Episode 1

The scent of tobacco from one of my father's Cuban-imported cigars saturates the hallway, nearly as much as Kate's incessant screams within her room.

"The ladies and pain don't go together," quips one of my father's advisors, who chuckles at his poor joke.

"Let's just hope all this screaming is worth it; you need an heir."

I glare at them furiously, enough to make the advisor straighten up.

"My apologies, Capo, I didn't mean to discomfort you with my remarks."

"Think before you speak, Angelo, unless you wish to lose your tongue."

"Gabriel!" my father scolds.

"Quiet, father, you'd also do well to remember who is the Capo dei capi now."

He shrugs off my comment. Everyone knows that the great Alessandro has not taken it well, having to hand his leadership over to his eldest son. I think he believed he could continue manipulating me as he did in my youth, but no longer.

That time is over; now I rule and decide how to live my damned life.

The screams continue, drowning out our voices. I want to go out and ride through the city on my bike, but I know I mustn't; my son is about to be born.

A son I never wanted.

From a wife I never loved.

One of the conditions my father imposed to become the Capo dei capi of the Camorra was to marry an Italian woman from the mafia families and produce an heir. My ambition led me to accept his request, and in less than two weeks, I stood at the altar with a woman beside me whom I had never met, trembling each time I touched her.

On our wedding night, she wouldn't let me touch her, terrified after all she was but a girl of nineteen. Not that I am old, being only twenty-eight, but I've lived and certainly have more experience than a virgin. I've been with dozens of women since I was fourteen.

Although I lack empathy, a trait that aids me in my profession, I didn't want to force a frightened child to fulfill her marital duty, so I continued my liaisons with other women, even bringing them to this house, to my room. Things would have continued that way if my father hadn't pressurized me about an heir. Eventually, I caved and consummated my marriage. I tried to make it a pleasant experience for her, and I think I succeeded since, in the following nights, she sought me out in my room and began to get upset when she saw me with other women.

After a month she was pregnant, and I no longer had to sleep with her, which was a relief. I never enjoyed our encounters, often feeling like I was making love to a doll. Kate never caressed me or interacted with me during our encounters, perhaps out of fear, but I couldn't care less.

Now the Camorra is mine.

Suddenly the screams stop, and after a few seconds, a furious roar spreads throughout the house.

Father slaps my shoulder and smiles.

"The next Capo of the Camorra is born," he proclaims.

I clench my jaw, as I have no intention of yielding my position to anyone who doesn't deserve it, not even my own son.

I bang on the bedroom door, but no one answers. Damn, I have things to do; I can't keep wasting time.

After what seems an eternity, Anna comes out, the woman who has cleaned this house and looked after me since my mother passed away.

"I'm so sorry, sir," she says nearly sobbing. "We couldn't stop the bleeding; your wife has passed away."

Everyone looks at me cautiously, waiting for a reaction to what I've just heard.

"The child?"

Anna dries her tears. "The baby is fine," she says and rushes back into the room. When she opens the door, I can see Kate's lifeless body on the bed with the sheets stained red.

"I'm sorry, my Capo," Angelo says, but I pay no heed to his sympathy.

"Here she is," Anna says, holding a bundle in her hands that won't stop wailing. "She's a beautiful girl."

Dear lord. A girl.

A girl with blonde hair and strong lungs for complaining, her mother's legacy.

I don't even give her a second glance before I address Anna. "Hire a nanny as soon as possible. I can't waste my time caring for a baby, not if we want to continue expanding our territory."

After all, La Cosa Nostra might always strike and try to reclaim the ground we've taken from them.

"Make sure she's young, Italian, and a virgin. You need to marry another woman and have a male heir," my father commands.

I turn and look at him with the coldness that my enemies both fear and covet.

"You wanted a grandchild, there you have it. Now I'm the Capo, and I will live my life as I please."

"Son, you need an heir."

"No," I order, hissing furiously.

Everyone takes a step back.

"What name will you give your daughter, sir?" Anna whispers.

"You take care of what I've ordered you to; we'll deal with the name later. I've got more important things to do. Inform Kate's family to take care of the funeral and remove her body from my house," I command before leaving.

As I said, I have much more important matters to attend to.

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