A NEW TURN

The study was too warm. Cigar smoke curled in the lamplight, thickening the air like a threat. Luca stood in front of the fireplace, the heat licking at his back. Slowly but steadily the room filled with Philadelphia's most dangerous men. Don Valleti toyed with his scotch glass, his knuckles scarred from a lifetime of "negotiations" was there, with some other members of his family. The Cavallo brothers with their matching gold watches, even old man Scarpetta, who hadn't left his compound in years. The mayor lingered near the whiskey cart, his politician's smile strained and stretched thin over teeth meant for biting. Antonio's big chair was empty and placed in the middle of the study. A throne carved from shadows and unfinished business. Luca waited until the murmurs died down. Then, without raising his voice, he spoke. 'So as you all know, My father is dead." He paused, and let his words sit. He watched all their faces, the quick glances, the hidden hands and twitching fingers. Are you testing me already? He thought to himself. 'You're probably wondering what changes now," Luca continued as he rubbed his fingers on the ring he had taken from a cabinet in his father's bedroom. 'Well, The answer is nothing." Don Valleti snorted into his scotch. 'Luca, do you expect us to believe a thirty-year-old boy can hold La Mano Nera together?" The room became tense, and the air in it became thicker. Everybody was on high alert. Luca's rule might've just been challenged, or maybe, just maybe Don Valleti was only pulling limbs. Luca smiled… slowly, vile. 'I expect you to remember who put three bullets in your nephew's skull last year when he stole from our docks." He tilted his head. 'Or did you think my father pulled that trigger?" Valleti's hands hit the table with a clatter. Luca stepped forward. "This family doesn't weaken. It evolves. And tonight?" He took off his own ring from his index finger and let the ring drop onto the large mahogany desk with a clink. 'Consider this another turning point, our evolution has taken another turn tonight, but has continued and will keep growing stronger." He paused and slowly slid his father's ring, which he had taken from the cabinet onto his finger. Silence enveloped the whole room. Nobody spoke or even moved. Then, Matteo cleared his throat. 'The funeral arrangements, how do we go about that?" He asked, looking at Luca, his voice was calm, but his eyes flicked to Valleti. A split-second betrayal. 'That will be handled by you Zio," Luca said sharply, his gaze sweeping the room. 'Now this is to also remind everyone of you seated here that no power tussle or squabble will be tolerated in this period. I expect everyone to show their full respect in this period because I swear on my father… if you get any funny ideas during this period that will be the last idea you will have on planet Earth. 'Everybody will comport themselves with respect during this period," Matteo cut in looking at the faces of every other person sitting in the room except Luca. 'Zio, resta indietro, tutti gli altri se ne vadano!" (Uncle stay back, every other person leave!) Luca ordered, pointing towards the door, and everybody apart from Matteo stepped out of the study. ******* The email notification flashed across Gabriel Rossi's screen, stark against the dim glow of his laptop. He clicked it open, his blue eyes scanning the details Luca had sent. The target was Bianca Salvatore. 'Oh Bianca, what have you gotten yourself into with these people," he asked himself before continuing scanning through the mail. The mail also contained Bianca's location, the people she was with, the risks involved. The instructions were clipped, efficient: Get to her. Tell her you're there for her, sent from me. If she comes with you, take her to New Jersey. Gabriel's fingers stilled over the keyboard. 'If she comes with you?" The phrasing pricked him. Did Luca expect resistance? Had something gone wrong is this not a rescue mission or was this just another one of Bianca's infamous stubborn streaks? A dry scoff escaped him as he pushed back from the desk. Of course she'd make it difficult. It's Bianca Salvatore for goodness sake. He moved to his closet, pulling open drawers with efficiency. A duffel bag landed on the bed, and within minutes, it was packed… cash, a spare burner, a Glock tucked into its hidden compartment. Muscle memory. He'd done this a hundred times before, but never in preparation to rescue someone and it's actually who could look him in the eyes s and say no, and there would be nothing he could do. The thought almost amused him. Almost. Zipping the bag shut, he grabbed his keys and coat. The city outside his window pulsed with indifferent life. He pulled his phone from his pocket and send a text to Luca. 'I am ready. Once I receive the payment, I will move out." ********** The door clicked shut behind the last man, leaving only the crackle of the fire and Luca and his consigliere alone. Matteo stood by the whiskey cart, whiskey filled his glass. He didn't sit. Neither did Luca. 'You handled Valleti as Antonio would've," Matteo said finally. His voice was smooth. 'Proud of you." Luca didn't blink. 'Don't lie to me, Zio." His thumb traced the ridges of his father's ring. *"You were hoping he'd challenge me." Matteo took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving Luca's. 'Hope's for church. I'm your Consigliere… I prepare for outcomes." The words hung between them, it was a confession in disguise and Matteo hoped Luca wouldn't catch on to it. Luca's smile was a blade, he understood what Mattoe had meant. 'If you keep betting on me Zio, we will see how fast loyalty burns. I'm not here for jokes, I'm not my father."Luca said with a smirk curving on his lips. 'Your father understood humor and had patience. You bury men alive for looking at you wrong. You can never be him." Matteo said as he put down his glass onto the cart. The silence between them was loud. 'What do you want, Luca?" Matteo asked softly. 'One, for you to stay out of my way. I don't need you telling me what to do or how to do it. Then I want you to know that I am not getting married to Adriana. And I'm doing this out of respect for her. I know you want all these to yourself, which is a shame because you're not getting it." Luca paused and looked at him from head to toe. 'Finally I want you to know that your time as consigliere is slowly coming to an end. I will choose a new consigliere for myself after the funeral. That is all, you may now leave." For a moment, the old man couldn't move. Everything Luca said hit him like bullets. But he stood up and left the study. Alone, Luca exhaled… long, slow, and reached for the whiskey bottles. Somewhere in the house, a clock struck midnight.