Dear Boss

Chapter 2: The Right One

SIENNA VENDITTO

Antonio or Toni as we call him was all too excited when I came out of papa’s office to eat with him at the dining room. He had laid everything out. Antonio’s disappointment for my lack of enthusiasm for eating was also obvious when I didn’t automatically run for the delicious oily food and jump right into busy. 

“Papa already told you about my new setup didn’t he?” I asked him when he pouted. 

Toni rubbed the side of his face. “Yeah, I just assumed we’d eat first.” 

I picked up one of our snacks that was on the table and handed him one. “I want someone outside the family.

The frown on his face was instantaneous. “When your father said choose anyone, he meant someone inside the family.”

I waved away his concern as if those were merely technicalities. A technicality that would land us both in a horrible tongue lashing from papa. “I already know everyone in the family. If I’m going to find someone, it has to be someone who is loyal to me and not just because of my last name.”

“Our men aren’t simply loyal to you because of your name and who your father is. They care about you. I know they do.” Antonio quickly rebutted. “I know this because I recruited and trained most of the men inside the compound. I’ve personally seen how my men react to you… how much they admire you.”

“I don’t doubt that. I simply want this particular one to be right. My right.” I explained with big hopeful eyes. Ah, I’ve played him right into it. I had to repress a grin at the softened expression on his face. 

Toni knew he was going to regret this but he also knew he couldn’t say no to me- the girl who he thought of as a daughter. He spoiled me. He always has. “Alright, who do you have in mind?”

“Do you have any prospects? People you’ve been looking to recruit?” I asked, settling into a seat beside Toni. We had some time before my mama and her helpers asked us to leave the dining room to set the dinner table. 

“Yeah, plenty.” Toni leans down to take a pile of papers he was looking at before I joined him. “Here.” He laid out a thick stack of files. 

I peered at the thick documents and realized they were detailed information sheets of men from various backgrounds. All of which were possible members of the family. I picked up the one on top. The file had everything from the man’s name, address, ancestry, criminal files, relationships, family members, current and past occupations. I wanted to ask how on earth he got all this information. This wasn’t the type the government had. Not this detailed at least. 

We ate the pastries Toni got for us as I went through about half of the files on the table. “How about this one, eh?”

The man in question looked to be about twice my age and went by the name ‘the Butcher’. He was scary and would surely do the job but still. “No. Not quite the right fit.”

No one stood out to me. I wasn’t looking for much. I just needed something… a feeling. Toni himself told me when I first started hiring for the legitimate business of the family that the right person will have that feeling. It’s a sensation in my gut that told me: yes, this is the right one.

So far, no one from Toni’s files had that feeling. 

That is, until I pulled out the daily newspaper from underneath the pile, the one I was reading in the car not too long ago. A portrait of a man stared back at me. He is what any person would identify as handsome. He fashioned that rugged look despite his military cut jet black hair, dark soulful eyes, high cheekbones, prominent jawline and a deep cleft chin. He has olive dark skin that most women would die for. Above all that, he looked dangerously angry, angry at the world for wrongly convicting him.

Without looking up from the paper, I moved Toni’s files to the side. “Hmmm, I want him.” 

Toni leaned sideways and peered at the newspaper. He looked back at me, perplexed. He made his thoughts known by clearing his throat and jabbing a fat thumb at the man in the newspaper. “Are we looking at the same person? Is there some kind of mistake?”

“No not a mistake or at least, it’ll be the best mistake I’ll ever make.” I grinned cheekily.

He didn’t seem to share my amusement. “The guy sentenced for murdering two of his fellow military men with a boot?” I nod enthusiastically and he looked even more unsure now. “You want a man obligated to guard you, to protect you, to be by your side at all times to be someone like that?”

Unbothered, I shoved an entire pastry inside my mouth. “Did you see his reason why?” 

He didn’t really care for the reason. Of all people, Toni was not one to judge a man for his crimes- regardless what it could be but then it was me. I wasn’t just anybody for Toni to look past crimes. “He killed them for attempting to r**e his squad member.”

I beamed, swallowing another mouthful of delicious food. “Exactly.”

Toni closed his eyes and shook his head profusely. Never mind if he clearly felt that same right feeling for this man- it was on his face. He wanted someone else, someone he already did an immense background check for. Anyone other than a random man I saw in the newspaper. “I don’t know about this.”

“Come on.” I urged. “You trust my judgement right?”

It wasn’t just about trusting my judgement which I’m sure he did. After all, I’m almost never wrong in my decisions. “I do but this is potentially your life on the line. I’d be more comfortable if you choose someone from my list. I’ve already done my research on all these men. And in that way, I can train them as well. Make whoever you choose be better for you.”

I placed the newspaper over the files Toni was trying to push at me. “You can train him, test him if you have to, do your due process, background checks and whatnot. Take all the time that you need. Just get him for me.”

“He’s in prison.” Toni futilely brought up.

The grin on my face was bone chilling, it was the famous Venditto smile. “As if that’s ever stopped you before.”

Reluctantly and defeatedly, he reached for his phone and dialed a number. He spoke in a low but business- like voice to whoever picked up on the other line. “Matteo Alessi.” 

I knew I already won when he was already looking to find more information on the man I chose. To be completely honest, I don’t know what it is that made me choose him. It’s really just a feeling, a good feeling towards him. 

Toni put the phone down and leaned back on his seat. “I have no doubt in this man’s abilities if his boot has anything to say about it.”

“But?” I pressed knowing there’s a but.

“He’s physically strong for the job, is possibly capable of taking and executing orders but… Ina, this is risky.” He massaged the side of his face, deep in thought.

We were both interrupted by the sound of a machine prompting us that the files he requested on Matteo Alessi was coming through. Not a few minutes later and we already had all the information on the man in the newspaper spread across the dining table. I didn’t need to ask where Toni got all of this from. The family has incredible reach when it comes to these types of things. We have people in the law enforcement, senate, military, media newspapers and just about everything. All of these people are placed strategically by papa himself. Everything worked for the family’s favor. 

“Matteo Alessi, twenty eight years old.” I began reading through the files on the table.

Toni looked through it as well. “Enlisted when his mother died when he was eighteen.”

“Served ten years in the Army. Staff Sergeant.” I continued, impressed with his excellent record. He has a reputation for being intimidatingly strict.

“Deployed and fought overseas for all of ten years. Front lines. He was about to be promoted before this happened.” I can tell Toni was already becoming interested in him. “No living relatives. No family, wife or children. No known relationships.” 

I feel myself sag when I read the more recent information about him. It was obvious that he was protecting the woman in his unit. The files included the woman’s photos and medical which showed the bruises to match Matteo Alessi’s claims of foul play. “It’s an assault covered up and supposedly buried by his commanding officer.”

“Awful.” Toni grumbled under his breath. 

I put down the files and look up at the ceiling, feeling solemn. “He’s a good man placed in a bad situation.” 

“It all comes down if he agrees to the family’s terms.” Toni tells me, his word for the man I chose significantly less than when we started. “The release would be an easy one. They’ve done harder.”

I couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t just about finding me a bodyguard now. It’s something bigger. We can potentially save a man from being wrongly convicted and sent to prison.

Toni closes his eyes. He was already formulating a plan. “I was thinking we would leave tomorrow after breakfast to drive to the local precinct. See how he’s doing.”

I arched my eyebrows, a smile in place. “I knew you would change your mind.”

“I’m only doing this for you.” He says, watching mama come out of the kitchen, spatula at the ready to smack us out of the dining room. “I need to make a few calls.”

We ran out of the room before a flying spatula could hit us. “Sorry, mama!” 

The next morning after a hefty breakfast, I sat in a car with Antonio. He dragged along two other men who sat in front. All four of us were dressed in suits. To anyone that would see us, we just looked like regular attorneys. 

Toni’s face was hard the entire ride to the precinct and I can guess why. Although he already felt a little better about Matteo Alessi, no one in his eyes would be good enough to protect me unless it was him and Gio.

“Ina, we aren’t releasing him today. I want us to see him from afar first before we make a decision. A file can be very different from the real thing.” He advised wisely.

“I understand.” I reassure him as we make it to our destination. 

This particular precinct is under our jurisdiction. The Police Captain is actually a distant family relative who we trust completely and is also heavily funded. One of papa’s close associates. 

So, Toni and I watched the convicted man from afar inside the Police Captain’s office. Toni was engaged in conversation with the Captain while I stared out. No one in the precinct minded us. The two of us merely looked like finely dressed lawyers checking in. That’s the beauty of the Venditto family, we all looked decent and not at all like the Mafia that we truly are. 

It didn’t take long, barely twenty minutes. I observe the man that was to be my bodyguard. Matteo Alessi looked exactly how he did in the newspapers; handsome, strong and angry- albeit more filthy as he’s been here for quite some time. 

I realized at that moment exactly why I chose him. I didn’t like the injustice done to an honest man. True he went a little overboard but it was merely a loss of restraint towards despicable men and for this, I took it upon myself to give him proper justice. 

The Venditto family- a crime family is not an innocent one or a perfect one but we can provide him a better world where he can live in. A world where his talents can be used and his deeds appreciated. 

I pull my eyes away from Matteo Alessi and share a look with Toni. We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to but he knew. He knew exactly what my decision was.

“Monday.” He reassures me. Monday Toni would take this man away from this horrible situation. 

I nod and we were off to a restaurant for lunch along with our two burly companions.