Page 12 of The Hitman's Rose

Franciszek Nowak, the Polish mob boss of Trenton, was dead? Good fucking riddance. The piece of shit was well-known throughout the mafia world. He had a nasty temper, unsatiated appetite of greed, and made orders for so many distasteful actions. The world was better off without that fucking bastard in it, especially after he made a move that shook the underworld. It was a move that ended in bloodshed. Rosaline’s father and his men’s blood ran in the streets that night and Franciszek took his place as king of New Jersey.

I had met Rosaline’s father, Mario Romano– Giovanni’s best friend– a few times but we never exchanged words. There was no reason to. I had no business with him. The times I met him, I had been there because of Giovanni; just a shadow in the room.

“That is good news, Boss,” I state, unsure what emotion it is he wants me to convey.

“It is,” he sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “Apparently, Don Rossi traded his loyalty from Mario to Franciszek.”

“What?” I growl, losing all professionalism. “I can be on the next flight out.”

“No need for that,” Giovanni shakes his head and laughs. “Don’s kid already offed him.”

Confusion fills me. Why the hell would Savio Rossi kill his own father?

“Savio?” Giovanni nods his head at my question. “Boss, I’m a bit confused.”

“You and about a hundred others,” he smirks. “Don wasn’t the same person I grew up with. He turned into something unrecognizable. His mother would be ashamed. Pace all'anima sua.”

Giovanni closes his eyes. He crosses his chest with his hand out of respect for the dead. I didn’t know the woman, but I do the same out of respect for Giovanni.

“Savio’s a good kid,” Giovanni says, opening his eyes. “Loyal to his father.”

“Then why’d he kill his father, Boss?”

“Well, two reasons.” He holds up two fingers and grins. “One, Don went against the very oath we stand for. And, two, Adrianna Romano.”

“Adrianna?” I ask with my eyebrow raised.

“He owes her a marker.” His words have piqued my genuine interest.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, a lot of people don’t know it, but Adrianna saved Savio and his cousin when they were kids. Blew the guy’s head off and she was only ten years old,” he grins. “He owed her.”

“Why do I feel like there’s more to the story, Boss?”

“Cause you’re a smart man,” he chuckles. “Savio Rossi was and still is in love with Adrianna. Even before this whole mess with Franciszek. He’d do anything for her so I’m sure killing his piece of shit father was easy for him.”

“So, reason number two is why he killed his father, Boss?”

“I’m sure the first reason made his heart heavy; however, Adrianna was the deciding factor.”

Talk about a tangled web. Savio Rossi had taken his father’s life to prove his loyalty to a woman. How fucking insane. No matter how crazy the son of a bitch Don Rossi was. How could Savio kill his own father?

“You don’t agree with his decision, Ademaro?” Giovanni asks.

“I agree with whatever you feel is right, Boss.”

Giovanni groans then shakes his head.

“You don’t think you’d ever love a woman so much that you could take my life?” He looks me in my eyes as he speaks. Shock consumes me. How could he ask such a monstrous question?

“Morte prima del disonore,” I reply firmly, shaking my head.Death before dishonor.

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