Page 7 of Victorious Vice

What the hell did Mario mean when he said my life begins tonight?

Does anyone else know the true circumstances of my birth? Anyone besides Mario and my mother?

Because if any of our enemies do…

It puts a big red target on my back.

To take out Bianchi’s son? That’s a big fucking deal.

I was already his true heir. If they know that I’m a direct product of his loins, it’s all over for me.

God… It’s all making so much sense now.

No wonder he let me stay in Europe so long.

In his own distorted way, Mario loves me. Was protecting me.

Elmo, my bodyguard, is traveling with me to Colombia. He sits next to me at the gate, ready to board the chartered plane.

I buried my mother only hours ago, and Mario wants me on this plane.

A month.

So much can happen in a month.

I just have to make sure that Raven stays safe. She’s my first priority. And unfortunately, Mario knows this.

She’s my weakness.

But she’s also my strength.

If I can bring down this family, then Raven and I can be together. Make a life of our own.

I’ll do what I need to do in Colombia.

I fire up my iPad and read the notes about the people I’ll be meeting—those involved in the piece of the trade that Giacomo Puzo was negotiating.

A lance strikes my heart. Not that I felt anything for Puzo, but he had a family. Two little girls. I may not have struck the blow that killed him, but I am ultimately responsible.

Sure, he was corrupt. The world is a better place without him. But who am I to play God?

Who is Mario to play God?

But putting a stop to him will save so many more lives in the long run. Puzo was a necessary casualty.

These thoughts plague me as I board the plane and take my seat. Elmo, next to me, is silent, his gaze cast outside the window.

The engines roar to life and I clutch the iPad tighter. The names and faces on its screen are the Colombia Cartel heads, local law enforcement, politicians—everyone has their slice in this pie. I’m about to jump headfirst into a viper’s nest with nothing but my wits to protect me.

One thing is clear though. Being Mario Bianchi’s heir gives me an advantage. A dangerous one, indeed. The fascination and fear that his name commands might be the only things keeping me alive in Colombia.

I lean back in my seat and let the outside world blur into nothingness. I am alone with my thoughts, an island amidst a sea of chaos. I imagine Raven’s face, her soft smile and the way her eyes light up when she laughs. The thought of her gives me the strength to push through this ordeal.

As the plane ascends through clouds, though, I find myself thinking about the meetings awaiting me. Though I am armed with knowledge about these people, it’s impossible to predict their intentions or anticipate their actions.

Will they respect me because I’m Mario Bianchi’s heir? Or will they see me as a threat? A young buck trying to infringe upon their territory? Or worse, will they see me as an opportunity? A means of using my lineage against me?

I open my eyes as we hit cruising altitude. Outside the window is pure darkness. It almost looks serene and peaceful, a stark contrast to the war brewing inside me.

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