Chapter 1: Dante

The cemetery exploded into a barrage of gunfire from all angles in less than an hour.

The mission was meant to be simple. My target wasn’t a difficult one: Caesar. He was a leech and had pissed off my client whose name I didn’t bother to remember. I didn’t care who hired me and hadn’t ever since I became an assassin for hire.

That early morning when I organized my plans and went over the entire map of the cemetery in silence, I knew something would happen. That ominous feeling hung in the air like a bad fog in the back of my mind. I could hardly sleep the night before and so had drank a full pot of badly made coffee in the dingy hotel reception before leaving.

And the second I set foot in the cemetery where Caesar would be in, I could understand why. 

I was at the funeral of none other than Carlos De Mare. Not a notable man to the general public except for his mild mannered exterior and womanizing ways. Except for the fact that he was involved with organized crime on every level in Europe that is.

I should have known that I’d meet him there.

I lowered my gaze as another funeral guest walked past dressed in a black fur coat that had to cost close to tens of thousands of dollars.

Keeping my posture relaxed and blending in with the all black mourners as much as possible.

"He was a good man, Carlos,"  a young woman that was not older than 20 sniffled. I noted she was dressed up like she was going to a club, with her leather miniskirt and crop top which showed off her ample cleavage. My lips curled downwards in derision.

"A goddamn great man to all who knew him," a man added.

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

"He was a fool."

Those words stopped me short. Not because of what they meant but who had said it.

Nero Vecchio.

I knew who he was. Hell, everyone in this funeral knew him. He was a snake, a predator.

A mafia Don.

And one of the most dangerous ones at that.

A glance at him showed he was flanked on all sides by his men like the imperious predator of a man he was.

The surge of unpleasant heat filled my heart as I glared down at my boots.

He was the one I wanted to kill the most.

He wasn’t my target. It would be a foolish move to try it. I’d be dead before Carlos would be lowered if I did.

However that didn’t stop the thread of wistful thinking. I was an assassin. I could make it happen as easily as one breathed air. An accident perhaps?

I hesitated as someone walked by me blind to my dark thoughts. 

Nero wasn’t a powerful Don for nothing. Even if he died at my hands his men wouldn’t let me live long enough to celebrate my revenge.

I dwelt on that terrible thought just a bit longer until I heard the sounds of murmurs and screech of tires which gave way to a series of gunshots fired across the large field.

Screams tore through the air as a man shouted, "It’s them!"

I didn’t bother to check who THEM was. Another mafia I suspected. But not my concern. I knew I had to be fast. This wasn’t the plan at all!

I looked around and caught my mark fleeing. He had a gun in his hand. A grunt left my throat as I gave chase.

Fuck.

No way was this mark going to give me my first failure!

I took out my gun and fired in his direction. He ducked and rolled into a sparse bush before turning around and firing at me.

I darted to the side just in time for me to see a bullet hit the tree I had been standing beside.

I cursed loudly as I began to run after him at full force now. Caesar turned the corner yelling obscenities.

Following suit I came across the most unusual sight that nearly stopped me in my tracks.

Nero Vecchio. And my mark Caesar which aimed a gun at him looking angrily red in the face.

I stilled and weighed my options briefly only to see three men suddenly appear from behind Nero, going after Caesar. In the same way men rushed from the side and aimed their guns at Nero. 

I had just walked into a fucking mob fight. The memories of my past filled my head and I grit my teeth wondering what I should do. This was dangerous territory.

"Angelo sends his regards, Don Nero," I wasn’t sure of who said it but those words were clear and said with so much malice.

I watched Caesar slowly back away while the men behind him strode forward and shot at Nero and his men. Nero ducked and the gunfight escalated.

A woman’s scream in the air caught my attention briefly but only just.

Caesar was escaping.

Telling my client that I’d failed at my task was not a way I wished to spend my Sunday morning.

With that I made my decision.

Aiming my gun at the men I fired.

Each bullet was clean. And Caesar was the first one I shot at. With ease I took down Nero Vecchio‘s enemies and saved his life.

The barrel of my pistol was smoking as I removed the silencer and tucked the gun back into my holster.

I had no idea in that quick second that I’d left myself open.

"Hands on your fucking head punk," I froze as the butt of a gun touched my back. I felt it through my jacket and immediately began to regret stepping into this Cemetery.

"Bring him here," the voice of Nero Vecchio set my heart pounding with fury. He sounded commanding, cold and ruthless. Exactly like how I imagined the man that killed my father.

I took a step forward and suddenly–

Bang!

The sound of a loud thud at the back of my head filled my senses and made me dizzy. I stumbled and tried to keep my eyes open for my attacker but then another blow followed right on my neck.

I saw black.

Then suddenly it turned cold again.

And I shot back to reality sharply as the feeling of ice cold water penetrated my nose and eyes.

The taste of copper on my tongue was jarring.

I coughed uncontrollably trying to ease the tightness in my chest by breathing deeper.

"Dante," Nero's voice was a deep baritone akin to the sound of rolling thunder. 

The sound of his voice made me aware, so painfully aware of how fucked up a situation I was now in.

How the fuck did he know my name?