Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1) novel Chapter 34

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.

Gabriel stands, his presence is a consumption of power. He will make a great Capo one day, soon, when his uncle steps down.

“What you did was wrong, let’s hope it teaches you next time not 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 and killed Alec too. Elisa is innocent; she's still here, in danger. If she dies, her blood is on our hands.” Michel glares at me, a nerve in his neck ticking.

“I know,” My voice is soft, but my eyes aren't.

“We should head to the Warehouse and get this shit done. Deno won't wait forever.” Michel storms out, leaving the 3 of us in the room.

“He’s hurting Liya, we all are, and if Alice killed Ren, you need to ask yourself how far you are willing to go. We started this 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 have flaunted in her face like a red-flag, tempting a bull, she is our prime suspect.”

“I’ll kill her if I have to. 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 the same time, closer to Mero. He loves her, after all. Sweet Elisa.

I just hope he will love her regardless because as I stare into my friend's eyes, I know the secret I keep will very well end his affection for her.

“I’ll bring the car around,” Mero gives me a stiff nod, understanding we are both here to keep her safe. He walks out of my bedroom, leaving Gabriel and me.

My head lifts up to meet his tall form, his eyes intense, assessing as they stare at me for a few beats before his nostrils flare as he looks to other parts of my room.