CHAPTER 3

Name: Ellis Barker

Age: Twenty-six years old,

Parentage: Emily Preston and Jack Barker.

Profession: realtor and waitress.

Credit history: issued discharge papers for the property located.

"Damn!" Cussed Vittorio as he threw the folder with Ellis' banking information on the vehicle's seat, quite annoyed.

"What is it, sir?" Rocco asked observing his boss through the rearview mirror.

"Unfortunately that information is of little use to me," Vittorio replied, taking a deep breath.

- I understand. In fact, I must admit I didn't understand why you didn't go to Enrico for the "collection".

"I wanted to see what it would be like to do things the legal way," Vittorio explained, looking at the landscape from his car window.

"So, you bought the bank only to gather information from Miss Barnes...," Rocco concluded letting out a mischievous smile afterwards, "She seems to have really impressed you."

"I bought it because I wanted to. That has nothing to do with this girl," Vittorio corrected, seriously. He took off his sunglasses and stared at his driver in a way that Rocco felt he would die right then and there, "Don't you ever dare question the reasons for my decisions again, understand?"

-Understood, sir. I apologize if I was too bold in my speech. I just wanted to...

"You don't have to want anything, other than to do what I say," Vittorio scolded, picking up his cell phone. He dialed a few numbers and then waited to be answered on the first ring, "Hello, Enrico? I need a favor from you... For yesterday."

***

"We have arrived, sir," Rocco warned as he approached the lofty iron gates of the Amorielle Mansion.

Alero Amorielle bought the property for $80,000 and turned it into a veritable fortress, with heavy iron gates, thick walls and a station for security guards who along with bodyguards and huge dogs.

Built of stone and decorated in white marble, a huge outdoor swimming pool, wooden floors, a huge ballroom where the gala balls and family events are held, stone carved fireplaces, huge bookcases made of rare woods, a 24-foot waterfall indoor pool, and huge terraces outside all the suites and outside the main reception room.

In addition, it had a tennis court, golf course, basketball court, spa, private gym, and a vast 4.5 acre fully fenced living space of the gated estate surrounded by other million dollar homes and only a short 25 minute drive from New York City.

The family Founder and all his descendants spared no care for the details that would turn the mansion into a refined luxury estate of over 25,000 square feet. However, Vittorio saw it not only as his home, but the place where he was born, grew up and also the last place where he saw his father happy before...

" Sir?" Spoke Rocco attracting Vittorio's attention," We await your approval."

"Vittorio Amorielle," Vittorio spoke as he pressed the communication button inside the vehicle.

In a matter of seconds the huge gates opened and finally the vehicle accessed the Mansion grounds. Rocco drove the vehicle to its assigned spot among the more than fifteen Amorielle family vehicles. Not long after the driver had parked, Vittorio got out, straightening his suit as he walked towards the door to the main house.

His heavy steps betrayed his arrival to Antonietta Amorielle, the current matriarch of the clan and Vittorio's mother. The beautiful lady had naturally black hair, in contrast to her green eyes and sculptural body, which was impressive because of her age. She looked more like Sophia Loren when she was forty-five than a lady of almost sixty.

She was waiting for her son at the top of one of the double marble stairs. Her huge smile and open arms almost disguised the pain of grief shown by her black dress.

"Mamma," Vittorio spoke as he returned his mother's hug.

Antonietta pulled away briefly from her son's embrace and then held Vittorio's face between her hands as if she was able to read his thoughts just by looking at him.

"Domenico Wild," his mother let out as she lightly patted her son's face.

"He deserved it," Answered Vittorio to a question not asked by Antonietta, "He was the one who..."

"I know," stated Antonietta giving her son a kiss on the cheek then. She smiled and then said, "I only wish I could have been there to see the face of that Cascittuni¹."

- I would have liked that too, but I had more important things to attend to.

"How do you acquire his bank?" Questioned Antonietta raising her eyebrows.

"Papa always wanted to have a stool," Vittorio replied as he turned away from his mother and walked towards the wooden bar laid out in the main room.

He entered the bar space, started to prepare two drinks, while his mother approached with her arms crossed. Don Vittorio smiled toward Antonietta and then handed her the drink as if he were just a bartender. She held up the glass, but couldn't help herself and said:

- You shouldn't have done that.

"Why not?" Questioned Vittorio taking his whiskey in a single gulp, "It's what Dad would do."

-No, your father would not buy the bank of the man he just killed. And I can say with certainty that your father filled half the Greenwood cemetery with his enemies and did not acquire any property afterwards. In fact, your father would have consulted with Ciuseppe before making this decision.

Giuseppe Denaro was the Consiglieri² of Vittorio's father, and with his death the boy had not yet made the decision whether to remain with Giuseppe in that position or to switch. In fact, he had thought about putting Rocco in place, but after today he decided to review that decision.

"That, my son, is leaving a huge target on your back. And you can't become a target now. You are too vulnerable, "Antonietta continued.

"Vulnerable... Nice word for saying that I am a single man, childless and that my condition causes the extinction of our family, should I die," Vittorio said pouring another sip of whiskey. I know that all this talk is only because I missed the Gattone's party, where you would probably force me to return with their daughter, Eleonora..."

"Sure, I never understood why you dropped the, La povera piccola cosa.Eleonora Gattone is a beautiful woman, she was raised in terra nostra, she has college and even took over some things from her family.... She is a pure girl, who follows the principles of our family...," argued Antonietta, who received a sarcastic laugh from her son, "What?

"Nothing, I'm just agreeing. Eleonora has many qualities, Mama," Vittorio said, staring at his mother, "Including in bed.

"Oh, Madonna mia , don't tell me you dumped her because you slept with her?" Questioned Antonietta shaking her head in disgust, "You need to stop sleeping with our friends' daughters, or you won't marry any..."

"The question is, who hasn't slept with Eleonora Gattone? By the way, Mom that's not what stopped me from marrying her in the first place," Vittorio explained.

-No? -That's great, so that means you consider her...

-Sleeping with Eleonora is not the problem, the problem is that ... I mean, the sex is great, but...

-You have to talk that way about women, huh? Didn't your father teach you that you shouldn't talk about your intimacies to other people?

"But you're my mother," Vittorio argued.

"And I'm someone else, "Rebutted Antonietta, "Anyway, what stopped you from marrying Eleonora?"

"She doesn't challenge me, " Vittorio replied thoughtfully, "Papa said that one of the things that attracted him to you was that you challenged him from the beginning."

"You shouldn't listen to your father's loving advice. Look where it got you," Antonietta said raising her arms.

"It led my father to marry the lady, pray!" replied Vittorio, raising an eyebrow.

- In any case, no daughter of our friends will challenge you for who you are... In fact, no woman will ever be able to confront you, Don Vittorio Amorielle, my son. So, I recommend you forget about what your father said and get married soon, or else we will indeed disappear from the face of the earth.

"As you wish, Mama. But it won't be Eleonora, that I can assure you. Even if I have to buy one," Vittorio informed, receiving a crossed look from his mother.

"Don Vittorio," called the man at the door to the main room.

"Come in, Enrico.", Vittorio ordered being watched by his mother, "I need to attend to Enrico, Mom. Do you need anything else?"

"Just marry and make your offspring, Vittorio.", Asked Antonietta before leaving.

"Lady Amorielle.", Spoke Enrico lowering his head slightly as the matriarch walked past him. Finally, Vittorio's investigator glared at him as he held up a thin folder towards his boss, "Here is what you asked for."

Vittorio took the folder from Enrico's hands and right there began to read the documents handed to him by the red-haired man. Lord Amorielle took a deep breath, reading practically the same things he had in the bank report, he was prepared to lecture his employee, when the last page caught his attention.

"Jason Barker...," Vittorio whispered. He smiled and then faced Enrico as he said, "Ask Rocco to come to the office. I have an assignment for him."