I stood still a little in front of Irina's bedroom door. She betrayed me in so many ways that I didn't think of any other way to punish her than torture.
I always knew that there was a mouse nearby, someone who told my enemy all my steps, and now that I have discovered who the traitors are, I want explanations, even if I have to force them out.
— Get up and control yourself! You are not a victim in this story, so don't act like one.
— You don't know anything, Ricco. But do what you came to do, I really have nothing left to lose.
— Looks like it doesn't really matter. Did you know that the man who was eating you is the same man who killed your parents? Did you know that?
— What? No, it wasn't him! She screamed. — Vincent lied, Ricco. I've never done anything with him before, it was the first time I swear. Believe me, Ricco, please. I had no choice.
She crawled to her feet, tears clinging to my belt. I slapped her across the face, and she fell sideways in a fetal position.
— You are the lover of the man who killed my parents, his parents, and who tried to kill my grandfather. Do you think that crawling to me will make me forgive you and save your life?
— I'm dead anyway, if you don't kill me he will. You have a gun, please do what you have to do. If I've ever been of any value to you, listen to me and use your weapon.
— My parents had no right to clemency, why would you?
— I'm not his lover. I have no choice, believe me.
— I was worried about you; I saw you suffer and day after day I watched your mood swings. I realized that I was restless and distant, but I attribute that to the attack you suffered and the fact that we did not make our engagement official. But it was not like that, you were betraying me, not only me but also the Commission.
— Not! I didn't know he was coming, I swear. And Vincent was threatening me, don't you understand? I need to protect you.
— Protect whom, me, or Vincent?
— No, I had to protect him! You do not understand…
— No, I don't understand why the fucking woman I swore to protect fucked my worst enemy in my fucking house. I sure don't understand!
— I heard someone speak today while he ... I heard him say he was going to wait for the commission to arrive, and then the way would be clear. He wants the whole commission, Ricco; you, your grandfather, your elders, and all the other coin holders. I had to protect him, and he promised me that I would save him. You don't understand, but I needed it, and now nothing else matters.
— Do you mean that our parents' killer has been here for over a week and you didn't tell me why you wanted to protect me? And did you do it by sucking his dick? Letting him eat you under my roof? — I unlocked my gun and put my fingers on the trigger, but my hands were shaking, unable to fire.
Not withstanding his lamentations and excuses, my fingers moved and I fired a single shot. I was angry with myself for not having realized what was happening under my roof; I was sleeping with the enemy and did not suspect anything.
I dropped to my knees, pressed the tip of my nose with my left hand as a way to relieve stress while the other hand hung the still—hot gun from the shot.
At the last second, I deflected the target by shooting at the head of the bed; I remembered that Giacomo wanted everyone alive until everything was cleared up.
Irina was still breathing huddled at the foot of the bed.
I was a mess, my thoughts and feelings were confused; and my chest ached, preventing me from breathing, with each attempt that tore in agony. But I would not fall in front of Irina, my time has not yet come.
I was angry at not being able to shoot, for not ending his pathetic life. I fell on my knees for a moment, one hand hanging from the gun and with the other, I pressed the bridge of my nose.
I needed a moment to think, so I got up on impulse and left the room slamming the door behind me. I left knowing that I was making a mistake that sooner or later would fall on my head
I went down to my basement — where the safe rooms are — and Vincent was unconscious, at some point the pain overcame him, and he left. The doctor had already examined the wound ensuring that it remained alive until the Commission arrived.
I pulled up a chair and sat down. I looked at the unconscious man trying to understand how he managed to deceive everyone for so long. Millions of questions lurked in my mind: — Who was Vincent Zucchero? Who was behind this? Why did they kill my parents? How did he manage to take down so many without anyone catching him? Did Vincent make a mistake by being caught or was all of this part of a plan? Was your objective to bring the Commission together to reach everyone at the same time? Daring.
I needed to know why that was, so I would make him speak; that was my territory, I am the judge, the jury, and the executor.
I didn't have to look in the direction my sponsor was sitting in the corner of the room, to know that he understood my questions before I even had to say them. Like me, he was reflecting on and watching Vincent.
— It's not safe, right? He asked, but I felt the statement in his words.
— Yes, godfather. So I need a message to get to the Commission. I want you to use the coin.
— The coin? Are you sure?
— Yes. — Inform me that I already know who the traitors are and that I will hand them over personally. Tell them that I will hand them over to the Commission sooner than expected. Do this before they leave.
— Okay, Ricco, it's done.
— Don't delay, let's go tonight.
— Okay, son. — Jullius nodded.
It was a long shot, but if my suspicions were right, neither Vincent nor Irina would speak. So I needed to act, or he would soon suspect that the Commission was not coming to question his cronies and change his plans. I needed to be faster than him
Vincent started to move around the table and groan in pain. He had each member tied to a table leg; my security guards left him in an uncomfortable position for my enjoyment.
I knew he wouldn't say the name of his boss's son of a bitch, but that didn't mean it and I wasn't going to torture him anyway.
— I was thinking ... Wouldn't it be easier to let my dad out and just take his place? My father always wanted to be away from everything, he never wanted to be one of the five. So, why kill him, if he had abandoned everything and left the path clear?
Still groggy with pain, the man raised his head and looked at me with deadly hatred. I still didn't know why, but I was about to discover the reason for all this bitterness.
— You don't know your origins, cousin. He said dismissively. — Your father and grandfather threw everything away by renouncing the family legacy, a system that has worked for centuries. The power of the five coins only has value when all families speak the same language, but your grandfather betrayed the Commission when he let your father out.
— My father's departure paved the way for my uncle Vitto. After a while, he could return and take his place in the system, since my father never wanted to be part of it, either as Il capo Venni or as his brother's replacement. So, why did they kill my parents? Why did they kill others? Why did they kill Irina's parents when they were not part of the Commission?
— As I said, you know nothing about its origin, Riccardo Venni, and you will die for not knowing your enemy.
— Who is he, Vincent? You know I have very painful ways of getting that information out of you, so why don't you tell me that maybe I'm happy to get your balls out.
— I won't need them where I'm going, like you, I'm already dead. — He spat out the words with a groan of pain
— But it will be a long time before I let you find peace in your death, so you better tell it soon and tell me everything you know.
Vincent lifted his head and tried to laugh; and his laughter, though somewhat gurgling, made me realize that the worst was yet to come. But this time I was prepared.
***