CHAPTER 4
1016 Words
~Matteo~
The night had spread its wings over the power city of Dallas, Texas.
Streets were beginning to clear out, clubs jamming loud music, enough to make a man go crazy.
I was seated on an ornate sofa, sipping from my glass whiskey in a dimly lit room.
The air was thick with the toxic aroma of cigars and the faint tang of whiskey, a well known with these family gatherings.
B
Around the table sat my brothers, cousins,. and uncles, my blood, my people.
I leaned back in my chair at the head of the table, as I continued to nurse my glass of whiskey.
“Dear family, now that we all gathered, I would like to discuss a very prominent matter.”
The silence was broken by, none other than my younger brother, Lorenzo.
“Our dear Don, ruling over us all, my dear brother.”
Lorenzo turned to me.
“Yet, tell me, Matteo, how can you lead this family when you have no family of your own?”
Soon, mild chatterings sprung up from corners of the room.
“Silence!!!” The thundering voice of Maya silenced the whole room.
Maya, my dear aunt and the eldest and most respected member of the Inzaghi family. She sat across from me at the long oak table.
I've always grown to respect her despite my status as Don, more than I've respected anyone.
She witnessed the gang war in Dallas 20 years ago that took both my parents, yet she loved to tell the tale.
“Lorenzo, sit down!” She ordered Lorenzo to his seat, her voice stern.
“Matteo… Your brother has a strong point.” Maya turned to me.
“Being the Don of this family, your obliged to get married and welcome a new member into the Inzaghi Family.”
“You’re not just any man, Luca,” she said, her tone a perfect blend of affection and authority. “You’re the Don. A Don without a wife is a house without a foundation. It’s unheard of.”
I leaned back to my chair, pondering to myself.
“Maya, with all due respect, didn't you bother to ask why I called up this meeting?”
“NO, why?” Maya asked a little puzzled.
I rose up from my seat at once. “I've gathered you all here to announce my wedding happening tommorow.”
My voice thundered through the room.
The room fell dead silent for a minute. Even a pin drop could be heard.
Everyone glanced at the other in disbelief. No one could believe their ears.
I couldn't blame them for their reaction. I've been a proud bachelor for most of my time as Don, and then out of the blue I announce my wedding for tommorow.
Up until recent I've never really felt enough for a woman to want to marry her.
Some after a few nights of s*x I ghost them.
But there was something about Venus when I saw her earlier.
Something I've never felt ever for a woman before.
“Wow! Matteo when did this happen?” Maya asked breaking the awkward silence.
“The details doesn't matter. All that matters is I'm getting married tommorow, 9 am prompt. I want you all there.”
“Then let's make a toast for my brother.” Lorenzo roared from a corner of the room, holding up his glass of whiskey.
Every member in the room rose to their feet at once all raising their glasses to the ceiling.
“To a new adventure for my brother and our dear Don, Matteo!”
~Lorenzo~
The air was thick, in the Northside Bar, otherwise known as the Cingarette family den, our rivals.
I was on enemy turf.
But what choice did I have? My brother, had sealed my fate the moment I heard the news of his marriage.
I can't let him get married, if he does, it almost kills every chance I have of becoming the Don.
The door creaked open, and I straightened, my pulse quickening as Salvador Cingarette, the Don of his family entered.
He was flanked by two of his lieutenants, their sharp eyes were fixed on me as they walked in.
"So," Salvador began, his voice low and cautious, " Lorenzo graces us with his presence. To what do we owe this… unexpected visit?”
I forced a smirk, I hated every second I was spending here.
“ My brother is getting married tommorow.”
He raised an eyebrow, taking a seat across from me.
“ And this concerns me how?”
“He will be vulnerable making it an easy kill for you.”
I added.
“Okay… tell me more.” Salvador pulled out his cigarette box and a lighter.
I leaned foward, lowering my voice. “It will be held at the Green Square garden.
The security will be heavy, but I will know the schedule, the gaps, where he’ll be most vulnerable.”
Salvador studied me in silence, pondering his thoughts.
“And why would you hand us such a gift? How can I be sure you're not setting us up?” he lit the cigarette, the smoke reaching my nostrils.
“Because i want to be the Don!” I snapped at Salvador.
He did well to hold back his rage, trying to put business first before his pride.
“...and what do you want in return?” Salvador exhaled deeply, leaning back to his chair. His expression was cold.
“Nothing, I just want Matteo dead!” I said bluntly.
Salvador fixed his piercing gaze on me, his eyes almost boring into my soul.
He was searching for even a flinch, anything to tell that I was lying.
“Don't lie to us Lorenzo. If I find out you did, count yourself dead!”
Salvador warned, lowering his voice a little.
“I'm not lying!” I answered my voice firm.
“.... Okay! Lorenzo, we have a deal. If you give us the right information then expect Matteo… dead.”
Salvador’s voice turned cold.
- Writer
