Chapter Text
Bruno Bucciarati walked into the bar, looking around in the dim lighting, the kind that kept patrons from seeing too much of each other. He didn't bother searching faces, knowing the man he had come to see would find him when he was ready. Instead, he went up to the bar and ordered a single glass of red wine.
He had only barely taken a sip before a figure appeared at his side.
"Bucciarati, follow me."
Bruno carefully set the glass back on the bar and followed the man through a curtain at the back of the establishment. There was a room off to one side and as they entered, Bruno saw another man sitting at a round table probably reserved for private poker games. Or, in this case, a private conversation.
"Signore Bucciarati, thank you for coming," the man said, motioning for Bruno to take a seat.
He did so, and the man who had led him there took up position by the door.
The man across the table from Bruno took a slim cigarette case out of his pocket and pulled one out, sticking it between his lips before snapping the silver box shut. "It's been a while since I've seen you. You've grown up."
Bruno shifted, slightly peeved by the remark even though he knew it was true. The fact was he felt like he had grown up a long time ago. "It has been. I hope you are well, Signore Alfonsi."
"I could be better," the man said, lighting the cigarette. "But that's why you're here."
Bruno leaned in, straightening his shoulders. "It is. What is the trouble you spoke to me about before?"
Alfonsi sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Do you remember a man by the name of Sergio Neccio?"
Bruno furrowed his brow in thought. "I recognize the name… I believe he was fairly high up in Passione? I'll admit that I only saw him once after the change in leadership."
"Well, speaking of that, he's not on board, which is probably why he's distanced himself," Alfonsi said grimly. "He even resented me for taking over Pericolo's position despite the fact I was his second. He's looking to take over Don Giovanna's position now."
"Well, we've taken down a lot of others eager to do so," Bruno said but Alfonsi was already shaking his head.
"No, you don't understand, Bucciarati. Neccio isn't like those rash drug dealers you've been dealing with. He's smart and calculating. He's also a Stand user, though even I don't know the true nature of what his power is. He's collecting an army, both of bruisers and of people with intellect. He's going to try to take you and the Don down from the inside and out. He might already have people planted where you wouldn't have noticed or swayed others in the organization to his side, waiting for when he deems the time is right to make his move."
Bruno felt his chest tighten at this news. Part of him wanted to think that they could handle it, take the man down quickly, but without knowing what his power was…it would be foolish to rush in. Overconfidence was never a good thing to have when power was involved. You never knew who could take you out when you were least expecting it. Diavolo had learned that the hard way and Bucciarati refused to have the same thing happen to Giorno after all they had done to start on their long-term plan of bringing this city into a golden age.
"So, what do you suggest?" Bruno asked. "You obviously know more about the inner workings of his plans than I do. I assume you have informants."
Alfonsi nodded. "I do. They tell me that Neccio is looking for people who can find him information. We need to get a man on the inside, but he already knows my crew is looking into him. I lost two men in the past week. We're going to have to be very careful with this."
Bucciarati thought about it. Neccio was going to be a problem, that much was clear, but…well, there was only one person he could send in there.
"I'll go," he offered.
Alfonsi silently stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "If you go, you know what that means, right?"
Bruno nodded. "I'm sure I can disguise myself well enough to pass. And I'm not asking you to get me out if anything goes sideways."
Alfonsi shook his head. "That's not going to be good enough in this situation. We have to make it look convincing, otherwise he'll see through the ruse in a second. This plan cannot leave this room. You cannot even tell your team if you value their lives, and I know you do." He met Bruno's eyes firmly. "You understand, Bucciarati? There's only one way to do this. And you need to make it look good."
Bruno felt ice in his veins as realization overcame him. He couldn't possibly do that…the thought of keeping it from his team was…
But…he also knew how dangerous men like Neccio could be. If he could get the information they needed, be able to take it back to Giorno, figure out a way to take this new threat down, it would all be worth it, right? That's what he would have to tell himself.
He tried not to think about the repercussions for what he knew he had to do.
He swallowed hard, before he nodded firmly. "I understand. When do we start?"