Chapter 14

Emiliano

By the time my occupants and I made it to the stairs, jefe was inside. More of the famiglia soldiers followed. Once the last man entered the large room at the top, the guard closed the door, proceeded by the clicks as a series of locks engaged. The room was filled with picnic tables. There was enough space for over a hundred men. While not all the seats were filled, when I added the dozens of soldiers standing around the perimeter of the room, the count was close to one hundred, if not over.

The soldiers’ expressions were unreadable as Jano stood to speak. The prelude of his speech was in Spanish, a reassuring gesture to the cartel members that he was responsible for each man here as well as families they have at home. He expounded upon his praises for the Roríguez cartel, our accomplishments, our alliance with the famiglia, and our future. As if a switch was turned, his volume rose, his expression darkened, and his words came faster.

“What happened between the bratvas, what Volkov did to Kozlov and his family,” Jano emphasized, “is nothing short of terrorism. Terrorism funded by Herrera.” His tenor hardened. “We now have reason to believe Volkov was responsible for carrying out Herrera’s extermination of mí padre.”

The room filled with mumbling.

Jano lifted his hand. “The attack on Kozlov was too similar to what happened on Bella for it not to have been carried out by the same soldiers, or soldiers with the same training. It’s clear Volkov is working for Herrera. We’re leveling the playing field.” He changed to English. “Dante Luciano brought me evidence of a large deposit of money into Volkov’s offshore account.” He patted Dante on the shoulder. “Our alliance with the Luciano family is and will remain strong. Dante has brought ten famiglia soldiers and promised more.” He looked at Dante.

Dante nodded.

Jano continued, “I will let Mr. Luciano tell you what else the famiglia has arranged. As the consigliere and my wife’s brother, listen to him.”

Nick nudged me with his elbow. “What the fuck?”

I shrugged, completely unsure what Dante would say.

Dante stepped forward. “The success of the Roríguez cartel is the success of the Luciano famiglia. In the last six months, the Myshkin bratva and now the Kozlov bratva were brought down by the assassination of their leaders. Elizondro Herrera is using the unrest in the bratvas to his benefit.” Dante spoke louder. “When the Roríguez cartel was hit with tragedy, you did not crumble.”

All the eyes in the room were on Dante.

“You didn’t fall. You didn’t split or rush to Herrera. That is what he wanted. That was what he expected. Your strength is in your solidarity, and in the famiglia’s solidarity with you.”

Shoulders straightened and chests inflated around the room.

“Our capo dei capi, my brother, has been cultivating a relationship with Andros Ivanov, the pakhan of the bratva in Detroit.”

Murmurs filled the air as Nick and I exchanged glances.

Dante shook his head. “Our country—no, the world—is watching. Ivanov sees the possibility of increasing his reach, his kingdom, so to speak.”

I turned to Nick. “Is he saying Ivanov will help us?”

Dante’s voice filled the air. “When we work together to take out Volkov and Herrera, the Roríguez cartel, the Luciano famiglia, and the Ivanov bratva will all be the richer and stronger.”

Dante looked my direction. No, he wasn’t looking at me, but at Adrian, one of the soldiers I’d driven from the plane.

Adrian stepped forward. “I am Adrian.”

Hearing his Eastern European accent, I realized I’d never before heard him speak.

“Sovietnik of the Ivanov bratva. Andros Ivanov sent me here with the famiglia to demonstrate our willingness to aid in this war. We have two planes on their way with more guns and ammunition. This war will end and when it does, as Luciano said, we will all be victorious.”

Jano stepped forward. “Who in this room is willing to die for the Roríguez cartel? Levantese.”

Throughout the room, soldiers stood, pledging their allegiance.

My gaze went to my father.

Would he refuse?

Relief washed through me as he too stood.

“Tonight,” Jano said, “resume your regular duties and patrols. Tomorrow, each captain will meet with our lieutenants. Tonight, we have Nicolas, Andres, Em, and Nick in attendance. You will meet with them wherever they tell you to be. Security is essential.” Jano laid his fist on his chest. “You have my word. If you fuck with Roríguez, I will watch you die.”

“Did we just get promoted?” Nick whispered.

“Fuck, I think we did.”