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He’s here and it’s clear why he’s here to see me.
“I wanted to talk to you Salvatore. Man to man,” he declares. “Or rather me a worried sick father, to a man my most precious possession is into.”
I narrow my gaze at him.
“What would you like to talk to me about?” I ask, as if I don’t know what he’s going to say to me.
“Salvatore, the situation with Stephanou Portalo is worrying me sick. I know you and Gabriel were practically gunned down in the streets. Like everyone else who works for your father, I’ve been questioned and treated like some kind of fucker who hasn’t been loyal to you people all my life, right fromItalia.”
“You understand why we had to do that right?” I ask him. He should understand seeing as how we go way back.
“I understand very well, the feeling of unease is no less with understanding. However, with it comes the acceptance that things are bad. You people are targets for the man. I don’t know why he’s back but …” his voice trails off.
We never gave the full details of what was happening. Vincent did the questioning and it’s all pretty much been standard. It’s true there’s loyalty and we wouldn’t want to piss off anyone who’d protect our secrets to the death. Those are the kind of men working for us.
But that also makes it easy for a traitor. You never know who he or she is until it’s too late.
“Salvatore that man got to us before with Frankie. I’ve been around your family since before you were born. I know danger and I have tried to keep my daughter away from it. I have tried so hard and now she’s with you.”
“Joey, let’s talk man to man like you say. Let’s do that. You’ve seen me with her, not just the other night. We have history. You’ve seen me take care of her,” I point out.
“I have. I have Salvatore and I appreciate it. That’s not what I mean though. The past was child’s play. This is real. This… what is happening is real, raw danger. You know it. The other guys are married with their kids or kids on the way. Their dolls are there and I’m pretty certain they’re worried sick. Mimi still has a choice. She doesn’t have to be with you. She doesn’t have to be with a guy who isla cosa nostra. She can have a life free from the danger. I want that for her. Don’t you?”
The asshole… he struck a nerve. He struck a fucking nerve inside my gut that I can’t beat his ass about because he’s talking about my Mimi.
Of course I want her free from danger. But isn’t it better for me to protect her?
I stare at him and there’s an inner turmoil brewing inside me.
“Salvatore, when it comes to you Mimi can’t see the danger. She’s too in love with you to see right from wrong. I’m here today hoping this man to man talk will make you do the right thing.” He stands up. “I’m hoping like hell that you love her enough to do the right thing to protect her. Let her go. Allow her the chance to live her life without danger.”
I don’t answer as he walks through the door. I watch him and stare at the emptiness, his words in my mind.
I think of what Mimi said about her mother and how she wanted to leave the life of danger behind.
I’ve been thinking about that and now I’m doing it even more.
I wouldn’t want Mimi in danger let alone hating me, or worse, dying.
Never mind the hate. That’s the least of the worry if death is something to factor in.
There’s a tap on my door.
“Come in,” I call out and Gino the mail guy comes in with a box.
“Morning Salvatore, this was delivered at reception for you. Strange looking guy dropped it off.” He chuckles.
“Strange looking?”
“Like from a comic book. Hat and cloak like The Spirit.” Gino laughs and I frown. I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about. He’s a kid who can’t even grow a beard. One of the worker’s kids who’s fresh out of college and fresh in the world of work.
“Cool thanks,” I say, taking the box.
I don’t know what the fuck this is. I never get packages and from the weight it feels like paperwork. Means I have a long day or possibly two ahead of me.
At least it will keep me distracted.
I set it down on my desk but whatever’s inside moves like it rolled. Paperwork doesn’t do that.
