CHAPTER 28
AFTER COFFEE AND A GOOD CHAT about weapons from the Second World War, a subject that Carl Benedetti always tried to bring up, Capretti's old henchman finally revealed the reason for his visit:
— Son — he said seriously, but with a confident expression — Tony wants to see you.
Leone was surprised. Tony rarely wanted to meet with less important henchmen, he only called them for jobs that required their participation. To Leone, this sounded like an assertion of superiority, a way to become not only respected, but feared and revered.
— Did something happen? — he asked, his eyebrows raised.
— Some urgent job?
— He's still looking for someone to take Dylan's place, remember?
Carl stretched out on the couch and relaxed his body. He looked down at his knees, with tired and sad eyes, adjusted the huge silver watch on his wrist and spoke again:
— And it's not just him we have to think about. — I'm old, and close to retirement. When you can't run a few yards without feeling your heart cry out for help, it's clear that your time to stop is coming. And these two positions can't stay vacant for long...
— Positions, I know... — Tom could hear Katherine whisper as she cleared the coffee table.
— You weren't planning on doing anything now, were you? — Carl asked.
— No. I was going to stay right here — the young man said.
— Then finish getting ready, we'll meet him today — Benedetti continued, this time with a slight and proud smile on his face.
First of all, Tom needed to take Katherine to work, which was the primary destination for the three of them.
AFTER SAYING GOODBYE TO HIS WIFE in front of the huge New York library, he and his mentor went to the boss's house, which was on the other side of the city.
Tony liked to use different places to meet his subordinates, sometimes at the docks, other times at cafes. He even arranged meetings during baseball games or the Super Bowl, all to avoid becoming predictable and a possible victim of an enemy attack. What was surprising this time was the fact that the meeting was scheduled at his home. Something different was happening to Tommy. Benedetti was probably serious about passing on his position.
They arrived at the mansion where the renegade Italian lived. A huge cluster of statues and pieces of art made up the entrance, with its beautiful gardens and small lake. The modern mansion with touches of classical style had a unique romanticism in the spring, when it was surrounded by a beautiful combination of roses and flowers of all colors and scents. In contrast to the peaceful atmosphere that the house maintained around it, armed security guards walked around the corners and fierce dogs tied to thick steel chains inspired fear in any stranger who entered the place. After his father's death in prison, Tony became very careful about his safety, making his excessive care almost a psychosis.
The two walked from the garden entrance, where they had left the car, to the balcony that overlooked the lake, a beautiful path, full of nature, mixed with the subtlety of the pieces that Tony bought at art auctions. On the balcony they found him, sitting at his sun table, on which a splendid breakfast was laid out. Upon seeing them, he started the conversation:
— Ciao fratelli! Buongiorno!
— You know I never understand your fucking language... — Benedetti grumbled, as he approached the table, his eyebrows furrowed over a dissatisfied look.
Tony laughed at him. While he savored his aromatic coffee, he said in English:
— Good morning, brothers!
— That's better — Benedetti replied smiling — finally something I can understand... Good morning. Leone also responded to the greetings, although very intimidated in front of his boss.
— Please sit down! — Tony said, raising his cup to them. — Nothing like a good cappuccino to make my mornings better.
Tony brought the drink close to his nose and breathed in its scent with enthusiasm.
— The coffee beans and a very light touch of cinnamon leave a perfect aroma to keep the mind awake, and as I said: it makes my mornings better, but this one is full of good news! — he finished his words with a broad smile, waving for them to sit down.
The two sat at the table and Carl Benedetti asked, surprised by their enormous joy:
— Is there so much news?
— Excellent, my dear! Look at this newspaper.
Tony showed a copy on the table, which had arrived that morning. In the newspaper, the case had been reported on the police page, but without much prominence, due to the chaos the country was in with the story of terrorism. To make matters worse, the article, titled:
"Criminal war ends without Italians", said that the police suspected it was a gang fight, where an explosive ended up killing everyone present, and pointed to one of the victims themselves as a suspect for causing the conflict. No outside suspects, no media focus on the case, nothing that could incriminate them.
Everything had turned out perfectly for them...
— The police, always looking for answers that will save you more work... — Benedetti said suspiciously.
— I prefer to believe that they really think so — Tony replied — Besides, this means that you did a good job, don't you think?
— It would be redundant to say... — Benedetti smiled.
— They themselves don't suspect our visit to the meeting — Tony continued — They think something strange happened, that it was a plot by one of them to eliminate the others that went wrong. An informant confirmed everything to me today, before the newspaper arrived.
— Perfect — Benedetti said.
Tony turned to the silent Tom and looked at him, a little more seriously.
— And you, do you know why you're in my house, Leone?
He just waited, silent, for the answer.
— I liked what you did yesterday, few would have the courage, or perhaps the madness, to do the same for the family. I see that you have potential. I like you!
— And those with potential don't stay among the others, but I like to have them closer. And the dogs that stay closer to their Benjamins get more crumbs from their hands... You're here because I want to invite you to finally be part of the best, young man. I like you!
— Thank you — replied the young man, still out of place.
— Carlos told me how you did things. I liked the grenade... and how everything happened too. You're bold and I need people like that. If it weren't for those damn Taliban, your work would be on the front page, whether it was good or bad!
And he took the last sip of his coffee
— But now I'm going to want more from you, boy, that's why I'm inviting you to be my companion, my bodyguard. You'll accompany me on my outings and trips, I know that the Zampellas and those Chinese from the Triad, you know, are suspicious that I sent you there. That's why I want good people with me, do you think you're capable of that?
Benedetti just watched everything, analyzing his apprentice's expressions.
— I think so — Tommy replied.
— Would you be able to do whatever was necessary for the organization?
— Whenever necessary.
— This is a turning point, Leo, you will no longer be a simple employee, you will not be just part of an organization, but of a family. You will not only receive orders, but you will participate in events and learn about things that few know about, you will no longer receive a common salary, but the pay you deserve. But there is an important issue and I give you one day to think about it:
Once you are in, you will be marked...
— You will be seen as one of us and your name will be known. There will be no way out, because your name will be remembered, just as you will not forget the things you will learn, so I am giving you one day to think about it, tomorrow you will give me your answer.
Tommy listened to everything, all the instructions and considerations about the decision he would make, and the deadline he would have to decide.
He replied:
— Tomorrow, without fail.
Satisfied with the conversation, Tony ended with an encouragement to the young man:
— I know you haven't decided yet, tomorrow you'll give me the answer, but as an incentive, I want you to dress up for your future position, if you accept it, of course. Benedetti will take you to buy new clothes and tomorrow, if the answer is positive, you can choose whatever weapons you want from my arsenal. I hope you think wisely...
At the end of the conversation and after saying goodbye to Tony, the two left and went to the car that was at the entrance to the property. Tom didn't expect to make such a leap in the mobster's confidence so quickly, since he headed one of the oldest and most difficult families in the city to engage internally. The truth was that Benedetti was training his replacement.
Before the two reached the exit of the balcony, Tony leaned back in his lounge chair and said:
— If it were in our golden age, Leo, I would say you were almost a grown man!
Leo understood the message, just nodded in gratitude and left. That was an important moment; he had been given the opportunity to go from being a simple street handyman to taking on the role of the boss's bodyguard. A very long path had been taken in a short time, such was Tony's vote of confidence, not only in the young man, but also in his mentor's experience.
Benedetti felt responsible and proud, seeing his apprentice follow the same path as him. However, the two would, as time went by, part ways. The pair headed downtown to buy some better suits for Leo. They both felt new winds blowing.