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“If you don’t get it, my debts all get called in and I’m a busted flush. We go under. The five years are up. My lenders are howling.”
“I know that too.”
“The vault seals for good when she turns twenty-three, burns up everything inside. If she doesn’t get it open in the next week, we’re fucked.” He looks like he’s about to slap me. “You come back to me without casing her place? Without torturing her so she gives you the location of the box? Time is of the essence here. And instead of the money, you bring me a book?”
“Why not send me in sooner?”
“Because it took a long time to find her and your murder charge was only dropped this year. Cost me a fuck of a lot of money to get the case closed at last. Now’s your chance to make up for fucking things up last time. Go back to Centerville and bring me that box.” He taps ash into the crystal ashtray next to him. “Finish what we started all those years ago.”
“Thought I did that by bringing back the intel on Mason’s alarm systems so you could take over his house when he ran.”
“You helped us get his house and prove our power in that battle, and for that I’m grateful. But this is much bigger than just a house. This is about crushing the Mason name for good.”
“So I got burned for nothing?”
“Not my fault you got in a car crash when we went to war, is it?”
“Luigi hit my fucking car, damn near killed me.”
“And he ran with Derek. What do you want from me?”
“Some sympathy maybe.”
“Cry me a river. You’re a man. Be a man.”
I feel the burn on the side of my face, my hand moving slowly over the wrinkled and scarred flesh.
Father continues. “You survived their assaults, and we took the house. That’s what matters. You did your job, and you didn’t let a burn stop you fighting. You’ll make a hell of a Don someday.”
“So you’re choosing me over Flavio?”
“Your cousin’s still in with a shot, don’t get me wrong.”
I raise my eyebrows. “How come?”
“He’s watching the vault. Whichever one of you gets it open first, gets the entire empire.”
“What if neither of us manage it?”
“Then I have nothing worth inheriting. Our name dies but you two die first.” He sets down his cigar. “Bring it back and you can talk about family and an heir. I’m not going to be around forever.”
“Sure you are, I’m having you stuffed. Arm out so I can use you as a tie rack.”
“Enough jokes. You need an heir. You know Andrea’s up for it. She’s always had a crush on you.”
“And she happens to be a Marino. What a coincidence.”
“So pick someone from one of the other families.”
“Like a Mason?”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“I’m serious. Why all this family bullshit anyway?”
“This family bullshit, as you put it, is the way we keep the peace. We marry within the families and we cement the bonds that stop war breaking out.”
“You went to war with Mason.”
