Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 27333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
She gestured to the pair that stood closest to her. "This is Cesare and his wife Penelope."
The second-born, Lorenzo thought as he shook hands with the couple, and his once-missing heiress bride. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Cesare's earlier days of violence were almost at par with the urban legends that people enjoyed spreading about him.
Potenziana walked her to the next couple, and they, too, shook hands with him.
"Massimo and Ysabel."
The charmer of the famiglia, Lorenzo recalled, but one who had also scandalously swapped one twin for another as his bride.
"Cattleya, you already know, and of course Ezio."
Lorenzo had attended Ezio's wedding to Potenziana's then-secretary two years ago. It was on that day he had his first glimpse of Gazelle, but as far as he knew, she hadn't even been aware of his presence. He had only stayed around long enough to sign their own wedding contract.
"And finally, Sarica."
The only one in the family who didn't get the memo on the dress code, Lorenzo observed. Her dress was not only a vibrant shade of red, but it was also short enough that he was certain it would have the famously conservative Giancarlo roll in his grave.
But it wouldn't.
Since he, too, believed that the eldest Marchetti heir was far from dead.
With the introductions properly concluded, attention swiftly turned to more important matters, and Lorenzo remained on his feet as he listened in quiet silence.
The Marchettis were being attacked from every side, but this came as no surprise to anyone in the room.
It was simply how things worked in their world when one smelled blood.
"I shall remain in Boston with Sarica," Potenziana declared. "Ezio and Cattleya, too. Among the four of us..." A chilling smile touched the older woman's lips. "We'll see who's foolish enough to come and try testing us."
"We will take the twins to La Torre dei Mostri and set things up in Providence," Cesare laid out. "The Pettinos and Drake Morris have agreed to meet with us there."
Drake Morris was the only FBI authority that famiglie trusted, and only because he was married to Kayra Pettinos, a mafia princess who was also an assassin in her own right. Or at least she used to be.
"Ysabel and I will head to Miami," Massimo murmured. "We will be working closely with Reid Chalkias."
The name signified Sicilian mafia royalty. It was definitely an alliance worth pursuing.
All eyes turned to him then, but it was only his wife's gaze that disconcerted him.
Would he ever get used to this?
The trust in her eyes was implicit, and it affected Lorenzo in ways that he could not even comprehend.
"Lorenzo will take Gazelle back to New York," Potenziana stated. "He will keep her safe while she continues with her studies."
It was Lorenzo's first time to hear what Potenzia required from him. The only thing she had been willing to divulge prior to her visit was that Gazelle would be his sole responsibility.
And now that he had heard where the other Marchettis had been assigned to, Lorenzo could see right away what her strategy was.
The Marchettis were making it seem that they had admitted defeat and that La Strega's grandsons had chosen to run away in the wake of Giancarlo's disappearance.
And because everyone knew that it was inevitable for a divided house to fall, those consumed by greed would fail to realize that Boston was but bait—-or that every brother would be working in the shadows while patiently waiting for their enemy to reveal itself.
It was an exquisitely intricate plan, but Lorenzo couldn't help thinking it was pointlessly complicated as well.
"You can amass your own army if you wish to. So why don't you?"
"Because we all took an oath," Cesare answered simply. "Violence is no longer our first answer to everything. But we still have our ways, only it takes more time and planning."
"And now that you are a part of our famiglia," the matriarch reminded him, "our oath is yours as well."
He almost smiled at this. La Strega very well knew that her oath was no different from the code he had chosen to live by since his release. But because his reputation preceded him wherever he went, most people were disinclined to believe this and chose to remain blind even when evidence presented the contrary.
"I'm not sure when we'll see each other again. But what I do know is that such a day will come, and we will have Giancarlo with us then."
It was the matriarch saying goodbye, but not once did Potenziana's voice crack as she uttered every word, and her expression remained dignified as she rose to her feet.
She was the first to leave, followed by Sarica, Ezio, and Cattleya.
The other couples followed behind them one by one.
And then it was just him and Gazelle.
His wife.
She was still seated on the couch, her hands clasped loosely on her lap.