Chapter Four BOSS
Marco sat on the black leather couch his leg crossed with his ankle resting on his opposite knee, as he lit up another Cuban cigar, in his father’s office watching as Enzo Dovizioso paces his office, in front of his trusted men, Enzo’s hand running through his grey slick backed hair in frustration.
“Two years” he shouts at his men
“Two f*****g Years, that b***h has been missing, how can you not find one little girl?” he bellows, not for the first time.
For Enzo, Eva’s escape was a slap to his face, the fact she had out witted him bore heavy on his soul, and he wanted to exert his revenge on her family.
“Find her” Enzo bellowed again, as the men left the room with a nod of their heads.
Marco waited till the room was empty then looked at his father, he was getting old, and there were more important matters to attend to than the disappearance of one girl, but try as he might, he could never have his father concentrate on anything other than finding Eva Marini.
“Father, please, let us think about this calmly, and professionally” Marco spoke his voice soft
Enzo glared at his son, wondering why the boy he had raised was not wanting revenge for her insolence. Maybe Marco was not the man to take over as head of this family, Enzo thought not for the first time, cursing that he had only one son.
“It makes no business sense to kill the Marini’s, not yet. Their business could launder us millions if we enter a new deal with them. To take them out, and risk the company been taken over by the shareholders, is not in the family’s interest. Plus, we have more pressing matters” Marco sighed
Enzo sat down on his chair, and folded his hands together, looking at his son shaking his head.
“What is more important that punishing those who disrespect our family?” Enzo spat out, his brown eyes boring into his son’s.
“The Petrucci’s, my sources tell me they are planning a hit on our family, we need to deal with the threat more than we need to find that girl. She can wait, for now. But this is urgent” Marco grits out, hardly able to hide his annoyance that his father will not concentrate on anything other than the girl.
“And why is that, Marco?” Enzo growled
“I will tell you why, because you put out a hit on their convoy of girls and children, then set them free, that is why our family is in danger” Enzo pointed at Marco.
“Yes, because he was going to open his underage brothel in a town under our protection causing heat from the authorities we do not want or need, and that is a bigger slight than some girl running away from a marriage neither her nor I wanted” Marco stated matter of fact
It was the same argument day after day, but his father refused to see it, obsessed with Eva Marini and his desire for her to provide the Dovizioso Heir, who would inherit both the family’s fortunes, securing the Dovizioso position and finances for generations to come.
The argument continued into the late evening, neither man giving way to the other.
“I’m done with this conversation, you will find that girl” Enzo shouted, before leaving his office, and a frustrated Marco behind.
Enzo felt the walls of his mansion were closing in around him, as he loosened his tie, and pored himself a scotch whiskey, drinking it neat. He needed some time out of the place, he needed to kick back with his men, and he did not need to see Marco again this evening.
“Angelo, we are going for food, make sure Luciano’s is free and have Valentino, and Pecco come with us, we shall eat, then visit a club” Enzo said to his oldest friend, a man he truly trusted.
“Sure thing boss, I will make the calls now” Angelo answered before making the arrangements.
As the driver pulled away from the mansion, Enzo breathed a sigh of relief he needed some space to think. He knew the Petrucci situation was critical, but he believed they had some time to do their investigations, and hopefully avoid all out war.
As they entered the small doorway to Luciano’s, they climbed the steep wooden staircase, the men were met by Luciano himself, who simpered and smirked, paying homage the head of the mafia in his region. He led them through the small bar area showing them to the round table that sat in the centre of the restaurant. Enzo took his seat, followed by Angelo, Valentino and Pecco, the men chatted happily as the waiter’s served them some bruschetta, as Enzo took a bite of the toasted bread topped with tomatoes, onions and herbs, and closed his eyes to savour the flavour. When he opened them once more, he heard gun shots, then pain in his temple, as he slumped to the ground darkness followed, and Enzo Dovizioso was no more.
Marco sat in the lounge of the family mansion, pinching the bridge of his nose, his head pounding from the ongoing argument with his father, he took another sip of his bourbon then rolled the alcohol around in his glass the ice clunking off the sides. He was enjoying the peace and quiet, when his mobile phone lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Marco” he barked his introduction down the phone, not happy his solitude had been disturbed
“There has been a hit”
Marco’s blood ran cold, his hands began to twitch, and he felt a pit deep in the bottom of his stomach.
“Who was hit?” he asked, his voice low and menacing,
“I am sorry it was the boss, he is dead, along with Angelo and Pecco, Valentino is in the hospital, then only caught his leg as he tried to jump over the table to protect your father”
Marco stood, not quite believing what he was hearing, then through his glass across the living room as it smashed against the terracotta coloured walls and let out a primal yell.
The cathedral was packed full of men women and children, as the black coffin with silver handles covered in white and red roses made its way down the Aisle passed the light oak pews, and ornate pillars, towards the alter. Marco walked behind, followed by other trusted and high ranking family members. He took his seat in the front pew, and watched as the priest blessed the coffin, waving the golden orb filled with incense whilst chanting in Latin. Marco bowed his head as they began to pray, but his mind was not on the Lords Prayer, it was focused on one thing, and one thing only, revenge for the murder of his father.
As they stood around the coffin, many men placed a red rose into the grave, to pay homage to their fallen leader, then one by one turned to Marco bowing their heads a show of respect, and handing him a white rose, as a sign they accepted him as the new head of the family. When the people all left the graveside, Marco stood, looking into the ground that was his father’s final resting place.
“I promise you this father, we will have our revenge” Marco whispered then as was the tradition dictated, he threw the big bunch of white roses onto the coffin, as a sign he had accepted his position as the head of the family, nodded and walked away.
Marco sat behind his desk, the office had been redecorated, the walls now pained a soft grey colour, but the desk and black chair remained. It had been three weeks, since the funeral service for Enzo Dovizioso and Marco suspected they had a traitor in their midst, but as yet, he did not know who the culprit was. Valentino would forever walk with a limp due to his injury, but he had sustained it trying to protect the head of the family, and so Marco gave him a higher position, to look after and train the guards. For all Maria had been forced to marry her husband, she had grown to care for the man, and she tended to him every day during his recovery as a dutiful wife.
Tonight, Marco would extract his revenge on the Petrucci’s, he had called a meeting with Paulo, the son of Romano Petrucci, who was the head of that family. He had informed him that they needed to make peace and form a treaty. Marco looked at the large Iron clock on the wall, then stood up and pulled on his black suit jacket over his black shirt, and made his way out of his office, followed by four of his most trusted men.
Marco entered the small room that sat at the back of the Club Roma, he nodded at the barman as he stood polishing a glass with his white t-towel. Marco took a seat at the head of the table set for ten people. They had agreed that each man would be accompanied by four guards, but all weapons would be left at the door. A guard from each family would frisk the opposing family’s men, as Paulo entered, his personal guard approached Marco, who frisked him, and nodded that he was free from weapons. Once everyone was satisfied the two men sat at opposite ends of the table.
“The old ways of doing business are obsolete, I want to propose a new alliance” Marco started his proposition his voice soft, almost gentle.
“I am listening, what are you proposing” Paulo said
“That you keep out of the towns and cities under the Dovizioso protection, your business operates only from your own area, and I will keep my interests away from your region” Marco started
“You are wasting my time” Paulo growled.
The men stopped speaking as two waiters approached the table with large pizza for each of the men.
“That is not all I want to offer” Marco said whilst allowing the waiter to place black pepper onto his food.
Marco glanced up at the waiter who served Paulo, and he gave him a small nod.
“Black pepper sir” the waiter asked
Paulo nodded, then waved his hand and said “enough”
“I also propose for your protection access to the chief of police who is under our employ, along with two of our judges, and one statesman when required” Marco said, taking a slice of his cheese and Parma ham pizza and placing it to his lips before biting down.
Paulo flowed suit, taking a slice of his pizza and eating it in almost one mouthful.
“Interesting, and what do you want from us in return?” Paulo asked, his eyes locked onto Marco.
“Access to your money laundering factory in Florence” Marco answered
“With a p*****t of ten percent of what ever we launder there” Marco picked up more of his pizza and ate it.
Paulo’s eye widened, that was a huge amount of money, and not to be sniffed at.
“I will need to run this proposal passed my father” Paulo said
“But with what you are offering, I am sure he will agree” he continued with a smile, feeling like the death of Enzo was a good call in bringing Marco to heal, and that he had the new boss of the Dovizioso family firmly in the palm of his hand.
“I would not expect anything less, now let us eat, and enjoy the wine, toasting to a new alliance” Marco smiled.
The men ate, and drank, then as the meal was finished, Paulo and Marco hugged, as Marco kissed Paulo’s cheeks, then turned and left the restaurant.
A rare smile adorned Marcos lips, as he sat in the back of his car, and the driver speeded away, knowing that the pepper that had been placed on Paulo’s pizza contained Ricen, along with the wine he had drunk, and within ten hours Paulo would experience vomiting and diarrhoea then three days maximum Paulo would be dead and no medical intervention would stop the effects of the poison.
Marco sat in his office his feet upon the table, when the call came through that Paulo had died, a smile teetered on his lips. He called for his driver and guards
“We are going to visit the Marini’s” he announced, then pulled on his black suit jacket over his black shirt, then headed to his awaiting car.
As he pulled up to the Marini mansion, Marco waited for his guard to open his car door, then stepping out he buttoned up his jacket, straightened his thin black tie, and made his way into the house.
“Mr Dovizioso, please come through” Sarah Marini said, her head hung low
Danilo looked at the man that would have been his son in law and bowed his head as a show of respect.
Marco took a seat, opening up his jacket, his ankle placed on his knee. He took out a Cuban cigar from his top pocket placing it to his mouth and lighting it, he inhaled deeply rolling the smoke around his mouth before blowing circles into the air.
“I have come to offer a new business proposition” Marco said, his voice clear and stable
Danilo looked at his wife before turning back to Marco and nodding.
“I take it you still have not heard from your daughter” Marco began.
“No, not a word since the day she ran away” Danilo said, his voice laced with the pain of a father who had lost their only child.
Sarah Marini let out a small sob and wiped away a stray tear from her eye.
“I am here to inform you that I am calling off the search for her. However, I am happy to still offer you our protection from the Petrucci’s in exchange for 30 percent shares in all of your businesses” Marco said. The contract would be worth billions to the family, if they agreed.
“I will also be investing in some of your companies, no questions are to be asked about where the money originates from, and I will have the money retuned to me, as dividends from my shares” Marco continued.
“It is a small price to pay for your protection, and for me to call off the hounds from tracking your daughter” Marco added.
“Y..yes, does this mean if Eva ever returns she will be left to live in peace?” Sarah asked fearful for her daughters’ life.
“Eva will never be harmed, however if she returns, or somehow we happen upon her, I will enforce the marriage contract, it is a matter of saving face. But if she does not, I will not pursue her further” Marco said holding out his hand to Danilo.
Danilo looked at Sarah who gave him a nod of her approval,
“Thank you, Boss” he whispered, and Danilo shook the hand of Marco whilst bowing his head as a sign of respect to the new head of the Mafia in Tuscany.