The Alpha Mafia King
Chapter 49

“Several years ago, we were in Costa Rica to see some of its volcanoes,” Mariyanna recounted from memory. “There was more to that visit. My father had one of his men thrown into a volcano for pissing him off.”

“Several years ago, we were in Costa Rica to see some of its volcanoes,” Mariyanna recounted from memory. “There was more to that visit. My father had one of his men thrown into a volcano for pissing him off.”

“As children, we expected the man to climb out soon. Later, when we asked, we were told that there was some outgassing from the volcano, which often happens without an eruption, and that the man had been asphyxiated from the gasses.

“Alyona couldn’t pull herself together, and our father called her weak and useless. He said she was undeserving of the Makarov name. Gentlemen, Alyona spent the rest of her life trying to earn my father’s acceptance since that day.” She continued.

“Naturally, I had more guts than her, so my father loved me more. It caused a family feud for years, and my mother wanted to leave with Alyona, but she would rather stay and become the ruthless woman my father wanted her to be. She grew even more ruthless than I am, but I think our father just had a problem loving her.”

“Could that be the reason she disappeared?” Piccolo asked.

“Well, I don’t know why she left precisely, but it won’t take Einstein to figure out that was part of the reason!” Mariyanna said coherently.

“My sweet little sister has lived in our father’s shadow all along! I love to see her life differently for once. I figured she should go back to being kind and live the life she wanted away from the Mafia. That’s part of the reason I was reserved.”

Mariyanna sounded confident telling lies. The picture she painted of Alyona was her story, to begin with, but nobody knew that. Alonzo seemed to be in a different headspace.

“You mentioned that your mother wanted to leave with your sister; what happened to her, Miss Mariyanna?” Piccolo asked, and Mariyanna wondered what his deal was. She wanted Alonzo to be more interested than his Consigliere.

It wasn’t that Alonzo was in a different headspace or that he wasn’t interested, no. He was relaying his questions telepathically to Piccolo to ask them so he could appear less concerned.

“After the divorce, we never heard or saw from her again,” Mariyanna answered dryly.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Alonzo said.

“It is all good! I didn’t avenge him because he didn’t deserve it,” Mariyanna added to remind Alonzo that there was that to be remembered. “Can he excuse us for a moment, please?”

Piccolo frowned because of her request and said, “I’m his consigliere; you can say whatever you want with me here.”

“It’s alright, Pico; give us a moment alone, please,” Alonzo said, his eyes pleading. Piccolo smiled, stood up, and walked away.

“Thanks,” Mariyanna said.

“What’s this about?” Alonzo asked, sounding almost hostile.

“Just wondering why you are interfering with Russian politics,” Mariyanna countered. “You know that this territory is mine.”

“Oh, that, I said I would bring it up with you after, but I’m hardly surprised the news got to you before I could.”

Mariyanna shrugged, “It doesn’t matter, answer me why. I’m pissed off that you decided to interfere at all. My people’s patience is starting to wane. They might revolt if I don’t get you to drop the gauntlet.”

“I’m afraid I can’t back down; I owe this man a favor.”

“Please, think about it before you commit to putting your hands where it doesn’t belong.”

“I told you already; I will stand by this candidate.”

“Well, um, in that case, I want you to know that we will push back by any means necessary to see our candidate win the election.”

“Can’t we make a deal?” Alonzo asked.

“You know, this might be my favorite question for tonight. There is room for one deal.”

Alonzo couldn’t believe his ears; neither could Piccolo, who could make out what was being said from where he sat by tuning into their discussion with his super hearing.

“You realize that I’m seeing your sister, right?” Alonzo said.

“I want what I want, and you like what you want. Surely, a man of your status shouldn’t have a problem with morality. Even godly men cheat on their partners.”

“Uh, could you give me some time to weigh my options?”

“What other options are there? Well, think about it; it’s a win-win for you.”

Mariyanna gobbled up one more glass of wine and turned the glass upside down on the table. Alonzo watched the last drops that trickled down and swam towards him.

When Mariyanna had exited the building, Piccolo came back to Alonzo.

“That was some hot stuff she did,” Piccolo said. “So what will you do? It seems like an easy way out. She’s right; it’s a double win for you.”

“I can’t possibly take the offer,” Alonzo said.

“What do you mean you can’t? She’s beautiful, and you-“

“Forget it; I’m not doing it okay. We will replace another way to get the King to win the elections and simultaneously replace a way not to piss off the Makarov family. For now, let’s go back to the Casino.”

They were outside the parking lot, and the driver had turned on the car. Piccolo had finally gotten the moment he wished for moments ago. Alonzo stood behind Piccolo and wondered why the hell he wasn’t getting into the car.

“What are you waiting for?” Alonzo said, feeling exhausted.

“Since you pull out seats for women to sit, I was hoping you’ll unlock the passenger door for me to get in!” Piccolo said, grinning.

Alonzo opened the door, got in, and locked it. The car was soundproof, but he could still hear Piccolo begging him to open the door. He told the driver to drive and let the driver go further away from the parking lot before ordering him to stop suddenly. Piccolo hurried into the car, and Alonzo started laughing.

“You are my best friend, Pico, but you are a pain in my a*s!” Alonzo said.

“I would have stolen a vehicle and chased you down the streets if you had dared to leave me standing.”

“Tell me, Pico, do you see a future where the Mafia wouldn’t be part of our lives?”

“Does this have to do with Mariyanna saying Taleela didn’t want the Mafia lifestyle?”

Piccolo closed his eyes to imagine and said, “Shit! What would we ever do without the Mafia life? It’s in our b***d, much likely in her b***d too. This lifestyle chose us.”

“We didn’t even question it; we embraced it wholeheartedly as true Sicilians.”

“Exactly, and I’m sure our children will.”

“Hehe, it’s possible they wouldn’t. Carlos is a medical doctor.”

“He is that, but he is not the Son of a Don.”

“I am so exhausted,” Alonzo said. “Driver, take us elsewhere. I couldn’t possibly sleep if I were with Taleela tonight.”

“Take us to the Casino. Alonzo, you are running. Real men don’t run; they go back home and face the issue. She will be gone by morning so spend the last few hours with her. She needs you.”

“Thank you, Pico,” Alonzo said.

Alyona was drawing on her sketchpad; the one Mazza got her. It was a means to take her mind off overthinking. She had no idea that Nestor was dead or that her sister had it in mind to sleep with Alonzo.

She was waiting, though, for him to return. He said he was going to speak with Mariyanna. There was a soft knocking on the door, and it swung into a wide arc slowly as Alonzo made his way into the room like a robber.

“Hey, love,” he said. “I thought you’d slept.”

“Hi,” she replied, putting away the sketches. “Nope, I couldn’t fall asleep. How did the meeting go?”

“Everything is still as it was. Tomorrow we will start campaigning for the elections.”

“How will you get the Makarov to steer clear of your path?”

“Who said I want them to?” Alonzo said.

Taleela looked at him with confused eyes, and she said, “What are you going on about?”

“Free and fair elections are how we are going to win this. The people will vote for the best candidate.”

“I’m pretty sure they don’t throw rocks at people in Russia because I would’ve loved to ask if a rock hit you on the head lately.”

Alonzo smiled. It felt good to come back home to her. She brought the feeling of home wherever she was. It wouldn’t matter if they were stranded on an African island; she would still make the place look homely.

“Yeah, right, everyone seems to be taken aback with how I do things these days.”

“Your candidate is going to lose,” Alyona said.

“Do you want to place a bet on it?”

“Sure, how much?”

“A million dollars,” said Alonzo.

“What? Where am I going to get that money? Baby, did you still speak with my sister?”

“As a matter of fact, I did, and she told me who the assassin was. Apparently, agent Fox was working with Olga to have you swept under the rug. Mariyanna seems to think Olga and him were lovers, and they were elaborately scheming on how to get rid of the both of you.”

“That’s awful,” Alyona said. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s not awful; it’s tragic. To cover up her sins and avoid questioning, she blew herself with a grenade, but she didn’t go down alone.”

“What?” Alyona said, sounding incredulous.

“Nestor is dead.”