Page 5 of Duty

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Despite having grown up with little rules and restrictions, when it came to Cosa Nostra and living the life, Andino never even tried to push the boundaries. He did what he was told, when he was told to do it. Even if it was something he disagreed with, or meant rearranging his entire schedule for a single meeting he’d been called to attend.

He was a good made man.

His father made sure of it.

So, when the boss—even if that boss was his uncle—called, and gave Andino a time and a place to be with no explanation, Andino made sure he was there. And he made it a point to show up early, too.

Maybe that was a fault of his.

Andino found his father and uncles in Dante’s office by following the sound of their traveling voices. The topic of the conversation made Andino slow in his walk as he approached the open oak doors.

“It’s time,” Lucian said quietly.

“You could wait another couple of months, brother,” Dante said. “Maybe even until after the next Commission meeting.”

“Are you ordering me or asking me?”

Dante laughed dryly. “Between family, us being brothers, that’s all. Not a boss and his underboss.”

“I don’t know, I get being over it all,” Gio murmured.

Andino stopped his walk when his father joined in on the conversation as well.

“I mean, Lucian is sixty, you’re fifty-nine, Dante, and I’m fifty-seven.” Gio sighed heavily and added, “Dad stepped down at this age, too. It’s not like we’re talking about a premature thing here.”

“I know that,” Dante said gruffly.

“Let Lucian do it,” Gio said. “In a few months, we’ll look at someone for me. Andino can handle doing this for a few months. He’ll have his hands accounted for. Trust that he can fill seats with the right men.”

Andino felt a dead weight settle in his stomach.

He couldn’t fill seats.

He wasn’t the boss.

“I want to enjoy my time with my children and soon-to-be born grandchildren,” Lucian said. “My oldest daughters are married, one is already gone, living in Chicago, and Cella is talking about moving to Florida with her husband for his job. Lucia just graduated, and she will be going to college in the fall out of state. And then there’s John …”

“Give him time,” Gio said.

Andino was grateful his father was taking his advice on that issue.

“That’s exactly my point,” Lucian replied. “I need to give my son time. Our entire life has been surrounded by Cosa Nostra. And that would be fine, Dante, if John was like I had been growing up, or even like how you and Gio were with Dad. But he’s not, he’s John. I can’t expect my boy to be like we were when he’s had an entirely different set of obstacles that he never asked for placed in his path. For once, I would like to have time with my son where I am not active in this thing of ours. Maybe then he can see me differently. Just a man, his father. Something. I’m ready to retire. I need to.”

“Fine. Informally, then?” Dante asked.

“Informally works,” Lucian agreed. “We can handle all the other nonsense when we need to.”

“What do you think, Gio?” Dante asked.

“About what?”

“You know what. Andino.”

“He’s my kid,” Gio said, chuckling. “He’ll do okay. He’s a damn good Capo, and he knows how to manage men just about as well as you do, Dante. Andino has been under our feet since he could walk. I have no doubt that he can run this family. He’s your best choice for a successor, the entire family knows it. The whispers are already out there, you just have to listen for them. La famiglia wants Andino for the next boss.”

“They do,” Lucian agreed.