Before he sat down, he placed his pack of cigarettes and lighter on the table. Then Lucca listened to the two bosses commence the meeting, not once speaking. Instead, he took in the men.
The Lucianos looked like the polar opposites of the Carusos. Just as much as the Carusos looked immaculate, the Lucianos looked rugged. The men who did wear suits were far from the expensive Italian ones the mafia was often known for. Grooming wasn’t much of a requirement for them, either. Some men were also covered in tattoos from their hands to their necks. They were a rough-looking family, matching their surroundings of the rough area of Kansas City they owned. Here in this warehouse, the Carusos looked out of place, while the Lucianos looked at home.
A pair of dark-haired twins mostly covered in tattoos sat to one side, while on the other side was a hawkish man with brown hair who seemed to be doing the same thing Lucca was—taking in the enemy.
It was Lucca’s job to know each and every one of them. The three were brothers, sharing the same father, but only the twins had the same mother. Angel and Matthias were younger than their older brother, Dominic. He and Lucca were both the underboss of the family, under their father. However, even though Dominic was slightly older than him, he hadn’t been the underboss for as long as Lucca had. It was only a year ago that Dominic had taken the title.
Pulling out a cigarette, Lucca held it between his lips while he flicked his wrist, bringing the flame from his Zippo to light the end. He inhaled deeply as his eyes travelled to the man sitting in the middle of the table.
The Carusos called him by his last name, Luciano, but to his men, he was known by another name. A name his men gave him out of respect, a name to be feared. Dante told Lucca long ago not to call him by the monstrous name, because he was anything but, and he wasn’t to be feared.
Luciano adjusted his suit jacket. “Before we end this meeting, you know I have to ask you, Dante, for a bigger territory over Kansas City.”
“You should know the answer to that by now, Luciano, and my answer has yet to change after all these years.”
A snide smile came to Luciano’s thin lips. “I was hoping this would be the year we could forget that part of the contract.”
“Maybe we should forget about the whole contract, then.” Lucca knocked his cigarette ashes onto the floor. “I think time is making you forget how close to extinction the Luciano name is. It was the Carusos who wanted to end the war and decided to give the option of the contract so the Luciano name wouldn’t die out. Tell me, how many of you are there now?”
Two of Luciano’s men moved to stand behind him, while the only one to move behind the Carusos was Drago. The empowering man was bigger than the two Lucianos combined.
Luciano slightly flexed his jaw. “Me and my three sons will continue the Luciano name.”
Lucca smiled as he inhaled deeply from his cigarette. “Yes, and thanks to the generosity of the Caruso family, you can continue to do so on the agreed-upon territory.”
The air in the spacious warehouse seemed to be sucked away. Not until Luciano nodded his head did the air return.
Dante then nodded, standing up as he buttoned his suit jacket and bringing the meeting to a close. Luciano also stood, and the two men came out from behind their tables to shake each other’s hand.
“Glad we could have another successful meeting. I’ll see you next year, Luciano.”
“Till next year, Dante.”
The two men dropped each other’s hand, and then Dante led the Caruso family out first. However, Lucca continued to sit there, watching his men and the Lucianos leave the warehouse one by one until only himself and one other remained.
Finally, he stood up, stepping on the little bud that was still smoking from where he had dropped it. Picking up his cigarettes and lighter, he put them back in his pocket while grabbing the heavy ring that weighed on him.
The cold man looked him up and down. “Next to your father, you looked like you were sitting at the wrong table. You could almost pass for a Luciano.”
“Almost.” He rolled the ring between his fingers, walking toward the only other man in the warehouse.
“Yes, well, we both know what you look like when you clean yourself up.”
As Luciano’s voice turned dark, Lucca’s turned darker. “Yes, we do.” Holding the ring out for him to view, Lucca continued, “Have you seen this ring before?”
Picking up the ring, Luciano’s face began to match his voice. “No, I haven’t. Why do you ask?”
Lucca flashed a cryptic smile. “I’m trying to find the owner of my new dog.”