Hidden Witness 2: A Mafia Romance Read online

  Dominic dropped his head, nodding.

  “Right. Now show your brother some respect. After all, he is the new boss.” He belted out a hearty laugh.

  My brother didn’t crack a smile. “Congratulations, Dillon.”

  “Sergio, bring Dillon up to date.”

  “Sure thing, Pops,” my father stated.

  “One more thing Dillon. I want to see my great grandchildren soon,” he said, slapping his hands against my cheeks, smiling.

  “Soon, Grandfather!”

  “Tony, you remember the tailor we’ve used for years, right?” my father asked.

  He nodded his head. “Of course.”

  He gestured his hands. “Good, take Dillon to the tailor the second we finish discussing business. He needs to be dressed like a boss.”

  “Will do.”

  My grandfather walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.

  Dominic sat, flattening his yellow tie against his navy three-piece suit. My father retrieved a small box from the cherry wood desk drawer. “Come here, Dillon.”

  I stepped over to where my father stood. He placed the box in my hand.

  “This is your ring. Your ring matches your grandfather’s, mine, and Dominic’s.”

  I gawked at the thick platinum ring that read Dillon under a large gray circular stone. Their stones were green, the same color as their eyes. My stone matched my eye color. I smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Your hands are monsters. There’s no way this ring will fit right now. After you finish your business at the tailor, go see Richy up the street. He knows you’re coming. He will resize the ring.”

  I chuckled. “Ok.” I stuffed the box into my pocket.

  “Bring me up to speed.” I sat on the corner of the desk.

  My father reclined in the black leather chair behind the desk. “Dillon, since you were trained by Mick tell me who were the five families at the time.”

  “The Magarelli’s of Newark, of course. The Romano’s in Hackensack, the Esposito family in Jersey City, Bertozzi’s out of Hoboken, and the Pitucco’s out of Elizabeth.”

  “Good.” He waved his finger. “Mick wouldn’t be Mick if he didn’t introduce you to the fathers of those families.”

  I smirked. “Yeah, he introduced me to Lucas Esposito,

  Filippo Bertozzi, Nicola Esposito, and Victor Romano. Are most of those bosses still in charge?”

  “No,” Dom stated, walking over taking a seat at the opposite end of the desk. “Luca and Marco Esposito, Nickulas Pitucco, Filippo Jr. Bertozzi now that his father is out of the picture, and Vincenzo and Vincent Romano.”

  I nodded. “Is the business still the same? Gaming, horse race betting, tax scamming on cigarettes and gasoline, garbage hauling a.k.a. waste management, prostitution, construction, and loan sharking?”

  My father ran his hand along his bare chin. “Online escorting services only. No street prostitution. But you pretty much covered everything else.” He chuckled.

  “Dad, I’m sure you’ve got your hands in some crooked Politian’s pockets?”

  He bellowed out a hearty laugh. “Of course! The slime buckets love gaming and prostitution. We are making more money today than ever before. We’re actually making money in all fifty states.”

  “Dillon, in Cali I have the wind energy game locked up,” Dominic laughed.

  I smiled.

  DILLON

  “Tony, what have you been up to?” Dominic asked.

  “I am a personal bodyguard to Jacob and Samantha Latters.”

  “No shit! Sounds lavish. I bet your getting plenty of pussy.”

  Tony smiled. “I ain’t complaining.”

  We all laughed.

  “Wait, Tone, so I take it you knew I attend Stanford?”

  “Yeah, of course I did.”

  “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m happy you two stiffs are alive.” He laughed.

  My eyes met Tony’s. We burst out laughing and so did my father.

  It was the best moment. Damn, it felt good to be home.

  “On a serious note, Dillon. How is your fiancée?”

  My eyebrows wrinkled as my fingers whipped through my hair in an effort to remain strong. “She’ll be ok in time.” I paused awkwardly.

  “Filippo roughed her up and attempted to rape her. The only reason he didn’t follow through was because his plane was preparing to land. Luckily, we arrived at the warehouse when we did that night and Sebastian knocked out the power. That bitch was going to rape Sierra. I overheard him taunting her right before I entered the room. That’s why she stabbed Filippo to death.”

  Dominic gawked at my father. “You didn’t tell me that she killed him!”

  “Yeah. Sierra and Dillon stabbed him to death, then I chopped him up.”

  I glanced back at my dad. “Did you really let Filippo’s men go?”

  He laughed again. “Fuck no! I made them line up on their knees. I looked each of them in their eyes and shot them in the head.” His fist came down hard against the desk like a hammer.

  “I heard them over the ear piece talking about taking turns on my future daughter-in-law. No way pieces of shit like that could work for me!” He held his finger pointing downward on the desk. “Not to mention, they were planning to kill me on Filippo’s order. Double-crossing motherfuckers had no place in this business.”

  I ran my hand along my beard. “The crates of cigars. What did you do with them?”

  His smile was devilish. “I confiscated them, of course. We are going to sell boxes in our clubs, at games, to stores who pay us taxes and to the other families.”

  “Smart shit, Dad. I would have done the same.”

  Dominic turned to Tony. “You should help me with this wind energy job in Cali, Tony.”

  His eyebrow arched. “Shit, I can do that.”

  Dominic reached over, shaking his hand.

  My father rose to his feet. “All right, everyone it’s time to go to war! Dillon, now that you’re the boss the floor is yours.”

  “We are taking out the Bertozzi family. It won’t be easy to take them out. They know we are coming for them. We ain’t killing any women and children.” I slammed my hand against the desk. “But all the made men go down!”

  “Dillon.” I turned to Tony.

  “Yeah, you forgot we have an ace in a hole, Sebastian. He already has almost all of their locations.”

  My smile grew wide. “Fucking great!”

  Dominic’s eyebrows wrinkled. “Wait, you two know Sebastian?”

  “Funny thing,” Tony said. “He is married to my employer’s cousin.”

  “Yeah, I linked up with Sebastian to build state of the art neighborhoods in Seattle. He knew me as Jeff, but Sebastian being the hacker he is dug into my past and learned my real identity.”

  “We are one big happy family!” Dominic snickered.

  “All right, you boys get going. We have a meeting at 5 p.m. with the three families. We need to see where their loyalties lie,” my father stated.

  ∞

  Standing in the mirror of the age old Viochi Tailor, I admired the cut of the suit I was wearing. This shop held special meaning to me. All the men in my family have been fitted and purchase suits here. This is the best tailor in the whole state of New Jersey. The medium-sized shop is run by the widow Mrs. Liza Viochi and her daughter Genoa Leonie. The daughter’s husband Stanley and their three children help their grandmother run the shop. Genoa, her daughters, and mother are the seamstresses now. The father and son Stanley Jr. focus on purchasing the best fabrics to design suits and dresses.

  I plan to bring Sierra here in the coming weeks. The seamstresses can take Sierra’s measurements for her wedding dress. I’ve decided we are getting married on Martha’s Vineyard at the beginning of August. I have only traveled to the state of Washington in fourteen years. Nowhere else. I look forward to traveling to Massachusetts, New York, and anywhere else I woul
d like to visit.

  Soon the entire world will learn I am alive. My father will pay off the right people so Tony and I don’t have to serve any-time for faking our deaths. In America, if you grease the right palms, you can get just about anything you want.

  Many years ago, my great-grandfather told the owner of this shop to position the mirror across the room out of sight, allowing him to look out the window while admiring his suits. There was a war going on at the time, and his enemies knew he spent most of his time here. He stood his ground, never leaving the mirror. He ordered his men to exit the back door and take out his enemy.

  The Bertozzi family is aware we are coming for them. Looks like they are trying to sneak an attack on us today. I buttoned my vest, then placed my guns in my shoulder holster while staring at the car parked across the street.

  “Tony, don’t look, but we have a situation outside. The black Dodge Charger parked directly across the street, they’re here for us. Take Cruise with you. Lead everyone into the panic room before you exit. Dom and I will hold up here.”

  I peeked out the corner of my eye to my right at Dominic. “You ready?”

  He stood, walking backwards, counting his Glock clips, placing them back in his pockets. “Born ready, big brother.” He swiped his fingers through his hair.

  Stepping out of view, we positioned ourselves on the floor, backs against the wall, on either side of the large shop window. Dominic and I shielded our eyes as the bullets hurtled through the window. I glimpsed out the window, pointing my gun at the parked car. The bullets released from the chamber, striking the driver side door. They fired several shots back. Dominic peeked out the window, taking four shots.

  “We got’em, Dillon!”

  “All right, let’s move.”

  I tapped my ear-piece. “Tony, how are we looking out there?”

  “Oh, we are looking real good, Boss. Cruise and I have a present parked down the street for you. Get out of there. Meet us at the meeting location.”

  “Ok, see you soon.”

  Opening the panic room door, we assisted the family out of the room.

  I hugged the brunette petite older woman. “We will have a crew here in a half-hour to repair the damages,” I stated. “I’m sorry we had to use your shop as bait, but we needed to draw them out. We are going to end this once and for all, Mrs. Viochi.”

  “You are the new Don, and we trust you, Dillon.” She smiled.

  “I am leaving my best men behind. They will ensure your family makes it home safe as well.”

  She nodded. “I will send your new custom suits back with them.”

  I kissed her cheek before leaving.

  My brother and I looked both ways before stepping out the back door. The shaded alley shielded the sun from our eyes as we hustled toward the Suburban parked a short distance away.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  DILLON

  MEETING BETWEEN BOSSES

  Everything went as planned. Before arriving at the tailor Dominic, Tony, and I met up with Sebastian, Hunter, and Skyler, who were sitting on the Bertozzi compound. Sebastian used the drone to plant a bug on a window on the side of their mansion. We enlisted a couple of our men to sit in the sub shop several of our guys are known for frequenting in Newark. They mentioned Dominic and I would be at the tailor. After leaving Sebastian and the team we visited my dad’s barber, getting fresh haircuts.

  Dressed in a custom fit gray suit, I look the part of a boss. Earlier, the barber trimmed my beard down low close to my face. My amber curly hair was trimmed a bit lower in the top, yet closely faded on the back and sides. Staring back at my reflection in the tailor mirror shocked me. I hadn’t seen the real me in years. The difference is, I’m older, buff, and I look like a mob boss. I will command the attention of those who think I can’t do this job. I got news for them, they can either listen or go to their graves early. I won’t allow conflict or disrespect.

  The Present

  I dialed Sebastian’s number. “Hey.”

  “Yeah.”

  “How is everything looking?” I merged into traffic, en route to our meeting.

  “They don’t have a clue what’s coming their way tonight,” Sebastian stated.

  “Good. We will see you guys at dark.”

  “We will be ready.”

  I disconnected the call.

  Having a man like Sebastian on your team is invaluable. Too bad he’s not in the life. I’m sure if I need him in the future, he won’t mind assisting.

  June in Newark has always been hot as hell. Wearing this suit doesn’t make it any better. I pressed the air conditioning button until the lowest number popped on the screen.

  Dominic laughed. “What’s wrong, brother? You forgot how hot it gets here?”

  “Shit yeah! When I’m on a job site in the summer, I’m usually wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and work boots, not a fucking three-piece suit. What about you?”

  Cupping his hand, he slid it down the bridge of his slender nose, ridding it of sweat. “Me? Most days, I wear a suit.”

  Cutting my eyes back at him, my thick brows scrounged together. “You don’t have to wear a suit, but you chose to?”

  “Yeah, I’m going to be an attorney, which means I will wear a suit every day. Why not be prepared?”

  “I know wearing a suit every day will be an adjustment,” I shook my head.

  “Dillon, sometimes my temper can get the best of me. Thank you for thinking about us. It’s crazy you made a boss decision at such a young age. I’m still a little bitter not having my big brother around all those years.”

  My hand flew, slapping him on the back of his head.

  “Dillon, what the fuck? We aren’t kids anymore!”

  My eyebrow rose. “You’re still my little brother.” My laughter filled the truck.

  “So, fucking funny,” he replied, holding his smile back.

  He glanced at me, slapping me upside the head. “Dominic, no hitting the boss!”

  We both laughed.

  I swooped into a parking spot in the alley behind the building where our meeting was taking place.

  ∞

  Stepping inside the building, we were greeted by two of the Romano family’s men.

  “Both of you, raise your hands and spread’em.”

  Dom and I did as requested. I took note of the closed doors to the conference room.

  “You know the rules, gentlemen. No weapons.”

  I smirked. “Dominic, leave your weapon,” I stated, never taking my eyes off the two men.

  “I’m not leaving mine. Tony!” I glanced over my shoulder.

  He pushed scowling Tommy Bertozzi, the cousin of Filippo Jr. through the door. His tall stalky frame hit the floor. “Here is your package, Dillon.”

  My expensive leather shoe slammed into his jaw.

  “Fuck you!” he yelled, grabbing his jaw.

  Ignoring his words, I shrugged my shoulders, straightening my jacket, standing tall.

  My thick eyebrow rose from behind my mirrored aviators. “My brother, our package, and I are going into the meeting, and so is my Glock,” I stated.

  “If anyone has a problem with me, the war won’t just be with the Bertozzi family.” I stepped closer.

  “It will be with all the families!” I roared.

  They nodded their heads toward the conference room.

  “Dillon, I will be right out here,” Tony stated.

  I glanced over my shoulder at him, nodding once before snatching my package off the floor. I pushed through the doors, dragging Tommy into the conference room.

  I observed the fathers of each family seated around the conference table in the stark white room. Their sons, the new bosses, stood to their feet. My father sat at the head of the oblong cherry wood table with a satisfying grin across his lips. Removing my sunglasses, I slipped them into my inner jacket pocket. “Everyone, stand to your feet when I enter the room!” I glared into each o
f their faces while dragging Tommy beside me.

  Dom closed the door behind himself, taking his place at my side.

  “Let’s get the formalities out of the way.” I dropped Tommy on the floor like a bag of rocks. “Be seated!” I strolled around the conference table with my hands in my pockets. “I was dead for fourteen years.” The room was completely silent.

  Their confused eyes stared back at me. “Filippo murdered my uncle in cold blood.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  DILLON

  I nodded my head once at Dom. He shuffled over to the door, pushing it open. “Come in and have a seat next to my father,” Dominic stated.

  Hesitantly, he entered. Standing next to my father, his worried eyes made contact with mine.

  “Ed, sit!” I glared, brushing my fingers through my hair.

  “Tell everyone what happened that night.”

  Ed swallowed hard. “I was there that night, playing cards. Mick entered the room. He spoke to me, then he and Filippo began arguing. Mick was upset. He said Filippo wasn’t running the gambling establishments as agreed. He said he told Serg not to trust him. After that statement, everything happened quickly.” Ed fiddled with his fingers on the table.

  “Mick and Filippo drew their guns. Filippo got his shot off first. Mick hit the floor. Filippo told me not to move and never to speak a word of that night, or he would kill my family. He walked outside, I heard shots, then he returned, saying he was going to kill Dillon. Filippo sent me back to Portland. He told me he would be in touch.” His uncomfortable eyes glanced into my father’s.

  “Filippo kept in touch over the years and sometimes paid me a visit, reminding me of his threat.”

  Ed’s eyes shot over to me. “Dillon, the night you walked into the art exhibit with my daughter, I couldn’t believe it was you. Once you told me your name was Jeff, it hit me that you faked your death. I decided to keep it to myself. Honestly, I didn’t think I would see you again after that night, but you began dating my daughter. Later, asking for her hand in marriage. I gave you my blessing because once Lindsay was carrying not only my grandchild, but Sergio’s…” His eyes fell on my father’s angry ones.