Kapitel 15: Chapter 15

It was a chilly spring day and the rain had set in on the day of the funeral. It always seemed to rain on the days of a burial, matching the solemn mood of those attending. It was almost as if the universe was weeping for the loss.

Throughout the funeral, it made Roman proud to hear the stories of the many lives his brother had affected in such a positive way since his drug recovery. Person after person had stepped up to tell what a wonderful and kind soul he was. Beau really had been making great strides in the community that would be sorely missed, and it was wonderful to hear his family had done something good for a change. It wasn't often Roman found much good in their line of work.

Their father and siblings had come from the old country, and it was a great blessing to have them hear the wonderful things Beau had been doing. He was always the most loving and kindhearted of the D'Amico family, and even as a child they knew Beau was going to be a leader in some way. He would do something great, and he did in those final days.

Roman was the opposite. Taking on the traits of his father, he quickly got involved in the family business early on. In college he studied business in the US to better the family name. His goal was to bring the D'Amico syndicate to a new era with less underground illegal activities. He believed keeping the illusion of legitimacy kept them out of trouble, and for the most part, he was right. Yet, there was still a very dangerous element that lingered just below the surface.

Beau's wife seemed to have calmed down since their dinner conversation the night before, but Roman knew she wanted retribution for her husband's death as much as he did. When Olive threw herself over the coffin earlier that day in a fit of tears, with his niece and nephews standing nearby crying for their father, it broke the crime boss's heart. He wished it was him in that coffin to spare the children the loss. Maybe Beau was right all these years. Their life of crime was destroying their family bit by bit.

As they stood in the muddy graveyard, Roman watched as Luke stepped up to the coffin, placing a single rose on top. Doing the Catholic sign of the cross, Luke leaned and kissed the coffin, making Beau's wife weep in tears. When he stepped to give her his condolences, she struck him across the face with a backhand slap so loud that everyone in attendance jumped into high alert.

"May you rot in hell, Luke Gambino! How dare you come here!"

"Mrs. D'Amico, I'm sorry for your loss. If you need anything please come see me."

"Fuck you!" she yelled, spitting in his face.

Keeping his cool, Luke took the handkerchief from his jacket and dabbed away the spatter. Stepping up, Roman went chest to chest with the man, making everyone take note that something was about to go down. Both sides of the criminal families were ready to start shooting if it came to it. It was just the life they led, but on this day of all days, it wasn't the right time to deal with this.

Walking up beside him, Roman's father stopped him, saying in Italian, "Not now, my son. This is not the time. Let us grieve your brother's death and leave the fighting for another day."

"Yes father," Roman agreed stepping back as he noticed Luke's men with their hands in their suit jackets, clearly ready to shoot on command. His men doing the same in response.

"I didn't do this, Roman," Luke said, standing tall. "Your brother was my friend. You know that. Hell, at one time, you were too."

"I trusted you once. I won't make that mistake again."

Luke shook his head with a chuckle. "Grieve you brother and leave the past in the past."

Stepping closer, Roman whispered in his ear, "I know about the shipment. You'll pay for messing with my money, and if you were involved in my brother's death, I'll have your head on a spike."

"Oh, little Roman. Always the tough guy. I'll leave you to bury your bother. I just wanted to show my respects. Beau was good man, and I'm sorry he's gone, whether you believe that or not."

"Well, you've done what you came for. Now leave," Roman said, reaching for his brother's wife, to bring her by his side, protectively.

Nodding, Luke motioned to his men. "Good luck finding who did this. I expect a full apology when you do."

"Expect my bullet in your head if you were involved."

With a devilish grin, Luke walked away. He knew Roman was just speaking out of anger. Five years ago, Roman lost all trust in him when he found out it was one of Luke's men who was selling his bother drugs, and he never forgave him. Years of friendship went down the drain overnight.

The feud didn't even end on the day Luke saved Beau's life from an overdose and took him to the hospital. He had found him strung out in an old building he was having renovated, and until that day, no one knew of Beau's addiction. He really didn't blame Roman. He would feel the same if it were his family. From that day on, Luke had done everything he could to get out of the drug trade. Yet Roman still didn't trust he was being forthcoming about it.

As Roman watched him walk away, Olive turned away as well, tending to her children. His eyes never left Luke as he watched him enter his car. When his father stood beside him, placing a hand on Roman's shoulder, he tilted his head to look at the older man.

"What do you think, Father?"

"I think you know what to do. I'm taking your bothers bride and children back home to Italy. I expect you to find out who did this. Olive told me her idea and you may want to consider it."

Roman nodded, taking a deep slow breath as the rain started to beat down harder around him. "I think she may be onto something," he said, waving Anton to join the conversation.

"What's up, bro?"

"I want you to find out about this new business venture Claudia is involved in."

"That fufu girly clothing boutique? I hear it's in Lincoln Park, a little swanky corner shop. What about it?"

"I want surveillance on her every move and tell me everything you know about it."

"You're planning on stopping the wedding?" he asked.

"I'm planning worse than that if Luke is involved." Roman raised his head, letting the rain fall on his face. "I want The Razor, but first we'll deal with Luke. For now, I think we need to send a message. No one messes with the D'Amico's and it's time he and his people know it."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Make Luke see exactly what it feels like to lose someone he loves. Bring her to me. Alive."