AWAKENING (15 page)

Nico smil
ed wider
. These musings were of interest, since it explained his appreciation of
the arts and languages
.
He pushed aside the old photos to view the family tree. It began with his great great
-
grandmother
, chronicling only the Giacanti genealogy
.
He memorized it as Alberti spoke.

King
of
Italy [
married
] _
___
_ Semira
Afizwusi
[
later
m
arries
Lupe Giacanti
]

Offspring Born of the unsanctioned union
between the
King &
Semira

     
   
               
[
Nicolo
and
Vincenzo
]

Nicolo
[
d
eceased
] _
_________
_ Vincenzo
Giacanti-
[wife:
Nicolette
Szorsa
]

                                                        
  
  
    
[Offspring]                                                                                        

                                           
  
Sergio Giacanti-
[wife:
Amelda
Cecelia
Pugglione
]

                                                 
                
[
O
ffspring]

                                           
Salvatore, Anthony, Giuseppe, Cecily, Angelina

The rest of the family tree was inked in.
The line of Palazzo’s,
Dichenzo’s
and Luca’s.
When he saw
him
and
Vincent’s
name there, his hand hovered over the document. He asked, “What happened to
Nicolo
?”

“There are many rumors. He was
killed during a dispute in a gambling room.
He was
only
twenty-
two
and engaged. The murderer was never caught. We will never know the truth.”

“And
my great great-grandmother
?”

“She died in the cholera outbreak
. Her husband honored her wishes and returned her body to Africa. She is on her father’s land in Eritrea.
”

Nico nodded and Alberti continued with the history lesson.
“
Before these unfortunate incidences, Lupe Giacanti
formed an organization,
composed of m
en who opposed the monarchy
.
H
e believed
the
ancient traditions
which
fed an undeserving few w
ith
titles were an exploitation of the working class
.
He felt
all monarchies
were undeserving, lazy and greedy zealots who proffered from the backs of the poor.

The men who were part of the organization
he founded
were working men and farmers who shared his
ideology. They also pledged to keep his wife and children
safe
from the royal family and their supporters who wanted to eliminate any claims
of
Semira or her bastard children to the King’s riches. They were known as The Circle of Protectors. They were loyal men who kept their vows and passed the
responsibility to their first-born sons. Of course, time and distance can lessen a man’s convictions and soon many found different causes to pursue. The men here are descendants of the most loyal of the Circle. There is no mention of the King’s mistress in the history books and do not expect there to be. Any documents or proof, the royal family destroyed. These are the only proof which exists and our blood, line after line keeps the truth. My father, Sergio, formed the IBD, long after, but for the purposes of business and commerce.
He was well-respected for his business acumen and charming. A handsome man he was
, b
ut, the reason he is loved even far after his death is for his humanity during an ugly history of Hitler. He assisted in providing safe shelter for those escaping the madness of Hitler, putting his own life at risk in the process. He was given many valuables belonging to these families for his aid and stockpiles of art, jewelry and much more still exists. The ledger was only one of many, its contents
is
what brought
Sergio’s death,
by the same men he trusted.
These IBD members were g
reedy businessmen who saw only money in the place of loyalty. Nico we have many enemies, we are
literally the
black sheep
of the royal family.
Denounced by our
great-great grandfather
’s people
and besieged by those wishing to take what we have, even to end our lives to protect their secrets. It will not stop until the last drop of our blood has been purged from this earth.

The reporter you removed came close to uncovering our true bloodline to the King
and to have announced it to the world would bring us a swifter death. Accidents and the like occur too frequently today and are seen from the surface. No one digs beneath. The deaths of Alfonzo’s uncle and his wife to all eyes were no more than a hazard of living in the inner city. Of course, we know the truth. What Alfonzo
h
as become for us in America
is an opportunity. His
infiltration of Wall Street and Fortune 500 businesses has
spread our power
. We’ve gained
allies.
We have men
who will protect their interest and therefore
ours
. Alfonzo’s
opened the door and brought us into
a modern era which cares only about capitalism.
Our seeds are flourishing and forming roots of respectability.

Alfonzo’s
accepted the Giacanti name without knowing its full history
. He’s also found
enemies because of it
.
He
isn’t constrained by our history and customs
, which allows him to
forge his own way
,
but we owe him a duty, and that is to keep him safe. Violence, Nico is an inevitable fraction of that. How else will we survive when dark clouds hover over our heads? It will come to him and he will not seek it, just as it comes to us all.”

Alberti took a large velvet box from the chest. He opened it and Nico squint under the brilliance of the many diamonds and gems on the crown. “This was given to Semira as were other priceless gifts. These men who sit with us
have protected it well, as have their fathers.
The term assigned to these men when extreme violence was necessary is referred to as La Costra Nostra, however the public and law enforcement blend us with riff-raff. The
II
Circolo
di
Protezioni
,
our Circle of Protectors
have
only done what is necessary to protect these items and to ensure
Semira’s
children
and her legacy
survive. The massacre would have ended us, had it not been for these men. My brother, Carlo saved my life by sending me to Ernesto,
The Circle a
re responsible for aiding Luzo and Carlo to return to Italy
with new identities. If not for their loyal service, the Giacanti’s would have perished.

We have enemies who hide
in front
of
our eyes. Do you understand this Nico
?”

“Yes,” Nico said.

“
Do you still love Alfonzo, for he is your blood
?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must protect Alfonzo’s family and yours. I have done so for many years and grow old. Giuseppe is wayward, but Sophie has the means to rein him in
and with Matteo among the many, his walls are fortified
. Alfonzo has
gaps in his wall on the outer shores. You have ties there, family as well and are best suited to guide and protect him.
He’s falling low because of what you’ve done. I implore you to catch him
my son
and restore him
to
solid ground.
He
’s ignorant of our
history
, but
in confidence
I share it with you because you’re equipped to
oversee
his
welfare. Had Vincent lived,” the older man’s voice cracked under the emotion he tried to hold in, “he would have ensured Alfonzo’s protecti
on and you would be seated here, with me
.”

Matteo’s
father offered
Nico
a straw to grab, “We see there is no lie in your heart Nico. You are a man of honor, we have all agreed –but now you have a choice to make and it is
to
restore trust within your family
and prove your loyalty
or die here with
the secrets
your father has told you. Know that your sons will face trials in your absence and
the love in death you have for
so many
will not prevent future crimes against them
which a
re certain to come
.”

“How
am
I
supposed to do that
?” Nico asked out of curiosity, since there wasn’t an angel on earth who’d
broker
reconciliation
between him and Alfonzo
.

“You said you love Alfonzo, no?”

He did say that. Yeah, he loved the brat
,
but didn’t
particularly
like
the fucker
. “That’s what I said.”

“He has legal concerns. Remove the witness Gregorio and give him a reprieve
. This is how you begin to make amends
for your actions
.
”

Alberti and the men waited for his
response and h
e took a deep breath. “
Sul
sangue
della
famiglia
Giacanti
,
I
rispetarre
.” He
said. This was his
answer
, recital of the Gi
acanti oath.
It meant; ‘
On the blood of the Giacanti’s, I abide.
’

The men waived his death sentence and
Nico’s
mission
,
under the direction of these eight became the
enforcers’
hand
of
The Circle of Protectors for the f
amilies.
Nico
must
follow orders and act accordingly
, they warned
. It was admirable to be an individual, yet for the good of the whole
,
there could be no
further
dissent
with his cousin
.

                                      
*
***

Selange
put down
the
cell after
receiving an urgent call from her
attorney.
He’d gone on vacation, returned and stopped by the office and discovered a legal notice from the IRS.
He apologized profusely regarding the oversight and she cringed as he read its contents. In plain English
,
minus the legal jargon
it amounted to, t
he
government putting her
accounts
in limbo
pending the conclusion of
a
criminal investigation. When she asked what criminal investigation, he put her on hold to do an inquiry and informed Selange, “
On
Monday
y
our ex-husband
was
indicted
on
bribery
charges of a public official and tax evasion
. The
federal government is alleging your divorce
is
a fraud and your ex-husband’s attempt to hide illegally gained assets.
Alfonzo
’s
due to turn himself in tomorrow.” He paused, “I was also told
in confidence the
U.S. Attorney’s office
may
bring
charge
s against you as a
co-conspirator.”