Falling for the Mafia Boss

Chapter Nineteen

Lorenzo POV

Al Capon’s famous quote is on repeat in my head. “You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot further with a smile and a gun.”

I fasten the straps tightly to my chest and hide two guns in the holsters. In my closet I find a suit jacket and shrug it onto my shoulders, smoothing out the collar.

… with a smile and a gun…

Taking a 380 out of my drawer, I strap it around my ankle beneath my pants, just to be safe.

One can never have too many guns.

Nonno’s advice brings a smile to my face. I close my eyes and picture him in front of his armory, his arms wide open like usual. He was so proud of his empire.

“You think you have enough guns?” I teased him. I was only thirteen when he showed me his empire.

He grabbed a bazooka off the wall with a s**t-eating grin. “One can never have too many guns, kid. Acquire as much power as possible and always be prepared for war. You do that, and nobody can ever take you by surprise. The ones with the guns are the ones in charge.”

For precautionary purposes, I grab one more pistol from my drawer and stick it in the back of my pants.

As a peace offering, I invited the Moretti’s to the vineyard for dinner. Stefano can pick up his niece, sample my wine, buy some if he would like, and be on his way.

Although I rescued Isabella, I have a feeling Stefano is going to take her disappearance out on someone, and since the war is between Genovese and Russo, I’m going to be his closest target.

I trudge into Armando's room and throw him an AR. He catches it mid-air with a huge smile on his face. He studies the gun, caressing it like it is a naked woman. “I’ve always wanted one of these.” He says, his grin shining bright. I reach into my back pocket and retrieve the silencer, tossing it to him next. His eyes darken, a satanic smirk pulling at his lips. “I like your style, boss.”

“There is a balcony that overlooks the patio and vineyard. I have set a table up out there for the meeting. Our guests have been instructed to come unarmed, but knowing these old mafia lords, someone will have one. If you see a weapon, shoot to kill. You’re my only eyes today, kid. Consider this a test. If you keep me safe, I’ll put you on a special detail.”

“I won’t let Cosa Nostra down boss.” The kid sounds scripted like he has been practicing those words since the day he watched his first MOB movie.

You can always tell the difference between those who aspire to be in the mafia, and those who were born into it. The ones like me who were born into it, don’t know a life outside it. We eat, breathe, and s**t crime. This is normal, we know no other life.

Now, those who aspire to be us have struggled in the real world. They were taught that their hustle was wrong and punished for thinking like a gangster. They stay hungry for power, loyalty, and a family that accepts their ways. I always gravitate towards those ambitious kids on missions like these. They just want to be a part of blowing out some brains. Since Marco is watching over Mia, Armando is the next one in line who is perfect for the job.

****

The Moretti’s are a small family. They originated from one man. He had no brothers except for the ones he called his family. After he and his wife had two sons, they pushed their “Business” onto the boys at a young age. Stefano Moretti and Antonio Moretti. Stefano, being older, took the lead in the business, while Antonio's main job was to take care of the family.

I have to give it to them. In fifty years, those two have built a very profitable business. They run drugs just like us, but they lean more towards pharmaceuticals, and instead of guns they sell organs on the black market. I’ve never asked how they obtain those organs, and they wouldn’t tell me anyhow.

They are dangerous; if they were bigger, they could probably take over Russo’s territory.

Stefano brought six men with him to the meeting. More than I would have liked, but less than I expected. I set the table for five, but only Stefano chose to sit down. His men stand guard in different places around him, blocking him from possible sniper points. Clever.

“Why didn’t you kill her?” Stefano asks a very valid question.

There are three reasons I didn’t kill Isabella. One, I don’t kill innocent women. Two, I can easily deal with the current war between me and the Russo but add a second war, and I will lose a lot of men. Third, she’s worth a lot more alive than she is dead. “You now owe me a favor, Stefano.”

He laughs, his big belly jiggling as he does so. “I don’t owe you s**t!” he spits. One of his men steps forward, reaching behind him to grab a weapon. Six bullets hit the man before he could retrieve his gun. Blood sputters from his lips, he hits his knees, and then his face. Stefano holds his hand up, stopping his other men from taking action.

We stare at each other, a silent threat coating the molecules in space between us.

I pull one of the guns from my holster, reaching down I grab the leg of Isa’s chair and pull her towards me. As I wipe the hair behind her ear with the gun barrel, she whimpers. “I said no guns, Moretti. Put them on the table, or she will join her sister in being maggot food next.”

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I’m relaxing in the hot tub, my head resting on the side of the tub when Isabella interrupts my thoughts.

“Posso unirmi a vio?” (Can I join you)

I didn’t see her coming, too lost in my thoughts as I relive the events of today through my memory. Stefano and I made a deal. We will take out Russo together and once they are all buried six feet under Moretti can have Russo’s territory as long as they stick to pharmaceuticals and organs. I agreed to give them 20 soldiers for their current territory to help protect them from Russo and Stefano left Isabella for collateral.

If I catch word that he goes against our agreement I will mail him a different part of her body every day until there is nothing left of his precious niece. I may not agree with killing innocent women, but I will do just about anything to remind someone who I am, and that I’m in charge.

Her joining me normally wouldn’t be a problem, but I’m not in the mood for conversation. Not wanting to be rude to my guest, I tell her just that. When she pulls her sundress over her head to reveal a completely naked body, I frown with a groan.

That’s not what I meant by not wanting to talk, Isabella.

She steps into the water, sucking air through her teeth when the warm water bites her thighs. Taking a seat next to me, she smiles softly. “Thank you for not killing me today, Genovese.” English sounds so foreign coming from her, her accents as thick as my mothers was.

“Hope I won’t have to,” I answer honestly.

She shakes her head, her long hair dancing slowly in the water and blanketing her shoulders in a shadow. “You negotiated well. He will not go against your deal.” She reaches over, running her palm across the length of my thigh. “You gave him protection, and he gave you me.”

Fuck. If Mia hadn’t come back to town and shocked my heart back into rhythm, I would bend Isabella over the edge of the hot tub and make her forget her name. I won’t do that to Mia though. Whether or not we are exclusive, she holds my heart and I would never jeopardize the chance to have a girl like her, for a girl like Isa.

“Isa.” I growl warning her.

Her eyes darken, a hood of lust forming over them with a mix of determination. “Do you have a girlfriend, Genovese?” her accent mixed with her smokey tone makes my d**k twitch. I’m surprised she would care to ask, most groupies like herself wouldn’t. She leans into me, her lips daring me to kiss her. “Do you want me to help you relax, boss?” her hand finds my c**k, stroking me through my shorts. I grab ahold of her neck, squeezing. She whimpers in pain but continues to run her hand the length of my d**k.

This could go one of two ways. Either I turn her down and risk her getting upset because beautiful women like her are not used to rejection, or I let her have her way and not only jeopardize my situationship with Mia, but also open a door for a merge between families that I don’t necessarily want.

“I have a fidanzato (fiancé), Isa.” I run my thumb over her bottom lip. Temptation is a b***h. “You are f*****g beautiful though,” I whisper. Grabbing ahold of her jaw, I steer her back to her side of the tub. Standing up, I adjust my shorts and step out. I grab a towel from the heater and wrap it around my waist.

“Le me congratulazioni, Genovese.” (Congratulations) She peers over her shoulder through her thick lashes. “You know where my room is if you change your mind.”

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I set the gun on my nightstand and crawl into bed. Just as I get comfortable and start to doze off my phone buzzes. I’m ready to cuss Donnie out because he always calls me at the worst time but it's not him. Mia’s face flashes across the screen requesting a video call.

Swiping the screen, the video comes to life. Mia’s messy hair and sweet face stare back at me. Her big brown eyes slant when she smiles. “Hey, handsome.” She greets me. “I didn’t expect you to be in bed. It’s only twelve.”

“Long day” I offer. Her face falls, and a worried expression causes stress lines to appear on her forehead. “What’s wrong bellissima?”

“Umm..” she peers past the phone and reaches for something, “When I came back from my jog this morning there was an envelope on my front steps.”

I sit up and hit the button for the lamp, turning the light on. I can tell that Mia is on edge and her tone alone puts me on edge with her. She is terrified. She starts flipping through something in her hands, something that looks like cards.

“It was filled with pictures of us making out on the hood of your car. There was a note with them from that detective.”

“What did the note say.”

Her eyebrows nit together once more as she reads the tiny note. “Who do you think will die first in a gunfight once the secret is out? Genovese or Donnie?” her eyes meet mine in the phone, the whites of hers glistening with tears. “He’s right Lorenzo. Donnie’s f*****g nuts.” She rubs the tears from her cheeks, “and your no saint either. Donnie can never find out about us; it will tear you two apart.”

“How does a king have a queen without the entire kingdom knowing? Don’t worry about me and Donnie. I’ll take care of the detective when I get home.”

She shakes her head, “You may be a king Lorenzo, but I’m no queen… and I don’t think I want to be.”

Fuck. I wish I was there with her so I could ease her panicking thoughts. I know me being the head of the mafia family could be scary to someone like her… and f**k, I want her. She’s a smart girl. She knows her best option is to run away from me and the baggage I bring but f**k that. “Buonanotte mia regina.” (Good night my queen)

A sly smirk steals her lips, “Buonanotte mio re.” (goodnight my king)