Of Mobsters and Men: WILD (Book #2)

by L. A TehPeaceMaker

  Louise sighed and stroked his beard. “Now that you say that, I’m a little convinced. Perhaps-particularly with this murder-he didn’t draw a sign because he used a long range weapon. He used a standard gun. Getting close enough to the body would be insanity if he didn’t have to.” He theorized.

  Bit by bit, the pieces were slowly arranging into something more meaningful. Before I could be too sure, I decided to play from a different angle given all the information displayed. “This might be a different enemy, as Accardi said.” I said, gaining the attention of all the made men.

  “Our usual guy is a close range fighter. He’s able to get close enough to a target to slit their throats from ear to ear. It’s also quite humorous to me how just when we start suspecting Waldo Tinuccio as the man behind all this, the killer stops carving his signature mark.” I said leaning back into the chair.

  “In three days time, it will be the 16th of October. I want everyone to be alert. Three days from now, we’re expecting an attack on all elite members of the Pride.” I said firmly.

  ***

  3 days later

  Picking up the picture frame that had a crack in it, I frowned. A couple nights ago when Raelyn had cut her finger looking at the picture, she told me about the frame that somehow cracked. The crack cut cleanly between me and my family. I didn’t like what it insinuated and I wasn’t big on signs. But, perhaps this division symbolized a pending fate.

  I sat it back on the wood that held all the pictures together and delved back into my thoughts. 3 days. It’s been three days since the death of Frank Santora. It’s also been three days since my last meeting with select leaders of The Pride. It was the evening of the 16th of October and there’d been yet no call of a death or attack on a member of the The Pride.

  I knew for sure that the enemy was switching up on us. I began to debate whether or not information from our last meeting was leaked or not. No notes are taken during meetings. We depend solely on memorization.

  I heard multiple footsteps and the sound of giggling coming from upstairs. I looked in the direction of the noise and saw my wife and son descending the stairs. They were both dressed casually and I remembered Raelyn’s mother would be coming over this evening.

  Romano began playing with his toys as Raelyn laid down in the couch. I put my phone in my pocket and walked over to her. I raised her feet and sat down, letting them sit in my lap. “Are you okay?” I asked her, playing with her toes. I saw her crack a smile as she giggled. I smiled in response. “Yes, just tired.”

  “Hm, maybe you should start going to bed a little earlier.” I teased.

  “But that book is so good.” I whined.

  “I can't believe you read that junk. I’ll never understand you women and your romantic fantasies.” I said, trying to ignite fire from Rae.

  Raelyn stuck her tongue at me and I rolled my eyes.

  Almost immediately at the same time, our phones began to ring. I furrowed me eyebrows and stood up to take my call. Raelyn shrugged her shoulders at me before picking up her phone.

  “Oh, Dad,” Raelyn said and smiled.

  “What is it?” I asked Enrico.

  “I’m afraid Mrs. Monte has been taken to the emergency room.”

  I furrowed my eyes and pulled away from the phone, quickly facing Raelyn. She wore a horrified facial expression as we looked at each other. “My mother, she-”

  “I know.”

  ***

  The drive to the hospital took about fifteen minutes. It was spent with Raelyn being fidgety and worried about her mother’s condition. I constantly glanced over to her, making sure she didn’t fly off the handles in worry. She actually told me I was driving too slow which made me raise an eyebrow at her. I always drove too fast for her. Romano was lost and didn’t know the magnitude of the situation. All he knew was that his mother and I were beyond worried which made him upset.

  Jazmine had taken a hard fall down the long flight of stairs and thanks be to God, she survived. When Enrico had explained the situation, I almost couldn’t believe it. Jazmine always struck me as the careful and cautious type. Richard was still upstairs doing work in his office when she had fell. I knew that because I had gotten off the phone with him, prior.

  She’s in critical condition at the moment, and that was all Raelyn focused on.

  I rested my hand on her knee and gave it a squeeze. Raelyn turned to me in surprise. “Don’t kill yourself over this, Rae. She’s already in good hands. She will be fine.” I reassured her.

  I wasn’t totally sure on the outcome, myself. I knew that Jasmine wouldn’t go down like that, though.

  We couldn’t see Jasmine for hours. Raelyn’s mother had to go under a few operations immediately. We were informed that she had a dislocated arm and shoulder, wrist injuries, along with hip and knee impacts. Raelyn had calmed down some as the hours went by. She had already did a prayer and Romano was taking her mind off the situation.

  “She’s told me numerous times that she wasn’t pushed.” Richard said, placing his hands on his hips as he looked downward and cursed.

  “Then this was just an innocent accident, you assume?” I asked him. “She would have let me know immediately if she felt she was pushed. I don’t think that’s something my wife would life about.” Richard chuckled at the end. I cracked a smile.

  I made a mental note of how strange it felt being in an official hospital building. I hadn’t been to one for a long time. Us made men had our own doctors and places to go for care and emergencies. These institutions wouldn’t be able to handle the everyday casualties our men had to offer.

  Raelyn’s POV

  When the nurse said my mother was now ready to take visitors, I wasted no time heading into her room. I could barely stomach seeing my mother bandaged up and laying in the hospital bed, so helpless. Stefano and Romano had gone back to the waiting area after greeting her and giving her their best wishes.

  “I thank God that I still have my life.” Mother said, shaking her head slowly. “You’re strong. You were going to get through this.” I reminded her. She shook her head once more. “Mmm, no, Raelyn. Nothing is for certain. It’s by the grace of God, not by my own ability.” She informed me. I nodded my head, understanding her. “I have to tell you something, Raelyn.” She started. I furrowed my eyebrows and leaned closer to her. “Yes?”

  She turned her face towards me, looking at me intensely. “I feel like I was pushed.”

  Immediately, my heart sank. “Pushed?” I asked, making sure I heard her correctly. She had told father earlier that she wasn’t pushed. She had said over and over again that she had just accidentally fell. Now, she’s telling me something different.

  “Yes. It was a violent push. I knew I felt hands shove me forward.”

  “Was it dad?” I whispered. She shook her head once more.

  “No. I heard him run from the office after I screamed. It wasn’t your father.” I stared at her, confused and frightened. “Maybe I could be thinking things. I haven’t been able to think properly since I fell.” She chuckled, her gorgeous teeth showing. I swallowed hard before speaking.

  “Why did you lie and say you weren’t pushed, then?” I asked her.

  “Mm. I didn’t want it to turn a big deal if there really wasn’t someone.” She answered me. My mother could be difficult sometimes, but I understood her reasoning this time around.

  “I understand. Stefano still has to investigate, though.” I informed her.

  These days I’ve been getting sick feelings. Something strange has been going on. I knew Stefano’s business nowadays were deeper than what he led on.

  Chapter 5

  After I had checked on how mother was doing, I went to the restroom to refresh myself. Slowly closing the door behind me, I began hearing the voices of my father and Stefano.

  “What are you going to do about my grandson?” I heard my father ask Stefano. I bit my lip as I stayed still, trying to listen in.

  “Raelyn wants Romano to grow
normal. We both know that’s not possible. I knew sooner or later we were going to have this problem. Just some weeks ago, we had an argument about how we were going to raise our son.” Stefano answered and I frowned. I knew Stefano was still thinking of our fight.

  “Mm, I see.” My father sighed.

  “She doesn’t want his childhood to be ripped away. Raelyn can’t fathom the thought of him being a murderer. I understand that, but I understand that Romano is growing up fast.” Stefano started. My face softened as he continued.

  “I love my son just as much as she does. I love my boy enough to begin training him. If I don’t start raising Romano to be firm and tough, he will be taken advantage of. If he is weak, made men will see through him and he will be killed.” He said. My father cleared his throat before speaking. “That’s a certainty.” He said.

  “I’ve been watching him, watching him grow close to his mother. He’s turning soft. I know because that’s how I was with my mother. My father straightened me out quickly. Only the strongest survive in our society. It’s an animal kingdom.” He said.

  I shut my eyes tight, shaking my head. My little boy…

  I opened my eyes and my vision blurred as I walked in the other direction.

  Stefano’s POV

  The next evening

  “Asshole. There’s no attack the day we expect, but now our shops are being burned down.” Angelo, one of our top surveilling men in the neighborhood jokes.

  My jaw was tightened. “How did he know we were expecting an attack? I’m beginning to believe we have a blabbermouth amongst us.” I said.

  “You’re beginning to suspect us?” Louise asked. “I’d hate to assume any members of The Pride are colluding behind my back. But in this world, anything is possible.” Calm and collected I appeared, but boiling inside I was.

  “We checked the Monte’s cameras.” Ricardo, one of our men on the surveillance team said. He walked in with Thomas, another member I put on the investigation. “They were all tampered with, days in advance, we assumed.”

  I cursed. “The enemy has been two steps ahead, constantly.” Enrico said, breaking the silence. “Enrico, when you get the chance, send information to all members of The Pride to update and check their security and surveillance.” I told him.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Whoever we’re dealing with is very clean. No trace at all of the perpetrator.” Angelo referred to the stack of pictures lying on the table from the killings discovered this morning. One of our middle men was killed on the job.

  Bruce Bianchi was in the process of delivering a package when he was attacked. His neck was slit from ear to ear and so was his mouth. He almost looked like the Joker. “Very childish as well.” Enrico commented.

  “This Motha’fucka is doing this for fun it seems.” Angelo seethed. Angelo could get out of hand sometimes when he got angry.

  Louise shook his head, gaining my attention. “No, I think he wants to get caught.” He said. I narrowed my eyes at him. “He’s getting pleasure from the overexposure. The enemy knows we’re investigating him.” Louise says again.

  “The murders keep happening as the investigation continues. It’s almost as if they’re saying, what are you gonna’ do about it?” Louise stared at the pictures with disturbance. I continued to keep my gaze on Accardi. Ever since Enrico had smacked those pictures down onto the table, Louise hadn’t been able to take his eyes off them.

  Was there something particular about these images Louise couldn’t shake off? As the man in charge of straightening out our new recruits, it was known he’d seen a lot of shit. Why was this gruesome act different to him?

  “Is there something you want to say, Accardi?” I asked him slowly.

  “I’ve said all I’ve thought.”

  ***

  Something was off about Raelyn and I started noticing signs the night we got back from the hospital. I wanted to believe her change of attitude had to do with the condition her mother was in, but I knew there was more. It was almost as if she had a problem with me. I nodded to Alessio in thanks as he glanced at me before walking down the hall. I closed the glass door behind me, joining Raelyn outside. Romano and Marcelo were having what appeared to be a water gun fight. Raelyn was just sitting in a chair watching them, a small smile on her face.

  “How are you?” I asked, leaning down to kiss her lips. Raelyn tilted her head up and met my lips, kissing me back. It was a brief kiss, different from our longer ones.

  “Just the same.” She answered, deep in thought.

  “Is anything the matter?” I asked her, furrowing my eyebrows. I watched her closely as she hesitated. Raelyn turned to look at my face, knowing she’d been caught and I knew something was up.

  “My mother told me something that I can’t stop thinking about.” She explained. I nodded my head, urging her to continue. “At the hospital?” I asked her. “Yes. I even went to the hospital today to check on her, and she repeated the same thing she told me yesterday.” She told me.

  There were loud sounds of boys having fun were in the background. “What did she tell you?” I asked her. Now that Rae brings it up, I do remember that Raelyn spent a long time in her mother’s room, before she got out.

  She played with her fingers as if unsure whether she should be telling me this or not. Regardless, we were both serious about communication and she knew she couldn’t keep things away from me.

  “My mother told me she was pushed.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “According to your father, she wasn’t pushed. She said it herself.” I said to her. Why was Raelyn saying her mother was pushed? Unless, her mother only trusted Raelyn with the truth. Why wait?

  “She lied. She didn’t want you or father to blow her accident up if it was really nothing. But, as we talked, she became sure that she did feel someone shove her downstairs.” Raelyn explained.

  I made sure my team ran the cameras back and checked the surveillances in and out the Monte’s home. It all made sense now. The cameras were tampered with, and her mother felt as though someone had made an attempt on her life.

  Things were becoming personal now.

  Chapter 6

  Raelyn’s POV

  After my phone call with Mother, I was much more relieved. She’d been discharged from the hospital and father was taking more time to care for her. I had to make a mental note to come over and see how she’s coming along. Caterina was also coming back from her trip to Tanzania and wanted to have lunch with me tomorrow.

  Walking down the stairs, I peaked over to see Stefano laid on the couch with Romano sleeping on him. Stefano’s arm was wrapped securely around his little body.

  My heart would melt each and every time I saw Romano and Stefano bond. Stefano was typically busy and didn’t get to spend much time with his son. I really like how he’d seized every moment he could to do so. I remembered Stefano telling me how his father never showed much tenderness towards him. He’d never receive a hug or even a “Good job”. Stefano told me he never wanted Romano to feel like he didn’t love him.

  I giggled as I walked past the two and made it to the kitchen. As expected, they had made a mess. There were splats of water on the floor, cookie crumbs all over the counter, and frozen chicken nuggets still sitting out. They could have at least put it back in the freezer for me. I shook my head. “Mmmm.”

  After taking care of the mess, I walked back into the living room, their bodies still in the same position sleeping.

  I inwardly laughed at the idea of taking pictures and videos of this cute moment. “Haha.” I laughed, taking out my phone and beginning to video myself. My hair was looking very unpleasant but I made silly faces in the camera and then stood in front of the couch, getting Stefano and Romano in as well.

  “Aren’t they cute?” I whispered. Looking at the screen, I saw Stefano open one eye and then close it, making me jump.

  “That’s the last video you take.” Stefano chuckled, gently removing Romano from his body and placing him on a p
illow. I laughed, saving the video. “Oh hush.” I stuck my tongue out at him.

  Stefano smirked as he walked towards me. “I’ve got ideas of what you could do with that.” He whispered in my ear, pulling me closer by grabbing my waist. My skin was put on fire by his warm touch and dirty language.

  “How about you just go back to fake sleeping?” I asked, placing my hands on his shoulders, tilting my head back so he could have more access to my neck. Obviously, I didn’t mean what I’d said.

  “I want to stay like this.” Stefano said softly, wrapping his arms around my waist. I met his face and leaned in to kiss him. “Look how cute he is sleeping there. I can’t believe I gave birth to a mini you.” I told Stefano, making him laugh.

  Could my husband be any more sexy? The way the muscles around his mouth stretched and how his teeth were revealed, was just perfect to me. His throaty chuckles and genuine laughs made me craft a smile of my own. “You want to explain why you’re eyeing me like that?” Stefano asked, a grin still on his handsome face.

  “I'm just thinking how I couldn’t love you anymore than I do right now.” I told him. I felt Stefano’s hands hold me tighter in response. I knew whenever I told Stefano I loved him, it affected him more than he showed.

  “I’d do anything to protect you and Romano. I’d give my life if I had to.” He said, his tone becoming deeper.

  “Ugh, don’t say that.” I said resting my head on his shoulder, holding him tight.

  “Nothing’s guaranteed, Raelyn.”

  I took in a deep breath of his scent I was so addicted to, wanting to stay like this forever.

  Family movie night finally happened this evening. The last time we had family movie night was perhaps last month. Stefano has been super occupied since then. Hearing footsteps approaching me, I looked up to see Stefano brining a plastic bowl. When he sat down on the floor with me, I peeked into the bowl and saw he had brought caramel popcorn. He knew it was my favorite.