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“And what are they each thinking?”
“One of them, the one that is probably more like a cousin or annoyed older brother figure, is thinking that we should leave him alone to fall on his face, and learn to handle his own shit. Or to figure out when he needs to ask for help.”
“Yeah, I get that,” I agreed. Sometimes, learning to be a man and a member of the Family meant you had to crash, burn, get burnt, then swallow your pride enough to ask someone to help you repair.
“The other part is the boss of a Family that has a reputation to uphold. And who values each of the members.”
“I get that too,” I agreed.
“I imagine this is the feeling I am going to deal with a lot as my kids grow up,” he concluded, shaking his head.
“Maybe it’s less of a one-or-other thing,” I suggested. “And more of an in-between.”
“Like training wheels,” he concluded.
“Exactly,” I agreed.
“I don’t want to send one of your brothers. Mass has a woman to think about now. I want you here while we figure out this assassination attempt. And Dante and Santo…”
“Yeah. I agree. What about Aurelio?” I suggested. Aurelio was the second oldest next to Lucky in his family. Plenty experienced to be trusted on a mission, and to keep an eye on a young blood, to make the right decisions.
“And he’s related, but not a brother. He’ll be more objective about the whole thing.”
“I agree,” I said.
“Alright. I will get in touch with him after you head out. He should be able to make his way over there in an hour, hour and half. I’ll tell him to try to keep his distance, but stay close. Let August think he’s working solo, but he’s got backup if he really needs it.”
“Thanks, Luca. I know this isn’t the kind of shit you should have to be dealing with.”
“Hey, we were all young and stupid once,” he said, shrugging. Though, honestly, Luca hadn’t ever been. He’d been born serious and wise, always knowing what needed to be done, and doing it. “We gotta let them fail if they need to fail. Or succeed. Whatever it is in August’s case. What about your mom?”
“Yeah,” I said, exhaling hard, getting a nod from him. His mom had been killed when he was a little kid, so he didn’t have the experience of a loving, yet overbearing mother, but he got to see it through all of us. “I’m not sure what I’m gonna tell her. I guess that he’s on a job. Since… it’s not a lie. Even if it’s not the truth.”
“Tell her that there’s a pretty girl involved,” he suggested. “She’ll soften to it.”
“That’s true,” I agreed. “She’s already picked out the flowers for my wedding,” I admitted.
“To Savannah?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“I heard she’s gorgeous and very sweet. And back to work way too early.”
“Yes, to all,” I agreed. “I got her to agree to letting us install a security system. It will give me some peace of mind.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s a good idea. I think they’re safe enough. This had to be about us. But it doesn’t hurt to have the cameras. How’s she doing?”
“Working. Hard. It’s not good.”
“Maybe with all these new customers, they will be able to hire someone else to help out.”
That was possible.
But it wouldn’t happen soon enough to help Savannah while she was healing.
“I’m going to say something, and you feel free to tell me to mind my own fucking business,” Luca said.
“Okay,” I agreed.
