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“Soon. We’ll be in touch,” I say.
“Take it slow, Stallion. Be good.” He waves at me.
“Always a pleasure, Scarp.” I pull away and roll up the window. Then I look in the rearview mirror. Ellie’s uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.
“What is it?” I pry.
She shakes her head.
“I thought we were passed this, Ellie?” My tone darkens.
“I can’t do this anymore. Take me back, please.” She clenches the seat with white knuckles and looks out the window – away from me.
“I’ve been good to you. I know you fucking hate me because of my father’s bidding, but I’ve been good to you. Don’t fall out of my graces. I’m warning you. Life could get much, much worse.”
I’m bluffing. I’ve already accepted that I’m her protector. She’s mine, and that’s that. But I still need to run my business.
“Do what you have to do, Donny.” She sighs, calling my bluff spectacularly.
Her silence on the matter is enough of an answer. Scarpy has been seen in the Rigiano household. Why else would she be silent?
I’ll give her a bit to calm down. But this isn’t over.
I do a few more quick collections, all while Ellie stews in silence.
Then, on the way back to the sticks, she finally breaks.
“Promise me you won’t hurt him,” she says.
I shake my head. “Definitely can’t do that.”
“Well, you’re going to have to learn. Not everyone needs a bullet to the head. There’s more than one way to run a family. Don’t be like your father.”
Her words slash me like a razor.
No one has ever had the balls to talk to me that way.
“Promise me, Donny,” her voice changes, more pleading. “Cut off your deals, collect in full. But leave that man alone, alright? Then I’ll tell you.”
I clench my jaw. Her asks are infuriating. This isn’t how the underworld works. You betray, you get whacked.
“Donny!” She raises her voice.
“If you give me a good reason not to put a bullet in his head, then I won’t do it. I do have an incentive to keep him around, you know. I do like to eat.”
The joke isn’t met with laughter. I forget she’s not one of my underlings who owe me the laugh.
“He’s my Uncle Branzino, from Canada,” she admits, shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe I’m only putting this all together now, but my dad always announced him at off times. ‘Get up, Ellie. I know it’s a school night, but your Uncle Branzino just flew in from Canada and wants to see you.’ Never at family events. I even asked why once, and he said Branzino didn’t get along with my other uncle.”
“So he’s a fucking informant to the Shadow,” I seethe.
“Was! He would never serve my brother.”
“Why are you so attached to him?” I ask, suspicious.
“Because he was nice to me, Donny. Sometimes that’s all it takes. He bought me my first car. He’d make special dishes only for me. He’s a good man, even if he isn’t to you.”
“Why’d you tell me, then?”
