5 days prior
After my tattoo appointment, I decided to head for Alvize’s estate in the countryside. I didn’t want to announce my visit to one of his three Captains in Naples, all of whom were married to his daughters and hoping to become the next Capo for want of a son.
His mansion was near the Vesuvius National Park, and the volcano’s foreboding cone loomed on the horizon. Massive cast-iron gates and an old stone wall barred my way onto the premises. I got out of my rental car and approached the gates. There was a security camera at the top. I looked up so whoever watched the footage would get a good look at my face. “I’m Nevio Falcone and here to support my great-uncle.”
For a while, nothing happened. I gripped the steel bars and looked inside. Over boarding bushes with pink flowers, huge olive and fig trees, and extensive rosemary shrubs filled this side of the garden. Farther up, I could see the red shingles and white top floor of a villa.
Steps crunched on the asphalt, which was ripped where the unrelenting sun had worn the material down. Two guards with machine guns came into view. They shouted at me in Italian with a Neopolitan dialect.
“Put your hands behind your head and lie down.”
What a warm welcome, but I did as they said. If I killed them, Alvize might be less inclined to let me stay.
The sun had heated the ground to a degree that I had to hold back a hiss when my chest pressed against the surface. My tattoo was still fresh. Maybe the foil the tattoo artist had put on it would burn itself into my skin.
One of the two patted me down for guns while the other pointed the barrel of his machine gun at my head. “All clear.” The two men grabbed me by the arms and legs, then carried me inside. I relaxed in their hold.
Alvize stood on the last step of the stone staircase leading up to the wood double doors of his villa. He was a fat man, though I doubted anyone dared to describe him as such. They probably called him sturdy or imposing. And what the hell was up with his hair? He had hardly any left except for something that resembled a tonsure. He wore a suit, sunglasses, a hat and wingtip shoes. I had trouble stopping a sarcastic comment. He was like a caricature of a mobster. But this was his kingdom, and even if he was a miserable king, I had to show him respect if I wanted to play here.
His men dropped me off at the base of the stairs. I sent them a hard smile.
“Nevio Falcone?” he asked doubtfully.
I straightened. “The one and only. I thought my welcome here would be warmer.”
He stepped down the last step. “True. My men can be somewhat overcautious. These are dangerous times.”
“Indeed,” I said. The two baboons stayed close as if they thought I’d come here to off my great-uncle. Did they think I wanted his place? I could become Capo of a functioning empire, I didn’t need one that was in shambles.”
“Did your father send you? Are you here to help? I thought he’d send a few more soldiers, not just one.”
“Trust me, I’m worth more than just one man.” I ignored his question about my dad. For one, it would have made Dad look weak if I’d gone without his permission, and it might have led to him sending me back.
“I’ve heard the stories.” He motioned at the door. “Why don’t you come in for a drink and I’ll give your father a call to thank him.”
I nodded, not batting an eye. Dad wouldn’t admit that I’d gone without asking him. The two guards followed us inside. I cocked an eyebrow at them. Alvize was obviously scared of being alone with me. That wasn’t a good thing for a Capo. Dad was capable of defending himself as any Capo should.
“We’re family,” I said.
Alvize cackled. “That doesn’t mean much, does it?”
“For my family, it does.”
“Then why are you here? Shouldn’t you help your family in Vegas?”
My chest tightened with an unfamiliar feeling. “They don’t need help.”
Yet I knew right at that moment that I’d do anything to return to them as quickly as possible, especially to Aurora and Battista, even if both probably didn’t even want me to.
Alvize asked me to stay at his villa for a couple of days before I was supposed to leave for Naples to get in the thick of things.
I’d known Dad would be majorly pissed when he found out, but I hadn’t expected him to cross half the globe. When Alvize told me my father was on his way to the villa from the airport, I had trouble hiding my surprise.
Dad rarely bothered hiding his emotions, especially his rage. Sometimes he toned it down for Mom’s benefit, but when he stepped into the living room of the villa with Alvize by his side, only his eyes revealed his fury. His face was a mask of control while Alvize droned on and on about the current state of the Camorra in Campania.
Dad didn’t like the guy, so I knew it cost him extra effort to restrain himself.
“I need to talk to my son alone for a bit,” Dad said.
Alvize nodded. “You can stay here, and I’ll give you some privacy.”
“We’ll head into the gardens for some fresh air,” Dad said, motioning me to lead him outside. I wouldn’t have stayed inside these walls for a private conversation either. I bet Alvize had eyes and ears everywhere.
The moment Dad and I were outside, hidden between the massive olive trees, his controlled mask slipped away. “I don’t even know what to say to you.”
That was a first. “I told you I’d leave when I felt like I was losing control. Going here and helping the Camorra somewhere else seemed like a wise choice. I didn’t ask you for permission because it wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“This isn’t even why I want to slam you against this fucking tree,” Dad growled.
I nodded. “Ah. Is this about Aurora?”
Dad got in my face. “It’s about the fucking son you didn’t bother telling me about!”
I wasn’t mad at Aurora for telling my family. I’d failed her and Battista. She had no reason to take care of him for me anymore. She wanted her freedom and her life back.
“I’ve known about him for only two months.”
“Then you should have told me two months ago! Instead, I find out you made Aurora take care of your son while lying to all of us. Fabiano is pissed, and that’s an understatement. I wouldn’t turn my back on him if I were you.”
“I needed to figure things out for myself before telling you.”
“And this is how you figure out being a father?” Dad motioned around us. “Running away to Italy?”
“Trust me, everyone’s better off with me here. I need to get a grip before I return.”
“You sure as fuck will get a grip. I did and so can you.”
I glared. “But I’m not you, Dad! I have to figure things out for myself.”
“And while you figure things out, you expect everyone else to take over your responsibilities.”
“I bet Mom and Kiara love to take care of Battista while I’m gone, and all the other tasks can be done Massimo and Alessio now that they get their beauty sleep at night again.”
“I think Aurora wants to keep taking care of your son. I don’t know what you did to that girl’s head but she’s obviously willing to sacrifice a lot for you.”
I was stumped. I hadn’t expected Aurora to keep watching Battista. I’d always thought she would hand him off to my parents the moment she got the chance. I had to admit my heart doubled in size thinking about it. I touched the tattoo without thinking about it.
Dad gripped my shirt and shoved it up, revealing the aurora borealis tattoo. He scanned it briefly before he narrowed his eyes at me. “Is this what I think it is?”
“I’m not good at reading your thoughts.”
“If you care about Aurora, running away and abandoning her, certainly sends the wrong message.”
“You sent Mom back to the Outfit, even though you cared about her. That was even more stupid. She could have married her fiancé and you would have never seen her again.”
Dad grabbed my shoulder. “As you like to point out, you’re not me. Will you be able to see Aurora move on? What if she’s with someone else when you return?”
“She won’t be,” I said firmly, possessiveness burning through me. The mere idea of anyone touching Aurora made me want to maim and kill them.
“Considering your actions of the past, she would be stupid not to move on.”
“Mom didn’t move on, even though your actions were even worse than mine.” I hadn’t kidnapped Aurora or tried to destroy the people she loved, so I really wasn’t sure why Dad was so pissed at me.
“Your mother was busy being pregnant and raising twins,” Dad said.
“But you didn’t know that when you sent her away. I can’t imagine you being okay with someone else being with Mom.”
“I knew she wouldn’t move on with someone else,” he said.
“And if she had.”
His face gave me an answer. “See, and I would do the same. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean I won’t find out if a guy makes a move at her and then he’ll quickly back off.”
“Maybe Aurora deserves to move on, especially if you are gone for years.”
I scoffed. “Please, don’t pretend you had it in you to be noble, I certainly don’t. I’m a murderous, possessive asshole and Aurora knew that when she fell for me. Now that she’s in my head, she must know what that means.”
“And apparently not just in your head,” Dad said with a wave at my chest.
I didn’t comment. My feelings were volatile and elusive, I preferred not to dwell on them.
“Does Greta know?” I asked, changing the topic. I had reduced my contact to her to a bare minimum since I’d found out about Battista. Maybe it was guilt. While she wanted children but couldn’t have them easily, a son had been thrown in my lap, and I didn’t even want him.
“Your mother didn’t mention Battista to her yet, but it’s not something we can keep from her for long.”
I nodded. “She’ll be sad that we kept it from her at all.” I shoved my hands into my pockets. “I need to stay here. I need to figure things out and battle my demons.”
“You should figure them out with the help of people who care about you.”
“Does that include you?” I asked, bracing myself for the answer.
His fingers on my shoulder tightened. “It does, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to strangle you for the pain you’re causing your Mom and everyone else. Your strength, your dedication to the Camorra and your fight skills have made me incredibly proud in the past, but nothing would make me prouder than seeing you become a good father to your son, and a good man for Aurora.”
We returned inside after that, and Dad left the next day without me, only leaving me with the burden of his words. Yet I was glad he’d said them because they’d showed me he still believed in me, and I sure as fuck wanted to become both—a good father for Battista and a good man for Aurora.
