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“Forensic psych is as much about understanding why criminals commit crimes as it is about understanding how people perceive those crimes. It’s useful for deducing prosecutorial strategies and jury selection. Laura took a bunch of those classes as electives in college.”
“That explains so fucking much.”
Now she really grins as she nods.
“Where’d they go to law school?”
“NYU.”
They’re both smart, even if they look like fucking mouth breathers. They cultivated the look for when they aren’t in court or at a conference table. They’re both almost as big as Gabriele, so they’re underestimated just as much. It’s the same with Sergei and Anton. People see them and assume they’re meatheads or knuckle draggers. It means all five of them get to observe situations without people realizing just how much information they’re taking in. But just like Gabe, Sergei, and Anton, put them in their designer suits, and they’re imposing as fuck.
“And Shane?”
“He’s in construction management.”
“Like Christina.”
“Yeah, and Carmine. Very similar, but he definitely didn’t start out working for the city.”
“Does he head their construction division like Christina heads the Kutsenkos?”
“Yes. His business administration degree helps him oversee their imports, exports, and jointly owned shipping business. They have a collective construction company, and he’s the head of that.”
“Sounds like he has a lot of responsibilities.”
“He does, but he likes it. He’s the quietest of the family and comes across as the most mild-mannered, but he’s actually the stubborn one. He’s the best negotiator out of the bunch because he digs his heels in and won’t budge. It suits him for import/exports, running a shipping company, and dealing with construction issues.”
“They’re Irish, and he’s the stubborn one. Fuck everyone in his path.”
“Pretty much.”
“Who’s equivalent to you?”
“Finn. He’s a CPA with training in forensic accounting, just like Pasha, Sumiko, and me.”
We’re pulling into Uncle Salvatore’s driveway, and Chellie peers into the dark. She sees the guard shack as we pass through the gate. We already entered the gated community, and now we’re entering a gated property. One of at least a dozen fucked-up things in our world is that all the Kutsenkos live in the neighborhood. They all moved to Manhattan like my generation, and all of them have moved back to Queens now that they’re married.
What’s even more fucked-up is that Luca and Olivia, along with Carmine and Serafina, bought houses here, too. Theirs are new constructions at the far end of what has been a pretty old money community. I think Gabe and Sinead will buy here too once they start a family. Carmine and Serafina are talking about it, and Luca and Olivia already have their daughter. It wouldn’t surprise me if Maria and Matteo don’t start looking around, too. It’s just like when we were kids and lived close enough to go to the same schools.
I don’t wait for Luigi to open the door for us. I help Chellie out, and I can tell nerves hit her as she sees the men patrolling the grounds. There are solar powered lamps along the brick pathways that shine more light than you’d expect. They’re in all black, carrying rifles, and wearing night vision glasses. They want to see into the trees and over the top of the walls. She’s taking in the house's enormity before glancing down at her gown.
“I guess this fits since I’m walking into a castle.”
“Piccolina, they’re going to love you.”Just like I do.
“I hope so. I know all the names, but I don’t know who’s who other than Gabe’s the largest, and Luca has a scar.”
I nod. I don’t think about my brother’s scar since he’s had it since he was fifteen. A present from Matteo’s older brother after a fight that ended their friendship. They’d been almost as inseparable as Matteo and Marco, but they got in a fight, and Emilio sliced his face. It was Emilio’s mom who stitched it shut after Emilio dumped him in the living room with a sobbing Carmine, who was only eleven.
Emilio’d passed out in his bedroom while Luca nearly bled to death. Uncle Salvatore put up with Emilio until he was eighteen for Uncle Domenico and Auntie Carlotta’s sake, but he washed his hands of him once he left for college. He’s essentially been banished. He comes on missions only when it’s absolutely necessary. That reminds me.
“Chellie, when you meet Matteo, Auntie Carlotta, and Uncle Domenico, don’t mention their older son Emilio. He’s made some shit choices over the years, and he’s the reason for Luca’s scar. You might hear him mentioned in passing, but we don’t see him often.”
Technically, he’s still invited to the holidays and all big family functions, but he chooses to only come to Christmas. It’s the only one that we truly can’t fault him for being at. The rest, like Thanksgiving and Easter, he goes to his girlfriend’s family.
“Okay.”
“I’ll explain another day. For now, let’s go inside, and I’ll introduce everyone.”
