Chapter II: Sofia Girodano

The last few months had been hard on everyone. The vendetta was in full swing now and Salvatore had retaliated to Luca’s attack by burning down Jayson’s warehouse. His counteract had been a major setback for Jayson’s business, but that had been the main purpose of it.

The mafia boss had increased the security measures around the estate, other than that, nothing else had happened, they were all on edge about Jayson’s retaliation, but that didn’t stop them from continuing their work.

“So we’re going to the Giordano’s?” Marco asked his brother in Salvatore’s office while the latter flipped through a pile of papers. “But Mrs. Giordano has been gone for five months. Why are we going to now? It’s not for condolences.”

“No, it’s not,” Salvatore agreed. “We have to take care of the matter Mrs. Giordano gave me.”

“Oh, when we went to the hospital?” You’re too good for the Regnante name. “What did she task you with?”

Being a Mafia Boss is a fucked up job.

“Come,” Salvatore pulled on his suit jacket, buttoning the front. “I’ll tell you in the car,”

Marco didn’t push him and waited for Salvatore to speak, to tell him the purpose of the four range rovers behind them, all of them filled with armed men. They were going into enemy territory, yes, but that didn’t mean they needed so many men.

“Do you remember, six months ago, when I went to see Mrs. Giordano on her death bed?”

You’re worthy of the name.

“Yeah, what about it?”

“She told me something no one knows,”

“Okay...?”

“Her daughter, Sofia, is a friend of Nicole’s.” Salvatore told him. “And she’s the one to inherit all the Giordano Mafia. Now she is a girl, and Mrs. Giordano was unable to give birth after her, leaving her to be the heir. But one thing the girl doesn’t know is that her birth father was killed before she was born, and her mother took over the Mafia after him, right? But she was a woman, and you know how these bosses don’t listen to them, so she married her husband’s second-in-command to be the face of her Mafia while she was the real boss.”

“Alright,”

“Now Sofia grew up thinking that this second-in-command is her father and he hates her,” Salvatore turned towards Marco raised his eyebrows at the words. “Hates her. He loathes her. He never did anything because of Mrs. Giordano protected her, always. But now that she is gone, there is no one to stop him. For the past five months, I had been keeping tabs on her, seeing what was happening in her home, and it looked all fine and innocent, the girl is a little bereaved after her mom’s death, but I recently found out that her father beats her. He goes into her room when no one is there and abuses her, and now he’s planning on selling her,”

“Selling her?” Marco’s voice pitched higher as his fist shook.

“As a sex slave,”

The youngest scoffed at the words, feeling confined and hot as he looked around him, trying to calm himself as he lowered the window, allowing the cool air to blow at his face and ruffle his hair. 

“Mrs. Giordano handed the safety of her daughter to me,” Salvatore rubbed a hand over his forehead. “She is under my protection now,”

“What...” Marco swallowed thickly. “What did she give you in return?”

“Sofia’s birthright,” Salvatore looked at his brother, gauzing him for any reactions. “I save her life in return for her birthright,”

The manor they pulled up at, looked like nothing in comparison to the Regnante Estate, but despite that, Marco couldn't help but admire the exterior.

The house itself was in a light cream color with the roofs being a turquoise green. The pavement was marble and glistening in the sunlight as there were a few men loitering around, not making any threatening move before backing away, knowing who they are.

All of them watching the Regnante Mafia Boss made his way through the double doors, leaving Marco to convey any and every order to his men.

"Alright, I want six men stationed at the back of the house with three on either side." Marco voiced the instructions his boss had conveyed to him. "At least four men should be out here in the front with three more inside with us."

"Do not attack unless told, and do not disobey orders." He warned while tuned to look at every man in turn, all of them nodding. "Have your guns out and ready and do not waste any time. We should be in and out before the authorities should arrive. Are we clear?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Move out!" And with that, the designated number of men spread throughout the ground, standing in position before speaking into their earpiece and confirming their locations. Once satisfied that everyone was in place, Marco marched inside with three more men behind him, making their way towards the formal sitting area where Salvatore had made himself at home, and pouring himself a finger of scotch form the crystal decanter laid on the table.

Marco and another one of the men positioned themselves on either of the doors, their guns clasped in hand with Salvatore's other guard standing behind their boss, all of them watching him take a sip of the liquid before pulling a face at the taste, spitting the contents back into the glass.

"That is repulsive." He stated with a disgusted look as he wiped his mouth with a napkin, placing the glass back "I can taste the cheapness on it."

Marco couldn't help but roll his eyes at his brother's antics before they all straightened as laughter approached them. The men stood with stoic expressions, the safety clip of their guns turned off and tightly clasped the weapon in both their hands.

As the sound neared the doors, a smirk adorned Salvatore's lips as he stood taller, inviting himself to stand before the window with the sunlight streaming in.

The doors swung open, a group of five unidentified men entering and joking about a mundane matter.

"Regnante!" One of the men shrieked in the realization that they weren't alone as everyone tensed and looked around in a panic, causing Marco to internally roll his eyes at them, wondering what could be more amusing than this before watching Salvatore settle down in the leather seat beside him.

"Men." Salvatore nodded as he crossed his legs at the ankle watching them all squirm in the doorway. "Please, take a seat."

They all took a glance around the armed men before they shuffled to get settled.

"Where is he?"

"H-he was bringing his daughter..." One of the men stammered uneasily as Marco blood rushed through his ears, knowing why given that it was clear knowledge that the children of a mafia boss would not partake in any business ventures until they were to take over.

"Bringing his daughter for what purposes?" His boss inquired, wanting to know if these men knew the purpose.

"He-he is sell-selling her for-for a healthy price."

"They say she has a nice pair of tits and that she's a virgin." Another one stated while licking his lips in anticipation. “A nice tight cunt, I’m sure,”

Now, that is absolutely repulsive.

Marco tensed at the words, whipping his head in the boss’s direction and silently asking him if he could kill the man and watched as his boss hum in thought before meeting his gaze.

"Would you or should I?" Salvatore inquired to his younger brother, Marco looking at him with a raised eyebrow before he pushed himself off the wall and marched towards the man their disgust was reserved for.

"Who the fuck are you?" The man growled, staring up at Marco with loathing in his eyes.

"The executioner,” He smirked in satisfaction and, pressing the barrel to his forehead as he froze in place. "And the judge has sentenced you to die,” He growled before pulling the trigger, the bullet flying out with a silent whoosh from its suppressor before penetrating the man’s skull with an exit wound.

The men looked away as the stench of blood flooded around the room.

"Get rid of his body," Salvatore ordered calmly as Marco stepped away, making his way to stand behind his brother while two guards dragged away the corpses.

No soon had the body been removed, hurried footsteps resounded outside the door.

Now, this is where the fun begins.

The wooden surface flew open as a girl, not more than twenty-two was tossed inside. Completely naked and exposed for the world to see as she lay sprawled at Salvatore's feet, her entire body shaking as the men all looked away, turning their gaze towards the door to greet the startled and surprised expression of Luigi.

Marco felt vehement to see the acts of this vile man and knew that if he were to get a chance with him, he would be absolutely merciless with the man. Trying to sell his own daughter as a sex slave to get out of trouble, the thought only sickened him further as he clenched his jaw and stared at a spot on the wall before him.

"Hush now." He heard Salvatore speak softly as he removed his suit jacket, draping it over her to cover her to a certain extent. "Everything is alright..." Salvatore resumed as he brushed away her flame-red hair from her face, treating her tenderly, and her eyes widening to recognize him from the one time she had been to his estate.

“Salvatore-” She choked out and broke into hysterical sobs at his feet, trembling like a leaf, and Marco couldn’t help the swell of pity.

"It is okay,” He soothed. “We’ll take you away from here. Do you want to leave?” He asked while cupping her chin in his hands, forcing her to sit up as she looked at him with tears streaming down her face and nodded vigorously, relieved that she would be leaving this place that was once her home, but now was nothing more than a prison.

"I can have that arranged for you, would you like that?"

"Yes." She heaved as a sob wracked through her body, the sound reverberating through the room.

"Sofia, do you see that man?" Marco heard him ask as he found that Salvatore was pointing up at him as he tried to keep his suspicions to himself.

Hiccupping, she turned to look towards Marco, who hadn't looked at her, but she nodded at the sight of him. "He is Marco," Salvatore informed as he was beckoned forward.

Swallowing thickly, Marco walked around the seat with his hands folded in front of him as he regarded his brother with silence. He was only answered with a smirk, the girl being directed to him as she stumbled, Marco had to steady her as he grabbed hold of her arm.

"Marco will take care of you."

"Boss?" He asked in surprise, clearly taken off guard as he hoped he was hearing wrong.

"That's an order." His Boss informed with a flick of his wrist, another one of the men forcing Luigi onto his knees as he held a gun to his head. "You will take care of her,” He was ordered in complete seriousness, forcing him to tense.

"Yes, Boss." He nodded after a moment of hesitation, leading Sofia out of the room because that was what he was meant to do, hearing the sounds of gunshot ricocheting behind them.