mafia king

chapter 11 - new guy, new problem

Last night had more severe consequences than I thought. We would get a new addition to the group. Cassio, son of the best friend from Alonzo. His loyalties were already clear. I sighed and rubbed my temples. "What a mess." Mario said and I nodded. "We were defending you and we get punished!?" Sandrino growled. He was probably the angriest of us four. They had also told us Cassio was going to replace Tino. We got up and walked out of the living room where we had just gotten our asses handed to us by one of Alonzo's men. Cassio was a brat. I had only met him a few times, but I left every conversation with a spinning head. He always managed to find your weakness and had zero tactfulness inside his body. He was just annoying. He was also a few years younger than us, so I wasn't looking forward to that. We already went through our greenhorn years. We had the embarrassing photos, criminal records and stories to back it up. We went into the kitchen of the main house to eat before we went to the tattoo shop. I was trying to get a look at Georgino. I wanted to see him, and I also didn't want to see him. I furrowed my eyebrows. This shit was just confusing. Marco threw a family sized pizza in the oven, and we stood around the kitchen. The familiar activity of gathering around the kitchen and waiting for the food to be ready provided a momentary respite from the turmoil that surrounded me.

As the aroma of the pizza filled the kitchen, my stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten much since last night. I welcomed the distraction and the prospect of devouring a warm slice of comfort food. The conversation among us was sparse, the heaviness of the situation still weighing on our minds. Each of us had our own thoughts and concerns about the recent turn of events, and the tension in the room was palpable. Finally, the timer dinged, signalling that the pizza was ready. Marco pulled the steaming hot tray out of the oven, and the sight of melted cheese, crispy crust, and savoury toppings made my mouth water. We all gathered around the kitchen counter, grabbing plates and eagerly serving yourselves. The silence continued, broken only by the clinking of plates and the occasional sound of chewing. The sound of footsteps approached from the hallway, and everyone's attention shifted towards the entrance of the kitchen. It was Cassio. He strolled in with an air of confidence, seemingly unfazed by the tension that hung in the room. Cassio's eyes scanned us, and a mischievous smile played on his lips. "Ah, pizza party, huh?" he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like I arrived just in time." We exchanged glances, our expressions a mixture of annoyance and wariness. It was clear that Cassio's arrival wasn't being welcomed with open arms. Ignoring the tension, Cassio grabbed a plate and helped himself to the last slice of pizza, seemingly unperturbed by the frosty reception. He leaned against the kitchen counter, taking a bite with a satisfied expression on his face. "So, I guess I'm replacing Tino, huh?" Cassio spoke with a mouthful of pizza, his words muffled but still audible. Sandrino's frustration finally reached its tipping point. He slammed his hand on the counter, causing a few pizza crumbs to scatter. "No! And what the hell makes you think you're worthy of being part of our group anyway?" He snapped; his voice laced with anger. Cassio raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the outburst. "Relax, man. Alonzo thinks I'll be a great addition. Besides, you guys could use some fresh blood, don't you think?" The tension in the room intensified, and you could feel the anger radiating from the others. It seemed like Cassio had a talent for rubbing people the wrong way, and this encounter was no exception. I couldn't help but wonder how this new dynamic would play out and how it would affect us. "You waltz in here with your entitled attitude, expecting us to accept you without question. Well, let me tell you something: loyalty is earned, not handed out freely." Cassio's smug grin faded, replaced by a defensive glare. "I don't need your acceptance," he retorted, his tone dripping with arrogance. "I have Alonzo's support, and that's all that matters. You're just a bunch of losers, not getting over Tino's death." The words stung, each syllable like a knife cutting through our group. Sandrino's anger flared once again, his voice laced with fury. "You think you're better than us? You think Alonzo's backing makes you invincible?" He made a step towards Cassio, but Marco held him back. Cassio wore a wolfish grin. I don't think he came in here to make friends to begin with.

Amid the turmoil, I realized that we were being watched. "You boys should calm down before this gets worse." Rose said in a worried tone. Dark hair and blue eyes. I could see why Georgino slept with her. "Who told you to be peacemaker?" Sandrino snapped. I didn't know if he was taking his anger out on her or if he didn't like her because of what I told him. Maybe a bit of both. "Careful." Georgino said lowly. He appeared behind her, holding his son's hand. My heart sank. The perfect family. Everything everyone wanted from him. Sandrino rolled his eyes but stepped back, so he was next to me. He gave me a small smile to soften the blow of seeing them together. Salvatore, seemingly bored, hugged Georgino's leg and he bent down with a loving smile. My emotions intensified, swirling within me. I needed to get out of here. "Well, Sandrino and I have something to do. We will see you later." "Since when do you two hang out?" I had grabbed his hand and Georgino was trying to force me with his eyes to answer him. Rose had put a hand on his chest to-. I wasn't sure. To calm him down? To show me he was hers now? Driven by a mixture of frustration, jealousy, and longing, I just acted. In an unexpected move, I leaned in and kissed Sandrino, a desperate attempt to evoke a reaction from Georgino, to remind him of the passion we once shared. "Does this answer your question?" My voice was quivering.

The room fell into stunned silence as everyone processed the unexpected turn of events. Sandrino, was caught off guard. His eyes widening with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Uh, that wasn't part of the deal?" He asked. "What deal?" Marco asked with raised eyebrows. Mario's mouth still hung open in surprise. Georgino's reaction was the most devastating of all. His eyes, usually filled with warmth and adoration for me, now brimmed with anguish and heartbreak. The pain etched across his face was a raw testament to the love he held for me, despite the circumstances. Stupid, I had known this deep down anyway. He still loved me. Regret washed over me, the reality of what I had done hitting me with full force. "Georgino." My voice trembled with a mix of sorrow and regret, whispered words that pierced through the tense air. "Don't." He said, his voice laced with a mix of disappointment and sadness. "I can't believe you." Tears welled up in my eyes. Fuck.