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“Enough,” Casso says, glaring at me now. “I want the deal signed and finished. I want it done in two weeks or I will step in and finish it for you. Do you understand?”
I throw my drink back and get to my feet. I’m seething and not doing a good job at hiding it. “Yes, Don Bruno, I understand.”
“Don’t give me that shit.” He rubs his face and turns as I walk to the door. “I’ve given you a long leash, Gavino—”
“A fucking leash?” The words come out a snarl and I turn to glare at my brother. This fucking asshole has to go and ruin everything because he’s obsessed with being the Don, like that makes him omniscient. “Like I’m some fucking dog?”
“It’s a saying. You know what I mean.”
“I do, you’re right. You’re the Don and what you want goes.”
“Gavino—”
“Save the bullshit.” I pull open the door and step into the hallway. “I’ll close the deal, Don Bruno. Don’t worry.” I slam it behind me and stalk off, jaw working with rage. I shouldn’t lose my temper like that but I hate being told what to do, and I especially hate being given a timeline to follow. He can be so fucking patronizing sometimes and it drives me insane. When he gets that stupid Don Bruno look in his eyes and tries to speak all firm and serious, all I hear is our father barking commands and strutting around the house like a general. I know that makes being a member of a rigidly hierarchical mafia family difficult, but it hasn’t been an issue until now.
Casso’s the Don. He’s the leader of the Famiglia, and he’s right, he has given me a lot of leeway—a long fucking leash—but now it’s time to shut my mouth and do as I’m told.
And I hate it.
But that’s the deal. What we do functions because we all choose to play the game. If I start going against my family, what does that make me?
A traitor.
Footsteps follow as I stride off. I hesitate at the end of the hall and spot Fynn coming over. He’s shaking his head like he’s amused, but there’s nothing funny about me and Casso butting heads again.
“Your first night back to our little meeting and you’re already pissing him off.” Fynn leans up against the wall and sighs. “You couldn’t have played nice for once?”
“You know I can’t help myself.”
“Yeah, you’ve always been that way. Even back when you were funny.”
I snort and glare at him. “I’m still funny.”
“Sometimes.” Fynn closes his eyes before looking at me again. “Casso’s right, you know. It’s obvious you’re stalling.”
“I’m not. Malcolm’s doing everything in his power to fuck us over on this thing and I’m doing my best not to roll over, show him my ass, and let him.”
“That’s part of it, but come on. If you really wanted this deal to go through, you would’ve finished it weeks ago. You’re holding back because you don’t want it to happen. You’re hoping something comes along to make it go away.”
I grunt my frustration and slam my fist against the wall. He’s right, but screw him anyway. I stand there, seething, pulled in opposing directions. On the one hand, my loyalty to the Famiglia won’t let me do anything that might jeopardize the people under my command—the soldiers, capos, lieutenants, the guys out on the street working every day, fighting and bleeding and dying for us, all the guys taking on the risk so we can get rich and fat and comfortable. They should be my priority, and signing this deal might mean making them obsolete.
But on the other hand is my family, my brothers and my sister, my in-laws and my nieces and nephews, and what’s best for them isn’t necessarily what’s best for the guys out on the street. Going legit would mean a better life for the children and a better future for the family.
There’s a struggle in me and I don’t know which side’s going to win.
“Fine, I’ll admit that I’m taking my time. I don’t feel a sense of urgency to take this Famiglia down this path.”
“Not your call to make, unfortunately.”
“No, that’s for Don Bruno, isn’t it?”
He makes a gesture like, that’s how things are. “You know I’m sympathetic. I didn’t want this deal to happen from the start either, but I also don’t see it as the end of the world like you do. I think we can thread a needle. Take the Famiglia legit while still making sure all our people are accounted for. No man left behind.”
“That’s more optimistic than I would’ve guessed coming from you.”
“Maybe you’re right and we’re all getting soft.” He smirks at me and taps a finger against the wall. “Either way, this is where we’re going, brother. You can either fight it and alienate first Casso then everyone else, or you can accept it and work with us. You know what I want.”
I laugh once. “Yeah, you want me out of this family so you can take over my clubs.”
