Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1)

Present

"We agreed to keep it quiet. Nothing happened, no retaliation, nothing until recently. Ren was visited by Xander, seems like Alice was wrong, Xander very much wanted to protect Alec that night."

“What the fuck Liya, we are supposed to be a fucking family. Shouldn’t we have gotten a say too? We could all be dead by now.” Gabriel yells as I look to the carpeted floor. Yes, they should have had a say. But at the time, it seemed best to keep it between Ren and me.

“Ren didn’t just put himself in danger, he put us all in danger. Xander Moretti is a fucking snake, he’ll slit your throat if it meant proving himself worthy of his father's fucking approval. And Alice, fucking Christ, Aliyana. If she knows Elisa is your father’s daughter, we are fucked. She’ll know we are up to something. Point be damned if Elisa is a fucking devil in disguise or not,” Michel barks as he bangs his hand on the wall, making me jump.

“We should’ve never allowed the two of you to go alone. If the Russo family are on to us, we need to make a stand Xander will choose the side that has the best perks for him. Alice is a fucking bitch, but I don't see her wanting to kill Ren. She wouldn't admit it, but Matteo is important to her, and you, are important to him for some unknown reason,” Mero voices out what they all were thinking that same day.

“And Di Salvo already claimed Matteo as future Capo. His father is known to dislike his dead wife's family," Michel informs us.

"Either way we look at it, Ren is dead. We need to decide how we’re going to handle it. This is all pointless when there's no proof they did it. A lot of talks are going around the State. People are still blaming the Irish, some are saying the Cartel could’ve whacked him as a message to Marco. But, we all knew a Russo coming after us was a possibility," Gabriel is saying what we all already know.

"Deno warned us when we made a choice all those years ago. We need to see this through, especially if they killed Ren,” Mero, always our voice of reason, and facts.

his presence is a consumption of power. He will make a great

to overthink. We are in this together, it was our choice as much as it was yours. And we all know you chose to let it slide. I would’ve killed your sister, blood or not and probably agreed with Ren

soft,

and get this shit done. Deno won't wait forever.”

years ago, Alec was just a pawn on the board. Alice is a knight on the wrong side of the board fueled by vengeance. Your father’s love for you doesn’t help ease her hate. Add in Elisa, who you

I'm still my father’s daughter; I will protect him. What I won’t do is allow anything to happen to Elisa in the interim, we need to get her out.” I can honestly say at this moment, I place my first step away from the Misfits' plans but, at

will love her regardless because as I stare into my friend's eyes,

car around,” Mero gives me a stiff nod, understanding we are both here to keep her safe. He walks out

stare at me

The framed canvas on the wall next to the door leading to my en-suite was

more than a memory. The sound of his voice as he

loss. I feel the change in the tide, the weight of it all befalling on

precious friend, brother, other half, now

first time since those stairs two nights ago, where I cried for the boy he was, I cry for the man he will never get to become.

grabs me into the heat of his chest as my mouth opens, and I let out the sound

stronger than this,” Gabriel’s words in my ears, meant to silence my pain, reminds

do I live