Ruthless Daddy by Bianca Cole
1
Fabio
Iopen the door to Salvatore’s apartment, dropping to my knees. The scene in front of me knocks all the air from my lungs as if someone punched me hard in the gut.
What I’m looking at is horrific. I expected the worst when I saw a blood-stained knife and my best friend’s watch on my doorstep with the message stiamo venendo per te written on a scrap of blood-stained paper, which means we’re coming for you in Italian.
Salvatore is no longer in one piece. They’ve severed his head and positioned it on the coffee table, looking straight at me. Bile rises in my throat at the vacant look in his still open but lifeless eyes.
Blood covers the luxurious beige carpets and white walls. It’s a bloodbath so graphic that most people would throw up. But, the terrible truth of this life is that the more blood and gore you encounter, the more difficult it is to be shocked or feel anything when you come across it.
Sorrowful pain and all-consuming rage slam into me all at once. First, they took my wife and now, ten years later, they’ve taken my capo and best friend. I won’t rest until I have every member of the Moretti family’s head on a fucking spike for this.
The echo of fast-approaching footsteps fills the air as my lieutenant approaches. “Boss, what is—” Lorenzo retches and doubles over, almost throwing up. “Fuck, we better call the cops.”
I remain on my knees, my eyes fixed to the vacant stare of my best friend. The man I’d always hoped I’d call a son one day once he married Aida. Aida may not have liked the prospect. She didn’t know Salvatore as I keep her at arm’s length from the family business to protect her. I always expected her to marry him one day.
The Moretti family is here in Sicily, which means no one I care about is safe. The only person I care about on this godforsaken earth now is my daughter.
Sicily and the Alteri family could fall.
“Call the cops and tell them. I need to make plans to protect my daughter.” I stand and stare for one last, long moment at the only man I considered worthy of the position. “You will step in as interim capo while we sort things out.”
Lorenzo’s eyes widen slightly, but he bows his head. “Of course, sir. I won’t let you down.”
I don’t respond to him, as none of my men are worthy of the position. Lorenzo is the best of the men I have, but no one will ever compare to the man I just lost. “Make sure the police know we need to have a funeral for him soon. I will alert his family.”
I grit my teeth. I know Salvatore’s ex-wife was on speaking terms with him. They have a child together, but she lives in Rome. It will be a tough conversation to have, but I owe it to my friend and his child to ensure they get his inheritance.
Life has become a lot darker now that the Moretti family just snatched away my daughter’s future. Aida has no one to protect her anymore once I’m gone, and I’m not getting any younger. I march out of the apartment block and get into the town car, waiting for me.
“Home,” I order my driver, Paolo.
He nods and fixes his attention on the road, driving me through the streets of Palermo. A place I once loved, but as my enemies rip away the people I care about, my love for my home country diminishes.
Aida isn’t safe here. I have no option but to find her a suitable husband. I need to find someone who can provide her protection from the Moretti family and give me the power to force them to back down.
It won’t be easy, but it’s my only option.
* * *
Two months later…
I stand on the edge of the clifftop, wondering if it would be easier to jump off and allow the cresting waves to take me away from this desolate and cruel life.
Today I have to do something that will hurt my daughter, but if I allow her to see any reluctance, I’m not sure I’ll be able to go through with it.
The Moretti family has already issued threats against her. In the two months since Salvatore’s death, they have become more aggressive with their tactics. They want to take control of Sicily. If that were to happen and Aida was here, I know all too well the gruesome fate she’d fall prey to. I won’t risk her life, even if the only way to protect her isn’t exactly great either.
Milo Mazzeo was the only man to bite at the chance of partnering with me, and I had to push for him to marry Aida as part of the deal. The crunch of the ground underfoot catches my attention, making me aware that my daughter has arrived.
I turn to face her, feeling an ache in my chest at how beautiful she is—as beautiful as her mother was. “Aida, please join me,” I say, holding out a hand to her.
Aida takes my hand. We stand in silence for a moment, gazing over the view of the azure Sicilian sea. “How are you, father?”
I swallow hard, wishing I didn’t have to do this. “As well as I can be. As always, work is stressful.” I don’t talk to Aida about my work, shielding her as best as possible from the terrible things I’m involved in.
I glance at Aida and squeeze her hand gently, wishing things had been different. “I asked you to meet me here, as I have some news, amore.”
Aida smiles at me, which only makes my chest ache more. “What is it?” she asks.
I pause for a moment, grappling with the words about to come out of my mouth. “I’ve found you a husband.”
Aida’s eyes widen in shock. “What?”
I smile, but it’s forced and unnatural. “I’ve kept you safe, Aida, but now it’s time another man takes the role of your protector.” I clench my jaw, knowing the type of man I’m sending her to. It’s ridiculous that he is the better option than allowing her to fall into the hands of the Moretti family. “Milo Mazzeo wants to marry you in his hometown, Boston.”
Aida drops my hand, stepping away from me. There’s silence as she processes the news before she shakes her head. “No, I won’t marry that man. He’s as evil as they get, father. I don’t need a protector. I want to marry a man I love, not by an arrangement.”
I drop the false smile and narrow my eyes at her, knowing that the only way is to take the hard-line and pretend I don’t care. “You’ll do as you are told, Aida.”
“Why would you give me to a man like him?” she asks, her voice cracking with emotion.
“It was always the intention to marry you to a man that can increase the power of our family’s business, Aida.” I grab her shoulders, knowing that I’m breaking her heart. “I don’t want any disobedience. You will marry Milo Mazzeo, end of discussion.”
“I thought you cared about me,” she murmurs, those words stab me like a knife to the gut.
I care about her. She’s the only thing that matters to me in this world. My gaze remains pinned to the blue of the azure sea, as I know if I look at her, I’ll crack. “Your mother’s death changed me, Aida. I hate how much you remind me of her. If you’re in Boston, that will solve the problem.” It kills me inside to say these words to her as they’re not true, but I know it’s the only way to get her to leave and not come back. I block out the emotions and glare at my daughter. “I don’t want you here.”
Aida’s eyes quickly fill with tears. “What would mother think if she could see what you are doing to her only child?”
The mention of Lianna snaps something inside of me. A reminder of what I’ve lost and what I’m still to lose. “Don’t fucking talk about her.” I grab her wrist. “She can’t see because she is dead and gone, Aida.” I shake my head. “There’s no such thing as happy endings in our world, so you will have to accept your fate with dignity.” It’s a truth that has become too real for me of late.
She fights away from me and rushes back the way she came, putting space between us. I watch, hating that I’m hurting her. These will be my last moments with her before she’s on the plane. Milo expected me to attend the wedding, but this is bad enough. I can’t trust myself to attend, or I’ll end up breaking it off.
Aida walks dangerously close to the cliff edge, making my heart accelerate. “Aida, come away from there,” I call.
My dutiful daughter obeys, walking toward me again. She wipes the tears from her face. “When will I be leaving?”
I glance over her shoulder at Aldo and nod. “Right away.”
Aldo grabs her shoulder. “The car is waiting to take you to the airport. We’ve packed all of your things, and they are already on the plane.”
Aida stares at me in shock. “Won’t you at least let me say goodbye to my friends?”
I shake my head, knowing it’s too risky. “I won’t risk you running. Aldo is to take you straight to the airport.”
Aida breaks away from Aldo, looking up at me for a moment, before rushing toward the descent off the clifftop. I nod at Aldo for him to follow, knowing she won’t get far. Aldo grabs her before she starts her descent down the cliff. He drags her back toward me.
“Stop this at once, Aida.” I grab her wrists to stop her from fighting. There’s a moment of hesitation before I give Aldo the signal. Guilt coils through me like a disease as Aldo stabs the needle into Aida’s neck, administering a dose of sedatives.
“What the hell?” Aida proclaims, clutching her neck.
I have to remain strong, knowing that any sign of weakness she could crumble my resolve within an instance. “It is best if you can’t fight. By the time you wake up, you will be in America.”
Aida shakes her head. “You drugged me?”
“It’s for your own good,” I say, knowing that’s the only thing I’ve said on this clifftop that is not a lie. Aida can’t stay in Sicily, not when we’re on the brink of war. My little girl has always been so strong as she fights not to cry, glaring at me.
“You will be in Boston before you know it and married. Your life here will be a memory. Embrace it,” I say, keeping my gaze cold. “Goodbye.” I turn away from my daughter, feeling tears welling in my eyes. Every step I take away from her, the pain in my chest grows.
“Aldo, please don’t do this.” I hear her plead with her bodyguard.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have a choice,” Aldo replies.
The tears fall down my face. It’s been ten years since I cried. Even at Salvatore’s funeral, I couldn’t cry. Losing Lianna was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with, but losing Salvatore and now Aida in such quick succession takes first prize.
Once I’m certain Aldo has taken Aida out of sight, I drop to my knees. The weight of the empire I hold on my shoulders is crushing, and the guilt over not protecting the people I love is as heavy.
Tears stream down my face as I stare up at the sky, knowing that my world has become darker still. The Moretti family has forced me to send away the only love and light in my life.
* * *
Ten months later…
The image of blood painting the walls of my best friend’s apartment is impossible to get out of my mind. Especially when Benito Moretti sits at the other side of the boardroom table, smirking at me. The reason he’s dead. I should get up from this chair and strangle the life out of him, even if it will cause my death.
These board meetings are fucking pointless and dangerous. I could never comprehend why the firm would ever want to bring enemies into the same room for a meeting. The shares I own in the financial firm in Rome are a front from laundering cash from our operations, as is the same for the Moretti family. They own Naples, and just over ten months ago, they were trying to take Sicily.
The Moretti family has been a thorn in my side for too long. Thankfully, they have little power over me since my alliance with Milo. Benito is the cocky twenty-eight-year-old son of my enemy, Rafa Moretti. He’s a coward who has no business sitting among the men at this table, and yet there he is, smirking at me.
The other people at the table are inconsequential to me. Alfeio Sabbatelli runs the north of Italy, and he keeps to himself. We’ve never had a run-in with each other, but we’re not exactly on friendly terms either.
Ricci Alo runs west Italy, Tonio Busa runs east Italy, including Rome. Finally, of course, the Moretti family runs the south of Italy, including Naples.
All the shareholders of this company are mafia. Five of us in total. Our ancestors set up the company to keep the peace between the different regions and launder money for all five families. It made sense when it was established as there were no wars for territory, but in time the situation in Italy has become less stable.
“Are there any objections to the proposed moves for the company?” Tieri Fernando, the CEO, asks.
I am here to satisfy the shareholders. If I didn’t make an appearance, I know Benito wouldn’t hesitate in undermining me. The entire meeting, I’ve hardly listened as it’s all bullshit.
“I’m glad to see no one objects.” Tieri claps his hands. “In that case, I will end this meeting.”
Everyone stands, but I remain seated. It irritates me when Benito also remains seated, giving me that stupid smirk. If it weren’t for the risk of war, I’d kill him right here and wipe that smirk from his face permanently. After a few moments, everyone else has left, leaving both of us sitting opposite each other.
“Aren’t you going to leave, Moretti?” I ask.
He tilts his head. “I could ask you the same question.”
I shake my head and stand, not intending to play games with this man. He’s childish and pathetic. “If you didn’t have protection.” I glance at his bodyguard, who steps forward. “I’d kill you right here and now,” I say, glaring at him.
He pales slightly, as his father has shielded him from true brutality. He’s a puppy dog, and I’m a wolf ready to devour him. It’s because of these assholes that I had to break my daughter’s heart—an act that has haunted me ever since.
It was the only way to ensure we were safe, even though I knew I was taking a risk giving her to a man like Milo. Thankfully, Milo assures me she’s safe and happy, which is as much as I can ask for. He has frequently asked me to visit Boston, but I won’t leave Italy until I’m confident that my new capo can handle operations alone.
I want to rip Benito’s fucking heart out and ship it to his father as revenge, but I know that doing so would throw the whole of Italy into chaos. It’s tempting, though, as I could take down his bodyguard and him.
“Watch your back,” I say before walking out of the boardroom. I’ve been at this far too long, and there is no end in sight. Salvatore was like a son to me, and I always expected him to take over the business.
I’d hoped that Aida might have married him instead of Milo, but the one thing I’ve learned is nothing in life turns out how you expect. When Salvatore learned about their plans to take Sicily, he got the message to me before the Moretti family killed him in cold blood.
They had intended to invade my country and take it over, forcing my daughter to marry Benito. There was no way that I was going to let that happen. So I knew I needed backup and a powerful ally, even if that ally is in Boston.
Once the Moretti family found out that I’d partnered with Milo Mazzeo, they backed off instantly. It was a necessary move to protect everything, including Aida. The only proper way to bind our organizations was to offer Aida to him as a wife, hoping they’d provide an heir.
I had to break her heart to force her to leave. It was easier if she hated me. The look she gave me will haunt me until my dying day. All I can hope is that she finds happiness with Milo.
I walk out of the boardroom and bump into Tieri, the CEO of the company.
“Fabio, it’s great that you could come for the meeting.” His brow furrows. “How are relations between you and the Morettis?”
I shake my head. “As bad as they ever were, but we’re at a stalemate.”
He smiles. “So a cold-war, essentially?”
I nod. “You could call it that, yes.”
Tieri runs a hand through his long dark hair. “That’s got to better than an active war.” He looks wistful. “I’m so sorry about Salvatore. I know you two were close.”
I clench my jaw. “I expect casualties in a war,” I say, not letting Tieri know how much Salvatore’s death hurt me. Tieri might not be a threat, but I let no one know my true feelings. If you do, enemies can exploit the part of you that cares.
His expression turns stern. “Indeed. Are you staying in Rome?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, and that’s why I must leave now. I intend to be back in Palermo by the evening.”
Tieri looks surprised but nods. “Of course.” He steps out of my way. “I will be in touch when the next board meeting is.”
I grunt in reply and walk away from him. These board meetings are a hassle that I don’t need, but Salvatore always attended them before he died. Lorenzo, the man I’m training to be my capo, doesn’t have my trust yet.
I step out of the building and onto the streets. The Rome streets are busy, and the air is polluted. It’s one reason I hate coming here. Sicily is my favorite place on this earth, and I don’t particularly appreciate leaving it.
The car is waiting outside of my building, and Aldo gets out when he sees me. He used to be Aida’s bodyguard, but after I shipped her away, he became mine.
“Good meeting, sir?” he asks as he opens the door for me.
I shake my head. “A meeting can’t be good when a Moretti is in attendance.” I clench my fists as I get into the car.
“Of course, sorry I asked, sir.” He shuts the door and gets into the driver’s seat. “The jet is ready for take-off as soon as we arrive,” Aldo says.
I nod. “Good, I want to be back in Sicily before nightfall,” I say, desperate to get out of the city. Unfortunately, the traffic in Rome is always bad, so the likelihood is we’ll be back in Sicily later than I hope.
“I’ll try to get us to the airport as fast as possible,” he says before raising the privacy screen between us in the car.
The car moves for a few blocks only to come to a halt in traffic. I sigh heavily, sitting back in the chair and trying to relax. The empire I hold upon my shoulders has become a heavy burden, one which I have no choice but to shoulder.
Lianna and I didn’t have a boy. After Aida was born, we were told we were lucky to conceive her, as Lianna wasn’t very fertile. I never worried about succession, as I loved Salvatore like a brother and knew he would look after the empire and Aida. I expected him to marry Aida, hoping they could continue the legacy my ancestors built.
Instead, the Moretti family stole that from me too. It wasn’t enough that they killed my wife. They had to steal away everything else that mattered to me. I am not a stupid, hot-headed man. My plan to exact revenge on them has been in play for a long time, but every time I think I’m getting close to executing it, they throw a spanner in the works.
I loosen the tie around my neck. The longer I remain in control of the Sicilian mafia, the more it weighs me down. My father died when I was twenty years old, and I took over. It’s been twenty-nine years of blood, war, and deceit. Twenty-nine years of losing the only people I care about in this world. All I’m left with is a darkness that grows with every year that passes.
Aida was the only light I had left in my life. But, when the Moretti family forced me to send her away, they left me with nothing but a pit of eternal darkness. A darkness that threatens to consume me every single day.
