The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 199 (No More Secrets)

Freddie was seated with his best friend at a large round table, he decided to go along with Jonah for the hell of it, out of his own curiosity. They were currently in a meeting room within the compound where his friend's grandfather lived. At the head of the table was Ryan, seated next to Valentine. Also at the table, seated across from each other were Johnny and Ryan's firstborn son Roy. Michael and Vincent were seated alongside their brothers. Both of the families' consiglere were present as well and were standing near the two dons. Three Capos of each family had been positioned around the room as well. A computer nearby viewed the entire room and showed Valerie on webcam, she was a bit concerned with the whole meeting and had just received the news of Bana's demise, along with the revelation of the grandfathers' true careers. Aaron was positioned in Jonah's lap, sleeping softly, despite the crowded room.

"Why am I here?" Freddie whispered to himself. He honestly didn't see the point of coming, now that he thought about it. All these people were a bit too intimidating for him. Hell, he wasn't even a part of this family! He tagged along because Jonah asked him to be there, and he didn't have anything better to do. Although, he did want to find something better, or at least, any excuse to get away from this place. "I don't have any part in all this, you know."

"Just relax." He felt Jonah nudge him in the side, and decided to try and keep quiet. He drew in a sharp breath and closed his eyes, sighing in exasperation. "I just want you here for support, that's all…" He nodded and folded his hands over in his lap. Support? Support for what? It wasn't that he was scared of Jonah's and Valerie's family, he was just highly uncomfortable. It is not every day that someone discovers their best friend's grandfather is the boss of a mafia family. "They'll tell us why we're here soon enough…"

"Oh that's great. I do wonder what they want." Considering the family was uniting, this might very well be a meeting of turning the family into one giant family. He didn't know how it would work, but then again, he could be wrong about his assumption. "Maybe they're going to discuss a merge…"

"That's exactly right," Ryan said across the table. Freddie tensed himself up, shocked that he'd been loud enough for the Don to hear him. "There are a few matters that Valentine and I wish to discuss." The other men in the room turned their full attention onto the dons, awaiting their word. Ryan folded his hands onto the table and closed his eyes. "As all of you know, the serial killer, Bana Shay has been disposed of. It is just a small symbol of this unity." Freddie's eyebrows lifted up and his eyes drifted to Valentine. The man cleared his throat and pat his closed hand on the wooden table.

"The Castagno and Guglielmo family will become one family with the union of our grandchildren." That wasn't a shock, considering it might be better for business to just join together. He looked from Jonah to Valerie, then back. Neither of the two seemed all that pleased about it and he had no clue why. As his eyes drifted to Aaron, he started to realize that he wasn't seeing any younger men in positions of power, who in the family would take the place should something happen to the dons? Both men were in their high seventies, or at least eighty, so they weren't going to live forever. Maybe either Johnny Guglielmo or Roy Castagno could take over, but did they have any children? Plus, they were getting pretty old themselves. Both Michael and Vincent wanted nothing to do with the mafia, and Jonah didn't sound too thrilled about it either, but would it make much difference?

Ryan took a glass of wine from the table and leaned back in his chair. He sipped his drink and stared over his glass at Freddie. His sharp gaze stirred an air of discomfort inside him. He turned his eyes away, feeling a shiver shooting down his spine. Was he on The Godfather? Would Marlon Brando or Al Pacino pop up out of nowhere and scare the living hell out of him?

"And I thought my secret relationship with Sam was big…" This just blew his secret right out of the water, granted it wasn't secret anymore. "If I can ask…what are your plans for the leadership?" He really didn't want to interrupt, and the moment he did, he felt almost as though someone just put an electric cord to his back, he was too shocked that he even spoke. The elders turned to them and Ryan spoke first.

"We've given a lot of thought to this, as we combine, both Valentine and I will operate as one. We are old men, we will not be around much longer. It is time we consider new leadership. But first, we should explain a little of our history to my grandson…" Freddie had to wonder, as an outsider, did these two powerful Dons trust him that much to hear their history? He was Jonah's best friend, after all, so maybe they didn't care. Jonah shifted to the right, he seemed highly uncomfortable. "When we came to America, we individually overtook ongoing mafia families."

"Yes, we rose to the top." Valentine pulled a cigar from his coat pocket and brought it to his lips. Freddie watched as the man lit it up, then pulled it from his mouth between his index and middle finger. "It was a bit unorthodox, and it has gained us some enemies since, but we've become powerful, even expanding our family business between New York and Washington. By joining together, utilizing both families, we can truly grow in strength."

"As you already well know, we had a rivalry together, but we have put those days behind us. We have discussed the concept of change, and as our grandchildren have married, we have decided that the family name should be the Castagno Family. As pertaining to the marriage of Don Valentino's granddaughter to my grandson."

"No offense Grandfather," Jonah leaned forward and clasped his hands together on the table. Aaron looked up and started babbling. "How do you honestly expect the family to survive? There's no generation to step up and take the reins, not saying that's necessarily a bad thing…My father isn't interested in the mafia, and neither is Valerie's dad." The elders remained silent, and Michael's brother Roy spoke up. Freddie was stunned by the deepness in the man's voice.

"Yes we have already come to that conclusion." He looked over to Roy and lifted his eyebrows, the man was rather good looking, which was mildly surprising. He had a grey beard with some brown streaks, a brown mustache, and very dark grey hair. "As you know, nephew, the Don is the head of the family, the Patriarch, the Godfather. And yes, that is a real term." Roy brought his glass of wine to his nose, smelling of the aroma, then sipping on it. After setting the glass down, he continued. "What this means is that neither Johnny nor I have any male children who can carry the flame of this family onward." Freddie clicked his tongue and saw Jonah's face twist in horror, it seemed he understood where this was going. "In fact, the Guglielmo family almost had to let it be that a female would take the reins, but Johnny's daughter passed away in 2009."

"So…neither of you can adopt?" Roy chuckled and crossed his legs over. He gently pat his knee and shook his head.

"A tradition for all mob bosses is the Don must be blood. It's a family business, if they are not blood, then they cannot be the don. Neither of our wives can produce any longer, obviously, and that leaves only one alternative…" Jonah's eyes widened and Valerie cupped her hands over her mouth. Freddie visibly winced and turned his head towards the door, he was contemplating running out of there like The Flash.

"Y-You're not suggesting…Neither of our fathers even want to be involved in the Mafia!"

"I know, but without a Don, the rival families would destroy us." Freddie lifted his eyes up and slowly closed his hands. He was wondering why they didn't think they could step up themselves. Then again, they probably knew they could, but they were clearly not worried about themselves. As he turned his head towards the babbling child in Jonah's lap, he started to pale.

"After all, his son is the crown jewel of the Guglielmo and Castagno family"

Were they suggesting that Aaron be a don in the future? Certainly both Roy and Johnny could survive until Aaron was in his twenties. They were only in their early fifties, and both the current Dons were eighty! Jonah moved his arm tighter around his son and narrowed his eyes.

"I'm certain you two are perfectly capable of running the family, Uncle. I don't want anything to do with the business. I mean no disrespect, but honestly, I do not have any desire to be involved with the mafia."

"That is indeed your decision, and you're welcome to it, but maybe one day you'll reconsider?" Jonah was strong, and Freddie knew it. Perhaps, his uncles realized it too. It would take a lot for Jonah to ever get involved with the Italian Mafia. He almost wanted to imagine how that would be, could Jonah actually lead an entire mob family? It would be an interesting thought to see him go so far as to actually destroy the rival mafias. Or at least the ones in Seattle, but of course, Freddie never quite knew the mafia still existed. He just had to ask. He lifted his hand and the others turned to him.

"I just have this one question, but…I didn't know the mafia still existed. I thought everything was just street gangs."

"The mafia is more hidden now," Johnny remarked. Freddie lifted his eyebrows and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. Johnny pressed his cigar into the ashtray next to him and inhaled deeply. "Most mob bosses are smart enough to remain under wraps because the police are cracking down on them. Street gangs are just street rats, wannabe mobsters, and they are fodder for the mafia today."

"Fodder?" What did that mean? Why did it cause him a heightened sense of fear? Was the mafia so strong that they used the street gangs?

"Most mafia hits, especially around these parts, the gangs are framed for. They are declared responsible. The Italian Mafia has remained as powerful and vigilant as ever, and we only have room to grow. The more discreet, the better. It is also very easy to blend in with some of the common street thugs." That was somewhat of a surprise to hear, but it made sense. If the police were focused on the gangs, then they weren't focused on the Mafia, and if they weren't focused on the Mafia, it gave them more power than they'd ever had in the first place.

"Wow." His eyebrows rose and Jonah gave him a concerned look, almost as if pondering why the hell he was showing any kind of interest in this. He couldn't help it, the Italian Mafia did intrigue him. "I wonder…do you actually own businesses? Rackets? Is it really, truly, like the Godfather?" The older men started laughing and Freddie grew disheartened. Valentine cleared his throat and leaned forward, smirking with confidence.

"It's much, much more than the Godfather is. Yes, we own 'rackets' and businesses. There are business owners who give a percentage of their profits to the mafia families. Each family is like this, be it the Castagno, the Guglielmo, the Gemma family, or even the Lothario family. There are a number of us, and almost every business in Seattle may be giving a portion to whatever family has gained their respect and fear."

"What about drugs, do you deal with that?"

"Drugs are for the gangs. In the Mafia, we are but simple businessmen trying to earn a living." Valentino turned to Jonah and met his stern eyes. "Now Jonah, I understand your concern, and I respect that. Perhaps one day you will change your mind, but remember, the offer will always be there. Maybe one day you, or even your son-"

"I will not involve my son in the Mafia," Jonah responded. His voice was sharp and to the point, there was no way in hell he wanted that life for Aaron. Valentino smiled lightly and slowly nodded his head.

"Yes, and I can understand that as well, just do not forget you have the protection of what is now the Castagno family." He leaned back and looked to his fellow Mafia men and smiled at them. "May we one day rise above the other families. We will find a way, a true heir to the Mob Family, the other families will not destroy us…"

Of course, it came to his mind, what would happen if Jonah did join? Or even Aaron in the future? If there was no Don, then the mafia family would be in trouble. Granted, they could probably get one of the Capos to take the seat, but then it would no longer be the Castagno family, and regulations may change throughout the family. No, the Don needed to be a direct line of one of the two families, and if something were to happen and they were unable to find a direct line, they would be no more.

Don't worry, nothing mafia style will happen here. Stick around for the next chapter.