I don’t often let myself compare them. It only ever makes me sad that Roman’s life got yanked off track. Things haven’t been easy for Vitali either, but Roman spent so long in hell that he forgot he was even human.
I accept Roman like that, not because I’m okay with what happened to him but because even when he was at his least human, he was still, somehow, the most human person I’d ever met. He’s wonderful. I fucking love him. But it’s hard to see him struggling now. It’s hard to not push him to talk about it.
ShouldI push him? I don’t know. I really don’t.
When we were captive together, I didn’t have such complicated questions. Our existence was simpler. In some ways, it was easier.
I feel guilty as soon as the thought occurs. Our situation was terrible. Roman was getting hurt all thetime, not just in the fights he was forced into but also by the guards. It was easier for me only because Roman was protecting me. I don’t want to go back to that. I just … wish things weren’t so hard.
When I finish my toast, Roman gets up and takes our plates. I start to get up too, but Roman puts his hand on my shoulder. I settle back in my chair while he takes the dishes to the sink. He rinses them and puts them in the dishwasher, then he starts cleaning up the things that Quinn is done with. I love watching them interact.
Roman wasn’t always this easy with Quinn. He was wary, even jealous. Once, when he felt his claim on me was threatened, Roman fucked me here in this kitchen in front of Quinn. And yet, in spite of that incident, I think he always trusted Quinn. Roman is very instinctive.
But something is still in the way with him and his brother. The pressure has eased, but the block is still there, obvious in the way that Vitali is holding himself apart from Roman and Quinn’s interaction.
Sasha comes in, dressed now in her customary black fatigues and tank top.
I can tell instantly that something has happened. Her stride is quick and her expression serious. She’s carrying a tablet.
The energy of the room shifts.
“What’s up?” Vitali asks.
Sasha hands him the tablet. “This is from the camera we have aimed at Arete.”
That alerts me. Arete is the DiMaggio club, and the DiMaggios are a problem. A longstanding rivalry blew up into a war between crime families when Roman was captured, with the help of the DiMaggios, and sold into a brutal existence.
Two months ago, the Constantines executed a plan to turn the DiMaggios on each other. Cecilia DiMaggio betrayed her brother, Alesso, who then killed her and a high-level FBI agent that was on the take with the DiMaggio family. Alesso has been lying low ever since. His father, Gavino, head of the family, has been mostly out of sight as well. The family is in shambles, and Gavino’s health is failing.
Things have been quiet for the past couple of months, but I can see from Vitali’s expression that this is trouble and that he’s not surprised by it.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Vitali glances at me. “Just some big asshole going into the DiMaggio club.” He hands the tablet to Quinn. “Any idea who he is?”
“Not from this. Maybe if I saw his face, I don’t know. Roman?”
Quinn angles the tablet for him, but Roman shakes his head.
Vitali pulls his phone from his pocket. “I’ll have Joe put some guys on Arete. Maybe we can at least get a better picture to ID him.”
Quinn hands the tablet back to Sasha. He says to Vitali, “I don’t want you at Eclipse tonight.”
Vitali gives Quinn an annoyed look. “You know I have a meeting with Benito Manzoni.”
“Cancel it,” Quinn says.
“I would look weak and he would get spooked,” Vitali argues. “His operation has the exact right amount of strength to start eroding the DiMaggio territory without threatening us. I need this alliance, and I’m plenty safe in my own club.”
“But—”
“I’m not canceling, Quinn, and I’ll need you focused on your job, not worrying about me.”
“I can do my job just fine while worrying about you,” Quinn says. “I always fucking have.”
Vitali’s expression softens. It’s so strange to see. It’s soniceto see. Vitali can be a really hard man. I know that he kind of has to be, given his position, but Quinn brings out something different in him.
Even so, Vitali argues, “It’ll be fine. Gavino DiMaggio is dying. He’s losing power by the day.”
