Chapter 3 VICENZO

VICENZO SALVADOR   Sitting at the head of the table, I observed the room through hooded eyes. The smoke from my cigar swirled in front of me, creating a haze that added to the mysterious setting.

The faces of my loyal servants and men surrounded me, each bearing the weight of their own secrets and allegiances. They would die for me and do anything for me. This was one of the benefits that came with being the Mafia Don.   As they spoke, I listened, checking for hidden motives and weaknesses in their words. I was more than very aware of the immense power I held in my hands—it was both a blessing and a curse.   My black suit, perfectly tailored to fit my frame and muscles served as a symbol of my power, influence and authority. The room was a testament to the wealth and influence I and my family had amassed over the years. I loved being the head even though it came with many responsibilities.   My men, stationed at strategic points around the room, were ever watchful, their cold, unyielding eyes scanning for any potential threats or dangers that could affect me. They knew their loyalty to me was also putting their lives on the line, and they would protect it at any cost.   "We finally have the package," Brian, one of my most trusted men, said to me, and I smiled. They've finally caught the one man I trusted who betrayed me without thinking twice. They've finally caught him.   "What did he do again?"   "Apparently, he was with Isabella and Ferrara last night. They might be hoping to get some plans to take me out of this prison cell.   Daniel coughed as they brought him in front of me, blood dripping from his forehead over his lips. I had given him not quite enough punishment for what he just did. We lost an Intel in the FBI due to his betrayal, and he almost cost the end of my syndicate.   "Boss, I'm sorry; it was a mistake."   I chuckled as he kneeled against the floor. He must have thought that would make me forgive him, but that wasn't working.   "Why did you do it? How much did Isabella Rodrigo offer you to betray us and give intel to the FBI?" I asked out of annoyance. I had always thought he'd be one of my most loyal followers, but he turned out to be a stupid and dumb traitor.   The question was, "Why did he betray me?" He's seen what I've done to countless traitors. Why would he choose to still betray me? He was just dumb and irrelevant.   Smirking at his pain, I paced up and down in front of him to make him feel more scared. His face was painted with his blood, and his hands were bound behind him, like an animal in his predator's cage.   My voice was low as I muttered, "Why did you betray me?"   "I didn't know what to do!"   "Ohhh, really?"   "I honestly didn't know what to do, but I'll make it up, boss, if you can give me a chance."   "Tell me what she offered you, and just maybe we could have a conversation."   A slap on his cheeks got him to start confessing. "She threatened to kill my girlfriend, and I didn't know what to do. She knew my girlfriend's address and used that against me. If I hadn't helped her, she would have killed them."   "Them?"   He nodded in tears. "My girlfriend's 7 months pregnant; she has a baby."   Despite his painful screams and reasons, I didn't feel sorry for him. I always waste little time on those who deliberately stab me in the back or cross me. "Unfortunately, your kid would be fatherless."   My voice caused him to wince, and he visibly trembled, his hands shaking behind his back.   "Please forgive me. Although it can't be changed, it'll never happen again. If I could go back in time to change it, I would."   I took hold of the back of his head and made him look me in the eye. "You knew my rules before you started working for me, so let's not act like I'm the wicked person here. You betray me, and you die... I don't make the rules; it's always been with the syndicate. You're a pitiful substitute for a man and a coward." I told him and spat in his direction. "I should have listened to my instincts that day and not made you run the transaction... Now, both our intelligence and our money belong to Isabella Rodrigo."   Isabella Rodrigo was the daughter of my rival, so it automatically meant that I hated her. She was better than her father, and she wouldn't hesitate to kill. Her father was weak, and that was how I was able to kill him. In order to take revenge for her dad's death, she's been trying to ruin me and my syndicate.   First, it was the explosion at my warehouse, and the next was a miss-sniper target at my mansion in LA. I just couldn't believe this idiot would betray me for her. She was sexy as hell, but that was not enough.   Even though I was more focused on getting Ferrara, another of my rivals, and a betrayal that almost got my dad killed,   I started at Daniel again, thinking maybe I should forgive him, but that would mean weakness, and I couldn't afford to be weak. His expression was one of pure terror; he was very sorry, and I could see it in his eyes, but I just didn't care. I shook my head, reached into my pants waist, and swiftly brought my gun. Determined, I pointed it at him and pulled the trigger with a reverberating bang. He fell to his knees in shock. The bullet pushed its way through his neck, causing a gaping hole in it that quickly filled with blood and gushed out. He fell flat on the ground, a pool of blood forming around him. He was lifeless.