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Papa would come himself. But he’s too weak today.
Too sick with grief and rage that all of us feel in our souls.
Too tired to confront the devil that he knows he couldn’t beat on his own anyway.
Don Portello.
I don’t know if our rival has finally lost his mind, but we all thought the days of payback shootings and cement shoes were over long ago.
Looks like the Portello’s wanna bring all that back.
I decide to walk instead of drive, which finds me caught in the rain.
It gives me plenty of time to think things over as well as drenching me through, but I guess it’s better to feel something for a change.
Truth is, I’ve been dead inside for a while now.
Beinginthe Family is one thing, and it sure has its perks. But a family of my own, a real family, keeps pressing on my mind.
Notthe life.
Not the ‘Family’ that’s following orders and looking over your shoulder every step of the way.
The kind of family I dream about would never know the one I’ve come from. Never know anything but positive thoughts and good times.
The kind of family that I can keep safe and actually be happy with for once.
That’s what I daydream about.
To feel everything I haven’t so far in this world.
But that’s just a fantasy for me, and it keeps me warm against the chilly wind that blasts me from each alleyway as I make my way to the restaurant that used to be ours.
And it will be again if I know anything about my father. If I know my own flesh and blood well enough, we won’t stop until we regain it.
Portello’s won a battle, but he’s at risk of starting a war I’m not sure either side can win.
I’m sure I want no part in a war, but like today, if my papa says jump, I don’t even ask how high.
He’ll let me know when it’s enough. And from my experience in this life, it’s never been enough for the past twenty years.
A dark sky, freezing rain, and winds all point to an equally dark meeting with Portello.
A truce was called, by them, to give our family time to grieve. But also, on a more practical level, he wants to see how we’ll react.
And true to tradition, there’s always a little more talking before any more fighting.
I need to know why, but I also need to know where we can find our family and friends.
Give them the respectful peace they deserve.
At a glance, before I even cross the street to the restaurant, I can see how different it is already.
The colorful awnings have been removed, along with the outdoor dining areas. And from what I can see, the interior is stripped back to nothing.
Probably still cleaning up the mess….
A mess that never even reached the police scanners.
