Surprisingly, or maybe it was stupidly, Ravenna’s response didn’t set off any alarms or raise any red flags. For all he knew, she could be leading him to the lions den and he was blindly following her without so much as a question. By nature, he’s on the defensive but Ravenna was one of the few people Dominic believed he could trust no matter what.
The door is clicked shut behind them, Dominic’s interest peaking as the woman walked further inside. Her words lingered it the air before the inevitable bomb dropped – the truth – and the sole purpose of this conversation revealed itself.
Instinct had Dominic, glancing to his left, right and over his shoulder – wondering if this was some sort of ambush but doubt that, despite blood, Ravenna would choose now to come to the defense of her cousin. Lying doesn’t even cross his mind, neither does fighting considering how nonchalantly the subject was broached.
Arms folding across his broad chest, The Bodyguard simply nods his head before verbally confirming Ravenna’s suspicions. “Well, either you know me too well or someone needs their tongue cut out for talking too fuckin’ much.” He uttered, leaning against the nearby wall. “I’ve dedicated most of my life to this family and I’m sick to my fuckin’ stomach watching him throw it all away.” Dominic began to explain. “He’s getting lazy, he’s weak. You know it, I know it, we all know it – and if something doesn’t change, he’s going to fuck up and make us lose everything we worked for – everything we built.” There’s a pause, Dominic feeling himself tense up. “If you’re pissed about what you heard, one of the Carlo’s would’ve stuck a bullet in my head by now. So, I’m assuming you either know I’m right or intrigued by what I’m trying to do about it.”
Ravenna had a soft spot for the likes of everything Dominic was. She’d made it known to those within the Cosa Nostra, upon impending appearances within the city, to regain control and redeem whatever semblance of respect they could salvage from Bianchi’s carelessness—that she was to do it. Save those who could be saved. Bolster and inspire those who might’ve lost their way. And leaders—she knew who, if not her, could manage it. But for the boy she considered a son for so long to do it himself—now there was a surprising twist.
She watched him look over his shoulder, her head falling slightly to one side as she stared on with a bored expression. “Dominic—“ Ravenna whispered, a slight shake of her head, as hands folded before her. She could’ve been a politician once-upon-a-time. Her well-nature habits to bestow arrogance mingled with calamity was rare for anyone. “Do you really think I would attack you? So carelessly at the funeral of my second cousin?” She paused. “You should know me better than that, mi amore. I don’t pick favourites because they’re handsome. I do it because they’ll keep me winning.”
“You’re smart—but I have eyes everywhere, and ears everywhere else.” She shrugged her shoulders, a slightly arrogant grin against her lips. “The perks of being me, I suppose.” The notion to who might’ve ratted was a lowly associate—to one of her own henchmen. Silly boy, she thought to the man. “Well, I did have his eyes plucked from his head. No one told me you could die from the horrors of torture.” She knew very fucking well how bad who own vendetta for revenge and betrayal could become. “And you’re right—many of them wanted to blindly kill you. But you’re too important to the things I want, and now you are untouchable to them.” Isn’t that nice.
Her approach was commanding, as she stood nearest him, a hand lifted to cup his cheek. He had it—he had the potential to do it. Guidance would be what he needed—and the bendable ears of those who stood before him, an attempt to stop him. “You and I both know you’re right about my cousin.” She concluded his assumption with her admittance. “And you are the only one here I would trust to take him out, but you must be careful. Loyalists in this mob and the Cosa Nostra will argue it—unless you let me help you. In exchange for something.”
There was always something in it for her. “I’ll give you what you need—you need bodies to blame when he dies, or anyone else, so be it. I have an endless supply. You need money to bribe people, my love it’s yours. But you do not kill any other members of the mob without warning me first. Giovanni may’ve been useless, but it could’ve been trained out of him to not be a fucking lump like his father—“ The words spat venomously at the idea of her cousin still in power.
“You kill my cousin—take the throne for yourself, and restack the deck. But—“ Ravenna stepped back, space enough, pivoted on the spot in sky-high heels. “You make me your Godfather, and I’ll ensure your freedom to do as you please. You and I can burn every last member of that trash Mafia to the ground.”
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