“Wha… Wha… What are you talking about? Garrison was a bad seed,” he huffed. “He killed two men.”
“No, he wasn’t responsible for their deaths, but I think you already knew that. Sadly, I think you looked the other way simply because his conviction was a black mark on your illustrious career. You abandoned him. I wondered why at first you sent him to that university. Then I figured it out.” I waited for him to say anything then laughed when he didn’t. “I had questions that confused me, but no more. Was it because you were attempting to stay in the good graces of the Durante crime organization? Had you been given a perk by Bartholomew Durante, a very special invitation for your son to enter the hallowed halls of the university for your loyalty?”
The single twitch on his right cheek indicated I was right. I’d been guessing, but my suspicion had been that the Durantes had funded his run for the senator seat of the state of Illinois, home of the one of the greatest cities in the world, Chicago. Home of the Luciano family, a location the Durantes had wanted to overthrow after Carmine Luciano’s murder.
“The answers are yes and yes.”
With my father in a level of power, the Durantes could slide into the city and the entire Midwest with limited interference.
Especially since my father had substantial influence over several high-ranking members of law enforcement.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he spouted, his face red enough I thought the man might have a heart attack.
“No, I don’t think I’m wrong at all. In fact, I know better. What happened, Father? Did Rocco Luciano find out what you did and target your own son, especially after Bartholomew ordered his son to handle a situation that he should have taken care of himself twelve years ago?”
I’d spent such little time around my father that as I watched his face fall, anguish sliding into his usual stoic features, I was surprised I didn’t feel a single moment of joy from bringing him to his knees. Because of his greed and hunger for power, he’d lost a son.
All the anger I’d felt toward him, the hatred I’d allowed to furrow in my heart faded away. What good would it do me at this point?
“I feel sorry for you, Father. You didn’t allow yourself to get to know a truly remarkable man. Garrison was special. He looked up to you and you failed him, just like you failed me. So that you know, I have enough on you and your illegal activities that I’m certain members of law enforcement will be eager to have a conversation with you, but I’m going to give you an option. Resign your position as senator. Move into retirement. If you don’t, I assure you I’m going to release the information I gathered. Then God help you, although in my opinion, you’ll go to hell for what you did.”
He said nothing. Nothing at all, but when he lifted his head, for the first time that I could remember, I noticed tears in his eyes.
Crocodile tears.
As I turned away from him, the ones falling down my cheeks were real, and they burned my skin as they fell.
* * *
Alexander
“You don’t have what it takes to become a man, Alexander. You’re nothing but a whiny snot-nosed little boy and that’s what you’ll always be.”
I glared at my father, hating him. I loathed everything about him. I’d looked up to him all these years, but he still didn’t care. “I’ll show you, Father.”
“Yeah,” he laughed. “I’m sure you’ll try and like everything else in your life, you’ll fuck it up. Only this time, when you do, I won’t be there to clean up your mess.”
“I won’t go to the university.”
He moved around his desk quickly, wrapping his hand around my throat and shoving me against the wall. I’d never seen such fury in his eyes. His face was beet red, saliva oozing from his puffy lips. “You will do as I say, boy, or I’ll toss you to the jackals. You don’t deserve to be a member of this family. If you fail me this time, you will be cut out of my life permanently. Do you hear me?”
As he squeezed my throat, I did something I’d never done before. I allowed him to see my tears.
“Fuck it,” I hissed, tossing back the last of my scotch, slamming the glass on top of my desk. I didn’t need the goddamnmemories fucking up my mind or my life. What my father didn’t know was that I was about to cut him out of a significant portion of the family business, forcing him into complete retirement. Then I’d handle the Durante Empire my way. If he didn’t like it, then I’d tosshimto the jackals.
I laughed bitterly, shifting my thoughts away from the old man. Good. I’d never been called good in my life, including by my family. Only Cassie had clawed her way through the ugliness of my world, dragging out a portion of me that I’d done everything to vanquish.
Illinois.
I paced the floor of my office, which I’d done several times that morning alone. A week had passed with no additional information regarding Rocco’s whereabouts. I had dozens of men on the street in New York and couldn’t find one asshole. My anger was reaching new heights.
I drifted to the past, which I’d done far too many times since my return. I’d kept my promise, ensuring her safety, two of my men stationed in Illinois until Rocco was found.
That’s the least I could do for Garrison.
Garrison had insisted we drive to New York to handle the infamous task. I hadn’t understood why he had to stop in Illinois. It hadn’t made any sense. Then again, I hadn’t given a shit about much at that point. But I could remember almost every detail regarding that fateful day, the early morning confrontation with her mother placing me in a bad mood that had stayed with me all the way to New York.
I’d been short sighted, hot tempered, and ready for a fight at that point.
