50/50

GIOVANNI POV

Being made in the family—it was more than a title. It was a damn oath written in blood. I'd earned my bones long ago, proving to Don Massimo that I had the stomach for what The Life demanded.

As a capo in La Famiglia Ricci, it was my job to run my crew with a tight fist to make sure no one got any ideas about stepping out of line. To keep the family's interest protected, to settle debts, to enforce loyalty—I did what was needed to do. And in return? I had the family's backing. Respect, fear.

But it wasn't all power and luxury. Being a made man meant you didn't get to quit, didn't get to retire. You either did the work, or you were sleeping with the fishes. That was how it was, how it always would be.

"Capo." Jacques, one of my muscles said.

I stopped walking to stare at him. He was standing by Luca. Jacques and Luca were my muscles, always two steps behind and ready to handle any trouble that came my way. Loyalty was everything in this line of work; they were the only ones I trusted to watch my back.

"We didn't see the lady as soon as we left, and no one exactly knew who she was," He said.

I raised a brow at him as he shook his head.

"We used the description given and even went further to ask around, but no one seems to know who she is," Luca added.

I stared at both of them for a long time, and they avoided my eyes. I knew it wasn't because they were hiding something from me, it was because they had failed to grant me the information I needed.

Even for the first time since my existence, I couldn't help but feel defeated.

"Keep an eye out, then," I said and they both nodded, turning to leave.

"What about the money?" I questioned and they turned to me once again.

"Gone; we searched the room and even asked those who were on duty, but no one had been in the room," Jacques said.

"So, she's a whore after all," I murmured. Yet, she was pure. That didn't add up.

As far as I was concerned, every woman of age in the corner of that city—Ravello—had been fucked. How could she be twenty-five years old and still be a virgin? Maybe she did something that had made her appear so.

No, I didn't think so. She had been in pain and had even shed a few tears until I soothed her. Still, It could be one of her performances. She must be a fantastic actress to pull off such a thing.

"We can ask Marco about her," Luca suggested.

"No, don't," I glowered. Marco and I weren't on good terms despite the fact that I frequented the club he worked in. Asking him about the little whore I had been with and couldn't stop thinking about would be a hassle.

"Leave it be," I said, walking away from them. Hopefully, I would stop thinking about Raven because, at this moment, the only thing that was centered in my mind was her delicious, warm body, her soft moan, and the way her back arched with each thrust I made.

"Fuck," I murmured. Pushing a hand through my hair, I pulled out a packet of cigarettes and stared at it before stuffing it inside my back pocket once more.

I had never bedded the same woman twice. Heaven knows, I had never thought of any woman after fucking the shit out of them the night before. But this little witch.

She had succeeded in making me have a damned boner in fucking daylight. She was making me react just by thinking of her.

"What's the matter, Capo? You look like you are about to strangle someone," Henry patted my back as soon as he reached me.

Henry was a friend and an associate. He was not a made man, but he handled most of the dirty work on behalf of the family.

"Henry," I murmured, giving him a brief smile, before narrowing my eyes at him.

"What are you doing here?" Henry wasn't the only associate in this family. About fifty of them were the ideal number of associates a medium-sized family like ours could have.

Henry was a professional associate of lawyers, doctors, accountants, and other specialists who provided services.

There were days he was needed since he was part of the doctors. It wasn't all the time that medical personnel were required in the family. Only during the time of war.

Besides, I was aware that Henry came only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. But today was Friday.

"Business as usual," Henry shrugged.

"Business?" I raised a brow at him.

"I can't say, dear friend; you know the rule," Henry said, then patted my back once more before walking towards Don Massimo's office.

Of course, I knew the rules. It wasn't as if I asked him to share a forbidden secret with me.

Was the Don sick? Yesterday, when I saw him, he was so full of life. There was no way he could be dying now, could he? But why would he hide that from me even if that were to be the case?

Waiting for Henry to leave the office, I walked towards it. A gentle tap on the door, I opened and stepped in.

"Son," Don Massimo said, pain etched on his face. It wasn't his facial expression that had got me speechless, it was the body that was lying on the bed battered that got me.

"When did this happen?" I murmured, not leaving where I was. Even from here, I could see enough details.

Head in a gauze, one of the legs in a cast, hand that dangled on the side of the bed, and the several machines that were stuck inside of her.

She was almost unrecognizable. Only the people who had met her before would know she was the one.

"When did this happen?" I asked again, my eyes narrowing at Don Massimo.

He was now sitting with both hands clasping his face.

"She was brought in here this morning. I believe this happened last night in her dormitory," he choked out.

"Will she be fine?" Within me, I didn't think she would be. It would only take the grace of God for her to live.

"It's a 50/50 son," Don Massimo murmured, sniffling.

Fuck. Marcella was just a sixteen-year-old child. She was easygoing and easily the most lovable person I had come to know.

I watched her being born; I was the big brother she never got to have because her mother, Don's wife, was taken away from us cruelly while we were children.

He had nourished Marcella and I knew he cherished her more than anything in the world. He had done everything to protect and ensure her safety. But it seemed that wasn't enough.

Don Massimo had many enemies, yet, I couldn't understand why they had taken their revenge on Marcella inside of him. The innocent, indeed, do get in the crossfire, just like how his wife had been taken away.

"Why her? We had talked yesterday; she had been so happy. I never knew they would do this to her. She was fucked multiple times, Giovanni. Marcella is a good girl and she didn't deserve to die," Don Massimo cried.

During the hit on his wife, he hadn't even cried as much as this. Although he had sworn off getting married and only fucked prostitutes instead, he was never this sad.

I couldn't unsee this. Despite how callous he could be, the Don was bawling like a child.

That tugged at my fucking heartstring. I couldn't stand it.

"I'm going to get them," I said.

Don Massimo raised his head to look at me with redrimmed eyes.

"I do not care who gets caught in this fire; I am going to get them; the father, mother, child, and every of their damned generation shall pay for this sin forever."