Fucking Sylver talking. and it had been a joke. I took it as an omen, a sign as Don Marco talked about months ago.
"So, it is like this ... and just listen, everyone, until I finish explaining. This is what I am doing, Boys…
The idea of me taking the position of Boss to La Familia who has beaten me down since my birth—is laughable and something I will never be interested in again.
Four mouths dropped open. Yes, even Sylver’s. Donny started to speak.
"Aught, I'm not finished."
"Of course not, do go on."
"I know in the past, you and I, Donny, believed there was nothing else for us. That changed, a long time ago, I grew up. Shit, look at you. So, did you. I've wanted more for a long time, not just for myself, but for everyone.
That said, know this, I will not hand over the streets to the current La Familia, Garko, nor to the fucking Committee. Nor will I release oversight of the Port of New York and New Jersey to the DOJ, State Police, or City Boys in Blue."
They may work on my behalf, I want what they want, the normal chaos— crowded streets with impatient rude people going for theirs, a respect for hard work. The city allows just enough vices to keep people content, not revolting, and not too high off vice that everyone is jonesing bad enough to sell their kids.
Ports free for trade-- but monthly scheduled fucking containers filled with trafficking victims… is an insult to anyone who receives a paycheck, down there. I will deal with culprits as an insult to me personally."
My list is filled with shit I wasn't allowing to happen, I realize when I finish.
"How do you control all you speak of if you are not Boss of La Familia New York. What the fuck is left, what have we been doing all this for?"
Donny was speaking to me like he was on the edge of a twenty-story building contemplating if it was worth it all.
I smiled, "Don't fret Nancy, I've have seen our ultimate destination, the highest fruit— the manna. And all I need is a few good, faithful men to get us there."
"I don't get it. None of it." Tommy said this time he wasn't being humorous. His look of a confused kid was, however.
"I always thought the manna fell upon us from heaven. We didn't have to go and get it." Tank out of his stupor said.
"That's just it. The manna fell for everyone, but those stronzo's took advantage, kept us working… fighting, so's to distract us while they gathered, taking everything. We trusted them to have honor with the spoils. Why? Cause of the blood we shared."
"Just to be clear, you are talking about taking over The Committee, Don Marco's Siculi is going to kill us." Tommy states.
Maybe he's not as dumb as he looks.
"Don't jump ahead of me, boy. Don Marco called months ago and all but called me out, La Familia has a rat close, with high-level friends. We'll squash that vermin soon as we unearth it."
"Fucking Don Marco called you and you didn't tell us."
"Donny, we've been on high alert ever since the siege. He didn't call again and I'm still alive."
"That doesn't make sense. Unless he's waiting for you to come his way, The Committee, Ascension like Dulaka mentioned. That way he could make a bigger scene… of your alleged insubordination." He gave me the stink eye. I ignored it.
"His first mistake was warning me and the second not killing me sooner."
"I find it crazy how we are just casually throwing around The Don's name when we were all taught, he was the boogeyman. Fuck we wouldn't say his name three times in a mirror, for fear he'd appear when we were kids."
"He's just a man." Sylver's gravelly voice spoke out.
"A man that hinted at shit about to happen 'The changes will stain what was pure' he told me. I guess that is what they've always feared, that my Moraes blood would stain what was pure. They get door prize number one, for being right all those years. I'm coming to wreck all their bullshit."
"Wreck it how?" Sylver asks.
"By making it inclusive to loyalists who understand family and honor."
“Now, I’m listening, Boss.”
Sylver's talked more tonight in the present company than he has over the course of a year. He wants everyone to know he is with me; he is down for the cause. I hear you loud and clear brother.
"So here's the other thing."
"Fuck what are you trying to do, sign us up for Armageddon."
That was Tommy, everyone laughed, he didn't realize how close he was, and I appreciated his lightening the mood before I laid it on them further.
Next was the touchy part. The part I needed everyone to envision, although as low-level city boys it may be difficult. The Siculi, down to The Committee, Boss, to capo, to lookout boy, we all were bred to play our part in the hierarchy. It was blasphemous to even think about rising too high above ones, father, or family status.
I did not have that problem.
"Boys, we are going straight passed go. One of us will control New York City, as Boss. Another will take Ernesto's seat on the committee. And the last one of us will add a seat to that same Committee. Because when I am finished with them all, they will have no choice but do what I say, and killing me will not change their fate.
Tommy spoke first.
"Oh well, in that case, I think I'll just go back to college."
"Shut the fuck up, Tommy."
I already had Tommy's ticket back to school. My aunt wasn't pleased I had kept him busy this long. Next time she caught me unconscious, she'd make sure I didn't wake up, was her threat if I didn't do what she said. Fucking Garko's.
"So, when we stick our big middle finger up to say fuck you, to La Familia Garko, that is our grandfather and his seven sons, and then take our thumb, to say hello to my little friend, straight up in The Committee seat's asshole, with I don't know which of us your brain has chosen to fill. We then somehow don't die. Or is this just a go out with glory deal." Donatello, always doubting. His name should have been Tomas.
"This move is not made to betray nor shun, La Familia, New York, or the three new Garko La Familia’s, on the Coasts, however, it will be taken as such. Ernesto's sons left New York to build elsewhere, if they think of taking it back once it's restored and shines like gold, they are sadly mistaken. The ones who remained in La Familia, New York will be rewarded, however, they must get on board with the new, otherwise, leave or die."
"That sounds like a declaration of war." Tank says.
"We are not going to kill off entire family lineages to execute this plan. We are not the Mafia of the past. Yes, of course, some old fools are just that fools, they will die because of stupidity. We have a La Familia rat, and someone at the state level counter-attacking my moves. I need to find out how deep the deception goes.”
“You told us, according to the deal, they are all on board.”
“Exactly, imagine a politician who lies.”
They chuckle at that.
“A Captain, Ramos is his name, wants to meet with me. Says he knows of meetings going on down at the docs, unofficial gatherings.”
“New Jersey Police Captian?”
“Yes.”
Donatello has more to say, but he will wait until we are alone. I switched gears.
"Boys look this is the only way. Trust me, what The Committee is offering now is not a prize. Attaining one vote against a seven seated Committee raping me of my time, my choices, and then charging me for what is already mine, well, I have one thing to say to that clusterfuck of an idea,
A big middle finger fuck you,
to anyone who wants that to be my legacy."
Donny's head dropped, in agreement, I wasn’t sure.
"Question?"
He looks up smiling. Then with the Garko glare, he boldly asks,
"Are you ready for the day?".
My new family inside La Familia, the future of The Committee, and my secret, -- The Siculi. Because in my plans to return some of what was old to manage all the new, these men will lead.
Tank, Sylver, Tommy, and a now inves
ted Donatello, arrange around me in camaraderie.
Those various possess they were stuck in at first--. Mouths hanging open, hands-on top of heads, heads between knees, as they processed what I said and what that meant for their lives-- gone.
"Much thought and planning has taken place, already."
"While in prison or on the island?" Tommy asks.
“I was never on an Island. Dumb lil shit.
"Well if we are going to die, let's go out kicking ass."
“You're going back to school. We will see you on breaks.” Before Tommy began his tirade. Sylver stood. It shocked Tommy.
"I like it," Sylver said. It was enough.
"My mama ain't going to believe this shit." Tank, a mama's boy. I should have known.
"We need to strategize every week, ears on the street, in the sky, and over the water."
They were all in... I let them talk while my thoughts drifted. I looked at my phone. Donny glared at me.
"You need to get home?"
"Yeah."
Epilogue
Everything about the night, its blazing stars, its perfect moon driving animals to cry out as they mate, even the fragrance of wet dirt and wildflowers, reminds me of my Evee. Not even the second marijuana cigarette, I breathe in can move me past the emptiness in my gut.
What the fuck, Evee? Where are you?
I puff and pass to Donny. He hits it,
“I will not take another hit of that other shit if it dulls me from being one hundred percent here.”
How was he going to manage his chronic pain especially on his own without vice?
“I have a stash of this for you to take. They say it can help. But it’s not for everyone.”
“You mean it’s not for Addicts."
I look down at my phone, no missed calls, no pending text. Donny raises his eyebrows.
"It's Evee, I haven't heard from her in three days. It's not normal for her last three or four hours without sending, a stupid meme, or video she found if she's not texting to talk shit."
"She's with her mother in Rome you said, right?"
“Si."
"She'll call as soon as she can. Maybe it's for the best."
I didn't respond. Donny changed the subject.
“La Familia?”
“A rat doing more than just consulting with the likes of Don Marco, I’m sure.”
He nodded.
“The politicians?”
“Disloyal as I guessed, doesn’t matter. Santari has his hands in that pot also, he needs reigning in, I’m not sure why … is pussyfootin with him.”
He looked away.
“You want to tell me something?”
He shook his head. Merde, it must be bad, but not detrimental to my cause.
“Make sure its handled, got it.”
“Yeah.”
“Now about Dulaka’s call and his visit to Bolivia."
"The Illyrian gets its product directly from Bolivia, no intermediary. Yet Dulaka believes he can get in and out without notice from his brothers. Sounds as if he knows something, we don't."
"We need a plant inside his house."
"I agree. He'll double-cross us first chance he gets. As soon as he believes he doesn't need us anymore."
"The plant, I'm sending Agent Riley— Donny cringes— Elektra brought him to me, said he was an agreeable ally. We worked together on the prison deal before I showed back up here.
"Riley knows about Villa De Moraes festivities?
"Si. It's going to be his coming-out party. If he can't pull it off, we can contain it in the middle of the jungle. Dispose of Dulaka and pick another Mafia Illyrian family to infiltrate."
"They are as violent, as La Familia, and cunning. I hope he knows what he is doing." He meant he hoped I knew what I was doing letting CIA government outsider in.
"Dulaka knows the location of Villa de Moraes, too."
"He has done his homework, well it's too late.
"He wants a pussy train when we meet."
"Just so happens I have one."
"So it begins."
"So it does."
This is for Blood
Also by Gia P.
For Blood and Beast, Series
Tomas
Evee
Donatello
Vilianna
Thao (coming soon)
Romi (coming soon)
Beast (Novella) (coming soon)
(Coming 2020)
Sons of Sophia
Francesco
Piero
Antonio
Marco
Blood Legacy
Leonardo
Luciano
Bella Lucca
Nora
For Blood and Beast: Tomas, For Blood (Garko Book 1) Page 19