“He was a shit father, and we both know it. As far as I’m concerned, Leo is my father. He’s the one who showed up for me, who continues to show up for me. I don’t waste any energy thinking about Gino Accardi, and you shouldn’t either. Don’t forget what he did to Mom.”
“I never forget how he treated her. I still feel guilty we didn’t do anything to stop it.”
“Me too, but we were kids. We weren’t aware of everything.”
“I’m glad Mom has Leo. She’s a different person since she married him.” I head onto Shore Road, glad the traffic is moving and not at a standstill.
“He’s good for her.” Caleb glances out the window while his foot taps on the floor.
“What’s up with you? You’ve been especially restless lately.”
My brother turns to look at me, brushing strands of dark-blond hair out of his eyes. “Honestly, I’m sick of my life. I’m bored, and nothing interests me. It feels like I’m just coasting through life, and I’m slowly going insane.”
“Coasting through life is not something I’d ever say about you. You live your life at warp speed, Caleb. You don’tcoastthrough anything.”
“It’s hard to explain. I just know I’m not happy.”
“You sure looked happy an hour ago,” I quip, trying to lift my brother’s melancholy mood.
“Sex is great in the moment, but I’m even sick of that. I’m sick of women. I’m sick of me. I’m sick of everything.”
“You don’t feel fulfilled,” I surmise. “Even with everything you do and your busy life, you’re not satisfied.”
“I’m not. I go through the motions at work, but I’ve lost my passion for it. I’m not like you. You live and breathe the business, but my heart isn’t in it. It never really has been.”
It explains why he’s been lashing out so much lately. “You should have talked to me.”
“I’m not even sure what this shit in my head is, J, and I’m talking to you now.”
“I’d suggest we go overseas. Take a mini vacay. Head to Europe maybe, but the timing sucks.”
“I’m not sure that’d even help. I need to be doing something…active, proactive.” He shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“You should call Massimo. Ask him if you can do something in the field for The Commission. I know you’re itching for some action. I’ll look after the brand. Maybe we should give the senior management team more responsibility and free up some of your time.”
Caleb spent time training in Nepal, and he’s a skilled warrior and marksman. I’ve often thought it’s a shame he’s wasting that talent, but having a don actively out on the streets engaged in violence is not encouraged or even welcome. There are safety concerns, and it undermines the image that’s been cultivated of a legit businessman. However, if that’s what my brother needs to feel more content, I’ll make it happen for him.
“He’d probably say no just to spite me.” Caleb kicks his feet up on the dash, and I level him with a sharp look.
He chuckles, facing off with me before finally removing his offending appendages. “I swear you have legit OCD. No one could be this anal and not have it.”
“It’s called being organized and in control. Appreciating the things I have, and not wanting someone’s dirty shoes messing up the interior of my expensive car is normal behavior.”
“If you say so, bro.” He grins and whatever dark cloud was hanging over his head appears to have lifted.
I move onto Pelham Road just as an alert pings on my phone. My cell is connected to the system in the car, so the automated text message pops up on the screen, and I curse as I read it.
Caleb sits up straighter in his chair. “Who the fuck is trying to access your office?”
“I have a pretty good idea. Log into the security system, and call up the camera outside my office.” I’m strict about locking my office when I leave the room. There may be rare occasions where it’s unlocked for a couple minutes at a time, but I’m careful notto leave my space unattended. All sensitive and highly classified files are stored in the side room off my office, and the room can only be accessed by fingerprint scanner.
Caleb pulls out his cell and taps away on it, hissing under his breath a few seconds later.
“Is it my temp PA?” I ask.
“It’s her. What is the cunt up to?”
“I’m going to find out. I know she was thoroughly vetted before we hired her, but something doesn’t add up.”
