IL Lucifero

PROLOGUE

ITALY.

                      Dante

“How long before the chopper descends?” I tapped on the swivel chair, my eyes unblinkingly staring at the large projector.

“An hour and half, Capo.” Santino replied, with a polite nod.

“Activate the spy buds,” I ordered, and leaned back on my chair.

“Zio, what's up? Is the chopper set to descend?” A deep baritone sounded in my ears, and I sighed. 

Luca was the only one bold enough to call me Zio.

“An hour and half is all you have to get the King of Hearts, and get the fuck out of New York.” I rasped.

“You know that isn't possible, Zio-” Luca began saying.

“That order isn't open for negotiations. The mission mustn't fail.” I cut him off, and turned to Santino.

"Any threats in sight?” I calmly poured myself a glass of Martini, and took a hearty gulp.

“No Capo, there isn't…wait-” He projected the screen, and two red animated figures blinked on it. “They seem to be Fausto's men.”

“Take them down.” I ordered without hesitation.

“Yes Capo.” Tapping rapidly on the keyboard, and seconds later, a loud sound of explosion echoed through my ear.

“The fuck, Dante!” Luca yelled from his end.

“You're welcome.”

Adrenaline surged through me, as I waited. Waited for what I've been preparing for years to get. The King of Hearts.

'Soon, enough, my 'Ndrangheta would become the most powerful in the whole world.' I thought with satisfaction.

An hour later, and Santino turned to me. “The chopper has begun descending.”

I nodded, and rose to my feet. The moment of truth…finally.

                     ***

“Successfully activated, Capo.” Santino declared, and I let out the breath I didn't know I had been holding.

The control room lit up with green and white lights, and a buzzing sound echoed around the whole dimora.

I turned to Luca who stood to the side, with a ghost of a smile on his face. With his golden brown hair, and hazel colored eyes, Luca didn't look any bit like my brother.

He'd returned from New York three hours ago, with just a scratch on his body. 

“Good job.” I patted him on the shoulder.

“Did you just smile at me?” He chuckled. “I should go on such missions often.” 

“Unfortunately, there wouldn't be such missions. The King of Hearts is finally ours. Now, let's go and deal with Alexandro's men.”

I led the way out of the control room, down the bright hallway. Luca hurried over to my side.

“Do you think Fausto would figure out who took it?”

I scoffed. “He's smart enough to do that. But he knows more than going up against us. The Lucchese aren't that strong.”

We rounded up a corner, and stopped in front of a glass door. The door clicked open, with just a tap on it. With my hands casually tucked in my pocket, I walked into the white colored large hall. The florescent lights flashed from every corners, giving the hall a look of an ice desert.

“And who do we have here?” I chuckled, roaming my eyes over the two bound men. 

Their eyes held scorn, as they glared back at me. I'd change that soon. They should be terrified of me. I was Il Lucifero after all.

“So,” I began, pulling out a seat, and plopping casually on it. “Who ordered the hit? Alexandro himself, or are you perhaps working for another?”

“You must think we're fools? Do you think you'd get anything out of us?” one of them spat.

My lips curved in amusement. “Playing the tough guys? I thought so.” I turned to Luca who was staring at them with a murderous look.

“Activate illusion.” I commanded, and leaned back on my chair. 

“What are you going to do to us?” A look of panic finally crossed their faces, as they stared at me.

“Do? I won't stain my hands with blood, you fools. But you're about to witness first-hand, the reason they call me Il Lucifero.”

I watched as they held their heads in pain, screaming loudly. “Pleaseee, let it stop!”

I smirked. “Let our little game begin.”

As we watched on, I turned to the unusually quiet Luca.

“What's it?”

“Just end things for fuck's sake. It's been a while I got laid, Zio. But you wouldn't understand.” He shook his head.

“You'd miss the thrill of seeing some bloodshed, just to go and fuck a woman?” I cocked my head to the side.

“Your dick is probably covered with webs, Zio. It wouldn't hurt to fuck a woman, you know.” He shrugged.

“I could strangle you now, you know.” I narrowed my eyes.

“And lose your consigliere? I doubt it.” His voice was laced with pride, as he turned back to the men. 

They were sprawled on the floor, holding unto their heads, and bawling their eyes out.

My face closed up, and my voice hardened. “Now, let's start again. Who the fuck ordered the hit?”

“It was Alexandro. He told us to make the ship set for Sicily, sink. Pardon us, Capo Dante.” One of them whimpered.

“Pardon?” I rose to my feet, pulling out a gun from my coat. “Unfortunately for you all, that word doesn't exist in my vocabulary.” With four straight shots aimed accurately, they breathed their last.

“And what do we do with their bodies?” Luca asked, his tone bored.

“Cut their heads off, and send it as a package to Alexandro. It should serve as a warning to him.”

Just as I walked out of the hall, Santino's voice sounded from the spy buds in my ears. “Capo, you have a call.”

“Is it from Alexandro?” Partly expecting a positive response, I was rather disappointed when I heard a “no.” I'd wanted to have a word with the man brave enough to sink my ship.

“Who's it?” I barked.

“It's Fausto.” 

My lips curved slightly. “Put him on the line.”

“You sonofabitch!” I winced as his loud yell filled my ears.

“Manners, Fausto. I needn't remind you that I can end the Lucchese, with a snap of my finger.” I said calmly, as I took the elevator to my corner of the dimora.

“You took the King of Hearts.” Although his tone softened, his voice was laced with menace, and anger.

“I merely took back what's mine. And if you're smart enough, you wouldn't dare do anything out of the ordinary.” My voice hardened.

“Return it, Dante.” He growled.

“Do you have anything to give up, for it?” I chuckled, just as the doors to the elevator slid open. I walked over to my door, and placed my hand on the manual security detector.

“I'd give you one of my daughters. She's strong, and a great hacker. She'd be of great use to you, I promise.” Plea made it into his words.

“A woman? You must be joking, Fausto. Like I said, lay low. If you don't, you'd know why they refer to me as Il Lucifero.