Luzo: Reign of a Mafia Don (17 page)

Ernesto bypassed the formalities. “
My sister mistook you for a man of your word, but three times you have failed to honor your promise. Sophie is patient, she is a woman. But, I am not as tolerant Signore. A man's word is all they own. I will let you live, however you will do so without a tongue,” Ernesto said to the tailor and then he turned to his son, Vincenzo who held a pair of sharp scissors and said to the boy, "Cut the liar’s tongue in half figlio. Leave him enough to taste the blood."

The boy laughed, but Ernesto was serious, somewhat.

The threat had the desired effect and the tailor scampered away to the work room and reappeared with Sophie’s prized dress in a nice garment covering.

“It is ready Signore. The intricate stitching required a special machine that I had to order.”

Ernesto snatched the garment bag from his hands, ordered Vincenzo to put down the scissors and called to Nico who had wandered to the pictures of cities hanging on the walls. The child seemed fascinated with paintings, Ernesto observed. For a boy not yet five, his scribbling was rather good. He clicked his tongue as he held open the door for the twins.

“We will stop for ice-cream, yes?” Ernesto said.

Nico’s eyes sparkled. “Sí papa…sí!”

Ernesto smiled at the boys. Their innocence would die soon enough, but for now he allowed them to enjoy their youth. They were good boys. Their biological mama was evil. Each time he looked in their jubilant faces, he remembered what she had done. Had she succeeded, he would not have been given these gifts to care for which made his wife smile.

A Giacanti burden begins the day they are born.

***

The trees blew.

Hats spiraled like kites off heads of Sicilians.

The aroma of bread is so nice in the morning; it gives taste to the air. Luzo smiled at his wife as she hooked her arm in his. He was in a good mood, and had stopped at the jeweler to have a trinket made. Gina was feeling ill and alluded to that she might be pregnant. Oh, the joy negated any doubts he had about their arrangement. He almost dared to think, that his firstborn might be a boy. He’d take a girl. He’d take many mornings like this.

The diamond bracelet he ordered with a ruby center made his donna beam and she had then kissed him in front of the jeweler, rather naughtily.
His eyes twinkled as he lowered his eyes to check the time. Carlo’s wedding was nearby, at an intimate church. They arrived in the nick of time.

Gina went to sit with the guests as Luzo sought out an extremely nervous groom. Carlo paced the wood floor like an expectant father. When he saw his brother, the eyes were flames of
fright and joy. “You are late…I had palpitations…they are ready…ah Luzo…make sure you have the ring.”

“I have the ring.”

“Let me see.”

Luzo took the velvet box from his pocket and showed Carlo their mother’s blue diamond ring. Carlo calmed. He looked at his brother with love. “That was meant for your wife. You are the eldest.”

“No, this ring should be worn by the donna who will make you happy. Papa and mama would have approved. You have done well fratellino.”

The ceremonial march signaled it was time. Luzo corrected his brother’s tie and handkerchief. “Perfecto,” he said and then opened the door. They walked down the carpeted aisle, chins up in Giacanti style. At the altar is where they stopped and then the gasps caused their heads to spin around.

In a few short days a resourceful bride-to-be had selected the loveliest of gowns. Swaths of silk and lace could never hide a goddess’ silhouette. The modest bodice was seductive on Sophie. A movie star, yes, she was a knock-out and Carlo beamed with pride. He had waited. For having faith, he was awarded a precious gift. Sophie glowed like the sun. Carlo could not tear his eyes away. He loved his donna. He would protect her and their unborn bambini to the death.

Then he looked over her veiled head to the door to make certain it was heavily fortified
. Sophie was a beautiful trouble magnet. He had to ensure calamity did not crash through the door before his donna became Signora Dichenzo. He had waited long enough, killed and fought for this stubborn donna. She had also saved his life, ah how his heart beat for Sophie, they were fated to be together.

Who but his future wife could make such a shot
while reclined?

When the music ceased, she winked a long feathery lash at Carlo. These secrets they shared were those often between Mafiosi. Butchering and baking could only mean Sophie. Carlo winked back, Omertá.

The priest noticed the couple’s exchange and grinned. This union, he foretold would last a lifetime.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cigar smoke spiraled in the air. Alberti studied the chess pieces as he puffed on the Behike. Don Peglesi reclined as he waited for his opponent to choose between a bishop or a rook. He spoke, which Alberti may have deemed a distraction, but this is how they conversed. “The family appealed to the board, but the hit was not sanctioned,” he said.

“Um,” Alberti said aloud from his state of concentration.

“The board will not take away its golden cow.”

“Luzo is making them wealthy, I agree.”

“But the Trotta clan does not always adhere to rules when their cheated or wronged.”

“Luzo has no fiduciary responsibility in an agreement Don Casentini makes with another.”

“No, but he is family, although it is through marriage and has the wealth to make good on Don Casentini’s debt since he is unable to be found.”

“It is ludicrous, this business. In any event, Luzo is aware of the tension.”

Alberti moved his rook.

Don Peglesi smiled. The move was unexpected. Don Alberti was good. He leaned forward. “I understand Carlo returns from his honeymoon today. I did not have such a lengthy stay on mine.”

“Perché?” Alberti asked, squinting as he sucked in more smoke.

“The timing of a donna’s cycle cut it short.”

Alberti laughed as he flicked a large piece of ash in the tray. “I find when determined, nothing stops the singular pursuit.”

“Eh, I am
patient.”

There was a tap on the door and the guard answered. The soldati who was sent to keep an eye on the Trotta clan stood in the doorway. Don Alberti gestured him forward.

The soldati spoke rapidly. “There is activity. Men have assembled. I overheard they plan to attack both Dons tonight.”

Alberti was on his feet. “Grazie, Don Peglesi for the game, we will finish next time.”

“Of course,” his friend nodded. He could not attend this firefight of the Giacanti’s or risk exposing his involvement. The greater protection for men with royalty’s blood was needed, his position was to care for the papers of their lineage and other important documents.

Alberti’s final request
required Don Peglesi to ring his father and send him to meet Sophie and Carlo at the aeroporto. With a small group of soldati, Alberti set out toward the docks. The airport was farther north and Carlo’s plane was not scheduled to land for another hour or more. Luzo on the other-hand had gone to view the warehouses with Bruno DeMarco and the docks were closer to where they were. Luzo had increased his bodyguards to three, but that may not be enough if Trotta sent an execution squad.

Alberti checked his weapon as they passed the dark piazza. They rolled
by Don Trotta’s automobile idling on the side of the restaurant he owned. Alberti’s head swiveled when he saw the Don emerge without a guard.

“Pull over!” he said to the driver. “Shut the lights.”

Then he waited for the Don’s car to pass and he tapped the dashboard for the driver to follow. They tailed the car through the dimly lit strada. By the direction the vehicle traveled, he surmised the Don was going home. There was another roadway which ran parallel to the one the Don was on. They could speed and intercept the Don’s car before he reached the Autostrada. He advised the driver of his plan and told the men in the backseat to prepare their weapons to shoot on cue.

They nodded.

The traffic had thinned at the intersection and the vehicle veered left, increased speed and several kilometers later spun in the direction of the roadway where Don Trotta’s car traveled in the oncoming direction. They were within meters, approaching the shiny luxury car when Alberti said, “Ora.”

A hail of bullets riddled Don Trotta’s vehicle. The tires burst and the car careened off the road, sliding on its side down the grassy hill.

Alberti had his driver do a U-turn and when the careened to a halt, Alberti quickly exited and jogged sideways down the grass embankment. He reached the bullet riddled metal and spotted the Don’s hands gripping the thin blades of grass as he slid from the window of the wrecked automobile. The Don’s head was exposed, minus his usual fedora.

Alberti
took aim and blasted open his skull. He spat on the ground before wiping the brain matter off his shoes on the hem of the Don’s poorly woven sports coat.

***

Luzo was given a tour of the line of warehouses. He had begun purchasing several along the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean coastline to import and export building materials, a
nd other goods.

Bruno
’s expertise in shipping business was invaluable thus far, and Luzo respected his input. Luzo figured if he purchased the properties now, the value in the future would be well worth the expense. Bruno’s capital was capped and it would take several years to acquire the sum needed to buy the entire fleet of buildings and do renovations. Luzo had the financial resources and they were here strolling along the dock in the dark talking shop.

Luzo considered the feasibility of tearing down the neglected structures and erecting more modern buildings that could withstand the elements. The pre-war structures, although standing had run their course. He decided a complete renovation of the entire lot would be more beneficial in the long-term. Thus, on Monday, he planned to have his offer ready and was certain the buyer would agree to rid himself of the distressed properties and pay off his debt.

“The properties require work, but I believe they are a smart investment,” Bruno said when they reached the end of the dock where old containers and dumped tires were piled.

“Sí, I agree.”

They stopped. Luzo thrust his hands in his pockets taking in the line of neglected warehouses which had once been full of activity during the war. As he observed when young, war leaves bruises upon the landscape which never heal unless completely redone.

“My wife has invited you and the signora to dinner next week. I hope you can attend.”

“Certainly.”

“Bene.”

They began to walk slowly toward the awaiting cars when Luzo noticed vehicles with their lights off heading up the pier. Bruno had noticed as well and they hurried to the side and began to jog the distance toward their cars. Luzo was aware Bruno was unarmed.

Gunfire erupted. Glass shattered and bullets struck the exterior of the building
before they reached the cars. Bruno and Luzo flattened their backs against the building. Luzo reached to his waist for his pistol as his men returned fire using the car doors as shields. The assailants released a volley of shots from machine guns and struck Bruno’s driver as he attempted to race forward to get his boss. The out of control vehicle zoomed by, colliding with the containers and stopped.

The second succession of gunshots mowed down Luzo’s guards
, leaving one. Luzo aimed, striking a gunman but there were several. The buildings were shuttered, the only way out was blocked unless they chose to take a swim.

Luzo slid along the wall, gestured for Bruno to get down and then ran to the car where his last
soldier crouched. Luzo retrieved the weapon from a fallen soldati and slid Bruno the pistol just as more gunfire erupted over his head.

A bullet struck the last guard
when he stood to shoot. The soldati stumbled into the open and was summarily executed. His body danced like a marionette and then dropped as if strings were abruptly released.

Luzo
and Bruno were pinned by gunfire. Orders were being shouted, the men were told to advance.

In the pause that followed, Luzo leaped up and shot several rounds hitting a man boldly running in his direction and another shot took out a shadowed figure. The answering projectiles sent Luzo close to the ground behind the shelter of metal. He checked his weapon. One bullet remained.

His ears picked up the sound of an approaching automobile. Gunfire and the screeching of tires echoed in the air. The car had halted at the rear of Luzo’s vehicle. When he checked around the side, he saw Alberti ducking as he exited the driver’s seat and blast a man in the shadows.