"Great costume, Georgie," I said. "You look even better than last year. Where's everyone else?"
Last year my sisters Sonia and Sofia had dressed as storm troopers, and I couldn't wait to see what costumes they'd chosen this year.
"Dante is out with friends, and Sonia and Sofia think they're goddamn grown." Father gave Luciana one last kiss on the cheek before passing her to me. "They're at some dance their school is putting on."
Sonia and Sofia were thirteen and eleven, and I wouldn't be surprised if my old man had locked them both up in chastity belts. "You let them go to a dance? With boys?"
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly stressed at the idea. "Hell no. They went with girlfriends, your mom, and four of my guards. Any of those little middle school perverts so much as lay a hand on them, they'll be pulling back a stump."
"Boys need to keep their hands to themselves," Luciana informed me.
"Beautiful and wise, just like your mother," Father said. "Now get the hell out of here. I've got work to do."
Bones grabbed Georgio. Their booster seats had been loaded into my Hummer, so we strapped them in while a black SUV idled behind us. The driver--Georgio's bodyguard--rolled down his window and waved to let me know they were ready. I had Bones, and the twins each had their own bodyguards. Some would call my old man paranoid for all the security, but I'd seen enough shit to know it was necessary. Father would do anything for his family, and there were lots of sick mother-fuckers out there who would use that against him.
Going door-to-door could potentially be dangerous, so instead we took the twins to the Halloween carnival at their private school. We chased them around as they tossed bean bags, hula hooped, jumped-rope, raced, and fished for prizes. Our costumes and the guards standing behind us earned us some strange looks, but for the most part, people left us alone. We were watching Georgio and Luciana compete in the cake walk when Bones nudged my arm and nodded at a pint-sized Batman and Spiderman who had their heads together, whispering and scoping us out.
"Couple of wannabes?" Bones asked.
"Man, I hope not."
A variety of stories had been spread about my family. Some of which glorified the mafia lifestyle, focusing on the shit we had rather than the shit we had to do to get and hold onto it. Sometimes disillusioned kids who lacked parental guidance caught whiff of these stories and decided they wanted to be mobsters.
Batman saw us watching him and nodded like he knew us. Then, with Spidey in tow, he strutted over in his two-hundred-dollar sneakers. The duo stopped right in front of us and waited. I pretended not to notice them, returning my attention to my siblings on the cakewalk.
"Hey," Batman said, leaning against the wall beside me.
I wasn't about to encourage whatever visions of mob life grandeur the kid had, so I didn't respond.
"Hey," he said again, inching closer. "Cool costume."
Bones cleared his throat and stepped forward, crossing his arms and standing with his feet apart.
I glanced at the kid. He looked at Bones and swallowed, but didn't back down. Focusing back on me, he asked, "You Luci and Georgie's brother?"
"Yeah. Do I know you, kid?"
He nodded. "I'm Tanner. Tanner Michaels. My dad helps your dad out sometimes."
Spiderman snickered.
I frowned. Some idiot associated with my father had been stupid enough to discuss business in front of his child. And like most children, Tanner clearly had a big mouth. Michaels. I couldn't place the name, but would have to mention it to the old man. Could be the kid was lying altogether, but I'd have to make sure. Focusing back on the problem at hand, I shrugged and asked, "So?"
That seemed to burst Tanner's bubble a little. He took a step back and glanced around. "Just thought I'd say hi," he replied.
The last thing I needed was some punk kid following me around trying to be a wiseguy. I crossed my arms and looked down at him. "Yeah? Well, you said it. Now get lost."
Tanner and his buddy stood stunned for a full ten seconds before scurrying off like they suddenly had someplace to be.
"You know who his dad is?" I asked Bones.
Bones pulled out his phone and tapped the screen to life. "Nope. But I'm about to find out."
"Good." Any father who'd knowingly put his kid (and our family) in danger just to look cool deserved whatever punishment my old man decided to dish out.
After we took the twins home, we made a drop for my old man and headed home. My condo was a beautiful prison, complete with earthy tones of bamboo flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, custom leather furniture, bold crimson curtains framing floor-to-ceiling windows, all with a view facing the lights of the strip. Every inch of the space was designed and furnished to remind me of my position as heir, in line to reign over the city through force and wealth.
Still, it was the only place I felt like I could really relax.
