A/N: Oh hey, hello fellow pitches, I see y'all are still here on this ship with me…
Anywho, happy new year! This fic is essentially a Bechloe adaptation of Vincenzo, a K-drama on Netflix. It's really good, y'all should check it out. I've made some changes here and there, but for the most part Beca's character here is based on the titular Vincenzo Cassano on the series. The story does take a turn for the darker and more emotional here and there, and uh… some characters die… but I promise you this wild ride is worth it. I just need to hold myself accountable for updates… or you know, you guys hold me accountable for updates (long chapters, long fic… we'll see how things shake up).
Lemme know what y'all think! Comments and reviews are always appreciated!
PS: The meaning of the title is revealed in the chapter For all other chapter titles in Italian, I'll tell you what they mean in the notes, it'll be a spoiler if I translate it now.
I don't own pitch perfect.
Beca took in a deep breath, the volume may have been set to low but she let the orchestral music playing soothe her, as if putting her in a trance. The sun outside was shining brightly, the lush colors of the vast vineyard they drove by provided most of her scenery. She caught a glimpse of an agricultural aircraft flying above the crops, spraying them with pesticides just as her bodyguard, Lilly, who was driving the car, took a turn into a narrow road. Beca adjusted herself on the leather seats of her Maserati, and glanced at the rearview mirror to make sure her tie and suit looked as impeccable as always.
The place was mostly isolated, the only house within a couple of miles radius was the mansion they were heading to, and most the people in the area all worked for Don Emilio, the new owner of the vineyard and the mansion ahead, one that once belonged to Don Fabio. One would have called Beca a fool to enter enemy territory with only herself and her bodyguard, but it's not like she was here for a siege. The purpose of the visit was to speak to Don Emilio, and once that was over, she would back to her flat in Milan in time to say her final goodbyes to Don Fabio Bella, her adoptive father.
She would rather spend the entire day by his side, one last time, unfortunately Paulo, her adoptive brother, has made it an insufferable thing to do. And of course, there is the promise Don Fabio asked her to make on her death bed, to send a clear and loud message to Don Emilio that the Bella family should not be trifled with, even after their beloved capo is gone.
The car drove by the gates, where they were let in, and Lilly parked to the side of the driveway as soon as they went inside. They would walk the rest of the way, flanked by four of Don Emilio's men.
Beca let her eyes wander from the intricate topiary on the front lawn to the number of smuggle artwork once they stepped inside the mansion, pass the foyer and its grand staircases, through its vast hallways, and finally out the back to the terrace overlooking a grand poolside area. Not from the round table Don Emilio was eating his breakfast, Beca could see his beloved vineyard, the agricultural airplane still making its rounds in the distance. Don Emilio noticed her arrival and promptly wiped the edges of his mouth and stood up. His men dispersed around them and Beca stopped a few feet short of where the table was, Lilly right behind her.
Don Emilio Luciano was a portly man well into his late sixties, with his balding head and sparse gray hair slicked back as best it could. He sported a fashionable mustache that twirled right at the edges. He looked more like classic cartoon villain than the feared – or so he thinks of himself – head of the Emilio family.
"Ah, yes, to what do we owe the pleasure of Don Fabio's favorite charity?" Beca heard the question, and of course, the unmistakable malice in his tone. Beca knew how much disdain the man had for her. Don Emilio was quite a traditional man, in the sense that he sees no place for an American-born anyone in the room filled with pure-blooded mafioso's such as him. Add to that Beca being a woman going toe-to-toe with his many beloved right-hand men over the years, and the fact that Beca may or may have seduced two of his daughters in the past, it was already quite the surprise they haven't tried to murder her as soon as she entered.
But Beca chose to ignore his many attempts to get under her skin – the comments, the fact he spoke in English when he perfectly knew that Beca was well-versed in Italian, and any other snide remarks he had made to his men as they pulled up a chair for her and Lilly to seat in. For the most part, Beca was mostly worried Lilly was about to snap one of their necks for the many insults they hurled towards her, yet another woman in a suit, one they viewed far lesser than they were in many ways.
Beca placed her hands in her pants pockets, her right hand grasping onto the lighter, one of many, customized to have the Bella family seal. A gift from the now late Don Fabio.
"Terrò breve lo scopo della mia visita (I'll keep the purpose of my visit short)," Beca responded. "Avevi un accordo con Don Fabio per quanto riguarda i territori. Ti attieni al tuo territorio. Restiamo fedeli ai nostri. Siamo stati pazienti con il modo in cui hai testato i limiti della nostra generosità rispetto al tuo luogo di operazioni. Sono qui per avvertirti, ci saranno delle conseguenze (You had a deal with Don Fabio with regards to territories. You stick to your territory. We stick to ours. We've been patient with how you've been testing the limits of our generosity with respect to your place of operations. I'm here to warn you, there will be consequences)."
Don Emilio looked amused with the warning. He turned to his men, chuckling, pointing towards Beca as if she had said the funniest joke he has ever heard. In turn they all laughed, "And who is going to stop me, eh? You?" he asked before bursting into a laughing fit. "Don Fabio is dead. Paulo, we both know, won't last long. The boy is as soft as a woman. And you? What do you hope to do, principessa? Stop me? You should be the one grateful we still allow you to have territories."
Beca sighed. She took out the lighter from her pocket and to look at the crest of her family on its casing. "You should go back home, pay your respects to your old master," Don Emilio remarked with chuckle before taking his seat back to enjoy the rest of his meal. "And perhaps, you can make one final play at being a consigliere and convince him to stay in hell."
Beca looked back to the vineyard, "Perhaps I can be swayed to look the other way, if your vineyard can make me a wine like no other," she responded in English this time, flicking the lid of the casing before closing it.
Don Emilio laughed, "Our wine might be too good for your palate, but I'll see what I can do."
Beca took that as her cue to leave and excused herself. The rest of Don Emilio's men were eager to escort them out, but Don Emilio viewed them to be of little threat and stopped them, shouting that the women should know their way back.
Beca moved slowly through the mansion, her grip tightening on her lighter. She gave a nod to Lilly, signaling for her to go on ahead. Lilly wasted no time to haste back to the car and swiftly made her way through the foyer, out the mansion, and past the front lawn. Beca kept flicking the lid of her lighter on and off, as she took her time past the topiary, replaying what Don Emilio had said. She shook head in time for the agricultural airplane to fly over the house. It stopped spraying the pesticides short of where Beca stood, and flew away.
In the distance, Beca could see Lilly start up the car and drive it out of the front gates, parking just a few feet away to await Beca.
Beca walked the remaining distance, constantly flicking the lid of lighter once more. Once she was only a reasonable distance to where the agricultural plane last sprayed its pesticides, Beca lit a small fire from her lighter and tossed behind her.
She walked the remaining distance towards the car as the lighter hit the dampened ground, igniting the gasoline her men had been spraying all over Don Emilio's property. The fire caught on, burning down the topiary and parts of the house, quickly spreading towards the vineyard in the distance and devastating all their crops.
So much for that wine, Beca thought to herself. She got in the car without even looking back. They left without anyone giving them a chase, all of Don Emilio's men focused on trying to contain the inferno she set loose.
Beca saw Lilly's smirk reflected on the rearview mirror. "It's not like I didn't warn him," Beca responded.
Lilly looked back at her, quirking an eyebrow, an unspoken question raised. "I won't need a break, drop me off where Don Fabio is and go on ahead with the plan." Beca replied as she settled in for the rest of the drive.
Things were going all according to plan so far, Beca had to keep her cool until she pulls it off in its entirety. It was imperative that it goes off without a hitch, if she wants to stay alive.
Lilly did as she was told and drove off as soon as she dropped Beca off at Don Fabio's estate where members of the Bella family gathered to pay their final respect. Beca hadn't lived in the estate for a few years now, staying in her penthouse apartment at the heart of Milan instead. She did have a car left in the parking, on old sportscar she had kept and maintained that once belonged to Don Fabio. Her adoptive father asked her to keep it there, a sly reason to have visits at home for reasons other than handling certain affairs for their family. It was her way back home after they had put Don Fabio in his final place of rest.
The whole thing was a solemn affair. At the back of the grounds was a small chapel and not far behind it was a family mausoleum. Beca stayed at the back of the room after paying her final respects to the man who raised her and took her in, the man who she owed all that she had to. She held Don Fabio in such great esteem and promised silently she would do what was needed to protect the Bella family and keep its status. Her eyes landed up front where Paulo sat. She watched as the rest of the family greeted him with the respect that they reserved for Don Fabio once before. With their father gone, it was only natural for him to take his rightful place the new head of the Bella family. But it wasn't as if she was isolated or ignored. No, on the contrary, Beca held the respect and admiration of many of those within the Bella family, and as soon as they had paid their respects to Paulo, they all gravitated towards her. Beca did her best to cut the conversations short, answering their concerns, and worries, or simply exchanging pleasantries, not wanting Paulo to take notice of the way they regarded her.
The two hadn't spoken a word to each other until after the ceremony was over. Paulo had asked her to join for a cup of tea, Beca humored but chose not to seat down, nor drink anything. The two of them knew it was only a formality.
"You have not briefed me yet," Paulo commented in English. He regarded her much like in the way that Don Emilio did. "I've heard you pay Don Emilo a visit, I would appreciate you not interfere with the I run the family business."
"I was following Don Fabio's last orders," was Beca's curt response. "Besides, I don't like the way you do your business, Paulo. Our father never did as well. There are rules we cannot break. There are people who we simply don't involve or hurt. A war that must be won at all cost is not won by a sword, a shield, or a gun. It's won by the mind. How many times did Don Fabio tell us that? How many times did you choose to ignore it?"
"Well, if you would like to stay being my consigliere, it's about time you followed mine," Paulo remarked, holding out his hand, expecting Beca to kiss the back of his palm. "Beca, my sister, my friend, it's time you showed your loyalty to me."
Beca smiled. "Paulo, my brother, I am always ready to give you my loyalty, for as long as you deserve it," she said in response before turning to leave.
She heard Paulo call her back, but Beca ignored it. She ordered she be brought back, but Don Fabio's most trusted men, the ones who now knew they had to follow Paulo, were conflicted in doing so.
Paulo was an idiot. Don Fabio knew it, Beca knew it. But he was still his son. He didn't make any clear instructions that he be made the head of the family after his passing, but he also did not say anything otherwise. Perhaps it was his hope that Paulo and Beca would put together their differences and work together for the good of the family. Beca was willing to consider it. But she knew Paulo, she knew better.
Which meant she had to have a plan in case the day of his passing would come.
And made plans she did.
Despite leaving the estate early, Beca came home late. She had spent the rest of the early evening dining at her favorite restaurant in Milan, and visiting the places she had grown to love in the city. It was her silent goodbye, at least for now.
Beca was pretty much deep in her thoughts that night. A plan had been set in motion the moment an old friend reached out to her, way before Don Fabio's demise. She knew she had to secure her strategies ahead of time. Paulo had always been so easy to read to her that the moment she had been made consigliere, Beca had been trying to put something together, plans A through Z and back again, so to speak, to ensure she would never be backed into a corner. That was something Don Fabio always taught her.
Something else that Don Fabio constantly reminded her? To be aware of the slightest oddities, to pay close attention to her surroundings.
And that she also did.
Nothing was out of the ordinary when she got home. Beca enjoyed a glass of wine while listening to her favorite symphonies on her recorder. Once she finished her glass, she went into her bedroom, left the door open just ever so slightly so she could still hear the music while she jumped into the shower.
She was getting changed into something comfortable, looking forward to a few hours of sleep before she needed to get moving, when she heard the music skip and then stop completely.
Beca scanned the room, the recorder seemed slightly off at an angle from where it was placed. Otherwise, nothing else was misplaced. She stepped only a foot outside her bedroom door to peer at her front door. She used the mirror on the consul table in the foyer to study her locks. The door was shut close but the locks were no longer on. Beca calmly shut the door to her bedroom. She only had a few minutes to think and act fast. On her bed she fluffed her pillows together and covered them with the blanket. Next, she reached out for a book on her desk, its contents hollowed out, for a small hand gun and a silencer, her eyes scanning the reflective surfaces of the glass doors that led to the balcony and the mirror on her vanity table as she put them together. She drew her curtains close, but not fully so that the light outside still illuminated the room. Once that was done, Beca turned off her lights in the bedroom and the master's bathroom before she quickly hid in her walk-in closet. The lights were off as well but she did leave a tiny bit of gap open so she could watch things unfold.
It didn't take long for two men to carefully open her doors, guns at the ready as they entered the room. Silencers were attached to the muzzle. The shot at the pillows, assuming it was Beca underneath the sheets, before turning on the lights. The two exchanged looks before ripping off the sheet to reveal the now punctured pillows. Beca took that as her chance and shot them as she stepped out of the bathroom.
Two shots, two bullets, and two dead assassins on her floor.
From outside her bedroom, she caught a glimpse of two more shadowy figures move. Instinct took over and before they could raise their weapons, they were left bleeding on the floor.
She might have to move her plans a few hours ahead of schedule.
But first, a few phone calls. She can't leave without gifting Paulo the courtesy of a farewell gift after all.
Was it a pain to discreetly move up your flight ahead of time? Not really, the problem was making sure Paulo wasn't keeping tabs. Beca had to use a burner phone to make the call, bought a new sim card with cash, and activated a new number for the next few hours. It wasn't hard to weed out who it was she could trust in the family and those with their own ambitions and sell their soul to Paulo. She had prepared well. Lilly was already out of the country now, much to her initial protests, but someone had to prepare for her arrival in the United States, and Luke would be very busy with her other requests. She took a risk to stay behind, by herself, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Paulo can pretend all he likes that he can outsmart Beca, but the reality was he will always be a few steps behind.
Luca, Don Fabio's most trusted body guard kept her informed of Paulo's movements late into that night. He would be the one to keep Beca in the loop of the events in the family during her absence as well. Meanwhile Beca took it upon herself to prepare her "gift" herself, discreetly moving around the city. It would seem that Paulo was out late-night partying at his favorite club. What he could be celebrating? Beca had a few good guesses. Finally becoming the head of the Bella family was one, assuming a successful hit on Beca was carried out was another. She did borrow the phone of one of her would be assailants to text Paulo that the job was done.
If Paulo was partying, it would mean he would be out until just before the dawn. Now, as for delivering the "gift", that was yet another simple matter to Beca since she knew how Paulo thinks. All she really needed to do was leave it in the hood of Paulo's favorite sports car. He was a creature of habit after all. He parked at the same place, celebrated at the same club, and drove home at the same hour. He would spend. She would be on the plane to the US by the time Paulo discovered it, sipping on a glass of champagne just before take-off.
And that was exactly how it happened. Beca took a sip, checked the time, and before the flight attendants could remind them to turn off their phones, Beca dialed Paulo's number.
As soon as Paulo said hello, she heard the explosion. A commotion could be heard, along with Paulo's cursing. Beca knew Paulo's habits down to the tee that she knew that he would be out of the car by the time it exploded. "Ciao, fratello," Beca said and right on the other end of the line she could hear his confusion. "Consider it a gift that I didn't take your life. It's the least I could do for our father. No matter your differences, he still loved you after all. I'm leaving Italy, don't look for me. If you do, I'll make sure you're still in the car the next time the bomb goes off."
Beca hung up the phone after that. She turned it off, took out the sim card, and snapped it into two. Luca has instructions on how to reach her should the Bella family need her, and she made sure he was the only one who could.
Beca took one last look out the window as she felt the plane move and they prepared to take off. She watched as the city disappeared beneath her. "Arrivederci," she whispered before trying to relax and get some sleep. She had a long journey ahead.
A/N Pt 2: This chapter was supposed to be longer but so much will happen for the next parts I intended that I decided to split it into 2. The next chapters will have 3 POVs but will be much shorter than Beca's. I hope you enjoyed this first one! I really wanted to set-up consigliere Beca properly.
If I'm being honest, this fic is long overdue. I first watched Vincenzo in 2021 and thought about writing this fic. Last year, I rewatched the series and started taking notes on how I would adapt it for bechloe but motivation kept escaping me and since I also started to stream games on twitch (casualgamersyndrome) I just never found the time. I'm getting back into writing though, after figuring out a sustainable schedule, so let's see if it all works out.
UPNEXT: MEET THE ZANY TENANTS OF BARDEN TOWER! I WONDER WHO THEY COULD BE? DON'T FORGET THE LAWSUIT! AUBREY AND CHLOE ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF A TRIAL BUT NOT IN HOW YOU EXPECT IT?! CHLOE'S PAPA MAKES AN APPEARANCE! THIS FICS VERSION OF THE TREBLES TOO! AND CHICAGO IS ALSO HERE?!