“Go home and rest,mia moglie.I’ll have someone drive you.”
“You could drive me. You need rest. If they don’t need you here, I’d like to have you home with me.” She clings to my hand the way Giulia was doing with her.
“I wish I could, but I have a meeting to attend.”
“Yes, they’ll officially name you the new Don. That’s more important than coming home with me,” she says, twisting her hands together nervously.
“It’s important but not more important. I promise I’ll come home as soon as I can.”
With a resigned nod, she leaves with one of the guards from my parents’ house. Faro’s been busy on my behalf after Luca had to return to New York due to the news about our father. Sometimes, everything seems to happen at once.
Russo rises from his seat in the waiting area where he’s been patiently waiting for his opportunity to take charge. “I hear your father will make it. My wife and I have been praying for such news.”
I keep my expression blank, not commenting on the absurdity of men like us praying for anything.
“We could delay this meeting if you wish, Carlo. No one would blame you with your father still in the hospital. I could handle matters for you during the transition while-”
I give my father’s Consigliere a harsh smile that doesn’t reach my tired eyes. “No, Russo. I’ll renew my oath tonight in front of the Underbosses and Captains. My father had already agreed to retire. We’re simply moving the timeframe up. We wouldn’t want a temporary vacuum of power to tempt anyone into makingunfortunatedecisions. I’d have to answer any such treasons with the utmost brutality.”
Russo clears his throat before hurrying away to make the necessary calls. “Grasping bastard,” Luca mutters, watching him go.
“But a smart one who likes to play it safe. I’m making him Underboss of Philadelphia. With Roberto and his sons dead, it will put a hopefully loyal man in his place, but I’ll be naming you my Consigliere at this meeting. Don’t look so surprised.”
“Carlo, I appreciate your faith, but no one would mistake me for a voice of reason.”
“I’m more reasonable perhaps, but you will serve me better than that dried-up windbag. Will you accept?”
“Sì.”
“Bene. There is, however, a condition…”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“No, you won’t. In order to smooth any ruffled feathers with Russo when I dismiss him from his current position, Father suggested we reinforce our bond with his family in other ways. I agreed. His daughter, Livia, is old enough to be promised…”
“Fuck, no,” he snarls.
“I danced with her at my wedding reception. She’s a pretty girl.”
“She's a child. Renato goes to school with her and says she’s bitchy like her mother and grasping like her old man.” I wait patiently,knowing Luca needs time to accept the inevitable. “Fuck it, I’ll do it. Father was going to make me marry some bitch of his choosing anyway, wasn’t he?”
Chuckling, I nod. “She’ll learn to control her bitchy, grasping ways around you, just as you’ll learn to control your temper around her. She won’t be eighteen for another couple of years, so you’ve got some time at least.”
“You got to pick the girl you wanted. Both times.”
“I chose Sofia because of the peace agreement. I chose Francesca because I wanted her.”
“You may be lucky if your desire for her doesn’t lead to a war.”
Grimacing, I wish I could be certain he’s wrong about that. The insulting opinions regarding Francesca that I killed for are probably shared by others less bold about speaking their minds. Roberto's son trying to knife me during a mission likely means I’ll be ripping weeds of treason out of my garden again soon. I’ll do what I must. For twenty-eight years, my father kept his hands clean as our Don, but I’m not opposed to getting bloody for the Trio or for her.
Beyond hidden enemies, the BRG is growing active again outside the boundaries of Boston. I’m certain Ronan Donnelly has had a hand in that. The Bratva are a more immediate, blood-thirsty enemy, but I won’t dismiss any potential rival or threat to my power. That includes inside my own home.
“Did Ettore determine where the listening device came from?” I ask Luca, quietly. After the penthouse was swept for bugs, I was disappointed but not surprised to hear one had been found in my office.
“Government,” Luca answers, grimly.
I don’t doubt Ettore’s opinion. I sigh, weary and heartsick over what it could mean. “Pest control is a real problem these days. Does anyone else know besides Faro?”
