Page 28 of Blood and Penance (The Puglisi Crime Family #1)
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gianni
Since we’ve landed, I haven’t been able to think about anything other than destroying Lio D’Amico.
As my fingers continuously move over my rosary, I’ve prayed to God over and over again to cleanse me of all these negative thoughts swirling through my mind.
Forgive me for the sins I’ve committed and those that will come.
However, I don’t know if there will be any forgiveness for me this time.
This entire ordeal ends today. Phoenix and my son are my family and I’m here to protect them.
No matter in what form that protection comes, Lio D’Amico will no longer be a problem for us.
This has been a long hard road. My faith has been renewed and tested at every turn, but I seriously would not change any decision I’ve made.
I’ve had some time to reflect on every one of them on the trip over here.
I’ve reflected on my time reconnecting with Phoenix and breaking my covenant with God, to putting an end to my father’s reign by killing him—breaking another one of the commandments.
However, it had to be done because my father was not only a threat to my family but everyone around him.
The world is a better place now that he’s gone.
The only thing I regret is not being able to spend more time with Giancarlo.
It was hard walking away from him to come after Phoenix, but it needed to be done.
I’ve had little time to spend with my son but the way he looks at me, like I hung the moon in the sky, makes me not regret a single choice I’ve made so far even if in the end those decisions may cost me my soul. The soul I’ve worked so hard to change.
Lorenzo says I am who I am, and no collar will change that. I’m starting to believe he may be right.
While I’m on my way to find Phoenix, Giancarlo is staying with my brother Dante and his wife, Maria.
Not ideal, but I couldn’t bring Giancarlo with me just in case this didn’t turn out the way I wanted and Seraphina’s still not out of the woods.
But she’s a fighter, I have no doubt she’ll pull through.
Lorenzo got permission from Vincenzo De Maio to take care of Lio without repercussions from the Camorra in exchange for a favor from the Puglisi’s in the future.
Lorenzo agreed. While my brother hates owing anybody anything, he’s gone above and beyond for his nephew.
For me. That’s more than I can say for Sergio.
He was also wounded in Lio’s attack on the hospital, but it’s nothing he can’t recover from.
But he better hope that I can save Phoenix because if I can’t, he’ll be buried right next to our father.
From the exchange between Vincenzo and Lorenzo, Lio won’t be missed.
He just wants to make sure we don’t make a lot of noise while in his territory.
He doesn’t want to start a war within his own organization because he has virtually sanctioned the Cosa Nostra to kill one of the members of the Camorra, which is understandable.
“You ready?” Lorenzo asks, looking down at my rosary before his eyes slide back to mine. “You haven’t put that thing away since we got on the plane.”
He’s been keeping tabs on Lio since we landed.
We are heading to his estate along with a lot of men who will die for the Puglisi family.
I’m not so keen on having to rely on my family to help me with this, but I also understand I can’t get around it.
No matter how much I loathed this world, this is who my family is.
The Puglisi name carries some serious weight.
“It gives me strength and I need all I can get right now.”
He chuckles. “Can’t believe you’re still hanging on to your faith after all this. After you killed our father.”
“No matter the sins I’ve committed little brother, I have to keep the faith that He will always be with me because this could be a trap. Lio knows I’ll come for her, why wouldn’t he take her somewhere other than the home he shared with her?”
My brother sighs as he looks at me. He always looks as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s struggling and I’ve done nothing but try to give him guidance, but I don’t know if he’s listening.
He looks a lot different even more than what he did a few months ago.
By his confession to me, his wife and he have been having a rough time because of her mental illness.
When she’s off her medicine, she becomes a danger to herself and their son.
He’s been battling between walking away and honoring his vows.
And struggling to keep his family together is taking a toll on him.
That struggle, that push and pull between staying and dealing with the unknown or walking away, is weighing very heavily on him.
That thin line between love and hate for Marianna has hardened him in the last few months. This Lorenzo, I don’t recognize.
“Lio D’Amico think he’s untouchable. He believes he has the De Maio’s support. He doesn’t. He also believes your family doesn’t back you. He believes if you come for her, you’ll come alone.”
“He can’t be that stupid.”
“He’s not stupid, however right now he’s not thinking with his head. He’s being led by his dick and his heart. Both can cloud any man’s judgment.”
“Are we still talking about Lio?” I ask.
My brother pinches the bridge of his nose. “Right now, I don’t need to confess, Gianni. But like I said, both can cloud any man’s judgment.”
“Well, whenever you need to talk, you can come to me. Not to the priest, but your big brother. You’re not alone.”
He only nods, pulling his phone from his pocket. I don’t expect him to give me any kind of verbal response. Now isn’t the time and I know this is a subject that can’t be wrapped up in one conversation. I just want him to know I’m here for him.
“We’re here,” Lorenzo says, putting his phone away. “We won’t have any resistance at the gate. Vincenzo took care of that. But the house may be a different story.”
We have at least fifteen guys with us in three SUVs. Enough to fight off any resistance but not enough to bring too much attention to what we need to do.
“Vincenzo has the police handled as well,” Lorenzo says as we pull through the tall wrought iron gates. "But we still need to get in and out as soon as possible."
The SUV pulls to a stop in front of the massive mansion. We look at one another, nod, then exit the vehicle with guns raised. In an instant gunfire erupts around us. It doesn’t take long for us to breach the house after stepping over bodies.
When I walk inside, I shoot the man standing just inside the foyer in both legs, causing him to collapse to the ground. Then I rush up to him and point the gun at his head.
“Where is she?”
“Fuck you!” he sneers. “She tried to kill the boss. That bitch is as good as dead.”
I step on one of his wounds, twisting my foot.
“Fuck!” he screams.
“I’m going to ask you again, where she is. If you don’t give me the truth, I will put a bullet in you until you do.”
Gone is the man who most people put on a pedestal because of the collar I wear around my neck. The only person these people will deal with is the man who is here for the woman he loves.
“He’s got her strung up somewhere,” he says, pain etched all over his face.
“Where?”
“I don’t know. I swear, I don’t know.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I squeeze the trigger.
His shin shatters—his leg lays limply on the floor as the bone protrudes through the fabric of his dress slacks. I ignore his screams and curses. All I want to hear is a location.
"Fuckkkk! Fuck!" he screams. "Please!"
“All this could have been avoided if you just answered my question. Last chance, where is she?”
With tears streaming down his face, and his body trembling from the amount of pain he’s experiencing, his shoulders deflate. “There’s an abandon structure in the woods at the back of the property. She’s there. I’ve told you, God, please don’t kill me.”
I don’t have time to respond before the sound of a gun goes off from behind me and the man's body goes limp as blood pools around his head. I look at my brother who shrugs.
“De Maio wants them all gone.”
All this death, but I know it’s necessary.
“I know where she is.”