Chapter 1 Forced Alliance

Antonio Gustaw's POV

I sat behind my desk, the weight of the family name heavy on my shoulders. The low hum of voices outside my study room, the distant clink of glasses, the sharp laughter coming from my men were the only sounds surrounding me and filling the silence I felt.

I knew this moment would come but I'd prayed it wouldn't come so soon. I glanced down at my trembling hands and forced them to stay still. I murmured to myself continuously, "A leader can never show weakness. Never!"

Few minutes later, I heard a soft knock on the door. Marcello, my cousin and the consigliere, stepped in, shutting the door quietly. His face wide, and his expression readeable. I already knew what he was going to say.

"Don, the Caporegime just confirmed it. Enzo Moretti and his family are on their way here." Marcello said in a low voice.

I closed my eyes in wariness briefly and said, "Enzo Moretti, the ruthless head of the Moretti family, a man I have been avoiding for years now. If he is coming here, it could only mean one thing- he has finally discovered my betrayal and is coming for war".

"Well", I paused, pushing my chair back and standing.

"We both know why he is on his way here so we have to prepare as much as we can. Double the security in-house, get our best shooters ready just in case. I know we are no match for the powerful Moretti's but we can try. When you are done, meet me here so we'll continue to think of ways to negotiate with them."

Marcello nodded quietly and hurried out to carry out my orders. As he left, the room grew colder and empty. My secret- The one I had kept hidden with me for fifteen years, was now a ticking bomb ready to explode. The betrayal of the Omertà, the sacred mafia code, wasn't something anyone could walk away from, not without paying a huge price.

Fifteen years ago, my wife, Elena's mother, was taken from me and I couldn't do anything about it. I felt devastated, depressed and desperate for a solution. Then the police dangled hope in front of me and promised her safe return if I gave them some information on two mafia dons. I was helpless, so I broke the code in exchange for my wife's safety.

I gave them what they wanted. And they still couldn't save her, she died anyway. I'd buried the guilt with me all these years, hoping no one would ever find out. But now Enzo Knew, and my family's very survival depended on whatever deal we could strike today.

I heard another knock on the door. I looked up just in time to see Marcello poke his head in, looking worried.

"Don, I was told they were on their way but not how close; now I know. The Morettis are so close, we do not have time to discuss any further."

"Damn it!"I said in a low voice.

Then continued, "All right then, he will meet me on the rooftop. Have Brienna bring up our newly produced banana cake bread, everyone loves it, with fruity sides and two wines from the cellar. Go! Go!"

I quickly headed to the rooftop and settled down. It has been my favorite place, I loved conducting meetings there because of its serenity. I had paid. a big fortune to interior designers to design the rooftop and make it comfortable for private meetings like this.

Today, though, the rooftop felt like a trap. A cage where I would meet the Lion himself but I decided to be brave not just for myself but my family.

By the time I arrived, I heard footsteps and knew that the Moretti boss had arrived. So I turned to see Enzo Moretti, his son, Luca Moretti and members of his mafia family headed towards me. Enzo and his son moved closer and sat down on the sofa opposite me but every other person stood around them, alert, waiting for the right time to strike.

Enzo Moretti spoke up immediately and sat down. "Antonio, I'll go straight to the point because my son and I have an event to attend in the next forty minutes. What you did was an utter betrayal and totally despicable".

I felt the muscles in my neck tighten as I tried to speak, "I can..." he cut off

"No you don't get to explain. If the others find out about your betrayal, your family will not only turn outcasts but you will be a wanted man. You are lucky Mateo is a member of the Moretti clan so I can make him stay quiet and bury every piece of evidence."

I felt tired and weary but I sat straight not wanting to show my fear. As a mafia boss, I would never show any sign of weakness to anyone. "Okay, thank you, Enzo, for choosing to sweep it all under the rug, but you and I know there's a catch. You are not that generous, so what do you want in return?"

Enzo laughed mischievously and said, "Come now, Antonio. When you put it like that, you paint me as a villain. I am doing you a favor here, you know, but then what do you possibly have that I would want? You know, when it comes to wealth and power, you are nowhere near me so what can you offer?

I knew I could be a dangerous man but I recognized a more dangerous man when I saw one and the two handsome men sitting in front of me were the very picture of that.

I noticed that they hadn't even touched the food or wine in front of them so I knew they had come to collect and nothing more. Nobody in their right senses would want to mess with the Morettis.

I racked my brain and said, "I could hand over some of my assets abroad to you." When they still wouldn't budge, I said, "I'll relinquish every single right to these assets. What if I add two of our vineyards to the promise of assets?"

"You test my patience, Antonio. What will I do with your measly assets and vineyards? I don't have all the time in the world." Enzo said irritatedly.

I thought hard, running out of options. I needed to offer him something, something that will bind our families together in a way he couldn't refuse but what was it?

And the first thing I could think of was "My late wife is from the powerful family of Capri in Russia. They are one of the five most powerful mafia families in Russia. If we arrange a marriage alliance between your family and mine, then you will have access to the Capri mobs."

"Finally! You have proposed something we can consider." Enzo said with a predatory grin, while his son Luca had an angry look on his face.

It was the first time I saw any emotion on Luca Moretti's poker face. I saw the disagreement on Luca's face but I couldn't care less and maintained my calmness.

"My daughter has been away in New York for many years but I will call her home if that's what you want so we can arrange the marriage. Your son and my daughter, a union that will make both families stronger and unbeatable".

"Yes, yes. That's what I want. If marriage to your daughter will give us access to the Capris, then that's what I want." Enzo said excitedly, then he stood up and started heading out to signify that the meeting was over. Then he turned and said, "Oh, Antonio? The wedding has to take place in two weeks."

Marcello came rushing to me when the Morettis left and said, "Wedding? Which wedding is he talking about?"

I slumped on my seat and said, "The only proposal he would accept was a marriage alliance between Elena and his son Luca so that they would have access to Russia."

"My God! What have you done, brother? Poor Elena!"

"I had no other choice. Either that or we face being hunted and killed like dogs. Besides, I have a plan to get every single piece of evidence they have and I will use this marriage alliance. This is so that they don't come back with another demand after the wedding."

At this point, I knew that my daughter would hate me if she heard about the arranged marriage plan, but I had no other choice.

I turned with resolve to Marcello and said, "Place a call through to Elena. Tell her to leave everything she is doing at the moment and come back home. She would find it strange and ask what is going on since she has not been home in the last eighteen years so tell her that there's an emergency."