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Ffthm!
The last shot fires, and the old man stops squirming.
Chapter 15
Donny
Ellie stares at me catatonically on the bed while I wrap my father’s head in a pillowcase to absorb the blood.
This was for her, but I also did it for me.
Ever since I was a little kid, I knew he was a devil spawned from hell rather than a man born. He’d beat my mother, bring whores over to the house and parade them in front of me and my brothers to show how big of a man he was. Sometimes… he’d make us watch. The Valentinos didn’t happen to fall into the sewers of the underworld. That’s where we belonged with someone like him at the helm.
John the Scar appears in the doorway, blood spatter across his dress shirt. He took out the other bodyguard, as planned. Gio never would’ve expected the old dog to turn on him, but sometimes when people recognize a better leader, they’re wise to fall in line.
We share a nod and John takes the head and I take the feet. We carry Gio out of Ellie’s vicinity to where Sal’s waiting outside by the car. Honestly, we should apply for the theater, because we played the Don flawlessly.
Sal making as much noise as possible when pulling out of the safe house.
Sabrina running interference while I ran upstairs to stake out in the closet.
The Scar hiding out in the basement.
All part of the show.
Now I have to inform all the capos and their crews that there’s new leadership in town. Most should rollover respectfully enough. Gio’s crew, though… I have a feeling there’s going to be more hits on the horizon.
My father’s body is tossed into the trunk of the Escalade like a heap of garbage. Now for the bodyguards.
Would I have killed him if he hadn’t made a move on Ellie?
No. Not today, anyway. It would’ve been a long night in the closet. But the chances of Don Gio leaving without his prize was slim-to-none.
I meant what I said, too. Ellie is my woman now. For life. There’s no one like her. And more importantly, there’s no one like her for me.
I love her. And now there’ll be no more doubt.
“Sorry, Donny,” Sal says while we stare at the wrapped up body. “You too, John. I know you guys go way, way back.”
John grunts, looking like he’s saying a silent prayer.
I, on the other hand, feel an enormous sense of relief. I’m losing some old-time contacts, but we have enough consistent business to last us two hundred lifetimes.
“Times are changing, Pop. The Valentinos will be respected and feared, without eating our own.”
“Ironic.” Sal tilts his head.
I glare at him.
“Well, it is!” Sal throws his hands up innocently. “As crazy as the old man was… he was our own.”
“I cut off the head of a poisonous snake. Let’s be better. It starts with us,” I say.
“You’ve grown bolder with your new boo.” Sal waits for John to take his hand off Gio and shuts the trunk.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sal shrugs. “It’s a good thing. We’re going to need some boldness if our crew is going to lead this thing of ours. God! Old Babone and Ricky Sheets are going to be gunning for us as soon as they hear about this. Y—ikes. Old Gio, you feared bastard.”
