Page 5 of Inherting the Mafia

Anthony took a quick step back when I suddenly stood up. I realized immediately that I was several inches taller than him.

Strange, he seemed bigger.

"You may not care, but I do. I've spent the last fifteen years of my life serving your father."

"I'm happy for you," Anthony replied. "What does it have to do with me?"

I grit my teeth to not lash out at the guy. He was being very defensive and it was making this conversation a lot harder than it had to be.

"Two months ago, the entire D'Angelo family gathered for the wedding of one of your father's nieces. She was your cousin."

Anthony's brow furrowed. "Was?" he asked just as I had a few minutes ago.

"Someone placed a bomb in the wedding venue. Every member of the D'Angelo family was killed, including your father."

"How...?" Anthony swallowed hard. "How many?"

"Fifty members of the D'Angelo family and another thirty security guards that were there to protect the family." Even after two months, I still reeled with shock every time I thought about how many people had died. "The bomb killed everyone."

"Oh, my god," Anthony whispered. "Who would do something like that?"

I narrowed my eyes at the man. "You really know nothing about your father?"

Anthony shook his head. "My mother refused to discuss him and grew violent any time that I asked." He shrugged as if the comment about violence meant nothing. "I learned not to ask."

"Your father was the head of the D'Angelo family in Italy."

Anthony just stared at me as if he couldn't comprehend what I had just said. "And that means what?"

"The D'Angelo family is mafia."

Anthony seemed to digest that knowledge for a moment before asking, "Was it a rival mafia family then?"

"We suspect so," I answered, "but we're still gathering information."

"Who is we?"

"Carmine Antonelli, my uncle. He was your father'sconsigliere."

"I don't know that word."

He didn't know Italian? How was that possible? He was Italian. He lived in a city inundated with Italians, American born and immigrants.

"Carmine was your father's advisor," I finally said.

"What did you do for my father?" Anthony asked.

"In mafia terms, I was the D'Angelo family underboss. I was basically second-in-command, but I took care of most of the day to day operations and made sure your father's orders were carried out."

That was the simple explanation for what I did for Don D'Angelo. The more in-depth answer would take too long to explain, especially when I was here for another reason.

"In my world, only a blood relative can take over the D'Angelo family. You are the last member of the D'Angelo bloodline, which makes you the new head of the family."

Anthony's lips parted and a small gasp of breath came out of his mouth. "You have lost your damn mind."

"While I agree with you in part, that does not change the fact that you are now Don D'Angelo."

I was pretty sure that Anthony's snort was appropriate under the circumstances. I didn't see how this guy could be the new head of the family either. He didn't even speak Italian.