“Hey, Georgie,” Frank says softly.
“You look like shit,” I tell him.
“So, no different than usual?”
I reach out to smooth the baby’s hair. “You gonna tell me her name yet?”
Frank glances over at Celia. “Cee wanted to make a big deal out of it, have a party and shit, but I'll tell you if you act surprised later on. Marcella Constance Aïda D’Amato. Marcy for short.”
“That’s quite a mouthful,” I say, smiling down at the baby.
“It was Cee’s idea. Said our daughter should be named after the woman who was her first mother, and the men who saved my life. So Marco, Connie and Aidan. She said she can’t add any more names on, so I gotta stop getting into trouble.”
“About that,” I say, seeing an opening. “You’re a father now, and this life we live—”
“Save your breath, Georgie,” Frank sighs. “I know you don’t want some useless, busted-ass—”
“Hey.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “Don’t you talk like that about my big brother.” At least it raises a faint chuckle from him. “You listen to me, Frankie. You’re only in this business because of me, and we both know it. Now you have a wife and a kid and they both need you more than I do.”
Frank looks down at Marcy for a while. She’s still sucking hard at the bottle. “I sent away my wife and kid because you said youdidneed me,” he says after a while. “You saying that’s not the case anymore?”
I rub my hands over my face. Frank can never just make things easy. “I’m saying things have changed, Frank. I’llalwaysneed you to be my big brother. But I’m through asking you to put your life on hold for mine.”
“Snapper Marino told me Angelo got made Underboss.” He still looking at the baby, and I can’t read his tone.
“Yeah,” I say. “I would’ve liked to tell you myself but—”
“But you were busy taking down the Donovans,” he says, and looks at me with a grin. “Nice work there, by the way. I guess Finch finally made his bones, eh? Listen, Angelo’s a good pick. Better than me, for sure. He’s a smart guy. Knows his shit. But who’s gonna stand in for bodyguard with him as Underboss?”
“We’re still figuring things out, but we have rotating shifts right now.”
“So you’re saying I should keep my nose out?”
“I’m saying you have more important things to worry about.”
Frank looks back to the baby and nods. “You got that right, Georgie. But a man’s never really out of this business, is he?” He stares at me, mouth a firm line. “I’m scared shitless right now, little bro. Too much to lose. And I made vows to the Family—”
“Fuck the Family.” Frank’s eyes go wide. “I’m telling you, as your Boss, as Don Morelli, you’re out, Frank. You’re done. You and me, that’s different. We’ll always be tight. But you’re officially retired from the Family, and I rescind all those vows you made.”
Frank’s one remaining eye gets a little watery. “Okay,” he whispers, and then a smile spreads over his face, tentative, hopeful. “Grazie, Don Morelli.”
Cee rouses in the corner, and I’m grateful for it, because I’m on the verge of getting choked up myself. “Luca,” she says, and her tone isn’t exactly happy. “It’s good to see you.”
I smile. “Even better once I tell you two the news. As a congratulations, Finch and I want to send your new family on an all-expenses paid overseas vacation…”
The news goes down well, like I hoped it would. I need them out of the city, out of the country, while everything settles down. Having them out of the picture will mean those inside the Family will be less likely to draw connections. Because if anyonedoesmake those connections, not only will Frank and Celia’s lives be in danger, my hold on the Family will be put into question.
According to the vows we take on initiation, we keep our business secret. If a man spills, it doesn’t matter who they are.
They die.
But when it comes to my family, I can’t do it. I can’t put the Morelli Family ahead of them. God knows I thought I could—I thought I would be the most ruthless and successful Boss the Morellis had ever seen. How little I really knew myself.
I think Tino saw it—saw that if my heart was involved, I would always follow where it led. It’s why he married me to Finch, and I believe now that it’s also why he chose me as his successor. Angelo always seemed to me to be the natural heir to the throne, which is why it was such a surprise when Tino named me instead.
But Augustino Morelli was no fool. He picked me for a reason. I intend to rule with trust in my own judgement, whether it comes from my head or from my heart.
As for Frank and Celia, I know I’m doing the right thing by Tino. His child, Marcella Constance Aïda, will survive and have a privileged life. And she’ll never need to live in fear with her parents out of the business for good.
