Chapter 21: drag

LUCA

Diablo’s office is a lot less ostentatious than Cain’s. In fact, there’s something a lot more comfortable—almost homely—about it. He has photos of his family plastered throughout. The armchairs are made of soft fabrics, not leather. He’s drinking coffee out of a mug, instead of the typical whiskey glass filled with hard liquor that has found home on Cain’s desk.

It seems insanely contradictory to what I know about his son.

When I’m deep enough inside the room, I head to the nearby wall to glance at all the pictures plastered on the wall to see if they can tell me more about the Cardosos.

It’s a weird feeling as I’m studying the various scenes before me. It doesn’t feel like I’m standing in the head of a mafia’s office. It gives the vibe that I’m in the presence of a regular man’s space where he conducts business, carries a briefcase, and orders his secretary around.

I see Diablo and his wife at their wedding. A shot of them on what appears to be their honeymoon on a yacht in the middle of a large body of water. One of the the three of them—Diablo, his wife, and a young Marco—standing in front of a Christmas tree. The family out on the ski slopes. It all seems out of place in a room where he likely discusses some dark shit.

About the only things I know about Diablo’s businesses are that he’s known for his heroin product and he owns many casinos that he filters the money through. From what I understand, his heroin is the most sought after of everything that’s available and that’s what’s given him his status amongst the different families.

As I glance at the photos, I can’t help but think that perhaps this is all part of his way of keeping what he does hidden. To anyone outside this world, he looks like a normal man. A business owner and father.

There are two things of interest I notice from examining his life and family displayed in various snapshots throughout time. First, is that there doesn’t appear to be any photographs of baby Marco. Nothing of his birth or him as a baby, which piques my curiosity. In the earliest pictures of Marco that he’s secured to the wall, he appears roughly eight. He must be an only child, as well.

Second, is that there’s one in particular that intrigues me more than the others. It portrays the three of them at some sort of secluded house near the beach. They’re standing in the sand, with the home on the right and a body of water to the left. I also notice a large mountain in the background, covered with lush vegetation.

If I’m not mistaken, it appears to be a volcano in Costa Rica. A little over a decade ago, it’d finished a rather long eruption process—that’s the only reason I even recognize it because I can recall when it hit the news.

Relaxed in comparison to Cain, he’s sauntered to his desk as I’ve been distracted and he’s leaning against the corner of it as he observes me. “How do you like working for Cain Brooks?”

I don’t know how to answer that question. Truthfully, I don’t hate it. Over the last few months, I’ve grown used to a lot of the shit that once horrified and confused me. The part of it I don’t enjoy most is the fact that I’ve become Cain’s go-to whenever he wants shit done. I don’t enjoy being on call for him at all times and not being able to say no or pass the job to someone else.

I understand that this is the shit I need to do to climb the ranks, but it doesn’t mean I have to enjoy every part of it.

There are aspects of it I find myself liking, though. The money is undeniably nice. The ability to see how everything works intrigues me. The idea that I might one day get to see more of the world also keeps me going.

But I find myself liking the adrenaline rush that comes with so many areas of this world. And I can’t forget that I’ve found an amusing distraction in Raven.

What if this inquiry is a trick? What if Diablo will run back to Cain if I don’t answer the way he wants? I decide to play this with a loyal hand, I think it’s smartest. “I’m proud to work for a man of Cain Brooks’ stature.”

He nods. I’m not sure if he believes me, to be honest. However, he doesn’t comment on it. “I appreciate a loyal man. Tell me, how has my son been treating Raven? He seems excited for the marriage, I hope he’s not—” he pauses, as if he’s choosing his words carefully, “—getting overly excited with her.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, in what way?”

He shrugs, and it seems like he’s embarrassed. “Marco had a rough childhood. Perhaps my wife and I spoiled him too much to compensate. He does have a sense of entitlement with certain things.”

He had a rough childhood? What exactly does that mean? Is that why there aren’t any photographs of his childhood before a specific age?

Jesus, if his own father willingly speaks of Marco’s entitlement, how bad is it?

How do I answer this? Do I be truthful and inform him of Marco’s insistence on demanding shit from Raven? He demanded a hug after slipping the ring on her finger and I happen to believe he’ll command a lot more than that.

I can’t help but wonder if it’s possible that Marco was adopted. Physically, I don’t see any similarities to Diablo other than height. From looking at the photos plastered on the wall, he doesn’t have any qualities from his mother, either. It would also make clear why there are no photographs of a young Marco.

It goes without saying that Marco is a lot more abrasive than his father. It would explain a lot.

“Raven isn’t very comfortable with his whole thing.”

He nods, “That’s understandable. It’s a rather old mentality—marrying off children to forge an alliance. Cain seemed rather insistent that this was the only thing he would agree to.”

Cain? This was Cain’s idea? Yet he told me that Diablo was the one pissed off about Raven’s incidents. He made it seem like Diablo was about to strike on the Brooks family for her actions. Diablo is making it sound like he wanted peace, but with a less awkward scenario.

“Has Sienna healed alright?” Trying to play into his softer side, I give him a concerned expression even though I honestly don’t give a single fuck. She attacked Raven unprovoked, I hope Raven broke her fucking nose.

He nods, “She had two black eyes, but she was fine.”

Maybe it was Marco who lost his shit when he saw that she’d been injured. I could see him taking Raven’s punch to his family member as an attack on the whole family and wanting to retaliate in a way that was befitting of a mafia king, despite him not being one.

This adds a lot of depth to this family and their dynamic with Cain.

But who’s telling the truth? I know that Cain isn’t an entirely truthful man—if it benefits him, I would think he lies plenty. I’m positive he hasn’t been entirely honest with me. I reckon he even keeps shit from Leo.

However, I don’t know Diablo Cardoso. This is only our first interaction and though he seems far too pleasant to be the don of a mafia empire, it doesn’t mean that he isn’t being sincere with me.

I do have my guard up though, I don’t trust any of these people and why would I? They haven’t given me reason to. I’m acutely aware of the fact that they’ve had to step on a few necks to get to where they are.