Calypso

Nico

The weather today was unusually cloudy, and earlier there was light mist that blanketed the area. It felt like a reflection of my darkening mood as we said goodbye to a man that was like a second father to me and his sweet wife. I had awakened to many texts from friends and associates offering their condolences. It was surreal. The grief I felt was almost palpable. He had taught me about being a leader as much as my own father, his best friend. As the don of my family, their leader, I had to hold it together for my family. The funeral was held at a large cathedral in Tuscany, Elio’s birthplace. He would be buried next to his beloved wife at the cemetery just a few miles down the road. Throughout the elaborate funeral, I kept a close eye on Nova, who stuck by Gianna’s side, helping at times since Nova was moving slower due to her injuries. Only the five families were in attendance, as expected. Elio and Lucia were encased in black and gold caskets. Rocco looked sorrowful, though it felt more like a performance, and a way to assume dominance. I wondered if he truly had any feelings toward his parents at all. After all, after they were killed, he was nowhere to be found.We barely spoke, only offering each other our condolences before taking our seats. Nova’s eyes were full of tears, her grief evident, yet subdued. Gianna leaned in a little closer to her friend, a silent offer of support. Nova’s head remained high, only the glossiness of eyes hinting at her sorrow.

After the spectacle of a funeral, everyone stood at the gravesite where Lucia and Elio would be laid to rest. My eyes veered to the ground as Rocco spoke. He sounded convincing enough, but there was something missing. I noticed it at the funeral, and now at the burial. I realized there was emotion missing. Sure, on the outside he looked mournful, like a man who was in pain, and he played the part. But there was a sinister undertone I felt emanating from him. There was something dark in his eyes that betrayed his true feelings. Rocco resented his father. As brilliant as Elio was, it always seemed as if he never truly saw it. I had never broached the subject, because I believed it was something they needed to work out. And if I did, that would just add to the list of things Rocco could resent me for. It was obvious to me early on that he had a problem with my close relationship with his father. Rocco was intelligent, but he was arrogant, annoyingly so. He treated the people around him with indifference, but Elio was seemingly blind to it. Maybe he did see it and never indicated it, or maybe it was the love a father had for his son, but it was like the elephant in the room. Elio and Lucia were committed to the ground, and slowly, the families started to disperse. Soon, only our group remained. No words were traded between us, all of us lost in our thoughts. 

“Who is that?” I heard Nova say, her eyes focused on something in the distance. It was actually someone. Two of them. The Sokolov brothers. I didn’t have to see their faces to know it was them. 

“Shit.” Alessandro whispered.

Shit was right. That was them confirming what we already knew. That they had killed Elio and Lucia De Luca. The brothers had a habit of visiting the graves of those they’ve killed, often attending the funeral. We all watched as a dark Sedan pulled up behind the two dark figures. They turned around and slid into the awaiting car, pulling off soon after. There was nothing we could do, at least at the moment. Not until I understood what exactly was going on. Right now, I had to turn my focus to Miami. Alessandro was able to find out that he had touched down in the sunny city of sin. We needed to get Romeo. He could not get away with his disloyalty. He was going to have to pay, and everyone else involved in this. I would get my answers. 

No matter what it took. 

I glanced over as Nova and dad hugged, him being careful not to touch her injured side. Their faces still reflected sadness, but I could tell they were happy to see each other, and that made me smile. 

A little. 

Dad couldn’t leave Italy, especially being head of operations in the country. He was content with not having the pressures of being don over the family anymore. He had said he would retire and travel, but he was the only person I could trust to handle things in Italy while I spent most of my time in the states. So while he stayed in Italy and kept watch of the bullshit I knew was going to come at some point, we headed to Miami. Alessandro and I still had the family house on Star island, a small island right off the coast of Miami. We own a lot of property, but that property was where we stayed the most. We were one of few residents who called it home full time, as the community was filled mainly with rich businessmen who used their property as a vacation home. I was glad that we had bought the property that used to belong to Elio. There was no telling what Rocco would have done with the land if he had it. Elio’s property was right next to ours, but just a few months ago had sold it to us. I didn’t understand why he did it, being that he loved the property, but I didn’t question him. Elio did what he wanted, and that was his right as our overall leader.