In an abandoned lot untouched by government oversight, stood a building feared by all. It was common knowledge that this grim place belonged to the most dangerous mafia clan, originating from Russia: the Senza Pietà.
Authorities dared not intervene, intimidated by the vast connections of the Senza Pietà. Yet, several high-ranking police officials yearned to dismantle this clan, though they had yet to discover a viable path.
Outside the derelict structure, fewer than half a dozen soldiers, the lowest-ranking officials of the clan, formed a perimeter. These were the men who had pledged unwavering loyalty to Senza Pietà, bound by an oath of silence – Omertà.
Inside, five men knelt, bound and gagged, their bodies trembling visibly with terror. These five were associates, not yet official members, but they had dared to betray the clan.
"Hmmm? What should we do with these traitors? Should we skin them alive or torture them in a pit of fire, what do you think, Salvatore?" Taddeo mused playfully, standing before the five captive men.
"Why are you asking Salvatore? Benitez is here, ask him," Casimiro, Taddeo's twin, stated plainly and coldly. Lorenzo turned to Casimiro with a poker face.
"Just to remind you, Penicarte the Second, I am the consigliere who provides impartial advice based on what's best for this family. You should ask me for sound counsel regarding them. Lest you forget, allow me to remind you."
"Oh? Are you? Remind me again," Casimiro responded flatly, an electric tension sparking between him and Lorenzo. Taddeo chuckled, stepping between them.
"Calm down, brothers. No need to get testy. Why do you two always seem to be at each other's throats? Did you fight over a woman, twin?" Taddeo asked Casimiro, earning a scoff from both men.
"No woman involved. I just hate his guts," Casimiro commented icily.
"Same reason with that fucker," Lorenzo chimed in.
"Enough with the bickering. If you and Salvatore have disagreements, Miro, then make it less obvious, especially when Il Capo is here with us. You know how Penelton doesn't tolerate that kind of attitude in his presence," Vito sternly admonished his companions.
These four men were the most trusted confidantes of the Senza Pietà's Patriarch, Elijah Rey Penelton. Vito Benitez served as the sottocapo, the organization's second-in-command when Elijah was absent, and the sole candidate to be the next mafia boss should anything untoward befall Elijah.
"I have no problem, Benitez, why don't you ask Penicarte the Second, since he's the one with the foul mouth here," Lorenzo, the consigliere of Senza Pietà, snapped. He was Elijah's advisor and councilor, a lawyer by profession with his own public firm.
"Tss. You're the one who doesn't fucking accept your loss in a fucking bet. So why am I the one with the problem when it's fucking clear that you're the one who doesn't know how to accept defeat," Casimiro Penicarte retorted plainly. He, along with his twin Taddeo, was a capo of Senza, captaining a large crew of soldiers.
Their personalities were diverse, and while arguments were frequent, in times of battle, they stood united.
"Wait? A bet? What did you two wager on?" Taddeo asked, frowning at the two who refused to answer.
"Don't bother to ask them, Deo. Are you certain these five traitors are the only termites among the associates?" Vito interjected, changing the subject, and Taddeo proudly nodded.
"I guarantee you, they are the only termites who had the guts to betray Senza Pietà. They broke the omertà code of our family, they deserve painful punishment," Taddeo grinned, his words adding to the fear of the five traitors.
"Wait? Is Il Capo not done yet?" Taddeo wondered, turning to Elijah, who stood several paces away, deep in a phone conversation.
"Don't tell me Il Capo is talking to—"
"—nonsense. We know Il Capo when he's on the phone with her. I can sense a bad mood in his presence as he stands there, so it means he's talking to those headache-inducing board members of Veritas," Lorenzo cut in, his gaze dropping to the five traitors, who merely awaited their grim fate.
"Consider yourselves lucky that your time to breathe freely has been somewhat extended, though it's also your misfortune that something seems to have worsened Il Capo's mood. I suggest the five of you begin to utter prayers for your own souls, as your lives will soon become lifeless," Lorenzo sneered.
Driven by fear, the five men followed Lorenzo's advice, praying silently in their minds.
"They must be fucking grateful I let them fucking live for their insolence. How dare they decide who's good in my Veritas," Elijah snarled coldly as he approached Vito and the others.
His voice startled the five men from their prayers; their faces instantly paled, and a chill swept through them in Elijah's presence.
"Done talking with your useless board members, Il Capo?" Lorenzo asked Elijah, who walked straight past him, casually drew Casimiro's gun, and cocked it.
"I'm in a fucking bad mood because of them," Elijah stated emotionlessly. Without preamble, he emptied Casimiro's clip into the five traitors.
Even Lorenzo was stunned. Elijah hadn't bothered with an interrogation, hadn't asked what betrayal they committed for the paltry sum they received. They looked at Elijah with dumbfounded expressions.
"Tsk. Give me your gun, Deo," Elijah commanded plainly before tossing Casimiro's empty weapon aside.
"But they're all dead, Il Capo," Taddeo protested. Elijah's gaze dropped to the five lifeless traitors, swimming in their own blood.
"Did they fucking confess what kind of betrayal they fucking committed?" Elijah asked plainly, turning to Vito.
"How could we ask them when you killed them all, Il Capo?" Lorenzo questioned.
"You killed them without getting information, Penelton," Vito added.
"Is that so. I apologize," Elijah said, his apology devoid of any genuine sincerity.
"Find whoever paid them to choose betrayal over loyalty. Once you find that person, bring them to me," Elijah commanded emotionlessly to Taddeo and Casimiro as his phone rang again.
Elijah didn't bother to check the caller ID, answering directly.
"I told you to stop call—"
"—stop calling you? Are you sure about that, Mr. Penelton?"
Vito and the others saw Elijah's eyes widen slightly, his terrifying presence suddenly vanishing like smoke.
"Of course not, darling. Did you miss me?"
Vito and the others simultaneously turned away from Elijah, unwilling to witness the dissipation of their mafia boss's formidable authority. They had seen this scenario countless times, yet they could never grow accustomed to it, especially considering their Il Capo's ruthless reputation in the mafia world.
"It gives me the creeps when Il Capo acts like that. Just moments ago, his presence was terrifying, then in the blink of an eye, he looks like an obedient dog to me," Lorenzo commented.
"Who would have thought that the mafia don of Senza Pietà would fold when his wife is the one he's talking to?" Taddeo remarked, while Vito and Casimiro remained speechless where they stood.
"I'm sure you haven't forgotten that you're picking Veronica up today. Don't make our princess wait at school, Elijah."
"I haven't forgotten, darling, I'll pick her up now and then visit you in Veridian. I love you," Elijah stated softly until his wife's line disconnected.
Elijah cleared his throat slightly, composing himself before turning to Vito, who still had his back to him.
"Clean up this mess. Then let's have a fucking meeting this evening at my manor. Bring your fucking manners when you arrive at my home," Elijah said plainly and emotionlessly before walking away from the abandoned building, leaving Vito and the others behind.
"I'm very much sure Il Capo has a split personality. It's cringe hearing him in that sweet tone. Mrs. Penelton is truly something else; she can make a ruthless mafia boss fold just like that," Taddeo declared. Vito tapped him on the shoulder.
"It's called fucking love, Deo. Now, let's clean our mess here," Vito said, as he and Lorenzo began to clear the scene.
Elijah was one of the most ruthless mafia bosses in the underworld, but for his wife, he was the sweetest, most obedient husband, a side his enemies would never know.