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“No one will take what’s ours,” I hiss. “I won’t allow it. New York belongs to the Sinacores.”
“But the Sinacores are done,” my uncle says, and I don’t miss the amusement in his eyes. “You don’t want it. Remember?”
“New York is fucking mine,” I repeat.
With those words, I take a white rose from one of the large bouquets flanking the casket and toss it on top with the lilies.
I may not want the city. But I’ll be damned if I let anyone else have it.
* * *
“What do you suggest I do?” I ask my uncle hours later as we sit in the study to discuss exactly how I should step into Tony’s shoes. “The men might not automatically accept me. They’ll either challenge me or disperse and leave us with nothing.”
“That’s not true. Those men weren’t just loyal to Tony. They are loyal to the family. If you want the job, show them you’re serious about it. They will follow. Everyone knows of your little side business,” he says, making me cringe.
“Alittlebusiness that could have put the Sinacores out of business if it wasn’t for…” I trail off, not wanting to finish the sentence. Regretting that I started it in the first place.
Ray smiles with that same damned pride he displays whenever I do something he thinks proves him right. “We are all aware of your success. Your brother knew. The men do. You were born for this, Luca. The only thing you must do is prove you are here to stay. That you are not going to abandon the family for your own interests.”
I huff. “How do I do that?”
His mouth pulls down as he gives it some thought. “If you want them to take you seriously, you must present yourself seriously.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?”
“Gianni called you the prodigal son for a reason. You fucking left. Earning their respect starts with letting them know you mean it. That you will not get up and leave on a whim.”
“I won’t leave again,” I state. “I mean it.”
“They don’t know that. You have nothing tying you down, Luca. You left Briar House because you felt like it, created your own organization to see if you could, and disbanded it because you didn’t feel like doing it anymore. You need something that screams permanence.”
None of that is exactly true. No one leaves a loving home on a whim. And no one creates a powerful organization, then shuts down operations for fun. But I don’t tell him I only disbanded because my success posed a threat to Tony’s control over New York.Iposed a threat. The moment I heard whispers on the street that there would be a play to remove him, that the power was shifting to me, I ended it. They were rumors, nothing more, and I had to make sure it remained that way.
Instead, I ask, “Are you saying I should be tied down? By what?”
“Marriage. A family.”
The hard frown between my brows fades as I’m filled with incredulity. “Marriage? What is this, the Middle Ages?”
“A family means rooting yourself to a place. It means commitment. Those men out there…” He points to the door. “They need to see you can commit.”
I stare at Uncle Ray for a long moment, wanting to debate the point but unable to find much fault in his logic. If I marry the right person, that is.
Leaning back in the chair, I rub my chin thoughtfully. “Business and family don’t go well together.”
“It was just a suggestion. But if you marry into the right family, the possibilities are endless.” He looks at me expectantly.
While some of what he’s saying makes sense, I’m still in disbelief of his suggestion.
“Who do you propose I marry?” I ask out of curiosity more than anything else.
“I can name a few girls whose fathers would make excellent business partners.” He begins to tick off on his fingers. “Mariana Gambini. She’s that hotelier’s heiress in Vegas.”
I shoot that idea down immediately. “She won’t want me.”
“Why not? You’re a handsome man with plenty to offer her in return.”
“Except a pussy,” I say. Then I add, “She’s gay,” when he looks at me in confusion.
