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Special. My brother had been dead for three days and it was time to move on.
“Was there any other choice?” I snarked.
“You always have a choice.”
I almost laughed. Not in this family. Generations of Giordanos had held whatever home city hostage with money and influence, finding ways to blackmail even the most esteemed individuals. Everyone had a dirty little secret. Even I knew that. Our family wasn’t an exception either. We all had things we’d prefer to keep hidden. Luciano had called it a vile game of Russian roulette. Whoever managed to secure the power of the single bullet would be tossed to the top of the food chain.
He’d intended on making certain the Giordanos were the winner in every battle, every small skirmish.
Now I planned on ensuring that happened as well, blood raining in the streets of New York if not.
It didn’t matter things had changed over the years, methods used for business different than when my father was my age. The kind of power we wielded was ingrained in the soil under our feet, stained with years of bloodshed.
And it would never change.
“Then I choose revenge.” I’d mulled over my anger, searching my blackened soul for what to do. Killing her wouldn’t be enough. Both she and her family deserved to suffer in the worst ways for ravaging our family, forcing it into despair. I’d come to that conclusion as the hours had passed. My plans for her would suit my needs for weeks, if not months. Instead of instant gratification, I’d have time to indulge in my darkest needs. That pleased me even more.
Sighing, I knew he had nothing to say. I’d told him of my discovery regarding the woman and he’d said nothing. He was too embroiled in his own guilt for turning his sons into cruel bastards. At least that’s what I’d overheard him saying. I felt honored to be placed in the same category since he’d thought of me as disposable.
“What are your intentions?” he finally asked.
“I will be visiting the hospital later today. I’ll handle it my way.”
He shook his head. “It was an accident, son. Even in our line of work, they do happen. Don’t destroy an innocent girl because of your anger.”
Our line of work. I wanted to laugh in his face.
“You know exactly who she is, Pops. You can believe that I’m not the only person making this connection. If we don’t seek and fulfill our need for revenge, there will be marks against our credibility and our reputation will suffer. With Luciano gone, there isn’t a goddamn cartel or syndicate who isn’t frothing at the mouth to try and invade our territory. The Morettis might need to get in line.”
“I know better than you do how this works, Gabriel. While you’ve been ignoring your responsibilities, your brother was in the trenches, building wealth as well as our reputation. What I refuse to allow to happen is for you to tarnish it.”
I took a deep breath, holding it. The argument wasn’t new by any means. There would always be resentment for the decision I’d made, even if I didn’t regret it. What it had offered was the ability to look outside the giant palace my father had built without fear of reprimand. Perhaps Pops had no idea just how fragile our position really was.
Or the rose-colored glasses were permanently affixed to his face. I fumed, saying nothing else.
“Be careful, son. People will be watching, and I’m not talking about the girl you’re so intent on destroying. You’ll need to ask yourself why you saved her life and don’t try and tell me it was because of Luciano’s request. It’s because deep down inside, you’re a good man, something that troubled me before but no longer. Use it. Make the organization your own, but heed to the man who exists inside, or mistakes will be made.”
“Why the change of heart? You wanted brutality. Bloodshed. You thought I was too soft.” I didn’t buy he was softening with age.
He eyed me carefully. “Luciano reminded me that one of the joys at having two sons was the ability to have two completely different sides. What I found fascinating is that both of you wanted to change the Cosa Nostra. You told me yourself that things were different in America. I chose not to believe it. I was wrong.”
For Pops to admit he was wrong shocked me. That didn’t change how I felt. “I know what I need to do. And I never make mistakes. That’s something you’ll learn about me. If I accept the reign of this family, I will do it my way.”
He turned to face me, keeping his voice down, but I could see fire in his eyes of a dragon. I’d rarely known him to act out of anger. At this moment, I was certain he would take out his grief on his only remaining son.
I’d be required to accept out of respect.
Up until today, that would have never happened.
But now, everything was different.
The look in his eyes changed, his demeanor dissolving into the one I’d know the majority of my life. He was Sicilian through and through, waving his fist at me as he spit out ugly words that created instant rage.
“Youareheir to this goddamn throne whether you like it or not, but you will honor our heritage including the rules that were established long before you were born, or I will kill you with my bare hands,” he said between clenched teeth. “I’ve allowed you to get away with being disrespectful all these years, funding your various hobbies, bailing you of jail because you refused to act like an adult. That ends here. You will learn that your actions, just like anyone else’s, have consequences. You will also honor this family by making decent decisions. I don’t give a shit whether you like that or not. You are my only son, and you will accept all the responsibilities that come with this position.”
With that, he walked away to join the family.
I took a deep breath, realizing there would always be a rift between my father and myself. He would never consider me the rightful heir, even if he had no other choice. As far as the woman, I would do damn well what I wanted.
