Malavita, page 1
MALAVITA
A son determined to avenge his family.
A daughter desperate for peace.
Two fathers intent on destruction…
Enrico Lucchesi never wanted anything to do with the Mafia. But when his brothers were murdered, he accepted that he would someday be the next don. However, he doesn’t accept that he must marry the daughter of the man who killed them. Enrico will never trust an Andretti, never mind love one. The Andrettis are up to something with their so-called “truce”—and Enrico must avenge his siblings. But will his dark secret spell the end of his vengeance—and possibly the Lucchesis?
After Antonella Andretti’s father tries to destroy the Lucchesis, she persuades him that an alliance—achieved by her marriage to Enrico, the “golden boy” she’s loved from afar—would be in everyone’s best interests. As her wedding day approaches, people close to her father start dying, and her fiancé’s behavior is suspect. When she learns Enrico’s true feelings about her—and what her father’s actual plans are—will Antonella damn their families to eternal war, or will she broker a peace that might destroy her heart?
PRAISE FOR DANA DELAMAR
“…leaves you wanting to read Revenge (if you haven’t already—shame, shame, shame on you... go READ it) and the follow up, Retribution.”
—Steph’s Book Retreat blog, 5 stars (on Malavita)
“This is the first book I have ever read by this author and I have to say I couldn’t put it down till I finished it. What a ride I got! Love, action, excitement, crime families—heck, what more could you ask??”
—Amazon reader “cedarblue,” 5 stars (on Malavita)
“This story truly exceeded my expectations. Revenge is action packed, and when the pace picks up, it does not slow down.... Pick up this book today; it will grab your attention from the beginning. I cannot wait to read the next book.”
—The Romance Reviews (TRR) site, 5 stars, Top Pick (on Revenge)
“Here is to a WHOOPING 5 Stars. If I had to describe this book in about four words, it would be action-packed, sexy, romantic, and adrenaline-rushing.… This would make a kick-butt movie! There were times when I was fanning myself, sitting on the edge of my seat, and so mad I had to put it down. The steamy scenes were oh so delicious!”
—Bengal Reads blog, 5 stars (on Revenge)
“The suspense keeps the pages moving quickly in book two of the Blood and Honor series. A fast pace, credible characters and a complex plot guarantee hours of entertainment.”
—RT Book Reviews magazine, 4 stars (on Retribution)
“When I compare the quality of the writing, the complexity of the plot, and the development of the characters in this series to other books I have awarded 4 or even 4.5 stars to, this one is clearly worthy of a much higher rating than many of them. Not only do I look forward to reading more in the series, I am also really excited and can hardly wait.”
—Lindsay and Jane’s Views and Reviews blog, 5 stars (on Redemption)
“This series is awesome!!! If this series was ever made into a movie, it would put The Godfather to shame! I am always pulled into the lives that Dana creates in her books, heart beating so fast it is like I am part of the story line!!! …I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. I WANT TO GIVE IT MORE THAN 5 STARS.”
—Julie’s Book Reviews blog, 5 stars (on Redemption)
ALSO BY DANA DELAMAR
Blood and Honor Series
Malavita (Prequel)
Revenge (Book One)
Retribution (Book Two)
Redemption (Book Three)
Reckoning (Book Four) – coming 2015
MALAVITA
BLOOD AND HONOR
PREQUEL
DANA DELAMAR
Copyright © 2013 Dana Delamar
Excerpt from Deadly Obsession copyright © 2012 Kristine Cayne
All rights reserved.
ISBN (print): 0984931147
ISBN-13 (print): 978-0-9849311-4-9
ISBN (ebook): 0984931155
ISBN-13 (ebook): 978-0-9849311-5-6
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Book cover design by Dana Delamar © 2015
Cover photo: © Depositphotos.com/get4net
Title page logo design by Scarlett Rugers © 2012
Author image courtesy of LGImages
Editing, proofreading, and print formatting:
By Your Side Self-Publishing
www.ByYourSideSelfPub.com
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many people contributed to the creation of this book. No writer goes it alone, and I am certainly no exception.
As always, I can never adequately thank my wonderful critique partner, Kristine Cayne. She kicked my butt when I needed it, gave this book her ever-valuable time and attention, and asked many hard questions. Kristine, I owe you big time!
I’d also like to thank my beta readers, Kim Schmeller, Ninia Ingram, Stephanie Veteto, and Trish Ryan, for their insights, comments, and catches. You made this book better than it was!
Many thanks to Luigia Tella for promptly and thoroughly answering my questions about Italy. Any errors are my own.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Natalie G. Owens and the readers who asked “What happened before Revenge?” for inspiring me to write this prequel.
I owe a great debt to Romance Writers of America® and specifically my hometown RWA® chapters, Eastside RWA and Greater Seattle RWA, for providing inspiration, support, guidance, friendship, real-world craft advice, industry contacts, and knowledge that proved invaluable. Thank you all.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank my family, my friends, and most of all my real-life hero, James Davis, for bearing with my craziness. You will always be my honey bunny.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
The Lucchesis
Enrico Lucchesi (loo KAY zee) – son of Rinaldo Lucchesi
Rinaldo Lucchesi – Enrico Lucchesi’s father; capo (head) of the Lucchesi cosca (crime family)
Leopoldo (Poldi) Lucchesi – capo di società (second in command) of the Lucchesi cosca; brother to Rinaldo Lucchesi
Elma Lucchesi – wife of Leopoldo Lucchesi, mother to Dom Lucchesi
Domenico (Dom) Lucchesi – first cousin to Enrico Lucchesi
Francesca Lucchesi – wife of Domenico Lucchesi
Livio Vela – bodyguard to Rinaldo Lucchesi
Don Vittorio Battista – padrino (godfather) to Enrico Lucchesi
The Andrettis
Antonella (Toni) Andretti – daughter to Carlo Andretti and sister to Dario Andretti
Dario Andretti – son of Carlo Andretti and brother to Antonella Andretti
Romola Andretti – wife to Carlo Andretti
Carlo Andretti – capo of the Andretti cosca (Milan branch)
Lorenzo Andretti – capo of the Andretti cosca (Calabrian branch) and father to Carlo Andretti
Benedetto Andretti – capo di società of the Andretti cosca (Calabrian branch) and brother to Carlo Andretti
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
bacio (bah CHOH) – kiss
basta (BAHS tah) – enough (as in “I’ve had enough!” or “Stop!”)
bella, bellissima (BAY lah, bay LEE see mah) – beautiful
bene (BEN ay) – good
bocce (BAH chee) – lawn bowling game
buona sera (BWOH nah SAIR ah) – good evening
capisci (KAH pee shee); capisco (KAH pee skoh) – you understand; I understand
capo (KAH poh) – head (don) of a crime family (cosca); plural capi (KAH pee)
capo di società (KAH poh dee so chay TAH) – second in command of a cosca
cara (CAR ah), caro (CAR oh) – dear, sweetheart
carabinieri (car ah bin YAIR ee) – Italy’s national police force; a single member of this force is a carabiniere (car ah bin YAIR ay)
ciao (CHOW) – informal hello and goodbye
cosca (KOHS kah) – a crime family; plural is cosche (KOHS kay)
Cristo (KREES toe) – Christ
davvero (dahv VAIR oh) – really, seriously
Dio mio (DEE oh MEE oh) – my God
dolcezza (dole CHAYT zah) – sweetheart, honey
faida (FEYE dah) – blood feud
finocchio (fee NOHK kee oh) – derogatory slang term for a homosexual
gelateria (jay lah tah REE ah) – store that sells gelato (ice cream)
grazie (GRAHTZ yeh) – thanks. Mille (MEE lay) grazie means “Many thanks.”
idiota (ee dee OH tah) – idiot
In bocca al lupo (een BOHK kah all LOO poh)/Crepi il lupo (CRAY pee eel LOO poh) – Literally In the mouth of the wolf/May the wolf die. Traditional way of wishing luck. Similar to “Break a leg.” Means more or less “I’m going into the wolf’s mouth. May he choke on me.”
lire (LEER ay) – currency of Italy prior to the Euro. Lira (LEER ah), singular.
Madonna (ma DOEN nah) – the Virgin Mary; Mother of God
malavita (mah lah VEE tah) – the criminal underworld, the criminal life
merda (MARE dah) – shit
’Ndrangheta (en DRAHNG eh tah) – the Calabrian Mafia, or “The Honored Society.” ’Ndranghetisti (en DRAHNG eh tees tee) are “men of honor.” A single member is an ’Ndranghetista.
nocciolato (noh choh LAH toe) – hazelnuts and chocolate
nonna (NOHN nah), nonno (NOHN noh) – grandmother, grandfather
padrino (pah DREE noh) – godfather
papà (pah PAH) – dad
passeggiata (pah sayj JAH tah) – evening stroll; a tradition throughout Italy
per favore (PAIR fah VOR ay) – please
perfetto (pair FEHT toe) – perfect
polizia (poh leet TZEE ah) – Italian police
porco Dio (POR koh DEE oh) – literally “pig God;” very vulgar religious curse
porca vacca (POR kah VAH kah) – literally “pig cow”; means “shit” or “damn”
prego (PRAY go) – welcome
principe (prin chee PAY), principessa (prin chee PESS ah) – prince, princess
salute (sah LOO tay) – to your health; cheers!
scusa (SKOOZ ah); scusi (SKOOZ ee) – excuse me (informal; formal)
sì (cee) – yes
signore, signora (seen YOR ay, seen YOR ah) – sir, madam; the “e” is dropped from signore when used with a last name
stronzo (STRON tzoh) – shit, turd, bastard
troia (TROY ah) – slut
troppo (TROHP poh) – too much
vaffanculo (vahf fahn COO loh) – go fuck yourself
zia (TZEE ah), zio (TZEE oh) – aunt, uncle
PROLOGUE
1982
Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy
The phone call, when it came, shattered Enrico Lucchesi’s world. His mother, his brothers, all dead. Gunned down in the street by order of Carlo Andretti, capo of the Andretti family.
He still couldn’t believe it was only him and Papà left. Enrico couldn’t cry, couldn’t speak past the bocce ball lodged in his throat. All he could do was stare dry-eyed at his father, who’d done nothing for the last ten minutes but sob, great shuddering wails that shook Enrico to the core. His father never cried. He’d always told his sons a capo had to be stronger, braver, tougher than other men.
But here he was, the great Rinaldo Lucchesi, weeping as if he’d never stop.
Enrico finally found his voice. “Papà,” he croaked, reaching across the kitchen table for his father’s hand. When there was no answer, he tried again. “Papà.”
The slight rebuke in his tone—after all, how many times had his father berated Enrico for softness?—caused his father to look up, to notice him at last. Papà took a shaky breath and wiped his eyes with the handkerchief he always carried. He ignored the hand Enrico had stretched toward him, and Enrico pulled it back, all the way to his lap.
In the wake of those sobs, the kitchen seemed deadly quiet, filled only with the sounds of their breathing. His, his father’s, and Dario’s. Enrico glanced at the Andretti boy, who’d sat mute and wide-eyed this entire time.
That glance seemed to remind his father of Dario’s presence, and a murderous glint came into his eyes. He snatched the boy out of his chair, scattering their playing cards to the floor. Dario let out a yelp of surprise. “Per favore, it’s not my fault!”
For the past three days, ever since he’d taken Dario hostage in an effort to get Carlo Andretti to negotiate, to end the feud between their families, Papà had insisted on treating Dario as a guest. A guest who couldn’t leave the house, but a guest nevertheless. Because that’s how civilized men handled things. With honor, with respect.
All that courtesy seemed forgotten now as his father wrestled Dario to the butcher block in the corner and mashed Dario’s slender body against the counter. When he pinned the boy’s arm to the cutting board, bile rose in Enrico’s throat. Dario was only fourteen, tall and gangly, all bones. He was no match for Rinaldo Lucchesi, a bull of a man in his prime.
Enrico was no match for him either, but he had to try. He sprang from his chair, his eyes glued to Dario’s wrist, thin as kindling under his father’s meaty hand. Papà grabbed the cleaver from the knife block and swung it up in the air. Enrico grabbed his father’s arm at the top of its downward arc and yanked it back.
Gritting his teeth, Enrico strained to stop his father. Dio, Papà seemed stronger than that marlin Enrico had hooked two years ago on a sport-fishing trip. He’d been Dario’s age then, too weak to hold out against the enormously powerful fish for long, but he’d put on muscle since. Not enough though. He was still only sixteen, and his father had to outweigh him by close to seventy pounds.
They seemed to struggle forever, his father grunting curses under his breath, Dario’s thin reedy voice whimpering “per favore, per favore” in the background.
At last his father said something intelligible, his voice a rusty rasp. “I am your capo. Do not interfere.”
“You always said we aren’t savages.”
“Savagery is all Carlo Andretti understands!”
Papà gave him a hard shove, weakening Enrico’s hold. Catching a whiff of his father’s cologne, Enrico flashed back to a time when his father had carried him up to bed as a boy, cradling him in his arms. Somehow he had to reach that part of his father. Somehow he had to make him see reason.
Enrico’s lungs burned and his arms shook, his father’s muscles hard as granite underneath his hands. “I want Don Andretti dead too. But crippling Dario isn’t going to bring Mamma and Primo and Mario back.”
His father let out an inarticulate cry of rage and stilled, no longer fighting. “I must do something. I must show Carlo I can hurt him.”
“Not the whole hand. The Lucchesis aren’t cruel. You always say that.”
“The little finger then.”
Enrico swallowed against the acid surging at the back of his tongue. Now that Primo was dead, everything had changed. Someday, when he became capo, he’d have to make harder decisions than this. Decisions that meant life or death. Decisions he’d never wanted to make, had never pictured himself making. But Carlo Andretti had killed his brothers, had taken any other future away from him.
He could no longer think like a boy, act like a boy. He had to be a man now.
Enrico nodded and released his father’s arm, then stepped away and closed his eyes. He tried not to hear the thunk as the cleaver bit into bone and wood, tried not to hear Dario’s cries of pain. Tried hard to think of what he’d done as mercy.
CHAPTER 1
1984, two years later
London, England
Enrico Lucchesi left his infant son howling in his sobbing mother’s arms. Because he had to. Because it was his duty. Because he was engaged to marry another.
Antonella Andretti. Carlo Andretti’s daughter. A girl he barely knew.
He took one last look at Nico and Veronica. “Rico, don’t go!” she called, following him onto the path that led to the gate of the small home he’d paid for, the only thing he’d been able to leave her, aside from a monthly check.
He couldn’t marry her. He couldn’t raise his son. He couldn’t do anything but return to Italy and his fate.
Veronica ran up behind him, her bare feet slapping on the paving stones, Nico letting out another wail. “Rico, please,” she sobbed. “Please.”
His throat tight, Enrico turned back to her, waving at the waiting driver and holding up a finger to tell the man he would be a while.
