Laura grew up next door to Pablo and Juan. We’ve known her since we were all kids. It’s how Javier and Madeline met years ago, long before they got together as a couple. Before Juan fucked it all up, Laura and Madeline consideredTíoEnrique their uncle.
The hostilities have dimmed now that Madeline’s part of our family. She’s as close toTíoEnrique as she was as a kid, andLaura’s coming around. She’s no longer threatening to gouge the L and the M out ofTíoEnrique’s arm.
They’re two points on a cross with P and J as the other two. He has a cluster of three stars on the back of his right shoulder, each with a J in the center. On his opposite shoulder is a sun with an A in the center. All hissobrinosand his honorarysobrinasare immortalized on him, proof that nothing can separate him from family.
Despite the improvement in his relationship with Laura, Maks still can’t stand him. He’ll forgive none of us for the shit that’s happened ever since he and his brothers and cousins became involved with their wives.
“Maks, we gave you the opportunity to clean house and un-fuck yourself. When things went to shit in Germany, your lazy ass did diddly. We went from a humongous problem to a potentially insurmountable one.”
“What the fuck are you going on about, Enrique? Your hyperbole is annoying.”
“I’m talking about the Volkovs.”
Tíosays nothing more, waiting for Maks to speak. However, we all know he won’t admit anything.
“They’re grown-ass men, Enrique. They make their own decisions.”
“And they beg for scraps from your table every morning. You’re losing more and more control by the day, Maks. How much longer do you think you can last?”
Maks’s laugh would terrify a lesser man. None of us flinch.
“The Volkovs are insignificant. They’re like little worker bees. Each has a very short life expectancy. When one falls, there’re plenty more to replace them.”
“I’m glad you think that, Maks, because I’ll happily wipe out all of them and leave you to deal with the Albanians taking their place.”
We all know that chaps his ass, since that’ll be monumentally inconvenient if the balance of power shifts that significantly in Boston.
“Whatever they’ve done isn’t my problem, but I’m certain it’s an unintentional benefit for all the shit your family’s caused mine. Take it on the chin like a man, Enrique.”
I clench my jaw since Maks is only digging himself deeper into this. This isn’t a good time for his machismo. The only thing that can come of it is regret. I’m certain Maks is swearing up a storm in at least two languages, despite no outward sign he’s pissed.
“You’ll be the one taking it, Maks, and you won’t enjoy where I shove it.”
“Enrique, threaten me all you want, but it won’t change what’s already happened.”
“I think you know by now that I don’t make threats. I merely make promises. So, hear me very well. I promise I’ll destroy everything in Boston if you don’t get this shit under control right now. I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt not once, but twice. Third time better be the fucking charm for you.”
TíoEnrique ends the call before Maks can respond. Everyone turns toward me. It’sPapáwho speaks first.
“How do you want to play this, Alejo?”
They’ll defer to me since this is about my woman. They’d take my input if it was just about me, but they’d only defer toTíoEnrique. However, since Vita’s involved, I take point on this.
I’m our family’s chief strategist to begin with. I learned how to play chess when I was four and have been a master ever since. All those board games people gave me as an only child gave me plenty of time to come up with different ways to play against myself. I spent tons of time strategizing.
“We need to decide what we’re taking from the bratva and how to end this shit in Italy. It’s only going to drag on if we don’t. Retribution on one front, peacekeeper on the other.”
Pablo nods along with what I’m saying. “I agree. Shit’s getting far too out of control in Italy. They’re going to bring way too much attention to all the syndicates if they keep going the way they are. That means international law enforcement scrutinizing everything. The more pressure applied on the leading families, the more it’s going to cost all of us. The infighting’ll embolden smaller factions to think they can step in. They can’t, but it’ll cost us time, effort, and money to get rid of them too. None of this is good for our economies.”
“That’s what I’m thinking too, Pablo. We have the means to pay off all four Mafias. It’ll piss off Salvatore, Dillan, and Maks, which is the cherry on top.”
But what it really does is show the ultimate flex. We have the power to end a war and make four syndicates bow to us. If we position it correctly, then we’ll have the other three families indebted to us.
“Pissed off as they may be, none of them comes out the winner. Only we do. You know that means a trip to Italy, right?”TíoEnrique raises his eyebrows as he stares at me.
It’s moments like this where it’s almost eerie to see myself nearly thirty years in the future. I glance atPapá. He and I sit exactly the same. Our left ankle crossed over just above our right knee. Our hands rest on the seats beside us in exactly the same position. While I may be the spitting image ofTíoEnrique, there’s no doubt I am my father’s son.
“Pablo, can you come with me as my interpreter?”
