“She will have to be told the truth, Pop. I can’t hide what I’ve done from her. We were innocent when we were blamed for the hit on her mother, but we’re not innocent here. If I don’t tell her, someone else will.”
My father nods and says, “You’ll do the right thing.” I really hate when he gives me these kinds of answers. He makes me feel like Luke Skywalker and he’s Yoda. He looks at his watch. “We have a meeting with the capos in fifteen minutes. I want you there.”
“I know, Pop. I’ll be there.”
***
Fifteen minutes later, Sal knocks on the door and comes in, followed by my brother, Ricco, Marco, Augie, and Benny. These men are my family’s caporegimes. Each man governs a group of soldiers and enforcers. Each of these men answer directly to the Don.
“Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice,” Pop says.
“Anything for you, Domenic,” Augie replies.
My father comes out from behind his desk, and as he walks, he stops to greet each man, shaking their hands and gesturing for them to sit at the round conference table in his office. There are seven chairs around this table and each capo and Sal take a seat.
“Michael, sit,” my father says, and I do as he asks. He walks around the table and stops behind my chair. “Gentlemen. I’ll make this short and to the point. First of all, as some of you know, we hit Alberto Bonita last night, taking him out and one of his underbosses, Victor Masserie. This was a direct hit requested by Vince Bonita, and now because of this action, the Bonita family falls under the Vitali family. Michael took the lead on this hit with the help of Ricco and his men.” He looks at Ricco and says, “Nicely done, Gunner.”
Gunner is a nickname my father gave Ricco when he was just a kid. My father taught him how to shoot, and there isn’t a man among us who is a better shot.
He continues. “I’m sure by now Sal has informed you we are on a precautionary lockdown to ensure there is no retaliation from last night’s activities.”
The men around the table nod and then Augie says, “It’s about time that fucker was taken out. He’s caused more problems in New York and for our families…”
“Agreed. Nice work, Michael. It had to be done,” Benny says.
My father waves his hand, indicating he has more to say. “As you all know, in six months, on his thirtieth birthday, Michael will be taking over the family. I called you all here to make a change to that.”
Oh, fuck. I pissed him off. He’s postponing it.
“Effective immediately, you all will report to Michael. He has more than proven his abilities to me, and I see no reason to wait out the six months. I expect each and every one of you to give Michael the same loyalties you have always shown me.”
What the hell?That was the last thing I had expected to hear him say. “Pop.” I look at him surprised. “I don’t know what to say.”
He pats me on the back and says, “Son, you don’t have to say anything. It’s time you took your place as head of this family, and it’s time that I retire.”
“Congratulations, Michael. You’ve worked hard for this, and nobody is more deserving than you,” Sal says.
“Thank you, Sal,” I reply.
Each capo offers their congratulations and loyalty, and I am moved by the way they have accepted me as their leader. I get up from my chair and say, “Gentlemen, thank you all. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with each and every one of you. Our family is growing with the addition of the Bonita family, and we can all look forward to a bright and prosperous future.”
“I think this calls for a toast,” my father says. He walks to his desk and buzzes Annie.
“Yes, sir?” she says through the speaker of the phone.
“Please arrange for a round of Makers, dear,” he says.
“Yes, sir,” she replies.
Minutes later, in walks Annie with a tray of eight shots. She serves each man around the table, and as she leaves the office, my father raises his glass. “To Michael.”
“To Michael,” they all repeat, and we down the shots.
It’s done. I’m no longer an underboss and now the head of the Vitali crime organization. It’s always been my destiny, but the surprise of it happening six months early has me a bit overwhelmed. At least going forward, I will have my father and his guidance through the rough weeks ahead.
“Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure. Thank you for your loyalty to this family,” I say when everyone except Ricco and Sal prepare to leave.
Ricco, even though he’s a capo, he has always been my personal bodyguard, but now he will always remain within earshot, just like Marco does with my father.
