'I suppose it could be liberating, to take a leap of faith... To shrug off the burden of proof, for the promise of hope. It takes trust to turn darkness to light. And those who trust, risk putting their faith in the wrong hands. For there are those who pray for you... and there are those who prey on you. And no matter how careful you are, sometimes you just can't tell the difference.'
-John Constantine
"Why yes! I saw him- " she breathed heavily and pointed to the crumpled figure, "kicking the shit out of a dog and it'd only made sense if i did the same to him - make sense, right? "
Caphrey's face was red, he was infuriated and torn between arresting her and letting her off with a warning knowing damn well that if he let her off with a warning that - that'd be biasness - it was, either way she wouldn't learn and continue to do as she pleased. Leighton Travis was one of those people who didn't give a fuck. She did as she pleased and abided by her own code.
Leighton thus paused; she cast a glare over the scene such that Maddius was familiar with the Family. Pain, shame, impatience, detestation, some self loathing - seemed momentarily to hold a quivering conflict in her large pupils dilating under her black brows. Savage was the wrestle, which should be paramount, but another feeling rose and triumphed; something hard and cynical ; self -willed and resolute ; it settled her passion
She turned around and paced her long ebon hair savagely framed her face. It was a midafternoon in April, the air was chilly. Maddius was amused, as was his brother.
"I've always meant to ask" Luca said to Maddius, "Why didn't you change your name? I've been meaning to ask"
What that meant was that his older brother was so fucking terrified of him to look him in the eye far less to ask him anything personal.
Luca sat back in his seat - his eyes still on Leighton as he watched her with the animal, Caphrey was still scolding her. Luca was a big man - bigger than Johnee - he was so muscular that he really couldn't slouch and there was a perpetual cold look in his eyes much like the Dons'. It just made them look more terrifying.
"I'm not ashamed if that's what you're fishing for" Maddius said, "It's an honor to be part of the family - but it doesn't help that I look so fucking Romanian."
The men laughed and watched Leighton bring in the groceries, "She's a feisty one isn't she?"
"Aye," said Maddius, "She's an eccentric - I'm really looking forward to her stay here,"
"I bet you are," Luca said with such underlying meaning that Maddius swiveled his face to meet him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The men laughed and the ominous topic strained between the two brothers. After a long silence it was Maddius who brought the topic, "There's no tolerance of adultery within the Families Both men and women are executed. It is understood. Either the Don takes care of Johnee's situation or the Families do."
The atmosphere turned grim. Sooner or later they would be losing a brother "There's still time to resolve this issue." Luca said grimly, he looked as if he was going to say something before Luca's phone rang.
"Brazi" he answered, there were some words exchanged before his brother hung up and faced him. "Don wants to see you talk to you tonight. Liza's in the hospital. Johnee"
Johnee had beaten his wife in the most violent fashion that he'd broken two ribs and punctured a lung. When Johnee had made the arrangement to never mistreat his wife- he noticed a gleam in his eyes that made him mistrustful of his brother. He knew men like Johnee did whatever they felt like doing without the thought of cost and he considered it one of the greatest mysteries he will ever encounter in his life.
'Evil men indulge their slightest sin for diminutive satisfaction while accepting the fate of burning in Hell '.his father told him that whenever he broached the subject of his last son. Don knew that Johnee was no bed of roses and he urged Liza to stay away. Liza was originally meant for Maddius but he wasn't of Don Brazi's blood.
Frankly he couldn't really judge Johnee and his treatment of his wife. Liza was a snake - coy and innocent but backstabbing. And Maddius frequently let his opinion of her be known. All out wars and stuff happens but the Don always thought that they would grow out of their immense hatred for each other.
"In my five years of marriage I have never hit or stepped out on Roza," Luca Brazi said sullenly, "It didn't even crossed my mind"
Maddius turned towards him, "Never" he raised a suspicious eyebrow at Luca Brazi and watched his face. His brother's face contorted and he scowled at Maddius.
"Stop fucking profiling me!" he huffed, "Good God, why would I fucking lie?"
Maddius shook his head, "You just wouldn't be this first man in this business who hit his wife, it's astounding if you don't" he cleared his throat again before inviting him inside for a drink.
The men rose and dusted themselves off. Night has fallen and the air grew colder by the minute, "America, huh?" Luca Brazi remarked as he pulled his trench coat closer.
"Driver, come back in an hour." Maddius gave a fifty dollar bill and turned to his brother who was on the porch area looking out - scanning the area. Luca seemed out of place with the quaint porch area. Everywhere he went he seemed to dominate the area.
Leighton Travis looked out the window and saw the large man standing on her porch. The dog was a mess at first. And she did not mean the state he was in -she meant persuading her father to let the dog stay.
The poor thing huddled in a corner looking at Leighton with those beady black eyes that resembled hers. Albeit if it was any other dog she would have caused a scene as she did but this dog was different. She felt it was her civil duty to protect him at all cost. Something about his eyes - looking into it reminded her of herself taking Micheal's beatings. The helpless lost look she had in her eyes when she caught sight of her reflection during those times. She had to take those beatings - this helpless creature didn't.
It absolutely enraged her to see the sight in the alleyway - she felt as if a red midst clouded her mind and her body felt as if it was on autopilot. She had no idea she was kicking ass until she was out in the middle of the street causing a scene.
Caphrey was sitting down on a sofa in the living room and he seemed to be very engaged on a phone call. Margret would be furious if she knew that her husband was in her presence. They only lived a house down so what was his excuse why he wasn't home tonight?
She felt hands clasp onto her shoulder. They moved and Leighton's father came into view. Clifford Travis looked down at his daughter and then to the dog.. He pulled her close and kissed her on the head, a sort of fatherly affection that threw her back down memory lane.
"Like ole' times" he chuckled, gazing fondly at the dog. Leighton leaned into her father's chest. He wore his notorious yellow patterned dad shirt and soft pants. She turned in his arms and gasped with delight.
"Does that mean we can keep him?!" her face lit up in delight, she squealed jumping up and down.
Her father's dinner finished, he made his way to the glass paneled door and welcomed Maddius and his brother into the building. Maddius' brother came through the doors and the first thing she noted about him was that he was remarkably shorter by a half foot to his brother. And his complexion is far darker than Maddius'. Then she made the assessment that one of them was adopted when she saw that Maddius' lovely grey eyes weren't present in his brother's.
Soon they all sat down and Clifford put the television on. They all eyed each other as totally different social groups under one roof.
"You have an impressive hook," Maddius' brother spoke to Leighton, a small smile playing about his mouth. Maddius watched his brother warily, this was not how his brother interacted. Hell, he didn't interact at all.
"Thanks, it comes with practice" Leighton smiled at him.
"Luca Brazi," he held his hand out. She looked at his hand and shook it, "Leighton."
Caphrey was watching the exchange silently. The men are intruding and suffocating to him. Leighton and Clifford seemed un-bothered and carefree while Maddius' expression mirrored an amused cat. Slowly Maddius turned to watch him expectantly - confused Caphrey looked around and saw everyone had that expression. Slowly his senses came back to him and looked down at the ringing noise. His cellphone was going off. He looked at the caller identification and saw his wife. He declined the call with annoyance. He didn't want to start a fight.
"Is it Margret?" He looked at Leighton. Maddius and Luca glanced at him fleetingly and returned to their plates. Caphrey knew they weren't pretending to mind their business in the slightest. But they were kind enough to look away, Clifford's eyes were on their exchange.
"I don't want to start a fight," He fumbled out, "It's gotten worse since we were kids, and I'm at my wits end with her. I can't handle the jealousy and insecurity now, it was cute back then but now it's pressuring - and not just with you!" Caphrey's voice raised an octave. Now everyone could hear him plainly.
"And it's not just with you! With every woman I come in contact with" he ran an agitated hand through his hair. Luca Brazi's eyes almost looked pitiful at the cop's situation. This is what he got for allowing his women to be so libral.
"Ask pops to walk you next door then," Leighton shrugged, absently opening a can of beer and placing it in Caphrey's hand. She opened one and to Maddius' amusement she gave Luca Brazi a beer. Just plopping it in his hand. He politely declined when she offered him.
It always took Luca a couple of minutes to adjust to the life outside the family. He forgot how different the women were. Leighton behaved like what he deemed- should be male attributes. Strong- willed, confident and bold. Women he was around - spoke when spoken too, kept their opinions to themselves and devoted most if not all of their attention to their husbands. They didn't work or got into brawls or drank beer. Wine was classy, traditional and expected of and they didn't know how to fight far less throw a decent punch.
"She leaned forward resting her elbows on her knees. Not the most ladylike position and drank her beer with Caphrey.
Maddius was in the meantime caught up in his own world.
The following night Don Tomasino and his son Maddius were sitting together having a drink, his father's gaze incomprehensible. He looked down at the expensive box. Both men un - bothered by the stench emitting from it. The atmosphere tense. Luca Brazi looked horrified by the contents inside the box but not surprised.
"Did you have any remorse while doing this," Luca swallowed and looked up. Maddius took a sip from his glass and waited a few moments before responding.
"He put up a fight so I didn't have time to consider it." There inside the box lay the hands of Johnee Brazi. His fingernails were missing. "I thought about taking the fingernails as a trophy but figured since he was family it would be buried with him, Don Tomasino. "
Maddius bowed his head as a sign of respect. The newspaper tomorrow would have an article containing a body recovered in the river with missing hands and Johnee Brazi's wife would be a rich widow. As to Lizza's Family, they would be sent to her husbands' hands, as a sign of respect.
"Johnee had it coming, Luca," Don Tomasino spoke, "He knew the rules of the Family and he was delusional to think I would bend the rules for him because he was my son."
Maddius stayed silent throughout the exchange. Luca was grieving for his baby brother. He knew one insensitive comment from himself could lead to his blown off.
Luca Brazi shook his head in disbelief. Luca was a father as well and he couldn't imagine doing this or giving the order to this horrendous act to his son, Tomas. But Luca was thinking like a father, not a future Don. This bold statement will reinforce the idea that the Brazi Family was a force to be reckoned with.
"Family is everything, no?" Don Tomasino directed this to his son, who nodded his head, "He was endangering the Family, no? He knew about the rules and blatantly disregarded it! He made a mockery out of the Family!"
Don Tomasino took a breath and looked at his son, " So you see, son I had to weigh going to war and not going to war."