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I always see it. Always.
I’ve fallen into the role of uncle now. Like I’m in a game.
“Hey bro,” Vincent smiles at me. He’ll play the good, happy father while he’s with his boy who is the spitting image of him.
“Hi.”
I walk in and Sorcha comes down the stairs with a blanket. She looks like she never even had a baby, but I recall her looking like she was about to have triplets just a handful of months ago.
“Salvatore,” she beams and greets me in her usual good natured way.
“Hey doll,” I tip my head with the same respect we show the wives in the family but like always when I come to visit she gives me a warm hug.
“Woman you’re supposed to be resting,” Vincent chides her.
“Vinny the baby is nearly two months old, I’m fine. Can you believe this guy?” she bubbles, pointing at Vincent who smiles. “Most women complain that their guys don’t do enough, mine drives me crazy pampering me to no end.”
“Because I love you,” Vincent says in a matter of fact way.
Six years of marriage and a new baby and they act like they’re still dating. It’s nice. They have the kind of relationship most people dream of. It’s called perpetually in love.
“I love you too,” she replies, taking the baby. She stands on the tips of her toes to give him a kiss.
“Do you guys need to get a room?” I tease.
Sorcha laughs and makes her way upstairs with Timothy.
Vincent watches her go and I see the worry come back into his eyes when she turns the corner up the stairs.
He looks the way he did yesterday and when he moves I follow him out back into the garden.
He takes a cigar from the humidor and hands it to me, then he takes one for himself.
“What’s up Salvatore? I know this isn’t a social visit. I’ve already had the others here, I expected you next.”
“They came?” It doesn’t surprise me.
“Oh yeah.”
“I’ll bet Nick was the first.”
“He was, knew he would be. Also knew you’d be the last and you all wouldn’t come together.” He inclines his head to the side.
He lights up, holds the lighter out to me to light my cigar too and then he takes a draw, pulling in smoke and releasing it.
“Vincent there comes a point where shit gets real. It happens, it happened, it’s happening. You can’t keep putting me and the other guys to the side,” I express.
“It’s protection Salvatore. You guys aren’t trained to deal with this kind of shit.”
“Like fuck Vin, neither were you.” I point that out because he wasn’t ready to take the lead when Frankie was killed. “I’m the second oldest. It’s my right to be part of whatever plan is going on. I can’t be the little accountant you all want me to be when serious things are happening.”
It’s a fact. I can’t just stick to the books. I’m not some pansy ass shit who wants to lock himself away in his office when shit’s going down. And not when I don’t just have myself to think about.
When these enemies come for you they go to your weakness first. Your woman. With the way I’ve been with Mimi over the last few weeks people know she’s mine. I all but displayed her in the fucking exhibition box showing everyone she’s mine. She is my weakness.
“Salvatore I’m aware of that. Very aware. I know that if I get picked off like Frankie you’re supposed to take charge. I know that if something happens to Pa I’ll have to bring you in. I know that if this gets real bad we’ll have to bring you boys in.” His shoulders slump and he sits forward. “An animal going to be slaughtered knows it’s going to die. It sees the blade coming for it and knows there’s no hope but yet it still tries to escape. That’s me. I’m a mobster. More than you, worse than you. I have my business but my duty is to protect the family, make sure certain things don’t happen. I know the ropes. I know what can happen, but I still hope I can handle it. I still hope so you guys won’t have to.”
“That’s putting us to the side Vincent,” I point out. “It’s wrong.”
