Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Joshua
I play Spider-Man on PlayStation with Leif before I help Rosa make the finishing touches to her hand-drawn card for her beloved papa. The rest of the family arrives at six: Alesso, Serena, and their four kids come, and Sierra shows up with Rowan and his girlfriend and his two younger siblings. I’m not surprised to see that Frankie, Rico, and their family scored an invite too. Gia would ordinarily be here with her family, and I’m betting she’d love to be around the table with us. I’m kind of wishing she was here too, which I’m not in the mood to examine.
It's a boisterous affair with so many people around the table. There are a lot of young kids and plenty of laughter. Mom has excelled, and we help her to carry a mountain of different dishes to the table. It’s all traditional Italian fare with most being Leo’s favorites. There’s apple cake for Caleb and cannoli for me for dessert because Mom never forgets. We’re no longer the three-year-olds she inherited when she married our dad, but she still indulges us.
There has never been a time when I haven’t felt her love. It always shines bright, and she means the world to me. She may not have had a happy marriage to our father, but Caleb and I lucked out when she became our mom. All we know of Juliet—our bio mom—is gleaned from photos and stories the others have told us. Caleb and I don’t remember her because we were too young when she died. On occasion, it makes me sad, but it never lingers. I have never felt like I’ve missed out because Nat is my mom, and she’s incredible.
After we finish eating, our stepdad opens his gifts while the adults drink champagne and toast the birthday boy. We all sing happy birthday to him as he blows out the candles on his cake aided by Leif and Rosa. It’s these moments that mean the most to me.
Coming home always helps to ground me, and I didn’t realize how much I needed it today. Caleb needed it too.
We grab Rowan, Romeo, Antonio, Cosimo, and Marco and make them help us with the cleanup so Mom can chat with her friends. The older men retreat to the study for bourbon and cigars. The younger kids are all in the playroom, getting up to mischief, no doubt. Elisa found her way into the kitchen too. That’s no surprise. She always gravitates toward Caleb. I watch them chatting as they rinse and stack plates in the dishwasher, noting how good they look together. I’m drying the good silverware and putting it back in the wooden box Mom keeps it in as I survey my twin and the younger woman.
Elisa laughs at something Caleb says, tossing long strands of thick, dark, glossy hair over her shoulder. She shares the same reddish tint as her mom, and they have matching hazel eyes too. Elisa has really blossomed during her time at NYU, and she’s a striking woman. But I’ve never been able to see her as more than a friend or a quasi-sister. Caleb says it’s the same for him, but seeing them together today makes me wonder if it’s the truth. There is an ease, a familiarity, between them that is wholly natural.
Caleb relaxes around her, and he genuinely worships the ground she walks on. He won’t ever hear anyone saying anything bad about her. And God fucking help any guy she decides to date as my twin will put him through his paces to determine if he’s worthy of his little Lili.
“They look good together, don’t they?” Frankie says, sneaking up on me while I’ve been lost in thought.
“I’m not touching that,” I say, drying the last fork and slipping it in the box. I push down the locks and pop the box into the sideboard where Mom stores it.
Frankie pins me with a soft smile. “You’re a good man, Joshua. A good son. No wonder Nat is always singing your praises. Caleb too.”
I shrug because I don’t see it as a big deal. I might be a CEO of a multibillion-dollar empire and a skilled made man, but back home, I’m just a son who would do anything for his mother. “Today’s about Leo, and Mom has already cooked up a storm. She deserves to put her feet up.”
Frankie loops her arm through mine. “Walk with me?”
I stifle a groan. “I know what you want, and I can’t tell you anything about Gia’s assignment. I’m sorry, but it’s confidential, and the less you know, the better.”
Her face drops and I feel like a piece of shit. I’m sure she’s really worried about her daughter, but I can’t ignore protocol.
“I hate this,” she says in a low voice. “I wish she had picked any profession but this one.”
“If it’s any consolation, Gia is capable and resourceful, and I have every faith in her. We all do, or we wouldn’t have hired her to the team. Also, I’m personally overseeing her assignment and ensuring she’s got every protection available.”
She clutches my arm tight. “Don’t let anything happen to her. Please, Joshua. She’s my only daughter, and I would die if anything happened to her.”
“I’ll keep her safe,” I say, hoping I haven’t just lied.
We’re all nursing hangovers the following morning when we meet to discuss the situation on the streets. The adults stayed up late, drinking far too much, and I indulged more than I usually do. It was a good night and great to catch up with everyone. Unfortunately, Leo and Alesso don’t have any suggestions we haven’t already tried, but they make me promise to call them if there is anything they can personally do to help.
We hang around for another couple of hours to take our siblings out on their bikes, and we spend a half hour with Leo at the shooting range Ben had built on the grounds. Then we have lunch with Mom before making our way back to New York. Mom also asked me to keep Gia safe, and I promised her I would.
The weight of that promise is bearing down on me as I drive us back to the city.
“We’re heading to Bar Havana for drinks at nine. Are you joining us?” Caleb asks when we’re in the elevator on the way up to our penthouses.
“I’ll come for a while, but I’m meeting Elizabeth later.”
“You should cancel and come with us to Club H after the bar.”
“No thanks. That’s your scene, not mine.” I have nothing against sex clubs per se, and Club H is the most prestigious of Ben’s clubs, but I prefer to do my screwing in private.
“Don’t bail,” my twin says when we exit the lift. “You need to let loose, and Marino said he’d stop by. We should both be there to buy him a drink.”
God knows our underboss has earned it. Benedito manages things for us at the ground level, and he is the person the soldati and capos report to. We have a recurring weekly meeting with him and Luca—our cousin and consigliere —where he updates us on things we need to know, but unless there’s an emergency, we don’t hear from him much. He runs a tight ship, and he’s experienced, having worked with Luca in the same capacity when he was acting Don Accardi in our stead. He provides stability for the men and ensures everything runs smoothly at the grass roots.
“I’ll be there. Perhaps you should ask him if there is more you can do at the grassroots level. If you want to dirty your hands, that’d be a good place to start.”
Caleb shrugs. “Maybe.”
“The more I think about it, the more I like the idea,” I tell Caleb later that night when we’re en route to Bar Havana. “It would be good for the men to get to know us better. The newer soldati already know you from initiate training, so it makes sense you’re the one to do this. We know there’s a mole or moles in the city. It could be within any famiglia , but the odds are it’s within the Accardi or Maltese ranks. Maybe if you’re more hands-on, you might glean intel we need.”
“I’ve been thinking about it too, and I like the idea.”
“Good.” I pop the cap on a bottle of water while Caleb drinks a beer. “Set it up with Marino tonight, and I’ll call a senior management meeting on Monday and reassign some of your work at the office.”
“I’ll send an email tomorrow with a summary of key items.” I can already see some of the strain easing from my brother’s face. “I really hope the rat isn’t one of us. That will seriously piss me off.”
“We have to prepare for anything, and speaking of, Ben sent me an updated report on Lavinia just before we left. I haven’t had time to read it fully, but the gist of it is her back history is fake.”
“You didn’t think to lead with that?”
“I was getting to it. Do you think we’ve been lax in not getting to know our men better? In letting Marino handle most of it?”
“I don’t see how it’s any different than how the other dons run their businesses. Cristian isn’t hands-on either. None of us can be and avoid public detection to the extent it’s required.”
“I’m beginning to think that’s a mistake. Maybe we’re being too trustworthy.” I finish my water, tempted to reach for a beer, but I want to keep my wits about me tonight while Gia is on her date. I’ve had confirmation she’s at a Michelin-star restaurant with that Irish prick. I’ll have a couple drinks at the bar, but no more, in case there’s an issue and I’m needed.
“Luca trusts Marino. He wouldn’t have suggested we retain him as our underboss if he had any concerns.” Caleb drains his beer and grabs another.
“I know, and I’m not suggesting he’s untrustworthy. He was great during the transition, patient with us as we learned the ropes, and he never criticized us for being young. He’s solid, and he’s got our backs.”
“He respects us, and we respect him.”
“Agreed. My point was more of a general one. This shit on the streets has shaken me up. We’re not as in touch as we’d like to think we are.”
“It’s all the more reason for me to take a step back from the legit business and reconnect with our soldati. ” He flashes me a grin as our driver pulls the car alongside the curb outside the bar. “At least we have something to celebrate tonight.”
We get out and head inside, making a beeline for our usual table at the back, which is always reserved for us.
The gang is all here, and I’m glad to see Cristian and Zumo have left their girls at home tonight. Vittus orders a round of drinks while I fall into conversation with Giulio. He’s Luca’s son, therefore, our cousin, but we only got to know him later in life. He’s a few years older than us and a successful Wall Street trader. He gets pulled into mafioso business from time to time, but mostly he’s on the fringes and not an active made man.
My phone pings with regular updates as the soldato shadowing Gia sends me texts and pictures. I grind my teeth to the molars as I stare at the most recent photo he sent. Gia and Liam have left the restaurant, and they’re heading for a bar on foot. The jerk has his arm around her shoulders, tucking her in close to his side as they walk. She’s laughing as she looks up at him. Her eyes look bright and there’s color in her cheeks. He’s gazing at her like he wants to devour her whole, and I’m growling under my breath before I’ve even realized I’m doing it.
“What gives, man?” Vittus asks, pouring another measure of bourbon into my glass.
“Nothing.” I repocket my cell and attempt to shake my shoulders loose.
Caleb chuckles, smirking at me from his seat beside Cristian. “Told you that one was trouble.”
Zumo sits up straighter, his face perking up. “Is there a girl?”
My nose scrunches in irritation. “Don’t act stupid. Of course, there isn’t.” They all know my history with Bettina and why I’ve vowed never to be in a relationship again.
“He’s lying,” Giulio says, waggling his brows. “He’s getting pics of some redhead on his phone,” he adds, totally throwing me to the wolves.
Cristian eyeballs me over his scotch, scooting closer to my left side. “Something you want to share, buddy?” he asks in a low tone.
I look around, ensuring no one is paying us too much attention before I press my mouth to his ear. “Gia is on a date with that douche. I asked for updates.”
“Did you now?” Cristian grins.
“It’s not like that.”
“It’s totally like that,” Caleb says, eavesdropping.
I flip him the bird. “It is not like that,” I whisper-hiss, keeping my voice low on purpose. The other guys are discussing football and no longer interested, but I need to be careful what I say when I’m in a public place. “I promised Mom and Frankie I’d keep her safe. This is me trying to keep that promise.”
“Liar.” Caleb flicks hair out of his eyes. “You arranged it before they asked that of you.”
I run my finger underneath the collar of my black shirt. “I didn’t need it verbalized to know they’d want me to do this. Back the fuck off.”
My phone pings again, and I’m almost afraid to look.
“I’m only messing with you,” Caleb says, sensing my irritation. “We know you don’t date.”
I swipe my finger to access the message, almost vomiting when I open the picture. My fingers clutch my phone in a death grip, and my nostrils flare as I glare at the image of Gia pressed up against the wall outside a bar. Liam is devouring her mouth like an animal while his hand travels up her thigh. Her skirt has been pushed up higher, and she’s showcasing a lot of skin. What the hell is she playing at? She’s supposed to be acting coy, not letting him paw at her in public like a horny teenager who cannot control his hormones.
I’m beyond enraged.
Why? I have no fucking clue, and that only makes me angrier.
“I know that face.” My twin pushes the bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle across the table to me. “Drink up, brother. You look like you need it.”
Grabbing the bottle, I pour a generous measure in my glass and knock it back in one go. It does nothing to quell the inferno swirling inside me.
“You sure you haven’t got a thing for her?” Cristian asks. His brow is puckered as he examines my face. “She sure seems to have you tied into knots.”
“I don’t have a thing for her,” I snap, refilling my glass. “I just don’t like seeing good women getting treated like trash by trash.”
That’s all it is.
Right?