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“I am going to clear the air with him. Make him believe I am okay with him and mamma to keep him off my back and not suspect my distrust.”
I nodded. It was a good idea. If we were to meet with the Leone’s discreetly, we had to make it seem like Gio had accepted everything and the debris of the monstrous storm Sal had caused had settled.
∞∞∞
The four of us sat in Gio’s office staring across from each other as the tension grew. My hostile glare was directed at Toni. I have always hated this man. He was a brown nose who couldn’t get his head any higher up my zio’s ass. And the way he looked at Cami made my blood boil.
“I am guessing you have calmed down enough to want to discuss a few things now son,” Sal stated boldly. I noticed Gio’s body tense as Sal called him son, but he kept his cool.
“Clearly there is a lot to discuss.”
Sal nodded. “I know it must have been a shock. I apologise.”
“Why do you believe I am your son?”
He chuckled gruffly and his eyes held a knowing look as if the answer was obvious. “Well apart from the obvious physical resemblance, you share my ambition and ruthlessness Giovanni. I knew what potential you had from the beginning. You were born to spill blood, boy.”
I rolled my eyes and rested my ankle over my leg as Gio held his gaze. That didn’t mean shit. Vinny was just as ruthless as Sal when he wanted to be. The difference was, he had integrity. Gio was far more like Vinny in every way than Sal but I wasn’t about to point that out.
“So, you have believed me to be your son since I was born? And you never said anything? Why?”
Suddenly, Sal looked uncomfortable. It was a strange sight to see. The unshaken Boss shuffled in his seat and pushed his hand through his full head of silvery hair.
“Your mamma. She chose Vinny. It took me a while to accept it, but I did eventually. I loved her and wanted to see her happy. And she made Vinny happy. When my papi passed away and the family title fell to me, I had something else to live for. So, I let it go. I watched from afar but loved you all the same. I only ever wanted what was best for you Giovanni.”
I narrowed my eyes on Zio. He seemed genuine but it was hard to accept that as the truth when I had never heard him speak so vulnerably in all my life. Gio seemed to be thinking the same thing as he sat back in his chair and clasped his hands together, deep in thought.
“Why now then? How did you and mamma decide now was the right time? Don’t you feel any guilt towards your brother?” I sensed the slight anger in Gio’s tone and saw his nostrils flare. He needed to keep calm if we were going to pull this off.
“Vincenzo has been dead for two years. It is not like he is stepping on anyone’s toes,” Toni cut in and I glared at him with hatred.
“We are well aware how long Vinny has been dead for,” I snapped.
“All I want to do is look after your mamma, son. I have never stopped loving her and after Vin was murdered by those fucking scumbags, we have grown closer because I have made sure she has been cared for. I am not trying to replace Vinny. I know I never will, but she deserves to have a chance at happiness again.”
Again, his words seemed heartfelt, but I didn’t buy it. He just lied and we knew it. He said Cecilia and him had grown closer after Vin’s death. Cecilia has outright told Gio that she hates him.
Gio sighed deeply before he spoke. His face remained cool and expressionless but the whites of his knuckles as he clenched his fists below the table told me otherwise. “Then we are on the same page. As long as mamma is happy then so am I.”
Sal’s face broke into a genuine smile. “I am glad to hear it and she will be too. This is how it always should have been Giovanni. You are my heir and the future of this family. I will be thinking of retiring once Cecilia and I are married and this will all be yours. my boy.”
My combat boot stopped bouncing on my knee as I froze from his words. What?
Gio sat up straight and his jaw clenched. “Married?”
“Of course. Why wait? We will be married by the end of the week. Then Toni will get everything together and I will sign the business over to you.”
“And mamma has agreed to this?”
“Of course,” Sal’s smile fell as he narrowed his eyes on Giovanni. Shit. Gio was about to blow and Sal would know that he was not really onboard.
I jumped up from my chair and reached my hand out to my Zio with a beaming smile. “Congratulations Boss. That is wonderful news.”
It was enough to distract him as he stood up, did up the button of his blue suit jacket and shook my hand firmly. “Grazie Maximus. Of course, you will be benefiting from this as well. Once Giovanni is Boss, you will be Underboss.”
I smiled and nodded with respect as I felt Gio standing up behind me. I stepped back and gave him a knowing look. He had seemed to have regained his control and held his hand out.
“Sorry, that was just a bit of a shock. Congratulations. I am happy for you both.”
