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Enzo (The Gambani Mafia)
by Savannah Rylan
Chapter 1
Enzo
“You know the rules,” I said. “You made an agreement. And in my world, your word is your bond, Mr. Stephens.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Look, we hit a bit of a snag and I had to dish out a lot of money to get it fixed. I-I-I… I can get you half of it now. All cash, all cleaned, ready to go,” he said.
“I didn’t come here for half, Mr. Stephens. I came here for all of it,” I said.
“I promise you, it’s all clean. And I can have the rest of it to you in a couple of weeks, I swear. We’ve got this massive score we’re preparing for, and all I have to do is deliver on my end of the bargain. I get the money, I clean it up, I prepare it for you, and we’re all done.”
“You seem to have this backwards,” I said. “You don’t make the rules. You follow them.”
“Please,” he said. “It’s all I’ve got. I swear on my mother’s grave-”
“How disrespectful of the woman who brought you into this world. I’m not sure my father would be impressed knowing he was doing business with someone who was so… disrespectful of women.”
I cocked my gun and held it out to the guy’s head. I had no intentions of killing the man today, but he needed to be scared. He stopped making his payments two months ago and my father was getting nervous. And when my father got nervous, bodies started washing up on the shoreline. I was the mediator. The one who brought the peace between those who begged and the man who brought wrath down upon their heads.
Sort of like the chosen one.
“Please don’t kill me. I have a family,” Mr. Stephens said.
“I’m not going to kill you today,” I said as I set down my gun. “But some lessons do need to be learned the hard way.”
“Please… don’t…”
I holstered my gun and unbuttoned my cuffs. Getting my hands dirty was part of the job. Sometimes guys caved to the barrel of my gun, but for some reason I didn’t believe this guy had received the message yet. I slowly walked over to him and balled up my fist, then cracked it down against his jaw.
Two black eyes and a dislocated jaw later, I was trying to piece myself back together. My father hated it when I came back from a job disheveled. The Gambani men had pride when it came to their appearance. Clean shaven, styled hair, tailored suits. The way we presented ourselves to the public was a direct reflection on how well we could conceal what we did. My father always said that if I walked around looking like a thug, people would assume I was a thug.
And that stuck with me all my life.
“You will have Mr. Conti’s money by next week. He doesn’t take half payments, so I suggest you keep saving up. If I have to come back to see you, Mr. Stephens, I can promise you I will not be as nice.”
The man groaned as my hired muscle dumped him from the chair, and I watched him sputter blood onto the ground.
“Clean up this mess,” I said. “Then meet me back at my father’s office. There’s still work to be done.”
My father was Luca Gambani. On the outside, he was the head of waste management services. On the inside, he was head of the sanitation crew. Whatever people needed cleaned up, we took care of. My father was paid exorbitantly high prices to keep things discreet, quiet, and under the table, and that is what we sought out to do. Our partnership with the Conti crime family was not only lucrative, it put us in a position of power with many important people.
And my father greatly enjoyed the favors that came with the job.
But we didn’t simply provide sanitation services for the city. If necessary, we were also hired guns. Muscle. Whatever the mafia needed in terms of protection and aftercare, we took it upon ourselves to do the greatest job possible. Our families flourished alongside the other so long as loyalty was our number one priority. And I made sure it was with me.
Because I wanted to position myself to take a higher role in the family business.
I walked out of the dingy old apartment as I threw my suit jacket over my shoulders. My father was waiting for me and I had no more time to spare. I buttoned my coat as I got out to the car, then stepped in and told the driver to take me to my father’s office. A field report would be necessary, but I also wanted to have a conversation with him.
A conversation that could change the trajectory of my life forever.
“Son.”
“Father.”
“Any money to be had?” my father asked.
“In a week,” I said. “And yes, I delivered the message accordingly.”
“Where are the guards I sent with you?” he asked.
“Cleaning up the mess I made. Blood on a gray suit doesn’t match as well as one might think.”
“I knew there was a reason I sent my two best guys with you,” he said. “Now, spit it out.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re my son, Enzo. I know when you wanna talk. What’s on your mind?”
“Straight to the point?” I asked.
“Always.”
“I want more responsibility.”
My father raised his eyes up from his desk as I clasped my hands in front of me.
“Itching for a higher role?” he asked.
“Eventually. But for now, more responsibility would show my dedication to the… cause,” I said.
“And you’re serious about this.”
“Yes. I know my rightful place and I wish to take it one day.”
The smile that crossed my father’s face was one of pride, but I couldn’t let myself get wrapped up in it. Whatever was coming, I knew it was going to be hard. Living the life, we did always required sacrifice, and the way my father was looking at me made me uneasy.
“Taking on more responsibility sometimes means… slowing down,” my father said.
“If it chains me to a desk, I’ll do it,” I said.
“What if it chains you to a woman?”
I felt my blood freeze in my veins.
“Rumor has it that Conti’s looking for someone to marry his daughter. I’ve been having some interesting conversations with Mr. Conti. He’s been very pleased with your work.”
“It’s nice to know our highest-paying customer is satisfied,” I said.
“If you want to take on more responsibility, then there is something you can do. Marrying the Conti girl would secure our family ties to the Conti fortune. Having a family member on the inside and heir apparent to their fortune would make our lives… much easier,” my father said.
“You want me to get married,” I said.
“Yes. I can arrange it with Mr. Conti for the two of you to meet and get to know one another better, then the wedding arrangements can take place.”
I gritted my teeth as my father reclined back in his chair.
“You asked for more responsibility, so there it is. Your mother and I were married in much the same way.”
“Don’t the two of you sleep in separate bedrooms?” I asked.
“Because she snores like a war horse. I didn’t love her at the altar, but I came to love her. She bore me children I loved, and a strong son who is intent on taking my place some day. A father couldn’t be prouder of something like that. Your mother brought you into this world and she is growing tired of all this. Of the hours I keep and the times I come home with blood on my hands she has to wash off.”
“Are you really using my love for my mother to convince me to marry some woman I don’t know?” I asked.
“Marrying this girl would open doors for all of us. Mr. Conti trusts us, and he has taking a liking to you. We’re in prime position to move several rungs up the ladder in one fell swoop. You want more responsibility? You want to prove yourself? Take her as your wife. Secure the fortune to both of our sides.
Give your mother the rest she deserves. Then, we’ll talk.”
I stood there in front of my father as he eyed me dangerously. I was standing on the cusp of something great. But marriage? Did it really require that? I lived for my weekends. Those nights where women choked on the pleasure I could bring them. V.I.P. slots in clubs with women’s tits in my face. There would be none of that if I was married. I’d be expected to tend to her and only her. One slice of pie for the rest of my life.
But this was for family. And nothing was more important than family.
“Fine,” I said. “Prepare the arrangements.”
“I’ll pass the message along,” my father said with a grin.
I walked out of his office and headed straight for my car. If I was going to do this, then I was taking one last weekend to myself. One last blowout with a soft piece of ass underneath my fingertips before it all got shot to hell. One last party before I married some woman whose only claim to life was the fact that she was the daughter of one of the most feared mafia bosses in history.
I got into my car and cranked it up, resolving myself to one last drink.
One last club.
One last woman to destroy before I chained myself to my destiny.
Chapter 2
Serena
“Bye, Miss Conti!”
“Bye, kids! I’ll see you guys tomorrow! Now sit down and stay seated on the bus, I don’t want you guys getting hurt. And remember! Show and tell is tomorrow. Bring your favorite toy!”
I loved being a kindergarten teacher. Despite the fact that my family’s background was less than ideal, I was able to live my life the way I wanted. I loved children and everything that came along with them, so when the opportunity arose for me to go to school for Elementary Education I jumped at the opportunity. My mother was nervous. She was worried our family’s background would make the children I worked with targets of some sort. But my father assured her he would never let anything like that happen to me.
And neither would I.
My family being part of the mafia was one of those facts we never talked about. My father and mother kept me at a distance from all of it, so I’d never experienced it firsthand. They did a very good job of keeping it hidden away, though there were parts of my childhood that stood out from among the rest. One time when I was taking a shower, I heard my father stumble into the house. Mom tried to keep her voice down, but it had scared me. So, I stepped out of the shower to go see what was wrong.
I saw how red the water was running off my father’s hands as my mother helped to clean him off.
Or another time, when a meeting of my fathers woke me up in the middle of the night. He was talking on his phone in the hallway, pacing up and down the carpeted area. I sat by my door and curled my knees up to my chest, listening as my father said things like ‘whatever it takes’ and ‘take a gun, not a knife’. It was the first time I remember understanding that my father was someone to be scared of. A powerful force in the community that could do a lot of good as well as a lot of bad if someone pissed him off.
But beyond those moments, I never got a glimpse of the life he led.
My phone vibrated on my desk as I walked back into my classroom. I was gathering my things up to go home before I saw I had a voice message from my mother. I picked up my phone and placed it to my ear, listening as my mother’s voice filtered through the receiver.
“Serena. Your father and I need to see you tonight after work. Could you come by for dinner? Love you.”
I looked at the clock and decided I had some time to run home and get changed. I didn’t enjoy staying in my professional attire any longer than I had to. I cleaned up my classroom before shutting off the lights, then I locked the door and started for my car.
Shedding my black pants and conservative blouse, I opted for a dark wash pair of jeans, a tank top, and an off-shouldered cover. I took my hair out of its French twist and let it tumble down my back, then put in my contacts so I could set my glasses off to the side. Dinner with my parents was never a formal affair, but it was expected that you dressed with a certain amount of pride. I picked out my best heels and slid them on, then fixed up my makeup.
Then, I was off to see what was so important to discuss.
In the back of my mind, I knew what this was about. I was getting to an age where my father would start searching to find me a husband. It was no secret that an arranged marriage was my destiny. After all, my father and mother were an arranged marriage between their two families. It was a mafia tradition to keep certain fortunes and perks within the world of two trusting families, so in a way I was my father’s own personal pawn in the game he played. But he made up for it by allowing me to live my own life on my own terms, so I couldn’t be too upset about it.
I only hoped the man they’d chosen for me was a decent one.
“Serena, my dear. Come give your father a hug.”
“Hey there, Daddy. Where’s Mom?” I asked.
My father embraced me tightly. Longer than usual, which only confirmed why they’d asked me to come over.
“She here, Stefano!?”
“Yes, Greta. Our daughter’s here,” my father said.
“Come on into the kitchen! Dinner’s ready.”
“Will the rest of the brood be joining us?” I asked.
“Nope. They’re all working late tonight, so it will be just the three of us.”
“Sounds like an intimate affair. To what do I owe the honor?” I asked.
“Always so proper. Your mother raised you well,” my father said.
“You had a hand in it, too,” I said.
“Not nearly as much as your mother. Now sit. There’s important business to discuss,” he said.
The three of us sat down and spooned up plates of food before my father cleared his throat. Even though he was the patriarch of the family, he’d always had a soft spot for me. The only time I’d ever seen my father anywhere close to crying was when I’d fallen out of the tree in the backyard and jammed my neck. It took three days for my sight to return, and when it did he was the first face I saw.
And he had tears in his eyes when I looked up at him.
“I think you know what’s coming,” my mother said.
“I have an idea, but I know there’s a ritual to how this works. I’m all ears,” I said.
“An arranged marriage has been set,” my father said. “We have arranged the first meeting between the two of you for tomorrow.”
“At least I won’t have to take off work,” I said.
“No, I made sure that was not necessary,” my mother said. “If there is one thing your father and I have learned, it’s been to respect the schedule of the other. I had a life I was leading before we had children, and he was respectful of that life. I would never give you over to someone who I thought was going to disrespect all you’ve worked for.”
“Thank you, Mom. That means a lot,” I said.
“He’s a strong man with a passion to take care of what’s his. He’s incredibly loyal to his family and has his eyes set on his father’s empire. He’ll make a good husband and provider for the family you two will create,” my father said.
“Then that’s all I can ask,” I said.
I wasn’t nervous. I could tell my parents were looking for signs of nervousness and apprehension, but I didn’t feel any of those emotions. I’d always known this was coming. Being the only girl of four children, I became very aware of my destiny from a very young age. I could lead the life I wanted in exchange for this one favor, and that was the deal I made. In a way, it made things easier. I never had to bother with dating or getting my heart broken. I got to have fun, knowing eventually my choice would be given over to me. It made my love life a lot less complicated and I knew my father would vet the man he would give me over to well.
My father would never give my hand to a man he thought wasn’t worthy.
I simply hoped he was someone I could see myself with for the long haul. Otherwise it was
going to be a very long marriage.
“What is customary at this point?” I asked. “Do I ask you a bunch of questions about him, or do I wait to meet him tomorrow?”
“I knew nothing about your father before we met,” my mother said.
“I didn’t even know it was happening until I showed up for dinner,” my father said.
“Then… we’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” I said. “By the way, Mom? This dinner’s delicious.”
“You’re taking this much better than I thought you would,” my mother said.
“I’m well aware of what is expected of me. I also know what this could flourish into. I watched the two of you fall in love over and over again as me and my brothers grew up. Just because this is arranged doesn’t mean it can’t lead to something worth talking about,” I said.
“You are a daughter any father would be proud of, Serena.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” I said with a smile.
However, meeting this guy tomorrow meant the rest of my life had to be put on pause. Not my career, of course. But the things I did with my friends. During the week, I was Miss Conti. But on the weekends? I was a delicate woman in the arms of a man. I was making memories with friends and taking miniature road trips to the beach and traveling to the mountains of Wisconsin and throwing parties.
I had one last night to do it up with my friends, so I was going to take full advantage of it.
“Any plans for your evening?” my father asked.
“Yeah. I know you usually go out with your friends on Friday nights,” my mother said.
“We might get into something,” I said with a grin. “It all depends on how I’m feeling after dinner, I guess.”
“Well, if you want your mother to help you get ready for tomorrow, come over,” my father said. “You’re more than welcome.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
But the only thing on my mind was the club, and how I would dance the night away one last time.
Chapter 3
Enzo
All of the guys I regularly frequented clubs with bailed on me for the night, so I was in the back surveying the scene. If I was going to be tied down to one woman for the rest of my life, then I was going to make sure I enjoyed myself tonight. I enjoyed being in the back. Relegating myself to the shadows. I was able to look out at everything around me without worrying about threats creeping up behind my back. I rose the cool bourbon to my lips as I looked around me, my eyes clocking all the beautiful women the club had to offer tonight.
Girth (Marked Skulls MC Book 1) Page 78