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Giovanni noticed the old man’s reaction to Mira. He’d address it privately. His attention switched to his cousin. Lorenzo met his gaze dead on as if there was nothing to hang his head in shame over. Again anger boiled his gut and made his chest tight. “Leave us. Flavio and I have things to discuss,” he said to the room. Lorenzo looked around, confused at the short reprieve. If Giovanni had learned nothing over the past years, it was that his emotions could never rule him. He let that happen once with the Russians and his men saw his weakness for his father. But his father was gone and that weakness was shelved. He could not and would not show the same irrational rage toward Lorenzo.

One by one the men left as he requested. Lorenzo was the last to draw the doors to the sunroom shut.

“They have not found Giuseppe’s body yet. We need to get to that body and make sure it’s never discovered.”

“So it’s proven. Lorenzo pulled the trigger?” Giovanni lowered to the chair.

“Dominic’s information is solid. I checked with some of the families in Sicily. Lorenzo and Giuseppe did business. No one knows for how long or for what. Your father is turning over in his grave.”

“Good. He can make room for Lorenzo when I bury him.”

“Is that how you would do it? Kill your cousin?”

“Do I have a fucking choice? If he’s betrayed me, this family, he has left me none.”

“If? That is the word you must consider before you act. If he betrayed the family. Lorenzo is a hot head, like his mother. She should have been born a man.” Flavio chuckled. He lowered to the chair across from Giovanni and crossed his legs. The gold tiepin sparkled against his all black attire. His salt and pepper hair extended to his neatly trimmed beard, and his grey eyes were vibrant with life and wisdom. Giovanni trusted him above all else.

Flavio smiled. “You are your father’s son.”

“My father wouldn’t have tolerated this insolence. He wouldn’t have stood for it.”

“Your father was a man of great strength. However, family was the source of that strength. Do you think he could have built all that you have without family?”

Giovanni’s eyes swept the room.

“No.” Flavio uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “He chose you son. The day you were put in his arms he chose you. He didn’t care about your mixed blood. You are his son.”

“He tested me.” Giovanni said bitterly.

“As a father should test a son.” Flavio nodded, and again Giovanni had to accept abuse for love. “He gave you a new name. Battaglia. A family within theCammorathat even the Dons of Sicily bow their heads in respect to. This was no easy feat.”

“Spare me the history lesson. I know it!”

“Do you?” Flavio’s gaze lifted as Giovanni rose and began to pace. “History is what we play our hand from. It’s what guides our future. You are stronger because of the men that are sworn to you. Lorenzo’s actions could work in your favor. If you are wise enough to know how to use it to the family’s advantage.”

Giovanni closed his eyes. He knew Flavio spoke the truth. Still Lorenzo defied him. The only explanation for the alliance to Giuseppe was to feed his greed. How could that go unpunished? Giovanni stopped. He cast his gaze to Flavio. “You want us to go to war with Calderone?”

Flavio smiled. “Think of it. No more begging the old Don for land purchases. You, Gio, can own the triangle. Genoa, Turin, Milan. All of it yours, unchallenged. And I’m speaking of legitimate business, not the squalor. TheCammorahas no reach in northern Italy. This is your way.”

“A war will mean lives, bloodshed. For what? To make me as greedy as my cousin?”

Flavio waved it off. “To make you omniscient. It’s time for you to become what your father had been working for. Don Calderone is barely recovering from his stroke. He will act irrationally. He will spill blood first. A war is here, how you win the war is for you to decide.”

“Lorenzo should not go unpunished!” Giovanni slammed his fist into the palm of his hand. Flavio nodded his agreement.

“Lorenzo is impulsive and reckless. He’s never been satisfied with the title of underboss. This was bound to happen. I advised you years ago not to give him the gambling houses or the whores to manage. It was too big of a responsibility and temptation for him.”

“Well, obviously, you were right.” Giovanni mumbled.

“What you must consider is not the betrayal, Giovanni. We can deal with his flagrant disregard for the rules. See the bigger picture.”

Giovanni closed his eyes and sighed. “And what of respect, loyalty, honor? How isomertaheld sacred without those three?”

“No kingdom has been built on flowers son. You need a strong foundation, hard muscle, and an unwavering message to all of your enemies that you will control both worlds. Then your enemies will respect you. The men you lead will be loyal to you. And Lorenzo will learn the meaning of honor.”

“What do I do?”

“What you must. Tell him what you must. Tighten his leash, and when things settle we revisit this conversation of respect, loyalty and honor. If he must be dealt with, then you put the family in order first.”