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"What?" I growl.
A Don has to have patience, not just power. But mine is on a knife edge ready to gut someone.
"You need to get married."
It's not the fact that Francesco says it that pisses me off so much. It's that Miceli nods his agreement. Angelo's expression doesn't change.
Again with this shit? "Now is not the time."
"You're the youngest don in the last four generations," Francesco says.
Like I don't know. "I am aware."
"Even so, you are thirty-five."
"So?"
"You are don. You were born when your father was 30 and still an underboss."
"I've got time." We're facing war with Irish mob and he wants me to worry about finding a wife?
"Like Papà had time?" Miceli asks.
Fuck.
"He was only sixty and if he'd waited to have you until he was in his forties," Miceli says, "You would not have become boss after him."
"You sure about that?" I demand, but I don't let the rage I feel at being questioned like this, even by my brother, show on my face.
A don does not show emotion, even anger, unless it is strategic to do so. I learned that before I learned to read.
"No, but it would have taken a lot more bloodshed. We would have lost strong capos."
He was right. Even at 30, some of the capos had not wanted to follow me as their Don. I hadn't been forced to kill anyone we were better off keeping, though.
Hell. Francesco is right. So is my brother. I don't want a wife, but I am The Genovese and I owela famigliasecurity. "After I settle this shit with the Irish, I'll find a wife."
"I don't think you should wait."
"Noted," I say to Francesco, ice in my tone.
Angelo's raspy voice sounds from his place against the wall. "I agree."
My gaze snaps to him. "Why?"
"Timing." Even for Angelo, that's a short answer.
"He's right," Miceli says. "This Irish thing might be more complicated than we thought. Who the hell knows when we'll get it sorted. And when we do, it might lead to war."
"A wedding for their don will givela famigliasomething to celebrate, especially if we start losing soldiers." Francesco clears his throat. "It's about doing what's best for thela famiglia. Being a don your capos can trust, not just to kill for them, but to provide security and continuity into the future."
Every word out of my consigliere'smouth increases my fury, but I rein it in. Because damned if he doesn't have a point. I don't want a wife, but it's not about what I want.
"Fucking hell."
The other men in my office can take that for the concession it is.
Chapter 3
