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Gavino
Casso lines up a shot and slams the cue forward, knocking a ball into the corner pocket. He grins at me as I roll my eyes and take a sip of whiskey. “Still think you’re going to win?”
“You must’ve forgotten that I’m a lot better than you are at pool.”
“Please, you haven’t bothered to come to our weekly game in years, and now suddenly you think you can waltz in here and take over?”
“Pretty much.”
Casso shakes his head, still grinning, as he goes to take another shot. Fynn shoots me a happy look and even Nico seems amused. I lean back against the wall, taking another sip, and watch my brother sink another shot. I have to admit, he’s gotten better over the years.
Not as good as me, but still. Better.
The last few days have been quiet. Jeanie’s been spending a lot of time with Karah and Olivia and Elise down at the pool and she seems to be getting along with everyone really well. At least Mirella says she fits in perfectly and seems to genuinely want me to keep her around for as long as possible. It’s strange, the idea that a woman I’m seeing—if I can even call this seeing—is spending time with my family, but it’s happening.
I’m taking a step forward despite the demons that want to hold me back.
“I’m happy you joined us, brother,” Casso says when it’s my turn. I chalk my stick and line up my first shot, nailing a ball into the side pocket, and moving around for my next. “We’ve been having this standing meeting for, what, five years now? And this is the first time you’ve bothered to come.”
I land my next shot with ease and go for a third. “You insisted on meeting in this damn house and you know how I feel about it.”
“You love this house,” Fynn says. “You grew up here. All your best memories are here.”
“And some of my worst.” I land the shot, go for a fourth, but miss.
Casso steps up. “We know that, and we’ve been giving you space, but still. I’m happy you came.”
I grunt at that, glaring at my brothers, but they laugh and drink and we keep on playing pool, and soon I’m sucked back into the camaraderie and laughing along with old jokes and creating new ones. I win a game, win a second, lose a third on purpose, and we finally take a break over by the bar. I’m feeling good for the first time in a while and the nagging horrors that love to twist and invade my brain are quiet for once. I’m doing my best to resist their allure and it’s working.
I think maybe, maybe, I can have my family back. Maybe.
Nico makes drinks. “Here’s to the Famiglia,” he says and we toast to that.
“Here’s to finishing this Strafford deal sometime this century,” Casso says, looking at me over his glass. “How is that going, anyway?”
I shrug, avoiding his gaze. “It’s going fine.”
“Have you made progress? Is Jeanie helping much?”
“Yes and no. We’re hammering out the details.”
Casso grunts in reply. “It’s been months of this back and forth haggling over minor details and contractual language. I want this deal signed and moving forward.”
I glare at him, struggling to keep my temper under control. This is more of what I expected when I showed up here. “I’m working on it. You can always take over if you’re unhappy with my performance.”
“Don’t be like that.” Casso sighs and taps a finger against his glass. I catch Fynn and Nico exchanging a look. “I’m only saying that this building deal is the first step toward the future of the Famiglia. And no, I don’t want to discuss that future with you anymore.”
I shrug, leaning back. “And yet here I am, ready to discuss.”
“Gavino,” Nico says with a sigh. “It’s been a good night. Don’t start this now.”
I know my brothers don’t want to hear it, but I’ve never been good at holding my tongue.
“He wants to drag us into the future without thinking about what the future will be like.” I wave my glass toward Casso. “What happens to all the soldiers when we go legit? You going to put a bunch of drug-peddling thugs in cubicles and let them do your accounting?”
“We’ll take care of our people,” Casso grates, jaw working. “If you had it your way, we’d stay still and never evolve.”
“No, that isn’t true, but I wouldn’t drastically change everything all at once like you’re trying to. It’ll only upset the balance we’ve painstakingly built.”
