with urgent strides, walking into my home. I look around; it’s empty; I know that Mamma is at bible study.
I take long, quick strides, pressing my leather shrouded shoe soles into the carpet, walking into my bedroom.
I turn off the shower a few minutes later, pulling the black towel from the stack, rubbing my body down. I take care of my grooming, walk back into my room, pulling the black tux from the closet. I get dressed, run my hands through my hair, look into the mirror, lowering my eyelids, nodding.
Fuck!
I’m so fucking anxious to get this ceremony over with, to feel like I’m Cappola’s Soldati finally. I’m not keen on the fucking tux, but I need to get used to it since Cappola likes the Soldati’s in a tux at all of the ceremonies. Fuck, tonight it’s my ceremony; it’s fucking exciting. I can’t lie; it’s been hard, it’s been a long haul, with lots of contracts, training, and work.
An hour later I arrived at the Boss’s house. I’m greeted at the door by Dino, who’s assignment is playing the Boss’s butler. Dino lifts his chin & I enter into the majestic mansion, the Boss Coppola residence
“This way,” Dino says, walking down the hall, into the living room, and out onto the patio.
I follow the Dino through the house, looking at the Mafiosi standing around the back patio in their tux.
I take in the scene, the lanterns that surround the yard along with the blazing fire form the fire pit located in the center of the patio, illuminates the darkness of the night.
I walk over to talk to my brother, my Capo Cristiano. He’s talking to the other Soldati and associates, holding a glass of wine in his hand. He looks at me, lifting his chin in the air in greeting. I smile, nodding, looking at the soldiers.
“Ciao,Buona serata,” I say, taking a glass of wine from the waiter.
“Ciao Nicola, are you ready for the ceremony,” Cristiano asks, chuckling takes a drink of the wine.
“Yeah,” I say, nodding, taking a drink of wine to calm my fucking nerves.
“Fuck, that’s the most incredible rite of passage; I can’t fucking wait for my induction ceremony,” Sergio says, nodding, bouncing back on his heels, looking around at the Mafiosi.
Sergio is the Boss Cappola son; he’s working on proving his worth, on earning his way to Made Man. Isn’t that just fucking amazing that even Serio has to prove his worth? Fuck.
“Hell yes,” Alessandro says, laughing, another Soldati, a Made Man under my brother.
The Boss walks over to the patio, standing in the center, looking around the yard tapping his gold ring against the wine glass.
“It’s time to start the ceremony,” Boss Salvatore Cappola yells.
The Mafiosi stop talking, and the Capos walk over to stand next to him.
“Tonight, is a special night because we have an induction ceremony. Nicola walks over here; let’s get this ceremony started,” Boss Sal yells, looking at me.
I walk over, standing next to him, tall, stoned-faced, clasping my hands, grinding my molars.
Fucking hell, this is it.
I feel like everything just ran its course, this is what I wanted, but at the same time, it feels off, like it isn’t what I wanted. But here I am, it’s the next step, it’s what I trained for, to be a Made Man.
Fucking hell, why do I feel like it’s wrong?
“Nicola D’Angelo, welcome to the Coppola Famiglia as one of my Made Man, my Soldati! The Coppola Crime Famiglia, Cosa Nostra,is present to witness this sacred event, your initiation to Made Man. I’ve seen you grow, train, and step up to be my Soldati in every way. You’ve taken care of every contract with efficiency and professionalism,” Boss Cappola says, grinning, turning to the right and left to look at the Capos, Soldiers, and Associates.
The Mafiosi, the Cappola Crime Famiglia, are in attendance to celebrate my Omerta oath ceremony.
The Mafiosi emphasizes the Omerta oath, which is an oath to keep the code of silence. Silence is maintained when questioned by authorities or outsiders, non-cooperation.
Boss Cappola is traditional on running his clan when it comes to the Omerta and who’s inducted into his Mafiosi Famiglia.
