AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So, this brings us to you two,” my father says, once they’ve both calmed down. “Fortunate timing given all things.”
“I think with the rise of the Manettis and their brazen actions as of late, this is very fortunate.” Tommy rolls his shoulders.
“What’re you on about?” I ask. “The Manettis are two-bit. Half their guys are duds. Half of ‘em have spent more time in Labersky Penitentiary than—”
“You’ve been focusing on Piovere and your pushing substances without focusing on the homefront,” my father says.
“Gotta keep your eyes on the gates,” Tommy says. “No offense.”
“Who the fuck are you to offer your opinion?” I say.
Sophie looks like I’ve just slapped her father, but he grins none the same.
“Lucas,” my father barks.
“No. Fuck you, too,” I say. “You set this up just to fucking lecture me on what I’m not doing? Again? What the fuck do I have to do to get any recognition from you?” I say, before I can even stop myself from sounding anymore like a spoiled child.
“Lucas, calm down,” my father says. “We’re not having this discussion again. This is about bigger things.”
The waiter comes to take the drink order, but she’s frozen on the spot
“The champagne, Margie,” my father says without looking at her. “I apologize for my son, too.”
She walks off. No, scurries to safety is more accurate. My father is boiling up like me. “This is bigger than your own self-importance, Lucas. This is about protecting the families, more than that, it’s about protecting our kingdom. The larger kingdom of that too. The Manettis, in your blindness, have been rising very quickly as of late. They’ve made deals with smaller families while combining with two-bit thugs. But more than that, they’ve colluded with the cartels inLatin America. I don’t know who, or how big of a commitment they’ve made to allow them to have control, but it’s enough that they placed a hit on you.”
I shut up now. It finally sinks in. I hadn’t considered the Manettis at all this last month because of my own stupidity. But then, could the Manettis have placed a hit on me? Still … “That has to be a fucking joke?” I say.
“It’s not,” Tommy says. “The two guys you killed on the boat were fishermen from up north. They worked in the docs, but mostly they’re earning peanuts as immigrants up from El Salvidor. Poor bastards got caught between a rock and a fucking bigger rock. That’s how the Manetti’s have been operating. Getting desperate people.”
“It’s like fucking Cuba all over again,” my father says.
“Except that’s never really stopped,” Tommy replies, to which my father nods.
“How they operate is with desperation. They feed on fear of people. They can promise new IDs and visas. Anything that will make immigrants do what they want. Except there’s always someone to replace them too.”
“That’s why the two of them were so nervous,” Sophie says, and it’s the first thing she’s said all lunch.
“Most likely, dear,” her father replies, touching her hand.
“So what’s the plan then?” I ask. “What’s this fortunate opportunity you both keep alluding to.”
Both Dons look at one another now. “Your meeting is fortunate because it’s made things easier.”
“What do you mean?” I ask. “Things to come?” I’m confused again, and because of that, pissed. But it’s Sophie who’s eyes widen, because she gets there before me.
“The Manettis are growing stronger every day, Lucas,” my father says. “They’re bringing in more and more desperate individuals, and they’re becoming more and more dangerous. The only way we can survive, that both Thomas and myself believe, is for the families to combine.”
“The families combine?” The penny is inching towards the cliff. I look at them. Then I look at Sophie. Then the penny drops. “You want us tomarry?” I scream.
“There’s nowant,” my father says. “Youwill.” Sophie’s eyes fill with horror and Tommy grins. “It’s the only way. And maybe, it’s the best way,” he says.
“The best? Fat fucking chance. You think both families will get along?” I say. “You two are fucking crazy.”
“Lucas,” my father says, sitting forward and taking my hand. “It’s done.”
The waiter returns with the champagne. It’s in a bucket of ice. She sets it down by the table and swivels it for us to read the plaque engraved upon the side. It says,To the happy couple. Engaged and in love. Lucas and Sophie.
We both look at each other.
