I sit up. My body protests, every muscle feeling like it’s been replaced with lead. I stomp over to the front door and snatch the phone off the cradle. “What?”
“Alessio Ferraro is here for you, sir.”
“Tell him to fuck right off,” I growl.
“Sir, please! I’m afraid I can’t say that.”
“Why not?”
“He’s not taking no for an answer.”
“What’s the point of having security here? Where are they?”
“They're here. Cowering.”
“Jesus, fuck,” I mutter. “Okay. Whatever. Send him up.”
I drag my palms over my face, exhaling a heavy breath before moving to unlock the door. A few moments later, the elevator dings and slides open.
A groan escapes me at the unwelcome sight of the man. He looks like the fucking grim reaper in his uniform of all black.
He steps out of the elevator. “You’re three hours late for work.”
“You know what? Fuck you. I really don’t want to do this with you right now.”
I try to swing the door shut, but he stops it with his foot. “You’re a capo now. You’ve got people to boss around. Money to collect. Businesses to run.”
“I said… Fuck. You.”
I push at the door, but he pushes right back just as hard.
Ugh. Whatever. If he wants to come in and annoy me, he can go ahead.
I let him in and walk away, heading straight for the bar in the corner of the living room. I grab a glass decanter filled with whiskey and pour myself a glass.
Alessio watches silently as I splash in a large messy pour, then he lifts his eyes to mine.
We maintain eye contact as I down the entire thing.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks as I slam the glass down and move to refill it.
“Everything.”
“Where’s Blake?”
“Gone.”
“Where did she go?”
“San Francisco. And she’s not coming back.”
“Why not?”
“Because we’re over, Alessio. We’re done. So fuck you, and fuck the Ferraros, and fuck being a capo. I don’t give a fuck if you want to kill me. Go ahead and put me out of my misery, will you?” I don’t care anymore. Not now that Blake's decided I'm not worth the trouble that comes with me.
I move to the sofa and sit down with my whiskey. Outside, the sun is peeking through the gray clouds as if it’s just any otherday. It doesn’t give a fuck that my life is over. I pick up the remote that controls the blinds and bring them all the way down.
Alessio sits across from me. “As your old boss, I’m supposed to make sure you successfully transition to your new position.”
