Chapter 94 - Salvatore's Wedding

New York, Don Marino's residence. 

"Don Marino!" A man looked up from his computer screen and glanced at their boss who was leaning against a lounge chair, face covered in darkness. The man was excited and scared at the same time while announcing the news."We have news on Miss Marino." 

The man who was until now sitting in darkness moved a little, his white hair exemplifying the matureness of his eyes were sharp but the dark circles under his eyes were telling a tale of tiredness. But just as he heard that his men finally have the news on his lost daughter, adrenaline rushed into his bloodstream like a powerful drug. 

"Are they asking for ransom or do you find her location exactly," Alessandro said, his voice too steady to describe the torrent storming inside him. If they were asking for a ramson, it was clear that they were a phony group, trying to extort money from them but if their demands were unusual, he might believe for a second that they were the original kidnappers. 

After all, nobody would dare to kidnap his daughter for a simple amount of money. 

Then again, nobody in the history of New York had ever tried to steal a brief from the church. 

There was an unspoken rule among all the mafia families, no one would ever touch the church and women in any territory. 

But for the first time, the unspoken rule was broken. And he would hunt the fucker from the face of the earth and would give him the worst possible outcome. 

He might be silent for the last few months and was giving everyone chances to speak ill about him behind his back but like a silent predator, he was observing his enemies disguised as his allies. When this silent lion would roar, he would shake the whole kingdom. And like always, he would rise to destroy the person who stepped on his tail. 

"No, " The subordinate quickly replied. "They neither asked for random nor did we find out Miss Marino's exact location." 

"Then?" Alesandro raised his brow at him. 

"They sent a folder accompanied by a note saying only you should open it," The man said. Even he was confused why would kidnappers send an unusual virtual folder to them? Shouldn't they directly ask for what they want? 

Then again, if the thing they wanted could be easily acquired, they wouldn't have made Marinos desperate for information. 

"Show me the folder. I will unlock it," Alessandro said. He was suddenly intrigued. Never had any enemy ever intrigued him like this one. Not only was he playing sentimental games but was purposely fiddling with them at every step. 

At every step, they were facing problems. No matter how powerful the Marino empire was. They were still not powerful enough to fight against all the mafia families. 

It couldn't be a coincidence that all the problems with the other families, government, and their own men arose after the capture of his daughter. Not to forget, the Scuderi family was only survived by Nicolas. His consigliere was dead along with his wife and father. 

Now, he had to devise a plan to win the loyalty of Scuderi's all over again. And for that, if he had to drag his daughter from any corner of the earth and bind her to Nicolas, he would. 

_____

"Richard, what are you doing here?" Alessandro was surprised to find a familiar man peeking inside his room from the creak of the door. 

"Umm.." Richard Costas cleared his throat. He didn't mean to peek inside his room with permission but he was anxious to have a talk with Don Marino. But after what he has through the grapevine, his anxiousness had increased for a certain reason. 

"Don Marino, I have heard some news and thought if you need company," Richard said, opening the door to the study wide open but still didn't dare to walk inside.

Don Marino scoffed inwardly. Need company? Did all of his enemies think he had lost his brain cells after the unfortunate accident with his daughter? No, stupid. He was watching all of them but was not blowing their cover for now. 

Costas family didn't enjoy a high position in their society as they were not pure Italians. Despite being ridiculously loaded, they had felt like they were looked upon by other families. However, when his daughter was engaged to Lucien Marino, Richard Costas had been over the moon. Marinos had been on the top of the food chain. Marrying off his daughter to Don's son meant a direct alliance with the Marinos. And what else could Richard ask for? 

However, his days of pride and happiness didn't last long as Lucien had died an untimely death. Not only was he murdered in a cold blood, but it had also been announced forbidden to even call out his name. 

But they say, there would come a dog's day and it was true. His daughter who used to be treated worse than a widow after Lucien's demise once again won the attraction of another Don's son. 

Regardless of the happenings of the past and the opportunities provided to the Costas family, their status did improve but still didn't come in the ranking of the top ten families. But now that the Scuderi family was in shambles, it provided him a perfect opportunity to uplift his situation. 

Richard Costas would be the next consigliere. 

Don Marino chuckled inwardly. Of course, he could all too well hear the planning and plotting going on in the little and useless brain of Richard Costas. However, he wasn't going to put a stop to his overly imaginative brain. Instead, he was going to hand him an olive branch. A perfect and the most tempting opportunity that he would never be able to reject. 

The contents of the virtual folder were still ringing in his head. He knew the exchange that would be carried on after two days was not as easy as it seemed. But if he wanted to protect his empire, he would have to comply with the kidnapper's demands. 

Lorenzo for his daughter. 

Loyalty for power. 

Once again, he was going to choose power over loyalty. 

Lorenzo might feel that he had been betrayed by him but he had no other option. 

Moreover, Lorenzo knew better than anyone where his priorities rested. 

….

"Are you sure, Costas, you can do what I just told you?"He asked the man standing before him. He was sitting on a throne chair, legs crossed, hand under his chin, and eyes fixed on the smiling man. 

"Of course, Don Marino," Richard Costas said, barely holding his excitement. If he finished this confidential mission without any hindrance, he would certainly be the next consigliere. 

Even if he had not informed Don Marino of his heart desires, he believed that a man as intelligent and smart as Don Marino could figure it out on his own. 

He was kinda feeling proud for being selected as the one specially chosen by Don Marino to carry out this very confidential mission. 

"Don Marino, can I ask you a question?" Richard asked hesitatingly. 

Alessandro raised his brow as if saying go ahead. 

"Wouldn't Lorenzo feel betrayed?" Richard carefully asked the question. Who doesn't know about Lorenzo's strange and weird attitude towards Don Marino? He was a freak. He would do things no sane man would ever do. It was next to impossible to get hold of his location but for Alessandro, it was as easy as finding water in a river. 

And now what was troubling Costas was not the well-being of Lorenzo but their own. What would Lorenzo do if he knew the man he trusted the most was going to stab him in the back? It was only how you repay your lifelong friendship? 

Regardless, it wasn't his problem and so, he wasn't going to get mixed in this subject more than necessary. 

"What are you doing next Sunday?" Alessandro suddenly asked. His unusual question confused Richard but the other man had long learned the art of hiding his emotions and expressions behind a facade of stupid dog. 

"We will be going to church...nothing else." 

Alessandro nodded, still deep in thought. Looking up at the other man, he asked in a steady voice, "How does next Sunday sound for your daughter's wedding with my son? They have been engaged for quite a long time. Don't you think it's time?"

Richard looked at him in bewilderment. He was so shocked and perplexed that he didn't know how to reply for the next few seconds. Only when his words settled inside his head, he reacted a bit. 

He couldn't express his happiness in words. For how long he had been meaning to talk to Don Marino for the wedding of Salvatore and his daughter but never mustered up the courage to do so. 

Instead of showing his happy expressions, he quirked up his brows and asked in apparent worry and confusion. "Would it be alright? I mean, weren't you initially of the opinion that your daughter would be the first one to marry? Wasn't it the reason why you have always delayed Salvatore's marriage?"

"Indeed, that's what I have always wanted," Don Marino sighed. "But the Scuderi family has seen not one but three deaths in a single day. Even if I hasten their wedding, I would at least have to wait for three months." 

Although Alessandro hated delaying the wedding of Nicolas and Persephone, he had to wait for a few months before they could hold the ceremony once again.. It was to show that they were mourning the loss of the Scuderi family too.