Carmine Russo

"Un pacchetto è arrivato per voi," Carlito said handing me a package.

"Who is this from?" I asked looking at the packaging.

"It came from America," he said looking at the large envelope with curiosity.

"Grazie, that will be all."

Carlito bowed his head and closed the door.

I looked at the brown envelope and there was not a return address but it was stamped multiple times and the original stamp had Atlanta on it. I knew several people there but I wasn't expecting anything.

There was a knock on the door.

"Entrare," I said looking at who was coming in.

"Angelo DiBennette is at the supper club awaiting your arrival," Marco said standing at the door.

"Come in son."

Marco is married to my granddaughter Christina. He is my goto man when I needed certain things.

"Has he said anything?"

"No but he is scared; he is trying not to show it. I still can't believe he would make deals against us," Marco said shocked.

"Angelo has been with me for over ten years. He was a gutter rat when I met him. Don Riggo had warned me, but you know I try to give people a chance," I said looking at Marco.

"It's just that he was like a teacher to me out in the field. You, Gio and David taught me the leadership part but DiBennette showed me how to work the streets," he said shaking his head in disbelief.

"Marco you will learn in this business that no one is one-hundred percent loyal. It's just the nature of the beast. Everyone wants the number spot, but there can only be one. Jealousy, corruption and greed turns some men's heart, but you must know in the back of your mind that someone somewhere is always thinking of a way to find your weakness, but you must know theirs before they get to you."

Marco nodded his understanding. I knew when Bella and I departed he would be a very important part of this organization maybe even the Don.

I met Marco many many years ago. My wife, Bella brought him into the folds, as his grandfather and father both worked for her. I wasn't sure at first, but he had proven his worth and in the process fell in love with my granddaughter.

"I understand."

"Good."

"What are you going to do with him?"

"I haven't decided. Was the money from Durand still in his possession?"

"Matteo and Renzo followed him after Gio made the call. They couldn't believe it so they followed him and sure enough he had a million on him. I think a shipment is coming in from China any day now."

"How long has he been running the operation?"

"Talking to Sal at the docks he doesn't know. He did notice that the ship's manifests have been changed recently but he is not sure how long it's been happening."

"Please tell me you are fucking kidding me! Come è potuto succedere?! Che ha cambiato il manifesto? How could this happen? Who changed the manifest?"

"Torre and Ugo are the watchmen for the docks. Do you think they could have manipulated them? Ugo normally signs off once the inspector does. Wait... didn't Angelo bring them in?"

I hit the desk trying to control my anger. I saw Marco jump. I needed to calm down before I worked myself up. Being the head of this family and running the Bernardi Family as the Don was never easy. My wife Bella, the Donna, had turned over majority of the businesses to me, but she still had input.

"He sure did. Call them in! I want every single manifest from the past year and the manipulated ones. Bring them to the supper club along with Ugo and Torre. I want this settled once and for all."

Marco got up and was walking to the door. "Tell Gio to come here," I said putting on my glasses.

I picked up my phone and called out.

"È un lui pronto? Is he ready?"

"Sì signore."

"I am on my way," I said hanging up the phone.

"Gio!"

"Sì signore. I swear I did not know until that American man Darren said it. I take full responsibility."

"Some things we have let slip away from us, but we must tighten our reigns. No more slip ups, understand?"

"Sí," he said looking relieved.

"Get the car ready. I want you and David to come and bring backup."

He nodded his head and closed the door.

"What is this about Angelo doing side deals?" My wife Bella said walking in with rage across her beautiful face. She came up to me and placed a butterfly kiss against my lips. We had been married for over twenty-five years and I loved her more and more each day.

"How do you know?"

"I overheard Carlito talking to Marco. When were you going to tell me?"

"I just received word. I am about to take care of it now."

"We can't afford to have illegal activity coming in and out of Venice. Have you spoken to Calderon?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because Marcella Calderon was talking at the club about a new deal that Arturo was working on that involved the Chinese. Calderon despises the Chinese. Do you think Angelo was also working with Calderon?"

"I don't know but I will soon find out," I said standing up and putting my suit coat on.

"Be careful. Fate attenzione. Ti amo."

"I love you too and I am always careful because I must come home to the love of my life," I said giving her a goodbye kiss.

I pulled out the envelope that was delivered to me. Inside contained pictures of Angelo with a black woman giving him money. She was attractive and definitely American. I had seen her picture before. Yes, she was Durand's putanna, Zara. In order to keep his hands clean, he sent her.

This was a deterrent. I had to laugh. Collis really thought this would satisfy me. He was wrong. I would let Ian handle him but if he couldn't I would. It would send a strong message to anyone else who thought they could come and tear our community up and others just like it.

"I'm sure St. Teresa's orphanage in Palermo could use a hefty donation wouldn't you agree David?"

"I agree," he said sitting next to me in the moving car.

"Make sure that happens when this is over."

"Do you want me to handle Angelo?"

"I'll do it. You may have to take out the trash."

"Nessun problema."

We pulled up to the supper club that Angelo owned that was his baby. His wife had died a few years ago and they never had any children. Who knows he could have had some out of wedlock but who knows.

I walked in as David and Gio broke off looking for any unexpected guest.

"He's in the basement. Marco is getting Ugo and Torre as we speak," Carlito said filling me in.

"Bene che voglio tutti e tre insieme, good I want all three together. Let's see who will tell me the truth."

"Nessun problema," he said as the waitress fixed me a scotch.

"Grazie," I said giving her a twenty. I nodded my head to David. He whispered something in her ear and she shook her head no. She turned around grabbed her purse as David passed her a couple of hundred dollar bills. She smiled and walked out the door.

"Marco is here with Torre and Ugo," David said looking at his phone. "No one else is here besides our men and Angelo."

"Bring them in."

David unlocked the door as Marco, Stephano and Tino walked in with a gagged Ugo and Torre. Their hands were tied behind their backs with scratches on their faces.

"They wouldn't come peacefully," I asked taking the last of my drink.

"They decided to run when we got there," Tino said.

"Usually people that are guilty run?" I said looking between the two men.

"Let them speak," I said as I nodded to Marco to release the gag off Ugo.

"Don Carmine, Consigliere David and Caporegime Gio, noi abbiamo fatto nulla di male."

"You two have done nothing wrong you say. So why would you run away when you were called upon?"

I could see panic in their eyes.

"We do what Angelo tell us."

"Did your padres and madres teach you right from wrong? Did you not capire, or comprehend what they were trying to teach you?"

"Angelo said we had to change the manifest in case the inspectors came," Ugo said.

"Did you know what were in the shipments?" David asked.

Ugo looked to Torre than at me. They remained quiet as tears ran down their faces.

"Stai piangendo? Are you crying?" Tino asked wanting to laugh.

"Slience!" I said as everyone jumped and looked at me.

"Spara!" I said about to turn my back. David held the gun up to shoot.

"Wait...wait, please don't shoot us! I'll tell you whatever you want to know!" Ugo said.

"We are listening," I said turning back around.

"We were there when this woman came to see Angelo. She was a black American woman that we had never seen before. He was bragging that he had sesso, sex with her and that she offered him a deal he couldn't refuse."

"Which was?"

"To let Durand ships come through the port from here to China and Spain through the canals. They knew we had Italy and Greece on lockdown so customs would not suspect anything."

"How long has this been going on?"

"For about a month," Torre said as Marco took off his gag.

"So for one month you have been letting illegal drugs come into our ports?"

"We didn't know."

"Liars!"

"Angelo and Calderon met. He would help when the ships came through Venice and Sicily."

David and Gio looked at me with a shake of their heads.

"How much?"

"Cosa? What?"

"I hate when I have to repeat a question," I said as David shot Ugo in the knee. Ugo screamed out in pain as he fell to his knees.

"Bene! Okay! Angelo and Calderon were splitting the profits sixty-forty. The black American woman was paying ten percent of the load," Torre quickly said looking at Ugo on the ground. I could see the pain etched across his face as his hands were still tied behind his back.

"When is the next shipment due?"

"Tonight in an hour."

I nodded to Marco and he along with Tito and Stephano walked out headed to the pier. Marco would know what to do.

"How much is on the ship?"

"About five thousand pounds."

"Did you say five thousand?" Gio said in shock.

"Yes. Sì."

"So you mean to tell me that you have been running this shit through our ports. How many shipments have come through and are they the same amounts every time?"

"Seven and each time the shipment amount increases."

I could feel my blood boiling. All this was happening and I had no idea. It had been a longtime since the Mafia had been involved in drug smuggling. Bella had work tireless to convert our businesses legitimately and he was taking us back.

"Is Collis Durand the supplier?"

"Sì."

"Is this the woman that closed the deal with Angelo," I said showing Torre the picture of this Zara person.

"Sì."

"The Bernardi family does not associate with drug dealers. We do not go against the code of our brotherhood and the family you represent and protect. For that I find you guilt of association of causing harm to the brotherhood and to this family."

"Si prega di Padrino Carmine!" Torre said begging for his life in Italian.

"You should have come to me, David or Gio and you did not!"

"Please... Please I beg you!" He was pleading for his life.

I pulled out my gun as this blabbering fool was praying to Mary for safe passage. I pointed it directly at him and took out both knees. He yelped in pain.

"Slience! Or the next bullet will be right between your eyes!"

I heard him cuss under his breath. I gave the signal for Gio to finish the job. He drug both men out as Ugo had passed out.

David opened the door to the basement where Angelo was sitting at the table with his hands and feet tied. I saw sweat pouring down the side of his face. He looked nervous as his eyes dotted back and forth between David and I.

"Don Carmine, Consigliere David, I have no idea why your men have me locked up. Have I done something wrong?"

Was he an idiot?

"You have no idea why?" I asked taking the seat in front of him crossing my arms.

"No."

I pulled out the pictures of he and Zara. I could see all the blood draining from his face. Busted.

"I... can explain."

"Really? Did you not think I would not find out? Ten years you have worked for me. I was at your wedding and attended Anna, your wife's funeral. I have been good to you Angelo. You are smart and with your experience I put you in charge of the port. I know I pay you well, so why would you think, you could go behind my back and cut a deal."

"It was a mistake."

"So now it was a mistake. Is it a mistake that you got caught? How much longer did you think you could keep this from me?!"

"It was suppose to be just one time."

"From Torre it has been seven times. You are the one changing the manifest every time one of Durand's ships comes through the port."

David handed me all the manifests that Marco brought back. I tossed them on the table as Angelo shook hisoo head in defeat.

"I'm sorry Don Carmine, I don't know why I did it," he said shaking his head.

"You were greedy," David said.

"Sí but please don't kill me. It was one mistake at a time of weakness. I have been loyal to this family for over ten years. You all are my brothers and I have no one else."

"Who else is helping you besides Ugo and Torre?"

"Arturo Calderon."

"So not only do you go against the brotherhood and this family, you make deals with our enemy? Were you trying to start a war, YOU STUPID FUCK!"

"No...no...no! "

"Why did you do it?"

"When you sent me to Florence, Durand, his girl in the picture, and Arturo confronted me and told me the families were rethinking their investments. Durand already had a ship in Florence but needed it rerouted through Sicily, so... Calderon paid me and I accepted."

"So you let that poison into our home?"

"I didn't know what it was at first until the following shipment arrived. I swear I was going to tell you and then Calderon said if I told, it would be a war."

"You are the cause that a war could possibly break out. The families have been in treaty for over thirty years and you along with Calderon have broken it. You will be the third causality."

"Wait...I told you everything! Please Carmine!"

"You have put a bounty on all of our heads, which includes my entire family, the brotherhood and our allies."

"I'm sorry Carmine."

"Your apology is not accepted."

I pulled out my custom made skinning knife and laid it on the table.

"Please I will do anything?" He said pleading.

I pulled out two folded papers from my coat pocket.

"Sign this," I said not raising my voice.

"Untie his hands," I said as Carlito did as I asked.

"Loyalty and a man's word means a lot to me and when you came to be a part of this family you vowed your loyalty and your word. You must live by the principles. I brought you in when you had nothing. Now it's time to go back with nothing. I know about the money you were just paid, the money in your secret stash and the money you have in your mother's wall."

His eyes got huge.

"Yes I even know about the money in the back safe behind you." I looked up as Carlito pulled out four sacks of money.

"Do you really think you could hide shit from me!? Pezzo di merda! You piece of shit!"

"I...I told you everything!"

"Where is Durand? Where is he hiding? As God as my witness, I will not ask the question again!"

"Somewhere in Sweden. I don't know where exactly. The girl mentioned something about it. I overheard her on the phone. I swear I don't (sob) know anything else."

"Sign the paper."

David stood and held Angelo's shoulders back as Gio had come back in with his gun parked at the temple of Angelo's head.

"If you think about trying anything, a bullet will go right through your temple," Gio said.

I pulled out my pen and slid it across to him.

"Your donation to St. Teresa's orphanage minus supplies and labor will go very far. The children will be very appreciative of the donation along with the nuns. Doesn't it feel good to give instead of always receiving Angelo?"

He looked at me as he signed.

"See that wasn't hard," I said as he slid the papers back and I covered my knife with them as it slid into my hand. I put it in my lap as I folded the papers up and put them back in my pocket. I raised up and pushed my chair in.

I saw almost relief cross his face as I buttoned up my coat.

I walked over behind him, leaned forward and whispered, "now it's time to pray," as the tip of my knife penetrated his skin as I cut him from left to the right starting at his ear as he stared at David in fear.

The line I cut would make it a slow and painful death, as I had punctuated the internal and external carotid arteries halfway causing him to bleed out slowly. He grabbed his neck as his breathing increased.

"The more you huff and puff the more pain you will feel. No one and I mean no one fucks with my family without being punished. Say goodbye to Anna because you will not see her on the other side," I whispered in his ear as I saw his eyes continue to bulge.

I wiped my knife off, closed it and put it back in my pocket.

"Doesn't Arnaldo Calderon usually have dinner with his son, Arturo on Wednesday nights at La Camina's?" I asked looking at the men.

"I think so," Carlito said looking at his phone.

"Take the pictures, along with what Marco finds at the pier and bring it to Arnaldo. Oh and also take him Angelo's head so he can be reassured that I have taken care of my loose cannon. You know what, torch this place and take care of the body."

Sí," David and Gio said. I took one last look at Angelo's pale face and walked out.

I heard my phone ringing and looked down to see who was calling. I looked down and couldn't help the smile that crossed my lips.

I quickly picked it up and said," Hello Ian, I have been expecting your call."