Marco

"Thanks for flying me. I know it wasn't easy for you."

"Don't mention it," Alex looks down at his shoes.

And I look at him for some long seconds.

"Seriously don't. I... have issues."

"Clearly."

"Right back at you, asshole. You didn't say a word the whole flight. What happened there?"

"I don't wanna talk about it. Still. See you at the party?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the fucking world..."

When I walk into Grampa's study, my boots are still caked with mud from the Amazonian forest.

"Where the fuck have you been?"

What a warm welcome. And my mood is just as sour. This will not end well.

"Answer."

"Why should I? You also hide stuff from me. And I thought you want to build trust and all that."

"Don't act up, boy."

"You bet I will. Because we had an understanding. That you didn't fucking keep."

His eyes are mere sparkling slits.

"Where were you?" He stretches every word.

"Brazil," I spit, not even trying to disguise my anger.

"And?" He gives me a look that can make grown men piss themselves. "Is she dead?"

"No. If she were, I wouldn't be standing here."

"Good."

"Good?" I must admit this throws me a bit off.

"Yes, good. I preferred her to die to be done with it but in hindsight, maybe it's better that she survived."

Damn. Of course...

"You said..."

"I said I would not kill her. I didn't touch her, but not out of lack of will. I still utter a strong desire to shoot a bullet through her admittedly pretty face. Only and only because she deserves it and because it would prevent you from doing something stupid. Again."

My gaze probably looks like the seven pits of hell.

"But I kept my word. I didn't touch her. I just didn't help her either... And I will continue not touching her if you behave. But be sure, this time around it will not take me a year to find her even if she escapes."

"I don't care what you do as long as you keep your word."

"And you, yours. I mean, the Yakuza girl would not take it lightly if..."

"I don't intend to. I love Hitomi."

"Then why are we having this conversation?"

"Because you-"

"Shh! It doesn't really matter after all. Go get cleaned up. You have only fifteen minutes and you don't smell very pleasant."

He can be so damn aggravating.

"You won't do anything shady?"

"To that girl? No..." He huffs. "She will have in my eyes the significance you give her."

I frown.

"Marco, you know that I could have killed her. I only didn't because of what we agreed on. Now move."

Letting her die might not be the same thing in his books but if you end up dead I feel it's the very same. However... Now that I know what's going on I can keep an eye on the situation.

A very distant, unbiased eye.

The atmosphere is almost suffocating when I step in the big ballroom where the event takes place. Grampa wanted to go big and he did.

It was quite an audible gasp that circulated when I appeared. I didn't even know so many people knew I existed and also bothered to think about me being dead.

Many scrutinizing eyes are on me while I hold the speech Grampa annoyed me with.

Likely all of the girls from the proposal list are here with their relatives. Hitomi isn't. Which feels... weird.

I scan the crowd for familiar faces. There are many that I know vaguely but few I trust. Somewhere in the distance is Stefano with his back turned to the scene. He is walking out, with a girl on his arm.

In the opposite corner of the room is Alex and this time he is not alone. Nate is standing besides him. She looks stern but calm. Seeing her makes me realize that she might actually have a baby. And that is... Beautiful and also very concerning.

After I finish my rather short welcome speech I step down from the mini stage and walk towards them but a man in his fifties with a young girl on his arm, is intercepting me right after I walk down the stairs.

"Marco, a pleasure meeting you in person. My grandfather was also from Sicily. Michael Genovese," he says in a thick American accent, stretching his hand out.

I shake it politely.

"Amber. It's a pleasure meeting you, Marco." The allure in her tone is very much undisguised. She is an attractive girl, curvy and red-headed; definitely stealing glances in every room she steps.

"Likewise," I answer maybe a bit dry. It's obviously not them, it's me.

I feel Grampa's hand on my shoulder. He is subtly holding me in place and I am forced to stay and chat with them for a few minutes.

Not long after, Giovanni Buonavotta joins the conversation together with Rosangela. She is wearing a sparkling silver dress and a brilliant smile that I hope isn't the courtesy of narcotics.

"Uh, the new look suits you. Makes you a bit more edgy and dangerous." She kisses both my cheeks in the Italian fashion in front of Amber's scandalized gaze. "I came to your rescue, now play along," she whispers in my ear. And that is very welcome.

"I owe you one," I tell her when we are finally out of that room.

"You do. Big enough to get me pregnant?"

"Ross. Jesus, no. What are you talking?"

"The damn truth. My dad intends to market me over to someone regardless of my opinion so I'll rather be marketed out to someone I like... trust... can negotiate with. It can be mutually beneficial. We make a baby and then each dines as they please. We can even occasionally dine all together."

"You are... very cynical." But I can't help smiling a bit.

"I am a woman in a men's world. I have to be to survive. So, what do you say?"

"I... am seeing someone."

"Oh. Does Don Lorenzo know? It's that blond girl, right? Lord, Marco, you need to hide her from them. She is so so pretty but, they are going to chew her up and spit her out."

"No, it's not her."

"Really? Who is it then? Whisper it in my ear, because if these hyenas hear it, who are tonight out to get you, she is in danger."

I laugh, for the first time today.

"No, my current girlfriend can handle that. I am dating Hitomi Yoshida."

Her mouth drops open.

"Shit... But she was..."

"He died."

"But his body isn't even properly cold."

"Ross, don't be like this."

"Look, she is most certainly spectacular and probably the only girl out here that is really your match, except of course me, but I don't know. Nevermind me. I hope you will be happy. But, I am not joking, don't let people know yet."

I sigh once again and see Stefano in the corner of my eye. He feels my gaze and walks my way. God, this feels strange. The hairs on my arms start to rise and I am not the sensitive type. 

"I was told you were dead. I got into a fight with the old asshole because he didn't want to let me assist at the funeral."

"You asked for an authenticity check on my ashes..."

"That came back fucking positive!"

"Lorenzo is good. He didn't survive for so long being a dimwit." I shrug.

He grabs my face in a very strange way and then presses me into a tight hug.

"I thought you are fucking dead," he whispers in my ear. 

"That was the point, Stefano," I answer calmly with maybe a bit of a lack of emotion. 

"Don't be a smartass. I don't take it lightly. I told you that damn girl is bad news, you just didn't want to listen. And you let yourself be fooled. I will skin her alive and deliver her heart to you. Nobody fucks with our family and gets away with it."

"No. She is mine. I will find her and take care of her."

"Are you sure you can do that? Look into her little doe eyes and snap her neck?" Stefano is... still Stefano.

"Yes," I answer sternly. "But how did you know it was her?"

"I did my research, obviously. Marco, you are my brother. Nobody is hurting my family. You and I, we are going to do great things together. We are going to make father prod."

Ah, father... I don't feel I know him enough to know what would have made him really proud. 

"Who do you think she worked for?" 

I frown. My bet would be nobody. 

"You know, father had lots of enemies. I think she wanted to get to me but didn't have the right opportunity to kill me and then, you walked straight into her arms."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Why would this be ridiculous? We are the heirs of two great capos with lots of enemies. But she entered our lives before Lorenzo did so it doesn't make sense to be his enemies. But it makes sense to be father's." 

Ok, I have heard wilder theories than this. I still don't believe it. 

"So, tell me. Who do you suspect?" I give him the satisfaction to ask.

"Well, an old enemy of father's disguised as a friend; someone he knew way back, someone that is eastern, just like her. And speaks Russian, just like her..."

"Stefano..." I know where he is getting at and roll my eyes. 

"Alexei is not your friend, Marco. Do you know why? Because you are his greatest competition if he wants supremacy in Europe. As much as is hurts to admit it, it's not me that is giving him a run for his money, it's you. You, with my backup and the guidance of the old asshole, can get Italy easily, and if you marry smartly, like the daughter of the French or Spanish capo, Europe is yours."

This takes me off guard.  He would never fucking ever have put this into words before. And it's so frightening because it's true. At least objectively.

"I saw you exiting with a girl." I change the subject because there is nothing I can say to that, that wouldn't show a strange reaction. 

"You did?" His expression is ambiguous. 

"Grampa said no prostitutes. He means it and he minds." Yeah, Lorenzo has a wide array of businesses but none, and I mean none whatsoever, deals with sex.

"Nono, she is not a hooker." 

I raise an eyebrow.

"She really isn't. She is amazing and she is going to bear me a son."

I barely keep my facial expression neutral. But then again, why am I so amazed? That's much like him.

"Who is she? I assume she is part of some important family." I don't want to make assumptions about which because there is nothing good that can come out of it. "Can I meet her?"

"No, not yet. She is... Not having a good relationship with her family. But none of the ones before her comes even close." He looks... very passionate. I hope that's good. I hope he treats that girl right.

"Stefano, I am happy for you but take it slow with the girl." The most genuine advice is for him to not be his very authentic self, but that sounds kind of stupid to put into words.

"Oh yes, I will. She really is special." I don't know why I have the feeling this is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

"Oh, Stefano!" A brunette girl hurries over holding the side of her long evening dress. Her skin is olive, her hair long and luscious curls, and her body so curvy in those well-known places that it's hard to not attract attention.

"Elise, this is just the right time." Stefano's eyes swipe over her figure quite shamelessly. So much for being faithful.

She kisses him on both cheeks and he gives her ass a squeeze. Some things never change.

"This is my little brother Marco."

"Oh, I know who Marco is." Her smile is bright and alluring like everything else about her. "I must admit I didn't know he was your brother. Very interesting."

"Marco, this is Elise. We met on a business trip some years ago. She was quite young back then. And eager, very very eager." This gives deja vu. So they slept together. Good for them. Which means I should not marry her even in different circumstances.

"Nice to meet you, Elise."

"How nice?" She gives me the killer smile that was previously directed towards Stefano.

Not nice enough in your opinion, I suppose. Elise seems to be Stefano's type and I just want this party to be over. 

"Elise is the niece of the future president of Brazil." I know; I have read her file. The very corrupt future president of Brazil, that is financing his campaign with drug money laundered by his cousin.

"Yes, Dad is confident Uncle Vitor is going to win the elections.  He has men everywhere and after he takes control of the presidency we will have a free hand to do what we want."

After further, rather concerning lines, Elise walks away. 

"So, what do you think of her? It would be a very strategic marriage. I have scanned her family."

"Stefano, I am already engaged."

"What? You mean, you made already a decision? Who's the lucky one?"

It seems it's a casual question but it is not. 

"Hitomi Yoshida."

"Marco, what the fuck?"

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Yeah, Stefano doesn't really want Marco to date Hitomi. So... what is he gonna do? Muhaha.