Page 46 of Blood and Penance
From the exchange between Vincenzo and Lorenzo, Lio won’t be missed. He just wants to make sure we don’t make a lot of noise while in his territory. He doesn’t want to start a war within his own organization because he has virtually sanctioned the Cosa Nostra to kill one of the members of the Camorra, which is understandable.
“You ready?” Lorenzo asks, looking down at my rosary before his eyes slide back to mine. “You haven’t put that thing away since we got on the plane.”
He’s been keeping tabs on Lio since we landed. We are heading to his estate along with a lot of men who will die for the Puglisi family. I’m not so keen on having to rely on my family to help me with this, but I also understand I can’t get around it. No matter how much I loathed this world, this is who my family is. The Puglisi name carries some serious weight.
“It gives me strength and I need all I can get right now.”
He chuckles. “Can’t believe you’re still hanging on to your faith after all this. After you killed our father.”
“No matter the sins I’ve committed little brother, I have to keep the faith that He will always be with me because this could be a trap. Lio knows I’ll come for her, why wouldn’t he take her somewhere other than the home he shared with her?”
My brother sighs as he looks at me. He always looks as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s struggling and I’ve done nothing but try to give him guidance, but I don’t know if he’s listening.
He looks a lot different even more than what he did a few months ago. By his confession to me, his wife and he have been having a rough time because of her mental illness. When she’s off her medicine, she becomes a danger to herself and their son. He’s been battling between walking away and honoring his vows. And struggling to keep his family together is taking a toll on him. That struggle, that push and pull between staying and dealing with the unknown or walking away, is weighing very heavily on him. That thin line between love and hate for Marianna has hardened him in the last few months. This Lorenzo, I don’t recognize.
“Lio D’Amico think he’s untouchable. He believes he has the De Maio’s support. He doesn’t. He also believes your family doesn’t back you. He believes if you come for her, you’ll come alone.”
“He can’t be that stupid.”
“He’s not stupid, however right now he’s not thinking with his head. He’s being led by his dick and his heart. Both can cloud any man’s judgment.”
“Are we still talking about Lio?” I ask.
My brother pinches the bridge of his nose. “Right now, I don’t need to confess, Gianni. But like I said, both can cloud any man’s judgment.”
“Well, whenever you need to talk, you can come to me. Not to the priest, but your big brother. You’re not alone.”
He only nods, pulling his phone from his pocket. I don’t expect him to give me any kind of verbal response. Now isn’t the time and I know this is a subject that can’t be wrapped up in one conversation. I just want him to know I’m here for him.
“We’re here,” Lorenzo says, putting his phone away. “We won’t have any resistance at the gate. Vincenzo took care of that. But the house may be a different story.”
We have at least fifteen guys with us in three SUVs. Enough to fight off any resistance but not enough to bring too much attention to what we need to do.
“Vincenzo has the police handled as well,” Lorenzo says as we pull through the tall wrought iron gates. "But we still need to get in and out as soon as possible."
The SUV pulls to a stop in front of the massive mansion. We look at one another, nod, then exit the vehicle with guns raised. In an instant gunfire erupts around us. It doesn’t take long for us to breach the house after stepping over bodies.
When I walk inside, I shoot the man standing just inside the foyer in both legs, causing him to collapse to the ground. Then I rush up to him and point the gun at his head.
“Where is she?”
“Fuck you!” he sneers. “She tried to kill the boss. That bitch is as good as dead.”
I step on one of his wounds, twisting my foot.
“Fuck!” he screams.
“I’m going to ask you again, where she is. If you don’t give me the truth, I will put a bullet in you until you do.”
Gone is the man who most people put on a pedestal because of the collar I wear around my neck. The only person these people will deal with is the man who is here for the woman he loves.
“He’s got her strung up somewhere,” he says, pain etched all over his face.
“Where?”
“I don’t know. I swear, I don’t know.”
“I don’t believe you.”
