Vince raises his hands in defense. “Hey, man, I’m just calling it like I see it. I see her every day. You don’t.”
Don’t fucking remind me!
“You don’t know what she’s been going through.”
What she’s going through? What about what I have been fucking going through?I think to myself.
“Just hear me out. Please.”
I shake my head. “Fine. Say what you need to say and then I don’t want to talk about her anymore.”
“Michael, she spends every day in her room. She takes her meals in her room and only comes out when necessary. She won’t go out of her way to speak to Mia or me, and when she does, she is completely guarded with what she says. I see the look of distrust in her eyes, and I can see heartbreak written all over her face. I hear her crying herself to sleep every night.”
Heartbreak?“Heartbreak? Really, Vince? This was all her idea, not mine. If I had my way, she’d be here by my side where she fucking belongs.”
“I think she may be regretting her decision, but she is too proud to admit it. I think the time away would do her good, clear her head of all the negativity.”
“Regretting her decision?” And there it is,hope. It was the one thing I didn’t want to hang on to. It’s the one thing that will completely destroy me. Vince has played me perfectly. He’s dangled the apple just close enough for me to hope.Damn fucker.
“Yes, but she needs space. I believe this trip will do it.”
I rake my fingers through my hair and rub my temples. My head is beginning to pound. I need another drink. I walk to the bar and pour another one. Drink in hand, I turn back toward Vince and say, “Fine, she can go. Two months, no longer. Darius and all his men will go with her. But she has to come here and ask me herself.”
“Damn, Michael. You are really going to make her come to you?”
“Damn straight I am. If she wants to go bad enough, she’ll be here.”
He shakes his head. “I sure as hell hope you know what you’re doing,” he says. “Seems like I have told you that before, and well, we all know how that turned out.”
“You just… never mind. She wants to go, she comes here.”
He gets up to leave and smirks. “I’ll go and tell her the good news.”
“Wait,” I say as he’s walking to the door. He turns back. “She can’t leave untilafterthe omertà, and shemustattend and represent her family, along with you and Mia.”
“Michael? But why?”
“Don’t question me, Vince. Those are my conditions. Take ’em or leave ’em.”
“Fine, I’ll take them.” He gets to the door and says, “Don’t you dare be an ass to her, Michael, at your party.”
“Remember who you are talking to, Vince,” I warn.
He shrugs and walks out the door.
