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Alfredo Fabri POV

As you might already know, I am Alfredo Fabri.

Within the Family, I simply go by Fabri, but outside the Family, they call me "The Butcher".

Why, you ask?. Well, if you stick around long enough, then you might just find out.

All my life, I've always been second.

Second this, second that, and currently I am Sottocapo, ranking as the second to the Boss of the Colombo Family. I know, it sucks, but that's reality.

A street riff raff once called me "second to none" once. Unfortunately for him, he neither knew my history nor how much I've grown to detest the word. I didn't ask him what he actually meant by that, and I can't do that now either, because he no longer resides on planet earth.

È finita (it is finished). Yes, he is dead. I know right, How did that happen?

What have I done about changing the condition of things, you say? Well, I've fought tooth and nail and I've gone lengths to conquer beasts and the likes of them with my very bare hand.

You don't believe me now, do you?Well your answer doesn't matter, you can see for yourself.

__

"Lil Joe,you feel so big now don't you?"

The Don, Paolo Romano's voice rang across the rooms of the Colombo's family's Palatial. It didn't require a soothsayer to tell the members that Paolo, "The Jackal" as he was notoriously known as, was furiously mad.

It had for weeks now become a trait that seemed unavoidable to the residents of the Family, and in all honesty, it was becoming hella annoying in here.

Paolo spoke to no one besides the Consigliere, Marco and I, the Underboss about the mess we had going on with Lil Joe.

"When do I get my money?, you're messing with the wrong Dog, Joe, I'm certain you're aware" He continued, honing out flames from the bellows of his mouth.

It was popular opinion that "The Jackal" wasn't one to be messed with, and anyone who had an outstanding business with him, made no mistakes to leave it pending. But Lil Joe, an associate of the Colombo's had overnight seemed to grow some wings, and had gone rogue with The Don's money. Rumor had it that he had sworn an oath of loyalty to the Gambino's.

You see, in this line of business, Loyalty for your family is a valued commodity. It is an unspoken notion but it is loud enough for anyone with two ears to hear.

"Don't hang up on me Lil Joe, Dont-" The look on the Don's face expressed his shock. He needn't say another word Lil Joe had hung up on Paolo. In that moment, I guessed that we all had for a flash moment pondered over the guts Lil Joe had seemed to acquire.

"That lil piece of crap!!!" The Don went on cursing as he rummaged the room with his unsure pacing.

"I told you not to associate directly with Lil Joe, it just speaks so lowly of what you've become." I said as I took a long sip from the cup of coffee I had in hand while everything played out.

"With all due respect" I added as Paolo flashed a death glare towards my direction as if to question the temerity of my statement.

"All I'm saying is this, What would the Family say when they find out that the Don got duped by an associate?" I continued, letting out a sarcastic chuckle.

"Watch it Fabri" Marco flashed

"With all due respect" I added again, gesturing with both arms in the air to signify that I meant no harm.

"Look Marco, I am simply trying to be plain here, void of sentiment. The Don has nothing to talk about with a mere associate but again Sentiment was brought Lil Joe into the picture and here's the result"

"I had voiced my opinions against assigning Lil Joe with a task that huge, but then again, I'm not Consigliere, so my opinions hold on weight when they're in direct contrast to yours Marco" I added in a breath, flashing a glance towards Marco's direction.

"But you have to admit, at times I give way better advice than you do. Because now, had it been my words were taken for it, we'd have kept Lil Joe put, in his place, and we'd still have our frickin $30,00 in the bag" I finished, my voice over the top this time.

"Don't you put that on me-"

" Stop it!" Paolo lashed out, cutting Marco off, banging his hands against the sleek boards of the table. I could have sworn that they didn't get off scarred.

"What's been done has been done"

"And you're right Fabri, Lil Joe could have been kept in his place and he still can!" Paolo added, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"What do you mean Still Can? Lil Joe's apparently under the umbrella of them disgusting Gambino's. How he got in, I don't know, but I do know he's got some coverage" I said, letting down my cup of coffee.

"I think we should break the news to the Family. Marco, I suggest you take the blame for this. You are Consigliere for a reason and you can come up with something. It seems like the only resolution at this point, and it'd give us some leverage because now we can work together to get the money back" I let out , directing my glance towards Marco.

"What do you mean take the blame for it?" Marco added, unable to hide his disapproval to all I had just said.

"You heard me right Marco, You're Consigliere, this is where you step in, make sure everything falls in place, protect the best interest of the Don" I spewed, but the expression on Marco's face signified that he wasn't having any of it and he'd give anything to leave the room that instant.

"Why don't you take the fall for it?" He said, fondling with both of his hands as he spoke.

In all Honesty, it was a funny sight. The thing about Consigliere, tough as they seem, loyal as they might be, rationale and smart as they portray themselves to be, in there somewhere, there's just a self will that does nothing but think about themselves. A little heat, and you'd see them crack under the intensity.

Despite undergoing the ceremonial oath of loyalty with the saints, there's still a remnant of self will that fights the bulk of loyalty attained. It's the basic concept of being a Human.

"Stay in your lane, Marco," I warned.

"I'll be back, I need to go take care of something" Paolo said, cutting in abruptly, reaching for the pistol beneath the table's drawer and tucking it into the length of his pocket.

We'd suggested tagging along, but he stopped us from doing so. He was most definitely annoyed by the back and forth between me and Marco, but we never did get an opportunity to apologize, because that was the last we saw of him.

Dead or alive we are yet to find out.

Alexandra Dellarosa POV

"Dad, what are you saying? Tell me you're not high on something again" I said, standing up from my seat with a sense of urgency as I moved towards his direction.

"Alexa, stop ittt!"

"I'm totally fine and I'm not high on anything. Just a little champagne that was forced down my throat at the Gambino's. That aside, I'm fine" He finished with a sigh, running his hands through the length of his hair.

"Did you say forced?" I was unable to understand the context in which he spoke.

It was well Evident that something was wrong. Whenever Dad grew nervous or uncertain of the outcome of something, his countenance and aura usually left him disoriented and as if out of compulsion, he'd run his hands through and through the length of his hair. Dad had the hair length, longer than that of an average Man's, and at times I'd find myself lusting over the lush of his hair which was far thicker than mine.

"Don't tell me you're obsessing over my hair again" He said, drawing me out of my reverie.

I chuckled out with a reply "You know me too well."

"Alexa, this isn't the time for jokes" And He was back at it again, and I still wasn't able to understand what Dad was driving at.

"Dad, what's all this talk about the Gambino's and me leaving town for a while?"

"I thought we both agreed you'd stay away from those crooks"

"Are you still associating with them?" I asked, irrespective of the fact that the situation at hand had already done a good Job in giving me an answer.

"Look Alexa, it's far more complicated than you think. You just need to stay out of town for a while"

"I've made arrangements already with your aunt Lisa. It's not a vacation. Three months max and you'd be back please" He voiced out holding me by that hand, his voice cooing with subtleness, rich with the hope that I'd oblige to his plea.

"Three month's? Dad, that's like a century if you ask me" I said, pacing away from his grip.

"What's really going on Dad, Are you in trouble?" I garnered courage to ask the question, and I had long begun dreading the answer already.

"Alexa, That's not for you to know. Please just do as I say." His voice was a bit stern this time, but his eyes sold him out.

It was obvious that all was not well. This would be a complex statement if you ask me. Ever since Mum's passing, things haven't turned out smoothly. Dad had tried managing the Family business but things didn't turn out so well when funds were no longer rolling in. You'd wonder how exactly Mum was able to manage the business all on her own, but I wouldn't dare to give an appropriate answer. Mum was simply the definition of perfection. How she did what she did no one ever knew. All we knew was that she had things covered.

But life happened, and Mum was now out of the picture. Although Dad seemed to have everything in control, he didn't. Dad although he wouldn't admit it was at times Complacent, and that was one of the reasons the business crumbled and we ran into debts. The story from here is really rough.

Dad sought help from the Gambino's after a "friend" had put in a good word for him, and the story's kinda bleak from there.

"So you are in trouble then" I concluded, nodding my head in affirmation.

"Alexa, I'll explain everything later. But you leave tomorrow Morning." He said with an air of Finality.

"Go get your things ready, I'll make dinner" He added, his attempt to discharge me from asking anymore questions.

"If Mum were to be here, things wouldn't have gotten this Bad." I said under my breath, but I guess it was loud enough for him to hear me because he had immediately stopped in his tracks.

It was as though someone had stabbed him in the back, and he was taking some time to process the depth of the Stab.

Facing my direction again, I could see a tear slip from the corner of his eye "Alexa you know I love you right?"

I couldn't bear it, seeing my father broken. The last time I had seen him cry was when Mum had been laid to rest. I had heard him sob and curse at nature countless times after Mum's demise, but I had never witnessed it ever since the first. But here I was, torn into pieces at the sight of Dad's brokenness.

"I do know Dad, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean it that way" I slurred as I paced quickly towards his side of the room, locking in on an embrace, the mixture of my tears and makeup doing well to make a smudge on the texture of his White T-shirt.

" I love you to-"

The bang on the door cut me off from finishing my statement. The urgency was so alarming as though someone was intentionally trying to break in. Then there was another, this time it was evident that someone was trying to forcefully enter the house.

"Alexa, listen to me, you have to go" Dad said, unable to hide the frail in his voice. It was as though he understood perfectly what was going on.

"No Dad, I'm not leaving you here" I replied taking the hint that some people were after Dad. I couldn't just leave him and make a run for it.

"Alex-"

"Well, since you aren't willing to leave voluntarily, then you wouldn't mind coming along with us" A young Man with a firm voice cut in, appearing in front of the door that had its lock battered. He was a huge man with quite the body build up, and apparently he didn't come alone because another man his size stood behind him.

Dad had shoved me towards his back.

"Conti, what do you want?" Dad asked, strengthening his grip at my hands from behind as if to assure me that he wasn't letting me go.

"Dad, you know this Man?" I whispered into his ears, but he didn't pay attention to it.

"Not what I want, but what Don wants," The young Man replied sharply.

Immediately, he signalled his acquaintance towards our direction and taking initiative, he leaped towards where I stood behind Dad and the next thing I knew was that I was being dragged out of the house. Dad tried to put up a Fuss, but the young Man, Conti, warned him against doing so.

"Dad!!!!" I yelled as we made our way out of the Door, me and the acquaintance. Leaving Dad and Conti back in the room.

I yelled out again just before everything went blank.

Alfredo Fabri POV

"What do you mean missing?"

"This is simply an Impious fad, preposterous!"

"Marco, what's your take on this?" Marino raked like a loose dog who hadn't been given a bone to chew on.

Marino Salvatore was Caporegime, one of the most revered Men of the Family. People often said he had an Aura to his personality, but I agree to disagree. Marino was simply a coward who cowered under the glory of his extravagantly sashayed wealth. Wearing heavy gold and jewelry surfaced above furry coats and clothings, attracting unwanted attention to no one but himself.

He had quite the influence on the family, was successful, had his head in the business. To give it to him, he did quite the good Job when it had to do with the rounds he made for the family. But amidst all that, I saw past his crap. The old lad had not a single loyal bone in him and simply wanted to be Don and as such I wasn't buying his act and if he hadn't been a coward, I'd have said he had a thing or two to do with the Don's disappearance.

"I'm calling the shots here. You don't question Marco rather you direct the questions to me" I raved rashly, doing well to put Marino in his place. The cold look of fear on his face at my reply, fairly gave me some Satisfaction.

"And why are you the one to call the Shots?" Marco shot at me

"Marino" Franseco Larosa, the second Caporegime in the meeting, tried calling Marino to order.

"Rosa, don't start at me," Marino replied.

"Passaggio Della Corossa hasn't been done yet, the Family in totality is yet to find out that Don Paolo is missing, so Fabri still maintains his position ad Sottocapo" He continued, making no mistake to look in my direction.

I was stunned at the guts. Whatever Marino was on, I couldn't tell but it did him well because he had no idea who he was talking to at this point. I tried so much to hide the rage that revved within me from being visible on my face, but it ended up being a failed attempt.

"Do you realize who you're talking to Marino?" I questioned, trying to call his attention to the fact that he was only Capo and I was Sottocapo because apparently he had lost his senses that ordered his demeanor towards the respect of hierarchy.

"I'm well aware, Fabri,"

"And what's with the threatening tone?, don't tell me that implies you'd like to cut me out, just as you did Paolo?" Marino finished. His statement was followed by the gasps of Marco and LaRosa.

I wasn't having any of it, Marino's words had cut deep into my soul. I could handle everything else but never a question on my loyalty, it was as straight as a ruler.

"Those are serious allegations Capo" LaRosa said, addressing Marino by his rank to hint that this has gone past the shallowness of the whole news. It was probably LaRosa's attempt to him to Marino to peddle down a bit.

My hands were folding into fists, and although they were tucked into the grooves of my Jacket, Marco had picked up the signs. "Thread with caution Fabri," He whispered loud enough for me to hear. I was a rational Man and the Family understood that, not for once has my loyalty every been questioned, but on the disappearance of Paolo, Marino had seemed to acquire some boldness. I knew that there were more to it than met the eye.

"I called this meeting so that we can think of plausible solutions" I said gently, obviously paying no heed to Marino's wild accusations. Like I said, I was a very rational Man, and self control was one of my many qualities. I had a pistol in the pocket of my Jacket, it didn't take me anything to pull it out just to put Marino back in his place, but I knew in situations as this whenever there seemed to be a power tussle in the Family, rash decision and superior display of authority with Firearms was nothing else but a folly display of cowardice, despite the party having the upper hand. I knew that the business ran on Loyalty and Respect, the latter being what I had only just displayed.

"Fellas!" Gina called out, puffing smoke as she casually strolled into the room, draped in a corporate black on black tuxedo.

Gina was the only female made Man in the Family. Yes you heard right. Her entry into the Family caused quite the ruckus but Gina was as rugged and soul nerving as her beauty was. It wasn't news that most Made men of the Family avoided crossing paths with her. As her news precedes her, she cleared out an entire Mafia Family, in the space of three months, as an associate to the Colombo's. It was one of those new generation families that fought tooth and nail to ensure that they remain relevant. They gave our Family quite the hard time then because there was a tussle over territory dominance. But Gina handled the situation just fine. How she did it, no one knows and no one has had the guts to ask except myself.

I and Gina were very close and truth be told she was a loyal asset to the Colombo's, she was one of a kind.

"Glad you could join us" Marino cooed sarcastically, his statement being greeted by a roll of the eye from Gina which sent shivers down his spine.

"Here are the pictures and details I could get from downtown, Fifth Avenue" Gina said, spreading out the length of pictures and details over the width of the table.

"Fifth Avenue?What the hell was Don doing there? That's Gambino territory" LaRosa rushed, spotting the obvious.

"He was last seen entering here" Gina echoed, pointing at a luxurious looking building which evidently sashayed itself to be a clubhouse.

"Club Erebus" She continued, calling out its name.

"This is where things get interesting" She said, dragging her hands through the texture of the pictures and paper as though in search of something. Then she paused on a particular picture.

"Lil Joe" Marco and I echoed simultaneously, looking over the picture which showed Lil Joe coming out of the Club.

"Yah, that's right. A short while after Don had entered the club, Lil Joe was seen leaving" She finished with an air of Finality, folding her hands above her chest as if it bid herself a Job well done.

"And... Where did you get all these details from?" Marino spewed.

"Really, that's your take out from all this" Marco fired back.

"On your lane Rino" Gina said calmly. Her demeanor said all that needed to be said. It didn't take a pal reader to tell Marino that Gina wasn't in the mood for jokes, she never was. In fact she detested the likes of Marino, even more than I did.

"Thanks G" I said with a wink, and she welcomed it with a smirk.

I had often heard rumors that went like this "Fabri and Gina" are together and the likes of them. But Gina and I simply were professional work mates. You can look up the description of the title if you like.

"I'll check it out tonight" I said referring to the Club.

"I will tag along. My sources tell me that there's an auction going on there tonight. Exclusively for the five families. Although, the host decides to remain anonymous" Gina finished.

"No, I'll be going alone. It might be dangerous" I said, staring at Gina in the eyes, hoping she'd let this one slide just this time. Her eyes making no mistake but to hold mine at bay, sashaying her defiance to my request.

The tension in the room seemed to have been turned on a notch, and Marco and the Capos took the cue to exit the room.

Again, We were just professional work mates, believe me.