Author's POV:
A week ago, Nero barged in ENZo's office.
"Hey Enzo, what is going on! Why do I have to take Vin to the college?"
"Because he's your brother?" Future Capo said while typing something on his laptop screen.
"He's your brother too."
"SÌ but I'm busy. I have an important meeting in the morning."
"Your meeting is at ten! You can easily take him."
"Wait! How do you know that? Only father and his secretary knows about this secret meeting." Enzo narrowed his eyes at his extremely nosy brother.
"Laure too." Nero added.
"?"
"She also know about your secret meeting but that's not the point here."
"You are taking Vin and that's final." Enzo sits back.
"Says who?"
"Me." He half smiled arrogantly.
"Whatever I am not taking him."
"Father also wants that too." Enzo added.
"Don't try to fool me. He only wanted Vin to go with his fratello. He didn't mention any name."
"SÌ and that luckyfratello would be you. You have morning classes so what's the problem."
"For the first time, I don't want to be lucky. Anyway, you're the heir, take the responsibility and go lead our crazy brother." Nero was clearly irritated.
"You are the younger one so you have to listen to me."
"..." Nero stared.
"..." Enzo stared back.
"Fine let's settle it like adults."
.
Both brothers were sitting opposite sides of the table to solve the matter in more adult way.
For the next hour both played chess. They we're so engrossed in the game as if it was the matter of life and death.
Nero stared at his pieces quite nervously. Enzo's lips twitch after seeing that he has his younger brother in the corner. It was just a matter of couple of moves and then...
"Wait!" Nero stopped his brother.
"?"
"Let's just send Vin with Laure." He suggested thoughtfully.
"You wanted our brother to die on his first day of the college?"
"Don't be so dramatic. They both gets along quite well."
"I don't think. In a friction of moment, they can turn into swear enemies."
"Any other option?"
"What about Léa? I heard she has a test tomorrow." Enzo suggested.
"Not a good option. Vin can easily manipulate her. And we don't want her to miss her important test."
"..."
"Let him go with his bodyguards. No need to tell father." Nero said finally giving up.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Then give me better one."
"I just think of something..." Enzo furrowed his brows.
"Is that a good idea?"
"No, it's a very stupidly crazy idea." He tried to smile awkwardly.
.
.
"Don't you think your 'stupidly crazy idea' is way too stupid and crazy?" Nero said while guarding the door.
"Shhhh just look outside." Enzo whispered.
"I can't believe we are stealing from our own elder brother." Nero rolled his eyes.
"Shut up. Ahaa, found it." He grinned while holding up an old picture.
"You're going to lure a beast using this?" Nero nearly questioned his father choice about making Enzo their capo.
"Carl would do anything to get this." The said capo's eyes were shining bright.
They both left Vin's room quietly.
.
Ringing...
[What do you want?] A cool voice comes through the speaker.
"I want you to take Vin to college."
Line disconnected!
They both look at each other, stupefied.
Ringing...
"Before you hang up, just listen. Let's have a deal."
[Do you really have to FaceTime me! Anyway, you have thirty seconds cause I'm busy.] Carl leaned against his car.
"Doing what!? Buying burger and fries?" Nero taunted.
[How did you... Did you put a tracker, or you make someone follow me?] Carl looked around in anger.
"Don't flatter yourself cousin. I just saw the reflection of the restaurant's name on your car."
Enzo leaned forward to take a look closely. "How can you tell that that's a restaurant name? Do you have a vision of an eagle or what..!"
"Guess it's Erin's cheat day."
[None of your business.]
"No need to play jealous dear cousin. Not everyone is into older woman here. I know you abhor junk food. Plus, that's Vin's favorite restaurant. He often sent his guards there. I'm sure he had the whole menu memorized by heart." Nero fold his arm over his chest, looking smug.
"How would you know that?"
"I might have... followed them." He shrugged.
Both Carl and Enzo just looked at him.
[You followed guards?] Carl sound both surprised and interested.
"Yeah. Don't you guys ever wanted to know where your personal guards go after their shifts ends?"
"NO!!!" They both denied at the same time.
"Well, I was curious and wanted to know so I just followed. Don't you think it's weird when bunch of your guards go to the same place at the same time together? I mean they might have been planning something or doing something behind our back, who knows." He muttered casually.
[So you found something?]
"Yeah that the guards don't really like our nutrition-filled healthy food. And the food of that restaurant was cheap but tasty." He rolled his eyes.
[That's what Erin told me once.] Carl mumbled.
"Oh yeah I saw her going with Vin's personal bodyguards there many times."
[Really! I didn't know that.] Carl make a thoughtful face.
"Not only the Lucchese's guards but the Valenti's guards are regular there too. Surprisingly they even sometimes sit and eat together. I think I have seen Erin with your personal bodyguard Noah together once."
[Now that explains your curiosity.] Carl commented.
"Alright let's come back to the point. I have still some...work to do." Enzo was saying.
[For your morning meeting?] Carl asked casually.
"How do you...?" Enzo stopped and rubbed his face. Of course his cousin knew.
Nero tried to hide his smile.
[So what's the deal?]
"You have to take Vin to college tomorrow morning."
[And why would I do that?]
"Because I have an... ahem, important meeting." Enzo cleared his throat.
"And I have classes... early." Nero added.
Carl narrowed his eyes at both.
[I don't see how this profits me. What would I get for taking crazy cousin?]
"This." Enzo showed him the picture.
"I have no idea why would you trade an ancient picture of some little girl to him." Nero whispered to his brother.
[Is that...Erin?]
Hearing this, Nero also looked at the photo again, this time with more interest, so that's why they stole it from Vin's. Not their prideful deed but as long as nobody knows.
"That's right. You have to promise Vin's safety first and then this will be yours. Do we have a deal?" The future capo grinned.
[Deal!] Carl smirked.
Call disconnected!
****