"As they should, Cristian. As they should." he grinned, patting the man on the shoulder, and the next thing he knew, they were on the way to his old apartment. In the car, he studied everything of importance within the briefcase, as well as his plan for the upcoming days.
He wanted to make everything right. For once, he had to take responsibility for something that important.
CHAPTER 1
Noah Falcone was only twenty when he had to step into his father shoes and become a Sicilian mafia boss. All his life he had been groomed to take the position once his dad retired. But it wasn’t something he had expected to happen so soon. Barely past his youth years, he had been forced into leading a big group of dangerous people, most of whom were much older than him. And it was all because his father, Marco Falcone, had allied with the wrong people in his futile quest to avenge his lost love and the death of his daughter. The death that had been entirely his fault.
He had always been seen as a cruel and brutal man. Ever since he’d been inducted at the age of fifteen. Much sooner than any other mafioso. However, after everything that had happened with the Seattle Famiglia he’d made a complete turn in his life. When people thought Noah couldn’t get any more dangerous, he proved everyone wrong. Still wise and careful but at the same time colder, more ruthless, and even murderous. So, once he took charge, there were many changes introduced in the structure of the Famiglia. He investigated every single one of his soldiers to make sure, there was no one who meant trouble. Most of those that were he had killed, very few captains stayed in their positions of power, no enforcer was kept alive, and everyone still standing was made to take the omertà again.
Because of such moves, people feared him more than they admired him. But they always respected him. He had never stepped too far out of line with the changes. Traditions and shibboleths remained the same for all those older generations that didn’t like to see things change in the social part of the underworld.
Noah wasn’t all black. There were good things to him, too. Not many, though. He still knew how to behave when it came to his soldiers, captains and acquaintances who didn’t do him wrong. Unlike his father, he actually remembered most names which made them feel special and valued. Even though he’d never liked meeting up with people just to do them favors, he sometimes did. Not out of the goodness of his heart, because he was fairly sure there was too little left of that, but out of respect to the Famiglia.
There was only a handful of people he trusted. Just as the tattoo on his chest said ’Loyal to few, ruled by none’. The most important one was his Underbosswho was also his younger brother - Flavio. If there was someone who Noah cared about and loved, it was his nineteen-year-old brother. As soon as he’d become Capo, Flavio’s restraint towards the mafia world had completely disappeared. It became apparent that the boy had hated his father’s ruling more than the mafia rules themselves. So, he started training with Noah intensively, wishing to be initiated as soon as possible, and become one of the best soldiers. And that’s exactly what happened.
The Capo didn’t want an Underboss. Especially not the one that his father had before. Moreover, as one of his first actions, he had ordered the man’s death. In his mind, there was no way the Underboss hadn’t known anything about his boss’ whereabouts and plans for the Selvaggio family. He’d been the most trusted person and Marco’s brother. And Noah couldn’t surround himself with people he wouldn’t be able to trust, even if they were blood-related.
In the underworld, blood didn’t come above the Famiglia. Duty and loyalty towards the Capo dei capi were more important than towards family. Unless they went hand in hand as with Flavio and Noah.
Alongside all the changes, Noah waited for Flavio to become one of his best fighters, so they could work together. The younger Falcone had become an Underboss the moment he’d taken the oath. So, they’d been working side by side for a year now and it had been great. For once, Noah could feel safe in his position, feel that there was someone trustworthy and devoted to the cause, who could take charge in case of an emergency. Someone to rule over the Famiglia if the Capo died suddenly.
Thankfully, after the Seattle Famiglia fiasco, the FBI had stopped investigating him rather quickly. Focusing mainly on the other mafia. Thus, Noah was able to take an oath himself, as a Capo dei capi. To always protect the Famiglia, to put it above his personal gains and feelings, and, unlike his father, he intended to keep that promise.
§ § §
The Capo would be in Seattle for the next two days, taking care of the business that he still had left in the city. But that wasn’t the only reason he’d flown in. A matter of highest priority hung above his head, and even though he could feel that he was about to open a Pandora’s box, there was no way Noah could leave everything as it was and hope for the best. That’s not the way mafia worked. And most certainly, it wasn’t the way he worked.
Holding a briefcase by his side, he strolled down the corridor of one of the skyscrapers to reach his destination. For the first time in a long while, he was nervous. Not enough for it to be seen, but it was there. It wasn’t a good sign.
He checked his phone one last time, ensuring that it was the right place, the right building and the right door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked and waited for someone to open.
He knew who was supposed to answer,
