Challenge Submission Eye for an Eye

[Nico]

It was only two months ago since Leandro Conti's entire family had been killed in Chicago. His son, his daughter-in-law and the grandchildren. So much blood. So many tears.

So much outrage.

Lorenzo Mazarella, Leandro's nephew did what tradition would demand. He authorised the Vendetta, demanded by the Conti Clan, on whoever took the lives of innocents, whoever split the blood of the family. His family and the clans demanded the blood of the one who dared to commit such a vile act. The news travelled across the big pond of course, right back to Naples.

But this was just the beginning.

And now, two months later - Lorenzo's second in command, his uncle Leandro was assassinated as well. In bright daylight and on the open street no less. Right in front of their beloved Italian Restaurant on Times Square. It all happened in the blink of an eye. An unknown shooter on a motorcycle attempted to murder the head of the Mazzarella Clan - Lorenzo Mazzarella. Apparently, this time the unknown attacker went for the leader himself.

This was a statement. Loud and clear.

He was no fool. That bullet had his name on it, undoubtedly so. His uncle did what each honourable man would have done and caught it for his padrone and saved his life by giving his own. A noble cause, indeed. Leandro died with honour. and out of loyalty to the crown. And yet, Lorenzo was furious. There would be time to mourn and honour his uncle, but now was not the time for it. There had not been any bloodshed ever since he eliminated his brother Roberto and brought peace to the City that never slept. While the eerie stalemate remained during all those years, such an act of open violence could be hazardous. It might tip the scales once more and baptise the streets in blood again. Blood of innocents, no less. Lorenzo would not have it. Mind you, it certainly was not the first time something threatened his life. If someone wanted to weaken the organisation, their leader was the prime target.

Lorenzo Mazzarella was aware that he had a lot of enemies. After he removed his brother, he did what tradition demanded. He and his people spun an invisible web and made sure the Omertà was held in high regard. Invisible and quiet, infiltrating, blackmailing and coercing. He had learned the trade from the best, after all. His power base right in the epicentre of the financial world, his influence grew fast. These days, one didn't gain power with a goddamn gun - but with a neatly filled bank account, the right contacts and associates. As an importer of the finest wines from his homeland, Lorenzo quickly made himself a name among the elite. For the Italian community in town, he and his family were a godsend. Who else should they turn to if the state left them behind? Who made sure their businesses were protected? Who made sure they had a job and could feed their children? Everything he demanded in turn was loyalty. Merely three years after Lorenzo set foot on American soil, he made sure the right candidate would win the Major election in town. Just as it should be. After all, Lorenzo loved to play chess and have his pawns where he wanted them to be. Right at the pulse of money, power and influence.

"Lorenzo. Brother, please..." came the voice of Damiano, his younger brother. The younger man had caught the second bullet that was meant for Lorenzo. But the Don merely lifted a hand to silence his brother for the moment. Because he knew what was going on in the youngster's mind right now. One look in his eyes revealed the whole story. Damiano wanted to find the one who did it and drag him right there.

Lorenzo was still standing by the window, looking out over the city beneath. His city. Damiano and his crew had made sure Lorenzo made it safely to one of the safehouses in the borough after the attack. Wounds were tended to and now it seemed as if a dreadful silence had fallen over the city. Only a fool would believe it, however. The very last word Leandro uttered with his last breath was still echoing in his mind. 'Corvi'. 'Raven.' Could it be? Could Evergarden be that foolish? No. Lorenzo refused to believe it. He knew Beauregard Evergarden. That man was a soldier, for fucks sake. One that served in wars. If he wanted him dead, he would do it himself and not send some lackey to do it for him. That man would want to look him in the eye while pulling the damn trigger and not pull a stunt that had 'Coward' written all over.

Damiano was pacing in the huge salon, always keeping an eye on his brother. Well aware that he almost lost his older brother tonight, the one he always looked up to. The young man did not say a word for now, but he couldn't stand still. Too agitated and eager to so something. Anything.

Eventually, Lorenzo lowered the cigarette after a deep drag while he turned his head to the side. Those almost arctic-coloured eyes settled upon the pacing man and he beckoned him closer. With a faint nod of his head and a warm smile, he signalled his brother that he might speak now. Damiano stepped next to his brother, both hands stuffed into the pockets of his parka and he took a breath before he spoke. He knew better than to let rage speak, even if he was still a hothead. "Sienna and Samara are safe, padrone. I bet it was Evergarden and his fuckin' bikers. I'm gonna rip out their..." but again, Lorenzo silenced the man with a stern look and a shake of his head. Yes, of course, his men were eager to bring him the one who committed such an atrocious act, but it was too early. He knew well of his younger brother's temper, too. Fucking hotheads at this age, all of them. He had not been much different back then. Lorenzo was as hotblooded as each other person with Italian blood flowing in their veins but there was something he was not: someone who would rush decisions and make mistakes. His people relied on him, no more than ever before.

There was too much at stake and he wasn't like his brother had been. They always had been day and night. Roberto was greedy, hungry for power, impulsive and selfish while Lorenzo was so much like their father. Honourable. Level-headed and making sure business would run well. Blood on the streets was not what he wanted.

For a long moment, Lorenzo studied his brother's face, searching his eyes. "Whoever it was, wants us to think exactly that, Damiano," Lorenzo murmured at long last, still not stepping away from the huge window. Certainly, there was the chance that one or the other of Evergarden's crew pulled an unauthorized one-man show. Or someone else wanted them to believe just that. It wouldn't take much for another war to break out and who would benefit from two parties going at each other's throats again? Right. Too many wanted the power over this city, too many wanted it all for themselves and they only waited for Lorenzo to make a wrong move now. Damiano grunted but he could do nothing but nod to what his brother said. Lorenzo set a hand down to one of his brother's shoulders, giving it a reassuring squeeze. In troubled times, nothing was more valuable than having a family to rely on.

Lorenzo was aware that his beloved wife and daughter were as much in danger as he was. The mere thought of something happening to them both enraged him. But they were well protected, now more than ever before. His gaze drifted back to the window and a faint smirk played on his lips while he pulled his phone from a pocket of his suit jacket. He quickly typed a message to the one person he desired at his right now. His cousin, Dario Conti, Leandro's son. Damiano merely watched his older brother, doing his very best to contain his temper. As much as he wanted to go out there right now and search the whole city for that asshole, he knew that wasn't what Lorenzo wanted.

"Dario's already packing, I heard." the younger man said, smirking softly. Lorenzo kept typing but he nodded to what was said. Ah, it was too long since he sat down with his cousin Dario, but with the news of his father's demise, nothing and no one in the world would keep that man from taking the first flight from Naples. 'Il Segugio' they called him.'The Hound'. A reputation well deserved. Just the man he wanted at his side, to take his father's place. It was a way to honour Lenadro's sacrifice, after all. To recognise officially that the man's death was not in vain. And no one but his son, Dario Conti, was more adept at finding the one who murdered his father and bringing justice. He was the one who should bring justice and take revenge for his blood.

There would be time to mourn, indeed. But right now, Lorenzo had to make sure to tighten the lines, make sure the clans were strengthened. To show whoever murdered his people that La Famigila will not yield, not cower in fear and sure as hell not surrender. Not now, not ever. "He will come and until then I want you to keep your eyes open out there, capito?" Lorenzo murmured once more, giving his brother's shoulder another squeeze before he pulled his hand back and gave one of the young man's cheeks a light slap. A warning. No escalation. No flying around bullets or open violence - and Damiano knew what he had to do now.

Whoever it had been will pay for it.

Eye for an eye, as it should be.