“You don’t love a bunch of old Italian men kissing your ass?”
“I can only take so many smooches.”
“Ah, but it’s good to see them finally bend the knee.”
She nods at that. “Stubborn idiots. Papa kept telling them it’d only get worse if they held out, and now look at them.”
“They’re lucky I haven’t killed them all.” I brush some hair from my wife’s face. “I’m tempted to turn the Five Families into three.”
“I’d accept zero, in all honesty. God, they’re so frustrating.”
“That’s the role you chose, though, isn’t it? You’re my lead negotiator.”
She looks up at the sky, squinting into the clouds. “And I wish I had listened when you tried to talk me out of it.”
I pat her butt lightly. “Stubbornness is a good trait in a diplomat.”
Poor Allie has been spending the last few days at the Resort with the last holdouts of the New York families. They were pissed when I killed Medved and refused to pledge their allegiance to me. Instead, they shopped around at the other remaining Dragons, though clearly that didn’t go well.
Now that life is starting to get unsettled, they’re back knocking on my door.
“Should I go get Rosie and give Mary a little break?”
“She’s fine. Come back to the shade with me.” I tug my wife along toward the lounge chairs around the door. It wasn’t easy finding a nanny we trusted after the fiasco with Satya, but Mary’s been pretty good. It helps that she’s from New York and worked with Allie’s parents for a while first.
We find her mother and father sitting together at a table. He looks old and worn, probably as tired as Allie is from all the talking and bickering. But her mother interests me more. She looks so much like Elias.
Allie’s other brother, Dom, is in the pool, lazily swimming laps.
“I have to thank you again, Dragon Cardone, for holding the negotiations here on your property. I know you had a lot of renovations to do after what happened.” Allie’s father is always so formal and stiff. But at least he shows me respect.
“It’s my pleasure, Mr. Russo. I was just going inside to pay a visit to the hospital ward. How’s it going in there?”
Her mother answers. “Same as usual. Which isn’t a bad thing.”
“No, it’s not.” I nod at them and continue past into the building.
Allie keeps pace. We meander through the structure, taking our time, holding hands and enjoying the relative peace. The jungle is quiet today and the heat isn’t too bad. When we reach the Fortress, I take her down to the west wing and enter the old familiar code into the lock.
The door pulls back.
But the room is completely different.
Gone is the New Jersey-style living area. The wood paneling was ripped down, the couch trashed, the television scrapped. Now it looks more like an average hotel suite, save for the big hospital bed.
“Must be my lucky day,” Gabe says from the couch. He’s leaning back with his feet up on the coffee table. Football’s on TV. Some game from last night. “My parents visit and now you two.”
“Don’t act like you’re not happy.” Allie sits down beside her brother. He shrugs, grinning at her.
“I’ll be happy when I get out of here.”
“Won’t be long,” I tell him. The surgery to save his life took hours and it was almost worse than the assault itself. Allie was a wreck the whole time. But in the end, the doctor saved him, and now he’s been here recovering for months, thanks to a couple of unlucky infections. Although I suspect he just likes hanging around and pestering my staff.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Gabe’s head tilts curiously as he mutes the TV. “Our grandfather’s Dragon position is still empty. Do you have any idea who will take it?”
“Medved was the best candidate. Now, I can’t be sure. There are a few men with the resources to step up. None have tried yet.”
“What exactly does it take?” Gabe’s expression grows eager. “Taking the position, I mean? Now that Elias is dead, how does it happen?”
