Chapter 1
Bellucci’s Midnight BoilChapter One: The Name VincentBiblical Scripture“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Italian Quote“Chi sa ascoltare, governa.”
“He who knows how to listen, governs.”
Five-Card Tarot SpreadThe Hierophant – Ancient traditionsThe Moon – Hidden truthsThe Hermit – Secret knowledgeThe Tower – A revelation approachesThe Emperor – A new responsibilityZodiac Sign: AriesDessert: Red Velvet Coffin CakesWine: Vampire Vineyards Cabernet SauvignonCrime: Criminal Conspiracy
The attic was unusually quiet.
Vinny Bellucci sat at the old wooden table beside a half-finished tray of red velvet coffin cakes. Outside, rain tapped softly against the dormer windows overlooking Saint Charles Avenue.
Most people thought the attic was strange.
Vinny loved it.
The rest of the mansion felt too big.
Too polished.
Too important.
The attic felt honest.
Val was downstairs arguing with a delivery driver who had somehow managed to lose two hundred pounds of crawfish and three cases of king cake filling.
Again.
Vinny wasn’t worried.
The driver was.
He smiled and took a sip of coffee.
A few moments later the attic door creaked open.
Uncle Vincenzo stepped inside.
Vinny immediately knew something was wrong.
Not because of what he saw.
Because of what he didn’t.
No smile.
No joke.
No complaint.
No story.
Just silence.
Uncle Vincenzo slowly removed his coat and sat across from him.
For several moments neither man spoke.
Then Uncle Vincenzo finally looked up.
“Vincent.”
Vinny’s stomach dropped.
Nobody called him Vincent.
Not Chucky.
Not Val.
Not the Five Families.
Not even Lazarus.
Only two people ever used that name.
The priest.
And Uncle Vincenzo.
“What’s wrong?” Vinny asked.
Vincenzo stared at the rain.
“They say I got Alzheimer’s.”
Vinny snorted.
“You don’t.”
“They say I got cancer.”
“You don’t got that either.”
“I know.”
The old man smiled faintly.
Then the smile disappeared.
“That’s why I’m worried.”
The room became quiet again.
Rain struck the windows.
Somewhere below, Val yelled at the delivery driver.
The driver sounded terrified.
Vinny smiled despite himself.
“Vincent.”
There it was again.
The serious voice.
The business voice.
The voice that meant this conversation wasn’t family anymore.
“Yeah?”
“You ever wonder why we’re still here?”
Vinny laughed.
“Because we’re stubborn.”
“No.”
“The gravy?”
“No.”
“The king cakes?”
“No.”
“The cannoli?”
“No.”
Vinny shrugged.
“I give up.”
Vincenzo leaned forward.
“The Belluccis aren’t rich enough for this mansion.”
Vinny blinked.
“What?”
“The Romanos ain’t rich enough either.”
That got Vinny’s attention.
“The Liparis.”
“No.”
“The Caronnas.”
“No.”
“The Altos.”
“No.”
The old man shook his head.
“None of us.”
Vinny sat back.
Outside, thunder rolled over New Orleans.
“What are you talking about?”
Vincenzo pointed toward the floor.
Down.
Far below the attic.
Far below the mansion.
Far below the streets.
“They helped us.”
“Who?”
For the first time, Uncle Vincenzo looked uncertain.
As though he had carried something too heavy for too long.
Then he spoke.
“The ones underneath.”
Vinny laughed.
The old man didn’t.
Slowly, Vinny’s smile disappeared.
“Uncle…”
“Tomorrow night,” Vincenzo said.
“Tomorrow night what?”
“We take the tunnels.”
Vinny stared.
“The tunnels?”
“We got people to meet.”
“What people?”
The old man stood.
A strange smile appeared on his face.
The smile of someone who had just handed away a burden.
“People Chucky already knows.”
Vinny blinked.
“What?”
Vincenzo chuckled.
“That boy’s been keeping secrets from you for years.”
Before Vinny could ask another question, the attic door flew open.
Val stormed inside.
“Vin!”
Vinny immediately looked over.
Vincenzo started laughing.
Val stopped.
“What’s so funny?”
The old man pointed at Vinny.
“He’ll negotiate with anybody in this city.”
Vinny groaned.
“Uncle…”
“But every time you say ‘Vin,’ he jumps like somebody pulled a string.”
Val folded her arms.
“I need him.”
“See?” Vincenzo laughed.
“I ain’t even dead yet and she’s already got him trained.”
Vinny shook his head.
“What do you need?”
Val smiled.
The dangerous smile.
The one that meant the answer wasn’t going to be no.
Down below, thunder rattled the mansion.
Far beneath Saint Charles Avenue, hidden in darkness neither of them yet understood, something ancient waited.
And tomorrow night, Vinny Bellucci would finally learn why.
Closing PrayerLord,
Grant us wisdom to recognize truth hidden beneath rumor, courage to face what waits in the darkness, and strength to carry responsibilities we never expected to inherit.
Guide our steps through every tunnel, protect those we love, and help us remember that loyalty without wisdom becomes blindness.
Amen. ⚜️🦞🦇
