Page 35 of Deceptive Union
“Who else is next?”
“Mia was the baby of the family before the twins came along. Lucia and Luca.” Nina makes a face. “I know, I know. As if my mom couldn’t name them something else that didn’t make them sound like a freaking nursery rhyme. They’re the youngest by far. They’re … god. Ten now.” I shake my head. “Mom got pregnant with them around the time our dad died. It was unexpected, to say the least.”
“At least she has that last memory of her husband before he died. I’m assuming it was a happy marriage, given how many kids they had.”
“They loved each other. At least, that’s what Emilia has told me. I was only twelve when my dad died. I never really paid attention to my parents’ relationship back then. Now … I’d give anything to go back in time and be with them again.”
“You will. One day,” she says with so much conviction that I believe she believes it.
The waitress returns with our pizzas. The steam wafting from them makes my nose water. “Ready to try the best pizza in all of New York?”
“I’m ready.” Nina takes a bite of hers and chews thoughtfully. Soon, her eyes widen, and I know I won her over.
“Good?”
“The best,” she says.
“Cheers to that.” I take a bit of my own pizza, happy to enjoy our simple date at this simple restaurant, just eating pizza and enjoying life.
* * *
My father,the great Riccardo Moretti, was the one who taught me how to fight. I was only seven when he started training me. My mom claimed I was too young, but he told her it was good for a boy my age to start preparing how to be a man.
Our first fight session was with a pair of boxing gloves. Dad put them on and had me punch of his hands.
At first, I was tentative. I barely brushed the glove with my fist.
Dad gave me a stern but patient look. “Antonio, you have to give it your all. Someday, when you’re older, you won’t have the option of being nice. Not in the business I’m in. The business you’ll inherit one day. You might have to actually hit someone for real.”
“But I don’t want to hurt anyone,” I said.
“I know, son. But you might have to.”
“But why?”
He set his hands down, sighing. “Because that’s the world we live in. The world you live in. Not everyone lives in the same world, but it’s something special—the world we occupy. It’s dangerous. It’s not easy. But you need to learn how to do this. And it starts by not being afraid to really punch me.” He holds his hands back up, the boxing gloves looking silly to seven-year-old me. “Now, hit, Antonio. Hit.”
I sucked in a deep breath and, using all my might, landed a solid punch against my dad’s boxing glove. It wasn’t much, but it was something. It was the start of something.
My dad looked down at me with so much pride; I beamed that day.
I never knew that one day, I’d lose him, and my uncle would take over my fight training. Suffice to say, Franco Riccardo could never hold a candle to my father.
* * *
I haveanother plan to hurt Franco. It’s one I only share with Killian. Not because I don’t trust Petrov, but because it’s spur of the moment.
Killian and I are at the fighting rings when a man walks into the club. Alfonso Gentile. Franco’s second-in-command. I’d recognize him anywhere. I’ve been keeping an eye on Franco for the past five years, and wherever Franco goes, Alfonso is usually right beside him. But tonight, Franco isn’t here.
Alfonso just walked into the lion’s den, and he doesn’t even know it.
I nudge Killian. “That’s Alfonso Gentile. He works for Franco. I just spotted an opportunity.” I’m still a little bitter over the drug shipment plan not working out, so I’m ready for a little bit of action. “I think Franco will be upset if his second-in-command goes missing, don’t you?”
Killian gives me a dark smile. He’s normally such an easy-going guy; it’s strange to see him act differently. “I think that sounds like one hell of a plan. What are you going to do with him?”
“I haven’t fully decided yet, but let’s go. I’ll think of something.” Together, we head toward Alfonso.
He’s distracted by a scantily clad woman, so he doesn’t see me as I land a blow to the back of his head. People around us step out of the way. The people here know me, and they know to not mess with me. They’ve all seen me fight.