Make Our Family Great Again – Chapter 137

The protesters brutally suppressed by the police and their colleagues who were caught up in the war of the underworld.

If there were a common point between these two contrasting incidents… it was that they made the people living in this city feel that something was seriously wrong.

It was obvious where this awareness would be directed.

My two wives and I reached a consensus that it would be best to tidy up the Sanchez Family first, and we began to review the current situation.

“First, based on the area Solomon infiltrated, the northern region has been subdued by Viola and Carini working in tandem.”

“Carini, I can understand, but Viola’s quite something too.”

“I’d argue Carini is even more capable. Viola’s skills are already well-known.”

Elena and I had quite different impressions. After all, Viola was the sister of that ‘Rita Carmen.’

On top of that, she had betrayed her own sister, siding with my father, and was dispatched as a caporegime to control the Russo Family.

It’s true that the boss of the Russo Family, Darius Russo, has a character that doesn’t go overboard, but…

Even considering that, it’s undeniable she possessed enough skill to safely return to the embrace of the Felini Family.

“Luke, so are both of them heading south now to help Solomon?”

“No, Felini. Viola won’t move. Only Carini and his subordinates will be heading south with Solomon.”

It would be great if Viola joined the battlefield, but this was sufficient for now.

She had plenty to do. Stabilizing the areas she recently expanded and the ones she just subdued, along with possibly assisting the Russo Family against the potential Viper threat.

Putting more burden on her, even if she was a subordinate of mine and Elena’s, just wouldn’t be right.

“The siege on Sanchez will officially begin now.”

Like Elena said.

In the north, Little Dom and Carini were coming down after repelling a dual-front offensive, while Veronica and I were coming from the west. From the east, the Felini Family under Elena’s command and the Marinelli Family from the south.

It’s a shame that the Russo Family was absent, but the role they played in the early stages of the offensive couldn’t be overlooked.

“Oh, by the way, I have something to tell you both.”

“What is it?”

“Please don’t tell me it’s more bad news?”

Unlike me, who simply asked out of curiosity, Elena speculated that the Marinelli Family might have made another mistake.

“Another? The Grant incident shouldn’t be our fault.”

“If your family had thought a bit more, it could have been prevented.”

“Elena, don’t be like that.”

“…Fine.”

Elena quickly understood my request when I asked her with a sad expression.

“Elena, I’m also part of your family now, isn’t this a bit much?”

“I said I understood. Just tell me quickly.”

Honestly, based on Felicia’s reaction, she didn’t seem angry at all. In fact, she even teased Elena by mentioning that she had married me.

“I think Lia might join Manfredi after Luca.”

“Lia? Your younger sister?”

“Yep.”

Felicia added, saying how her cute little sister willingly offered her horn for her sake.

Lia Marinelli. The second daughter of the Marinelli siblings and one of the caporegimes. That’s how I remembered it.

“So that means there are already three of the boss’s kids on Manfredi’s side?”

“Yeah. One underboss and two caporegimes.”

“…Looks like the Marinellis are more proactive than we thought.”

Felicia responded quickly to Elena’s comment.

“Don’t get it wrong. I just heard it from Manfredi a little while ago.”

“Well, good is good. But rushing isn’t ideal for us either.”

Of course, I had an inkling of why Vito Marinelli was so actively involved.

Mikhail Dragovich. It must be because of that guy.

He was undoubtedly a more troublesome character than Gata Melata, who was the acting boss currently leading the Sanchez Family.

Despite the friendship between Marinelli and Dragovich, I felt Marinelli was likely the one most aware of the risks posed by Dragovich.

“But doesn’t that mean the Elder doesn’t need to watch their back?”

“No, having more people isn’t a bad thing.”

If Elder Leonhart is holding down the fort, Marinelli can go all out. Whether or not we can fully trust that cunning slime is another issue.

An additional show of strength from the Marinelli Family. Thanks to that, the siege on Sanchez became even more solid.

Even if the Dragovich Family were to attack Marinelli’s rear,

“Well, I’d like to deploy Carso and Giovanni too.”

“Is there a reason you can’t?”

Felicia wasn’t oblivious to the situation.

“Soon, something is set to come from Tyrennia.”

Elena stated, not hiding anything.

“I figured as much. It seems like you’re holding back on those two and the Wolves.”

“Giovanni has other reasons too, though.”

It was the same reasoning as Viola’s. If Viola was helping the Russo Family from the southwest to counter the Vipers, Giovanni seemed to be doing the same from the southeast.

Plus, the underboss Carso and his subordinates had plenty to handle, managing the South Port wasn’t the only thing on their plate.

The dock meant to receive the incoming cargo from Tyrennia wasn’t in Carso’s area, but in Giovanni’s territory.

“If it’s about drugs, then we can’t help that.”

“Yeah. All Five Families are waiting with bated breath.”

Reviewing the current situation and sharing the new information was enough for now.

At this point, I decided to deliver a piece of news my two wives probably wouldn’t be happy about.

“Elena, Felicia.”

Both of their gazes turned to me almost simultaneously.

“I really don’t want to do this, but I have to head back to the Carmen Family.”

It was necessary to provide some stability alongside Veronica.

“…That’s true.”

“I can’t help it, but it’s a bit disappointing.”

They seemed to understand what I was saying but couldn’t hide their disappointment.

Especially Felicia, who sounded gentle as usual, while Elena’s voice seemed devoid of spirit.

“Elena. I know you don’t like it, but hang in there a little. Once we handle the Sanchez Family, I promise I’ll come right back.”

As I said that, I fed her some of the food on my plate.

“Alright. Luke has never broken a promise.”

Had I?

For some reason, it seemed my trustworthiness in Elena’s mind had shot up significantly.

“Luke, can I borrow your ear for a moment?”

“Huh?”

While I was enjoying a warm atmosphere with Elena, Felicia had quietly approached me.

“What’s up?”

“Well, it’s not bad… but I don’t think it’ll be easy to connect.”

Gata Melata was a cautious one. Of course, I wasn’t saying Gata’s boss, Eddie Sanchez, was heedless. Sanchez seemed more cunning than just cautious.

“Are you two whispering something?”

Considering it, the only people in this living room were the three of us. I wondered why Felicia needed to whisper in my ear.

Of course, if it was a matter of not trusting the servants made up of our family’s associates, then I couldn’t blame her.

“Elena.”

“Yes?”

I shared with Elena what I had heard from Felicia. While I did that, Felicia leisurely sipped her tea, waiting for Elena’s reaction.

“If you’re going to do that, Solomon won’t be enough. That guy Melata wouldn’t trust Solomon anyway.”

“…Then it’s better if I handle it directly.”

“Luke! That’s too dangerous. What if something goes wrong?”

Elena immediately expressed concern over my suggestion. Felicia seemed the same but hesitated differently than Elena.

“I feel like Luke could handle it more definitively than Solomon.”

“Felicia. So you’re suggesting we entrust such a risky job to Luke?”

If the prior preparation is thorough, we could minimize the risks. At least, that’s how I thought of it.

“Elena, how about we at least give it a try?”

“….”

I had addressed Elena, but both of my wives hesitated.

“Continuing to push in the current state is fine, but it’ll keep drawing attention to us. It might be better to cut it off at a reasonable point and follow Felicia’s suggestion…”

Before I could finish, Elena reacted.

“Alright. But make sure to prepare thoroughly. Got it?”

“Of course. If we do it right, once we deal with the Sanchez Family, that should be the end of it.”

That said, even after taking out Sanchez, Dragovich would remain.

Once Sanchez was removed, at least a 5:1 ratio would be established in this city, essentially rendering us unbeatable.

Of course, I’d never expect Dragovich to sit idle. He’d likely try to pull in external forces he had contacts with.

“Okay. Then I’ll talk to Solomon right away.”

It was my job to convey Felicia’s suggestion to Solomon.

After a brief call, a week elapsed. During that time, the Sanchez Family faced continuous defeats, yet they stuck to their remaining stronghold, refusing to relent.

Now aligned with the Carmen Family, I focused daily on hammering away at the western parts of the Sanchez territory alongside McBratney.

In the meantime, Little Dom Solomon intermittently relayed negotiation intentions to Gata Melata.

It goes without saying that such attempts during the week had met with failure.

Today, once again filled with vague expectations, I called Solomon.

“Yes, Godfather.”

“How are things today? Any response from that rockhead?”

“…Yes. There was.”

Finally!

All this time, Giovanni was scheduled to receive goods coming in from Tyrennia at the dock.

It was regrettable that the timing didn’t allow us to mobilize Giovanni and his Wolves, but an opportunity was an opportunity.

I discussed with Solomon what he’d relay to Melata next.

The negotiation wouldn’t involve just Solomon but me as well. It was a meeting where the representative of the Five Families, the Godfather, would attend in person.

The balance of power in this war was currently in our favor…

The negotiation location was chosen to be neutral yet fairly advantageous to the new Five Families.