Page 51 of La Dolce Vita

"Is this happening? Now? Is it happening? What about our truce, what about..." Lorenzo paused. “That’s why you let him come to Catalina’s party. Why you’ve been so lenient with his payments. You’ve been planning this. For how long?”

"Patriwas forced out of Sicilia, and intolaCamorra. The Mafiosi should have been his, not thatporco dioMancini," Dominic said. "Before Armando realizes what our plans are the war will already be won. Giovanni has had several meetings and trips to Sicily in the past weeks ensuring it."

Lorenzo stood. He looked as if he wanted to hug Giovanni. But he stopped himself. Propriety took hold of him. "You won't regret this, Gio. I swear to you on my life, no more bullshit. This is our future. The Mafiosi! It belongs to us. It should have been ours from birth! It should have been ours."

"It will be mine, not ours," Giovanni corrected him.

Lorenzo nodded. "Of course, Gio. It will be yours!"

Nico and Umberto stood. The men all looked surprised, but only Lorenzo was bold enough to rejoice. Lorenzo punched the air like a boxer.

"Finally!Finalmente!" he cheered.

"I'm not done," Giovanni said. Lorenzo glanced up with a wide grin. "The meeting in Chianti with the bosses. I intend to revisit the conversation of territories. I plan to give the Benicia clan more. Expand the drug trafficking up into the Ndrangheta and beyond."

"We do that, and they'll take over," Nico warned.

"That's the plan. The other clans won't like it. It's why I need all of you ready."

"Wait, hold on a second, Gio. That is the plan? To let Benicia take over the drug trade?" Lorenzo asked.

"We don't get out of the drug business by not selling drugs," Giovanni said.

"We get out of the drug business by letting them do it." Dominic finished for Giovanni. "La Camorrais exposed, and everyone is dirty.La Polizia di Statois funded with the help of theCarabinierito target our family. They crawl around our finances and every business deal we make above and below the line. To bring us out of the shit we are now buried in we must do what Giovanni wants."

"You just said drugs and guns are who we are, Gio. The Bay is ours. The Benicias still rely on gypsy purse snatchers! They aren't worthy!"

"It is not this move,cugino,but the next. Patience is how we win. Let them have their heart’s desire if it brings us our destiny," Dominic said.

"Dominic will leave for Firenze tonight. Tomorrow I will travel to Chianti with the women," Giovanni began. "I've called in Renaldo to meet us there."

"But Renaldo is looking for Isabella," Lorenzo frowned.

"Not anymore," Giovanni said.

"But..."

"I will deal with Isabella," Giovanni said, and it was final.

Lorenzo glanced to Dominic with alarm. Dominic glanced to Giovanni with uncertainty. He ignored the looks of the men and continued. "Lorenzo, you go to Sicilia and deliver my message to Armando. I want you, Carlo, and Umberto back in Chianti for the meeting with the clans."

"I'll leave immediately," Lorenzo smiled.

Giovanni gave a slow nod.

Lorenzo was the first to go. Giovanni suspected his excitement to dig into Armando's back pocket couldn't be contained much longer. Umberto and Nico left as well. Soon he was alone with Dominic.

"That went well," Dominic said. "I like this plan, Gio. I think it will work. I’m not sure if the men understand it.”

“Do you? Do you understand?” Giovanni asked.

“Yes. It’s inevitable that the truth of Mirabella and Marietta come out. You making the first move is smart. It’s a war you should have ended with Armando years ago.”

“And the rest?”

“You want the Benicias to believe they have the upper hand. You will hand their clan over to theCarabinieriand scrub our business clean of drugs. It’s been the ultimate goal since we got dragged in by theCamorra.”

Giovanni nodded, impressed.

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