Page 12 of Enzo

“This isn’t easy,” Father started, pushing his hand through his silver-streaked black hair.

“Nothing is, but I can take it,” I said confidently. My father had been preparing me to make difficult decisions for a long time, seeing as I’d one day take the reins of the Marchetti criminal empire. “Spit it out.”

“I’m about to tell you our family’s biggest secret,” he started. “One that might destroy us as a family, or make us the strongest to ever rule the Omertà.”

I tensed, expecting to hear my father admit he knew what I’d learned about my mother.

“I’m going to tell you a story, and please let me finish. Okay, son?”

“Bene,” I murmured.

He nodded, his eyes darting across the room to the open French doors that led to the terrace where we’d spent countless afternoons.

“You both know I had a brother.”

Amadeo swallowed, and I studied him curiously as I answered. “Sì, Enzo. My namesake.”

“My brother died in front of me,” he started. “I watched the life drain from his eyes, and the loss gutted me, unsurprisingly. But even worse, I was afraid. Because it meant I’d be stuck with the responsibilities I didn’t want, namely the illegal business of the Marchetti family. However, I knew not taking it would make our family vulnerable. What I did next was necessary, but it doesn’t make me any less ashamed.”

4

ENRICO

Past

Iran to the car, decorated with bullet holes, and ripped the door open, pulling out my brother’s slumped body. He was the same size as me. Except now, his face, so similar to mine, was deathly pale. His body lay sprawled on the lawn, a crimson stain spreading around his form.

Surrounded by the vineyards and our father’s land, I listened for a heartbeat. When it didn’t come, I rushed to perform CPR.

One. Two. Three. Breathe.

One. Two. Three. Breathe.

Repeat.

Fucking repeat.

I would repeat it as many times as necessary to bring him back to life.

A pulse fluttered, so faint and unsteady that I almost missed it, and I inhaled a breath as my ears thrummed with adrenaline.

Manuel and another shadow lingered behind me, blocking us from view.

“He won’t make it,” Kingston said. “That slash in his abdomen and bullet in his chest… You shouldn’t try to save him. It’s too late.”

I shook my head, staring at my bloody palms and knowing full well that with my brother gone, my hands would be further drenched in blood.

My brother lay on the soft ground like a broken leaf. The men who worked for our family grew nearer, and Manuel barked orders as he sent all the guards to the front gate of the property. There’d been enough bloodshed tonight.

“Don’t you fucking die,” I shouted, grabbing his cold hand. “Wake the fuck up!”

His eyelids peeled open and he breathed his last words. “You know what to do.”

And that was it, life left him while the world continued to turn.

“You know what he means, don’t you, nipote?” Manuel asked.

The waves crashed against the shore, seagulls squawked high up in the sky, and my heart twisted because nothing would ever be the same.