Chapter 15

Marco Time, it always comes down to time. The amount of it can make a small inkling of a difference or the deciding factor between life and death. '2 days and all we have is a fucking bullshit story blaming the Irish. We all know the fucking Irish didn't whack Ren. The Cartel isn't going to admit to fuck-all if they did it. Aleksei sure as shit has no beef with us. His fight has only ever existed with the Cartel and Lucca. We can't just go guns blazing, killing every fucking man that happens to sound like a foreigner because we want revenge. We need to think when it's all clear, let the dust settle," Vincent states from the big screen in my boardroom. The high-rise building is a place I conduct legal business. It's owned by the Delroy family in Texas. The Delroy's hold the biggest latex company in the world. The building hosted their offices and a few ‘silent partners' like myself. I didn't deal in latex. However, I did have a few hands in their other ventures, like artifacts and rare gems. But the two floors I currently called mine were for the Real Estate agency I kept for legal purposes of my own. This meeting, however, is not a legal matter or a civilian one. But I needed it to be done here. There are things I don't want anybody finding out apart from the ones in attendance. Which drew the reason as to why Vincent is on a skype call. My brother's death came sudden, too sudden. We are all in mourning, some more than others. His death is our common ground for this evening's meeting. A lot of people liked Lorenzo, some of those people extended into unchartered territory. We didn't talk much about his extra murals with his friends when the 5 of them lived in Chicago. Or the few times people they knew disappeared after an altercation. In return, he never questioned me or the reasons I asked him to do random shit, like making sure Kylie Bray and Aliyana met. And the accidental meetings he stumbled upon between Gabriel and his uncle. Except for a few days ago. He questioned my judgment, he was going to go behind my back and make things right. I was proud of him for standing up to me. I love my siblings, and Ren was the best of all my father's children. He was the sacrifice that tied the rest of us together. He killed only when he really had to, he loved without any preservation. Yes, Ren was a Made-Man, and like all of us, he had his fair share of enemies. But, with all those who would want revenge, there weren't many of those who wanted him dead. The handful of people was small but significant. Finding his killer would be the walk in the park. Taking care of the one responsible is going to take a patient, well-boarded game of chess. The opposition already has one little flaw - We know our brother's enemies. The Russo's are one of them, and though none of us have mentioned their names, they are right on top of that list. My brother never complained much about Chicago on his weeks back home, but when he did, it was always a fucking Russo. I was gone for most of his time at home; like him, I was pushed into war. But where mine was self-decided, his and the other 4, war was forced upon them. Those kids never stood a chance of getting out of the Russo's territory without blood on their hands. Somehow by sheer luck, my brother came out the least scattered. The others protected him. To what extent? I don't know, but judging by the lost girl who kissed me on that rooftop, I can only guess it was a big fucking sacrifice. It's funny how his friends did for him, what his siblings did for him. Yet, still, he has fallen. The first of my father's children. Marcello Catelli is not a bad Capo, but over the years, like any leader, he made mistakes. He caused riffs between those the Catelli's called allies. He almost started a few turf wars, one landing Deno in a prison cell. My father made choices that snipped many families from that unquestioned loyalty they once had for us. But over the years, my siblings and I have forged our own alliance with people, while tying a few of those parted bridges, creating something stronger. We've kept him out of it and, at many times, intervened when my father made the wrong move that stirred us a bit further from our own goal. Marcello Catelli knows he isn't the one in charge. He was well aware, Ren was going to become a Capo of his own turf once Deno took over. And Leonardo, dangerous as he is, my father won't even sit in the same room as him for longer than an hour. We love my father, but he had his turn, and it was ours now. Of that, we have made clear. I want to believe my father is innocent, but I wouldn't be the man I am if I didn't suspect him for murdering my brother. It won't be the first time he has killed his own blood. Take out the weakest link to rile the rest up. It could be his move, only I hope I am wrong. Then there is the Cartel, Outfit, and Irish, who have sat on our shit list for a while. The Outfit Boss, Lucca, for all his fucking antics, would never kill Ren. Even he had more sense. Not much considering what he'd done to my cousin, Amariya. But then, we all knew his beef with her father was no insignificant matter. She just happened to bear the brunt of the sins of her father. And there was Vincent, who Lucca wanted dead more than his desire to make Amariya suffer. 3 years-ago in the middle of an abandoned parking lot, Lucca had a clear shot of Vincent. His gun pulled, and Vincent unarmed. Lucca chose to not pull the trigger that night. He turned his back, lit a cigar, and walked away. Two men who fell in love with the same girl. A tragedy that was so cursed, none of us want to recall those times. Though I often wonder when I look at my cousin, Vincent, and the darkness which consumes him, if he remembers her smile or the tears when she screamed his name the night, he took her life. And Lucca, did he love Katrina even after knowing she was the one who took his family from this world? In a world where villains are Gods and Heroes are enemies, a tragedy is needed when a romance as twisted as theirs are concerned. Even an ending as painful as what transpired all those years ago. Lucca wouldn't kill Ren, he was there when Ren was born. He taught him how to throw his first punch. No, Lucca Sanati would come for me, the man who had the one thing he truly wanted above all else. After all, in Lucca's mind, I am the old friend who holds his redemption in my grasp. I am the only enemy he really has. Which left the Cartel, who just hours before my brother's death, lost a shipment of trafficked humans, cocaine, and guns. The ship was blown up from the inside. They were too enraged to go after my brother so soon. No, they wanted me and my brother's death was not the message they'd send. 200 million is too big of a number to retaliate without thinking. According to general knowledge 101 pertaining to 'myself,' Marco Catelli, my weakness is myself. I'm the epitome of ex-soldier who lost his way and lives with the demons of his wars. All false if you ask someone who truly knows me, but as rumor's go, I am the unstable insane son of Capo Marcello Catelli. 'There's also a big point we're missing," Vincent remarks staring at my currently seated form, 'Lorenzo was shot three streets away from Kylie's house." 'A house owned by Marcus Bray and protected by the Satan Snipers. Both having a slew of enemies but nothing that's going to get Ren killed, they'd go after Kylie," I end, brow furrowing as another thought strikes me, 'Tell me, where did you pick up Diamond and Kylie?" 'The Palace, Michael, wanted them out of the house so he could install a new oxygen regulator in the ventilator. Which is the reason I was chaperone that night! Also, they were still under the impression that the dinner was going to be at the Mansion. The two of them were up to something. They were wearing the exact same outfit right to the Tee," Vincent answers as he stares at the tall figure standing by the glass floor to ceiling windows in a charcoal shirt and black stone denim. 'What was Ren doing near Kylie's house if Diamond was all the way over there? He was supposed to meet Mero and the others at Azure. He said he was going to do something about the Cargo leaving tonight. The Shadows were going to be watching." Leonardo voices out from the end of the onyx table. Deno is silent as he remains facing the long glass tinted windows watching the traffic 14-feet below us. 'He didn't get a chance to, I took care of it myself." My mouth tightens just thinking about the number of kids we saved and all to protect my brother from the same fate he ended up meeting. The only thing is the Cartel was not his killers. Fuck! 'Do you have any idea what it was they were planning?" Leonardo queries as he rubs the scruff around his jaw. 'Certainly not an excuse for Ren to die. Kylie keeps her shit tight unless she's helping someone else," Vincent replies from the screen. Kylie Bray did indeed keep her shit tight. Her father, Marcus Bray, has a reputation in both worlds, and I believe his beautiful daughter is well on her way of filling his shoes. The girl is Vincent's stepsister. I like her a lot. But Vincent has a stick up his ass when it comes to her. We are aware she has a little crush on him, but I have a feeling there is a fuck-load more to that statement. 'Ren was going to help Michael. It was an excuse to get into the house and spy on Diamond. Ren was worried that Diamond was keeping something from him and Kylie. Kylie was also suspicious, so they agreed he'd sneak into the lab on the bottom floor and find out what it was," Deno fesses up for the first time since we arrived in the office. 'Still, it isn't a reason Ren would be gunned down," Vincent voices out what we're all thinking. 'Fair enough, but I'm not ruling it out. Right now, everybody who is not in this very room is a suspect," Leonardo quips, glaring at Vincent. His white tee creased as his sour face scowls at Vincent. His threat is clear, but I leave the reprimand casually playing on my tongue for another space. Our brother is lying in a morgue while policemen and jackass detectives watch as a forensic doctor opens him up. I think Leonardo gets a slide today. 'Do you know what Kylie and Diamond were up to?" I ask Deno, who remains with his back to us. We all have our way of dealing with loss, and Deno did it living within his head. 'Aliyana, Diamond, and Kylie were supposed to sneak Elisa away that night and have Dexter meet them on the rooftop with a helipad to take her to Liston Hills. Diamond and Kylie were decoys wearing the same dress as Elisa. At the same time, Aliyana was going to get Elisa to the Helipad, swap dresses, and get back to the party before Filippo got back. The plan was going to be brilliant. Michel and Ren planned the entire thing. But maybe Stagio found out about Elisa." Deno confirms my suspicion as he remains a lone figure by the window. 'That isn't motive for murder," I say, remembering the evening. 'I agree, Stagio won't start a war because of an illegitimate child he never wanted in the first place," Leonardo asserts, frowning as he stands up and walks over to Deno. 'Is Elisa still around?" I ask Deno as Leonardo joins him by the window. 'Not sure, I told Anya to find out."