Page 126 of Roman

“I’m sure he’d be agreeable to that.”

“And sign a noncompete clause, not opening near our other businesses. He can open a whole string of his own, just not close to ours.”

“Makes sense.”

“I hear Santini folded up and ran like the coward he is. His crew is in shambles, and the entire city is out of balance. Tell O’Reilly to step in. Clean it up.”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate the vote of confidence.” Luca grabbed my elbow. “Roman, are you certain?”

“Luca, I wanted this life less than you did. Even with the changes. I want to be here more with Effie. With Aldo and me splitting responsibilities and going legit, and having the right men with us, we can all have what we want.” I smirked. “Besides, with what O’Reilly is gonna pay me for Maple II, I think I can relax financially.”

Luca laughed. “The next three generations of our families will never have to work, even before you sell.”

“But hopefully, they will. Not hard like Effie or Vi did, but enough to learn the value of what we did. What we struggled to give them.” I gripped his shoulder, meeting his gaze. “One day, I want to have a relationship with my kids. A good one. I don’t want them to fear me the way we feared our father. I don’t want to pit them against each other the way he did us. I want to earn the title of Dad. To have Father’s Day and know I am doing the best job I can. I want us to be friends and brothers. Not care who knows that we’re fond of each other.” I shook his shoulder slightly. “I don’t want to kill anymore. I’m tired of blood. Of the worry. The constant game. I just want to live. To love my wife. To be happy.”

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he grinned. “Who the hell are you?” He dragged me into a bear hug, somehow managing to hug the right side harder and not hurt me too much. “Welcome to life, little brother. Let’s do this.”

“Great. Now let me go before you pop a stitch and Effie comes after you. She’s tiny, but my little tiger is fierce. She will kick your ass.”

He laughed and released me. He held up his hand to fist-bump me. “To life.”

I met his fist with mine. “To life.”

I found Effie in our bedroom, curled into her favorite spot. She had her head propped up on her hand, and she was looking out the window. I bent and pressed a kiss to her head.

“Luca gone already, my love?” she asked.

I adored it when she called me “my love.” Her term of affection never failed to make me smile. “No, he is visiting Nonna in her suite. They are having tea.”

“Good talk?”

“Yes. Everything is set.” I told her about the upcoming meeting and our more personal conversation.

“You’ll be a regular business tycoon.”

I smirked. “I doubt I’ll ever be that, Effie. But life will be a little more normal, I hope.”

“Normal is okay?”

I frowned. “Normal is what I want.” I leaned forward. “You eased something in me, Effie. Changed my outlook. My priorities and my needs. I don’t feel the urge for violence. I’ve seen enough. Created enough.” I paused. “Make no mistake, anyone who steps in and causes trouble for us, for my family, will be met with extreme consequences, but I think our stepping out of that world will give us that buffer. Luca and I have always been careful to cultivate friendly enemies, not give them cause to want us eliminated. I doubt a man running a hotel and a winery will give them a reason to bother. This was all done with the utmost respect and discretion.”

She nodded. “So, life will change.”

“It always changes. This time, I think, for the good.” I smiled at her. “I look forward to all the good.”

Effie tilted her head, studying me. “Life has changed so much the past while.”

I chuckled. “All good changes.” I paused. “Even the sad ones.”

She shook her head. “I am not sad, especially knowing what I know now. It is done. Over.” She shrugged. “Perhaps we are even. Her plans brought me to you.”

“They did.”

“And we survived it all.”

I took Effie’s hand and kissed it, pressing it to my face. “And we will leave it in the past.”

She smiled, but I noticed the slight tremor to her hand. “Effie?” I asked. “What is it?”