Falling for the Mafia Boss

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Lorenzo POV

“Can you believe her? Dressing like that in this neighborhood.” Donnie’s displeasure of his little sister’s attire makes me laugh. She looks gorgeous, but all he has to see is something tight with skin showing and he loses his mind. He has always been this way. When we would all go swimming in their backyard as kids, he would make her wear one of his shirts over her bathing suit. She already had to wear a one piece because of her protective father. Donnie was just the icing on the cake for poor Mia.

I’m surprised she didn’t go complete rebel once Donnie moved out, but not Mia. Mia was always a good girl. She made good grades in school and graduated top of her class. She was the typical girl next door. Smart, beautiful and sweet – the full f*****g fantasy. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she is still a virgin and was making Dylan wait for marriage. Which would be the ONLY reason why I could see him cheating on her.

“Eh, you’re getting off topic. Business first Romano.” I warn Donnie as he tries to ramble on about Mia’s safety. She’s fine. I’m going to be here all night and plan on keeping my eye on her.

“Sorry Boss.” Donnie apologizes and throws his hands up in surrender.

I wait until the men’s full attention is back on me before I continue. “Russo is delivering a shipment of guns into MY city tonight. I want the guys clipped and the truck in my garage.” I look at Donnie. “Can you handle that wise-guy?” My trust in him depleted last week when he decided to let Dylan live. My insult is sure to piss him off too.

He stops chewing on the tooth pick hanging from his mouth and shrugs his shoulder. “I’m a f*****g wise guy, huh? You want to demote me and pick a new underboss?” His eyes slit when he realizes why I said what I did. “You still pissed off at how I handled the American guy? Stay the f**k out my family’s business Enzo. What I do with Mia is my decision she isn’t part of the Mafia so she’s not your concern.” He grabs the wood sliver from his mouth and tosses it to the ground. “Who you want me to take on the job?”

Just like Donnie to show no fear in my presence or anybody else for that matter. That’s why he’s my underboss – my second in command. Despite him being my best friend, I can count on him to put me in my place and not take any of my s**t. He’s also loyal to my family and always hungry for assignments. He was born to be in the Mafia, he eats, sleeps and breathes it.

I point to the new kid smoking a cigarette out by the dumpster. “Take the new kid, Armando. I want to see what he’s worth. Have him pull the trigger.”

Donnie scoffs, “You trying to get me killed giving me the kid. It’s a truck full of guns. It’s going to be heavily armed.”

“Take the twins too I don’t care. Just make sure to test Armando.”

Donnie nods his head accepting my compromise. “Alright.” He grabs the handle pulling the metal door open.

“I mean it Donnie. The kid pulls the trigger, if he can’t...” I don’t have to finish my sentence because Donnie knows what to do with a liability. The mafia is no place for someone who don’t have guts. If the kid can’t makes ones bones, he’s in the wrong business, and unfortunately, he has already seen to much for me to just cut him loose. If he fails, his mother will be planning his funeral by tomorrow evening.

I hand joseph the keys to our armored truck. “Tell your brother the plan.”

***

I watch Donnie, Armando and the twins load the truck with weapons. It is obvious in their expressions that the tension around them is thick. Anytime our truck is loaded by people besides our soldiers, you know the stakes are high. Securing these guns are important that’s why I’m sending Donnie. The twins and Donnie are used to this kind of mission but the kid is not. I always put them at risk when I add an initiation in the mix.

Armando comes highly recommended by my uncle, so I have to test him. He’s just a kid, only nineteen years old. I can’t hold his age against him though, I made my first kill when I was fourteen. By his age I had an entire vase already filled with marbles. Uncle claims Armando has a hate for Russo that runs as deep as the ocean. I sure hope so, because he is in charge of killing two of them tonight.

Donnie uses hand gestures as he runs through the plan with the men gathered around him. I lean up against my car and watch from a distance. I try to let Donnie do his thing; I’m honestly only still hanging around to protect his dumb ass. When I’m away he tends to get in more trouble than I like and since he isn’t technically family, he gets no respect. But when I’m here and involved nobody even dares to speak his name.

The war between us and the Russo’s has been going on for years. We do nor like them and they do not like us. They tiptoe on our border and we tiptoe on theirs. They steal our drugs and guns and we steal theirs. But at the end of the day, we both want to keep our families safe so we try to respect each other.

Ricardo Russo is their Heir, he’s my age, and like me, he has been groomed since he was born to be the next boss. Ricardo’s grandfather Leo, and pop Francisco are both still around. He was never had to take charge like me, this is what separates him and I. He is still the runner, while I am the Boss. With my young age and lack of family the Russo’s think I am a threat to tradition. In all honesty I probably am.

So many times, I wanted to hand the reins to Donnie, but I knew it would only land him in an early grave. Although Donnie could very well be the Boss and wants to be, he isn’t blood. Being born into the family is the only way to become a Boss. If I ever wanted to step down one of the twins would have to take charge, and they are not ready for that. Not to mention they are as dumb as a can of sardines. They would get everyone killed and our family territory taken over.

Donnie goes into the club for a few moments and comes back out. He searches the parking lot until he sees me. He jogs over to me while the twins and the kid crawl into the van and wait for him.

“You going to be here a while?”

“Yeah.”

“Will you keep an eye on Mia. That bartender who is always making the dancers uncomfortable is already flirting with her. I’ve warned him once to stay away from her. If he messes with her take care of him for me.”

I nod my head in a silent promise.

***

I pour myself another glass of whiskey while I wait for Donnie’s call.

I had to interrupt Mia while she was dancing earlier because sure enough, she was grinding against the bartender. I don’t care if Mia has fun, she should be having fun… but not with my staff. Especially not the weird kid who don’t know how to take no for an answer. She’s far to beautiful for a low life like him. She should be with a doctor or someone who is good and pure like her.

My phone buzzes – its Donnie.

Enzo: “Pronto.”

Donnie: “Your trucks in the garage.”

Enzo: “And the kid?”

Donnie: “No hesitation.”

Donnie: “It’s going to be a little bit we hit a snag; can you make sure Mia gets home?”

I look down at the glass of whiskey I was fixing to drink and sigh. “Yeah, I’ll get her home.”

Donnie: “Thanx man.”

Donnie hangs up, keeping the call short.

Marco stumbles into the office with one of the dancers stuck to his face. When he notices me sitting in the office, he breaks theirheated kiss. “Sorry boss, I thought you left.”

Irritated at his need to mess around with our dancers while his wife is pregnant at home, I scoff. “And why would you think that?” If my facial expression does not show my displeasure, my tone will.

“Because Mia just walked out the back. I thought she was meeting you outside.”