Page 21 of Lucky

What the fuck has gotten into this guy?

Brando leans back in his chair, clearly itching for action. “I say we take the Vicci offer. Let them kill each other and save us the trouble.”

The thought that something could happen to Jacklyn gnaws at something deep inside of me. Even though I feel like killing her myself, I don’t want anyone else to entertain the idea of doing so. That option is exclusively mine.

Scar rubs his jaw, eyes narrowed in thought. “I’ll call Seattle. We’ll see what they’ve got, but we stay cautious. No matter what, I want you all on your highest guard.”

As the meeting breaks up, the weight of the decision hangs over all of us. Jack Vicci's words echo in my mind, the promise of a payment in blood sounding far too final, too dangerous. But whatever this is, it’s far from finished.

11

JACKLYN

Iwas twelve and had just finished watching my father run through one of his usual meetings—his men lined up in his study, their heads bowed, eyes flicking to the floor in respect, in fear. I’d watched him sit at the head of the long table, his presence looming like a dark cloud, while he spoke in that calm, commanding voice. I was barely a teenager, but I had heard enough to understand the game. That night, something had happened which had driven my father to rage. One of his men had failed him, and when the man stepped forward to offer his apology, I watched my father—my father—take the man’s hand and kiss it, just like he always did with those who were loyal, before he pulled out his gun, pulled the trigger and blew his brains out.

It happened so quickly. One second, there was respect, and the next, nothing but blood, splattered all over the polished wood floor.

I stood frozen in the doorway, my hands gripping the frame so hard I thought I’d break the wood. And then my father turned to look at me, as though he knew I’d been standing there the whole time. It didn’t even cross his mind to spare me thehorror of his actions. His gaze was steady, unwavering, the look of a man who had just executed one of his closest men, yet there was no remorse, no hesitation in his eyes.

"You see, Jackie?" he said, his voice so cold it could’ve frozen hell. "In this family, respect is earned. Loyalty is earned. And if someone can’t follow that simple rule, there’s only one thing left to do. Capiche?”

I nodded, swallowing the fear rising in my throat. I wasn’t sure if I was afraid of him, or afraid of becoming him. But I knew, deep down, that the moment I entered his world, there was no turning back. This life, this family, was all I would ever know.

There’sa lot to be said for being a female running a mafia family.

It’s a rare thing. There’s no manual, no training you can undertake, no school for wayward mafia daughters where they can learn the ropes.

In a world dominated by men, where power is taken with fists, with blood, with the willingness to betray anyone standing in the way, being a woman at the top means constantly having to prove yourself. Every single moment of every single day.

I grew up in this life, the daughter of Silvio Vicci, the feared and respected don of our family. I learned early on that you don’t get to the top by being soft, by caring too much, or by showing weakness. No good will come from avoiding the darkness.

I was raised by a father who taught me that family was everything—above all else. To him, loyalty was everything. And if you weren’t loyal to him, you weren’t just out of the family—you were a threat. And threats, well, they had to be eliminated.

I learnt early on that weakness is a death sentence. A faltering moment, a glance too long, or a second’s hesitation—and it’s lights out. In this world, mistakes aren’t lessons; they’re epitaphs. A single misstep, and you’re nothing more than a fleeting memory in someone’s mind.

The same rules apply to enemies. When a threat arises, we don’t hesitate. There’s no room for second thoughts or misplaced mercy. We act swiftly, decisively, and without remorse. Because in this world, there are no do-overs. You strike first, you strike hard, and you make damn sure they don’t get back up. Otherwise, you won’t live to see the consequences of your hesitation.

Now, as I stand in the cold, dimly lit hallway of my own mansion, preparing to enter the chamber where my men are waiting, I can’t help but think back on that moment. How my father’s lessons have shaped every decision I’ve made in the past few months. How I’m standing here, at the apex of the Vicci family, the very thing he built.

I know I have to be ruthless. It’s been three months…three long months since I stepped up and took over operations from my brother. And in those three months, I haven’t achieved much. I haven’t been able to prove myself, especially when no-one is taking my reign very seriously. Even my own men, loyal to the family for years, have no faith in me. Contrary, it seems like I’m met with roadblocks at every turn. Yet I understand that my father’s iron fist is my inheritance, and I intend to wield it with the same unwavering control he did. Otherwise, I know that Jack and I will end up buried alongside our father long before we’re ready to leave this world.

The heavy oak door swings back slowly, and I step into the room. Silence greets me, thick and heavy. The only sound is the clack of my heels as they tap against the floorboards. One thing I will not compromise on is style – I refuse to do business unlessI’m in my Louboutins, because they remind me how kickass I am. If people can’t learn to take me seriously, they can at least appreciate good taste when they see it.

My men are gathered - around twenty of them, lined up in neat rows, their faces impassive. I can confidently say that two key elements are missing from their faces; respect and fear.

They don’t think I have it in me to rule.

But that’s about to change.

After today, everything will change. It’s all or nothing now; I’m going for broke, and if I fail at this, I fail at everything else.

In the center of the room are the two men responsible for the shooting of a Gatti soldier. There’s a cunning in their faces, but also the faintest flicker of nervous tension as they shift on their feet, looking everywhere but at me. They know the rules. They’ve broken them. And now, they’re about to pay.

Without saying a word, I walk to the center of the room. The fate of my family, my rule,my own brother who sits incapacitated in a wheelchair, hang in the balance. I’ve never had to do this, never had to stain my hands with the blood of another. But it’s time that everyone knew who the leader of the Vicci family is. I can’t keep delaying the inevitable; can’t keep thinking that things will miraculously fall into place. They won’t. I have tomakethings happen.

My teeth clench as I stop in front of the two men, feeling the weight of the moment settle on my shoulders as my eyes dart between them. There’s no need for theatrics. No need for a speech. The most effective punishment is the one that is swift, final. And that is what I know I must do.

They failed me, and they will die for it.