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Voicemail.
I try again.
Voicemail.
I’m on call number fifteen when Damien enters the lobby.
“Take Amara and Clara straight home,” I instruct. “Lock the place up. Have every man we can trust there. No one comes and goes from there unless I say so.”
I find my father alone in his basement. The only light comes from a solitary lamp, and he isn’t paying attention toJeopardyon the TV. He’s staring into space, as if someone turned off a switch in his brain.
My father, once a strong and vicious man, feared by many, now looks so helpless. Not one man is by his side.
It’s a reality check really.
People will respect you one day and discard you the next.
Once you become weak, you’re useless.
“I’m sorry, Antonio,” he says, sinking further into the leather recliner. “It was … a lapse in judgment.”
“Why?” I scream. “Why would you do something so reckless?”
“Cristian murdered my son.” He slams his trembling finger into his chest. “It was only fair that I caused him the same pain. A son for a son.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “My mistake was choosing an unskilled shooter. I never intended for the bullet to hit Severino’s daughter.”
“Unskilled shooter? Who the fuck shot her?”
“Ricky.”
“Your babysitter?”
He winces at my response.
I’ve been careful not to refer to Ricky as his babysitter before.
Sonny brought Ricky into the family even though he’s incompetent as fuck. So I gave him the job of hanging out with my father. He helps him with his medication and takes him to physical therapy every day. I never mentionedshoot someone for himin the fucking job description.
“Were you with Ricky when he shot her?” I kneel in front of him and get in his face. “Answer me!”
He nods, and his voice is hoarse when he says, “Yes.”
I curl my hands into fists. “We agreed not to do anything stupid.”
“Not doing anything stupid makes us weak!”
Sonny got in his head. I’m sure of it.
“Congratulations.” I inch back and stand tall. “You just fucked us. The Marchettis and Cavallaros won’t sleep until every man in our family is dead after this. And I’ll be the first person on their list.A son for a son, right?”
The reality of his mistake finally dawns on him.
His hand shakes as he reaches out toward me. “Antonio?—”
“Fucking save it.” I stare at him in repulsion. “I need to get my daughter to safety before a Marchetti bombs my house orkills her for”—I stop and raise my voice—“your fucking lapse in judgment!”
“Antonio.” He struggles to get my entire name out.
I blink, stopping to pay close attention to him.
