UNHOLY DESIRE

MATTEO

Having climbed down from my car, I strode towards the entrance of the formidable building in front of me. Standing at the entrance, I touched the pendant on my chest. The door whined and swirled open, and as soon as I stepped in, it closed with a snap.

A wince escaped me at the loudness of it. I should have been used to it, but then, it often startled me each time.

I was at the La Fortuna Prive. It was a high-end casino with luxurious decor, glittering chandeliers, and an array of gaming tables. Located on the outskirts of Miraval, the La Fortuna Prive served as a front for money laundering and a source of revenue, which was mainly a hotspot of high-stakes gambling and discreet meetings for the Ferrovia Famiglia.

The organization I belonged to.

“For fifteen years, you were here, Teo, yet you still flinched at the sound of the door?” Lucia said as she approached me with a raise of her slender brows.

Lucia Rossi was a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties. She sported short brunette hair, often styled in a bob, a nose that had a sharpness uncommon for someone of Italian descent, slate grey eyes, and lips shaped like a cupid’s bow. I believed she had gotten all her features from her mother, who was an American, because she looked nothing like her father.

I had known Lucia for so long that I had come to see her as more of a sister than just a member of the famiglia I belonged to.

“It’s nice to see you too, Lucy,” I said. I often referred to her as Lucy, and she loved it when I did.

“It is,” Lucia grinned, and I opened my arms, allowing her into my embrace.

“I see you brought good news, didn’t you?” I muttered as I stepped towards the end of the room.

Lucia had been on a business trip, though it wasn’t your typical assignment. She had taken it upon herself to infiltrate the territory of the enemy. I never doubted her success, even when others did, because she excelled at what she did.

“I never thought I’d see La Fortuna Prive again,” she sighed, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, and exhaling slowly.”

“I never had a doubt,” I said.

“Of course, you never would,” Lucia said, then she scrunched up her face. “And when you did your face like this, something seemed up.”

I shrugged, “Something is always up,” I murmured.

Being a made man and part of the Ferrovia Famiglia, there was never a day when disputes wouldn’t brew. It had been part of my life, and I had learnt to live with it.

“Giovanni wanted you to be present in the meeting room now,” Lucia said, wrinkling her straight nose.

She always did that when referring to Giovanni, who was her father.

“Noted,” I said, striding towards a dimly lit backroom.

It was quiet and void of the noise from the main clubhouse. It felt as though this part of the building was different from the club due to the calmness it exuded. Yet, I knew it was anything but calm.

I approached the figures standing by a large rectangular table. I didn’t need to be told who they were.

They were our recent alliance with three of the most powerful famiglias in the whole of Sicily. The reason they had come to Miraval, I never could tell.

I felt their eyes trained on me as I approached them, and I stared ahead, daring not to look into their eyes. They outranked me except for one person, Vincent, who was below me. He was the consigliere, the special advisor to the boss, Giovanni “Il Falco” Rossi.

In his late fifties, Giovanni still commanded an air of authority, just as he did the first time I met him. He had a robust stature, a bald head, and eyes that were deep-set, dark brown, and brimming with calculation and intelligence.

“Ferrari,” Giovanni boomed. “Good to see you again.” His eyes were squinted at me, and I knew there wasn’t anything good about the pleasantries he had to offer.

I had made them wait for me. I had never been late to a meeting until today, and it was for a good reason. Yet, bringing up a family issue as an excuse, I knew no one would care about that. So, I braced myself for the scolding I would receive later.

“Something came up,” I said, my voice gruff. I didn’t offer any other explanation aside from that, but I could feel Giovanni’s eyes still on me.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen, for keeping you waiting,” Giovanni said. “You may sit.” As they all sat, Giovanni nodded at me to do the same, which I did, exhaling. For a brief moment, his eyes strayed to everyone in the room before he began.

“Gentlemen, thank you for agreeing to meet tonight. As you know, our respective organizations have shared interests in the Carmine Shoreline territory, and recent developments suggest that a unified front could benefit us all.”

“Indeed, Rossi, our intel indicated a rising force encroaching on both our operations. Perhaps it’s time we consider a strategic alliance,” Ricardo Lombardi, also known as the serpent, said.

He was the boss of the Serpenti Segreti Cartel. The Serpenti Segreti Cartel was shrouded in mystery and known for its strategic use of deception. They were skilled at infiltrating rival organizations and gathering crucial information.

As silence ensued, I asked, “If I may interject, let’s discuss the terms. How do we envision this partnership working? Will it involve joint ventures, shared profits, or mutual support in times of need?”

“We propose a 60-40 split in favor of the contributing party for any joint ventures, along with a mutual non-aggression pact. Additionally, we’d be willing to share our expertise in the transportation sector,” Giovanni said.

The Ferrovia Famiglia was deeply entrenched in the world of transportation and logistics. We had a network that spanned across various cities, allowing us to control the movement of goods and information.

My mind wandered briefly as my phone beeped, and I stared at my pocket as the screen light turned on.

I resisted the urge to pull out my phone, as I had been anticipating a call from Deirdre to apologize for what she had done for making our three-year-old daughter call me a monster. Or maybe she didn’t care at all. My mind wandered further, wondering if I was unfair to her. But she had never been fair to me either.

“Ferrari,” Giovanni murmured, patting my thigh and jolting me out of my thoughts. I smiled grimly before letting my eyes wander away from him.

“Fair terms, Rossi. In return, we can offer protection in the Carmine Shoreline territory and provide access to our information network. A united front could send a clear message to our rivals,” Ricardo said.

I sighed. I wanted this meeting to end as quickly as possible so I could return home, but I doubted I would be allowed to without another meeting held. It was the way in this organization. After a meeting with an external body, another with an internal body would be held to relay what was happening.

“It seems we’re reaching a consensus. We’ll need to formalize this agreement, establish a chain of command, and ensure open communication channels. This alliance could reshape the balance of power in the city,” Adriano Romano said. He was the underboss of L’Impero dell’Ombra.

L’Impero dell’Ombra, also known as the Empire of Shadows. This organization was known for its far-reaching influence and ability to operate in the shadows, making them elusive and difficult to track.

Giovanni tilted his head, then nodded. “Agreed. We’ll draft a memorandum of understanding outlining the specifics and have our legal team review it. Trust will be paramount in this partnership.”

“Trust indeed, Rossi. Let’s ensure our actions speak louder than our words. Once the agreement is finalized, we’ll announce our partnership discreetly to our respective networks,” Ricardo murmured.

“A wise move. Remember, this alliance is a strategic move for both parties. We must remain vigilant and adaptable to changing circumstances,” chimed in Adriano Romano.

The discussion went on for a while until I heard my name spoken. I raised a brow, turning to Giovanni.

“Ferrari will go on the cruise with you to finalize the agreement,” he said. I frowned, wondering what had been discussed, but I nodded, not wanting to appear inattentive.

“Share a drink with me,” Giovanni said.

After the drink was finished and the other organization members had left, Giovanni gripped my shoulder. “Come with me.”

I followed his lead and stepped into another room, a place in the building where Giovanni sought solace and not many people visited.

“What’s bothering you?” He asked. “You weren’t paying attention.”

“I was,” I lied.

“You’re lying to me, son,” Giovanni said. He knew me too well, and whenever he called me ‘son,’ I knew he had caught on to what was happening.

“I heard you got into a fight,” he pointed out, his eyes scrutinizing me.

“That swine deserved it,” I grunted, remembering Jean. It was a pity I hadn’t broken his nose beyond repair.

“You’re stirring up problems, and even for a man with a code of conduct like yours, you broke it just for a mere woman?” Giovanni asked.

“She’s not just any woman,” I scowled.

“I see,” Giovanni chuckled. “I wouldn’t reprimand you for doing what you did, but I just want you to be careful.”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

I exhaled heavily, nodding. “I have always been careful.”

“You should gather everyone to address them on the recent development and report back to me.” Giovanni patted my back before I stepped out of the room.