She sits in her chair across from me, staring behind me at the couch. I quickly gaze behind, but no one’s there. “Caterina,” I say louder, trying to draw her attention to me.
But instead, she talks to the couch. “Shhh, yes James.” She waves her hand like she’s scolding someone. “We will leave shortly. I just need to finish the paperwork with Luciano.”
I’m out of my chair and in Joseph’s face. “Start fucking talking, Joseph. Why is Caterina talking to an empty couch?”
Joseph fidgets under my gaze, hesitating over his next words. I’m trying hard to keep the demon inside me contained. “Caterina is suffering from a broken heart. She’s been hallucinating that James is with her.”
“I can fucking see that. How do we fix it? Get the fucking doctor here now.” I grab my phone out of my pocket to speed dial our doctor, but Joseph grabs it out of my hand, ending the call. I grab him by the throat, lifting him off the ground and squeeze hard. How dare he stop me? I am Caterina’s underboss, not one of the soldiers.
“Luciano,” Caterina’s soft voice calls to me. I drop my hands instantly and rush over to her, crouching at the side of her chair. She looks down at me, but I don’t recognize this person. This is not the Caterina I know; her eyes are voids, almost soulless.
“Caterina. Talk to me. How can I help you?” I half beg her. I’ve lived with her for over twenty years. She is my family, and it breaks my cold heart to see her like this.
She gently strokes my cheek. “You’ve always been a son to me. I’ll always be grateful that you came into my life when you did.” I grab her hand and hold it reassuringly.
“I’m sorry for abusing your anger over the years. There were just some things that I could not do and I knew you would, if I told you to,” she starts to cry to me.
“You don’t need to apologize. Just tell me how to help you, Caterina. You’re my family and I will do anything for you,” I plead with her. I need the old Caterina back.
“What I’m going to ask you will be hard, and you will want to tell your brothers, but you can’t, Luciano. You must keep this a secret for me.”
I look between her and Joseph. What the fuck is going on? Joseph doesn’t give anything away, letting Caterina do the talking. He stands by her side, his loyalty unwavering.
“Luciano, can you do that for me?” she asks me.
“Yes, Caterina.”
She nods her head to Joseph.
“I will need you to take the oath first,” Joseph says. I stand in front of Caterina and recite our oath to both her and Joseph. I grab my pocketknife out and slice it over my hand, letting them know that I bleed for this family and will continue to bleed for this family until it is my time to die.
Caterina stands and surprises me by pulling me into a hug. I wrap my arms around her petite body, and she folds into me like it’s the most normal thing. But in all the time I’ve been with her, she has never hugged me. It sends chills down my back. She starts to cry into my chest, and I hold her tighter. I hate seeing her like this.
“You must follow Joseph’s instructions. Luciano, you will not agree with them, but please respect my wishes. I need to do this.”
“I will always do what is best for you and the family,” I say, holding her a bit longer.
She lifts her head and looks over to the couch. “It is time, James,” she says before removing herself from my grip and walking out the door.
I walk to the bar and pour myself a whiskey. The uneasy feeling in my stomach is close to exploding, and I go to sit back in front of the desk. I watch as Joseph opens the bottom drawer of the desk and pulls out multiple files.
“First, sign these papers. This is Caterina’s will and authority form to control all Cosa Nostra and Carlisi accounts.”
I scribble my signature on the paperwork with no hesitation.
“You are now interim Don for the Cosa Nostra,” Joesph declares.
The pen in my hand clatters on the desk. What the fuck? I can’t be Don if Caterina is still alive. But I’m unable to move. Frozen to my chair. I am not Carlisi blood. I can’t rule.
As if Joseph knows what I’m thinking, he adds, “This folder contains information on Charlotte O'Reilly, Caterina’s daughter. Caterina wants you to find her and bring her here. Teach her about the Cosa Nostra and make her the new Donna.”
I’m speechless, so he takes this as his cue to continue.
“As of today, Caterina will be presumed dead. It is set up that there will be a car accident in about two hours. The car will be blown up so no traces can be found—or not found, should I say. You must continue this façade,” Joseph tells me.
“Where will she go? Does she have protection?” I question him. This all seems unreal. How long have they been planning this for?
“She will check in every month from a burner phone. She needs time away to grieve.”
