Page 14 of Once Upon A Christmas Kiss
Yeah, commit murder, and to be of full Italian descent.
I smile, nodding, turning to look around the room at the men. I’ve known most of them since I grew up among them as my brother moved up the ranks. Chris was always training, guiding me since I was sixteen years old, taking over after Papà’s death.
Our Papà started training me at the age of twelve until the contract went out for his murder.
My older brother, Cristiano, helped Mamma to keep me in line. So yeah, my life has been school, Mafia, and my one true love.
My Capo Cristiano has the card of a Saint Michael in his hand, stares at me as he walks over with a needle in the other hand. I extend my hand, and he pricks my finger with the needle squeezing my finger to get a few drops of blood on the card.
“Nicola, it’s time to baptize you, for you to promise that you will honor and pledge your fidelity to la Cappola Famiglia,” Boss Cappola says.
While I start my pledge, Cristiano walks to the Capo at the end and lights the card. After that, the card is handed down the line to each Capo, and Boss Cappola gets the card giving it to me.
“I vow that I will never betray the Boss, the organization, or any Mafioso. May I burn in hell for all eternity if I betray the organization or my friends? I will honor the Code Of Silence and the secrecy never to acknowledge the Mafia's existence. At all costs, I will be loyal, kill, and die for the organization, the Cappola Famiglia. I will always put the organization first above everything, God, and my own family. I pledge my fidelity and will honor the Boss Salvatore Cappola until my death,” I say, taking the card, and I rub my hands as I take the Omerta Oath.
“Now you’re a Made Man, my Soldati. The Omerta Oath is fundamental; as you know, it’s the code of silence. You’re in the Cappola Crime Famiglia for life. It's blood in and blood out; you know that the only way out is death,” Boss Cappola says, stone-faced as he looks at me.
“I’m honored,” I say, staring at the Boss.
Boss Cappola hugs me and kisses me on each cheek, slapping my back. The Capos congratulate me, giving me hugs, kisses on the cheeks, and backslap.
Then the Mafiosi yell and return to drinking and talking. I talk to a few soldiers and drink. Finally, Cristiano walks over, raising his chin in the air, tilting his head, motioning that he wants to talk to me. I walk over to stand next to him at the edge of the yard.
“I’m proud of you, Nicola,” Cristiano says, hugging me.
He takes a step back, placing his hand on my shoulder, staring at me; his eyes roam over my face, scanning my eyes, nodding and releasing me. Then, finally, he takes a drink of wine, lowering his eyelids.
I know that he’s my Cappo, but he’s treating me like a little boy pissing me off; it’s unbelievable as if I haven’t proved my worth this last year.
Fuck!
“Thanks,” I say, grinding my molars to keep from being a smartass, nodding.
“Now you’re baptized, and you’ve taken the Omerta Oath, you need to take a step back from Antonella. You need to cut it off so you can focus on the job. You can always have a mistress but no need for you to marry now,” Cristiano says, lowering his eyelids halfway, focusing on my face.
I can’t fucking believe this!
He knows damn well that I adore Antonella; what’s his problem?
He has a girl; why can’t I keep mine?
“Fuck! I can’t let Antonella go, Cristiano,” I snarl, shaking my head, taking a long pull of the wine, turning to place it on the tray, taking another glass of wine from the passing waiter.
I suggest that you think about it, and you will see that this is the best. You don’t want to be responsible for Antonella’s death, you know you will be exposing her to all the motherfuckers gunning for you and the Boss. Just walk away until you are no longer the Boss’s favorite Soldati. Until the Boss gets a new favorite Soldati, you will be personally taking care of all his important contracts,” Cristiano says, taking a cigarette from his coat jacket, pressing his lips into a tight line.
“Fuck,” I sneer, taking a cigarette from him, leaning in to light up, inhaling deeply. Then, a moment later, I exhaled, releasing the smoke in perfect donuts.
“Do as I say,” Cristiano says, stone-faced, walking away to talk to the Boss. I stay at the edge of the yard, smoking, looking at the Boss and Capos.
A few hours later, I pulled along the street to park a few houses from Antonella’s home, turning off my truck. I walk down the walkway with a bounce in my step, feeling like the fucking king of the world, powerful and unstoppable. All of my plans race through my mind. Finally, I’m going to be able to ask Antonella to marry me.
The ceremony was fucking incredible, really an exciting and sobering moment. The fucking Omerta is no joke. I wish that I could share this with Antonella, but I can’t.
“Hey motherfucker, what are you doing,” Jacob says, walking right next to me.
Fuck, I didn’t see him coming.
He shoves his shoulder into me, lifting his chin. We stop on the walkway; we stare at each other; my fucking best friend, yeah, Antonella’s brother has been a pain in the ass.
