Chapter 29
Massimo
The minute we pull up to Dad’s house, I turn to Jimmy. “Go with Mario and Enrico. I don’t want Dad to know you were here. I gave you the order to pick up those men.”
His eyes go wide. “Massimo, I didn’t tell you so that you could take the heat. I did it to protect this family.”
“And you fucking did, but you and I both know how he gets. I don’t want him turning against you because of this, capisce? Do what I ask, Jimmy. Best case, you never get asked. Worst case, you stick to that fucking story as though your life depended on it, because it just might.”
His jaw tightens and he looks from me to Leandro, who gives him a nod affirming exactly what I said. “Do it,” Leandro tells Jimmy. “He’s trying to protect you, we both are. Now get the fuck out.”
Jimmy leaves, heading over to the SUV with the guys, and Leandro turns to me. “This is going to be a fucking shit show. You want me to call Gino, Tristano, and Renato?”
I shake my head. “No, we can handle it ourselves for now. Let’s hope it goes well enough that we can call them once we’re done.
Look Leandro, there is a very real chance here that I’m going to have stepped across the last line that he’s drawn.
I knew it before I went to the Amorte’s, but it was my decision.
I’m done with the arrangement, always have been, but now I’m done pretending to go along with the arrangement.
Sophia is my world and if Dad wants to hand you the business as next son in line that hasn’t disappointed him, I’m good with that, brother.
I have no doubt in the world that you’re ready for whatever life and this family has to throw at us. ”
His dark intense eyes meet mine. “We’re a team.
Where you go, I go. He’ll have to accept what we’ve decided and come to terms with having to talk to the Italian family about the promises he’s made that aren’t going to come to fruition.
I’m with you a hundred percent. You’re the next fucking boss and I’m the underboss. That’s the way it’s going to be.”
I choke back the emotion. “Let’s get this fucking over with. I hope Mom’s not home, he’ll just upset her and try to get her to talk some sense into us.”
We walk toward the door, and it opens before we get to the porch.
“It’s about fucking time,” our father roars, leaving the door wide open as he retreats to the great room, clearly expecting his sons to follow in his stride.
His glass is half empty and his face is flushed, a warning if nothing else that his temper is liable to flair.
He slumps into his leather recliner and doesn’t look at either of us before taking a drink.
“Help yourself if you want anything, I gave everyone the day off.”
Leandro and I meet glances over his head.
The meeting between old man Amorte and myself is on me, so I take a seat across from him.
“I didn’t want to talk about Amorte last night because I was too keyed up, too pissed off, and you were too tired.
” He knows as well as I do that it wasn’t simply tiredness, he was plain ass drunk, but there’s no reason to throw gasoline onto a highly volatile situation and I know it.
“Tell me your side of it. I’ve heard from everyone except my fucking son, the one person I trust to run my empire,” he says, not even bothering to look at me.
We both know that’s a fucking lie, and I’m not letting it go.
“No, you don’t trust me, or you wouldn’t have men in your employ hired to spy on your sons and report back to you every move we make.
We put up with it because we too have people on the grounds, on the streets who give us information that keeps us in the know, but not about you, Dad.
That’s where we draw the line. We don’t pay people to keep tabs on you and we don’t appreciate you doing it to us. ”
His dead looking eyes meet mine. “How does that have anything to do with Amorte?”
My eyebrow arches. “It doesn’t, but you brought it up, and there’s something you need to know about the men you employed to spy on your sons. They’re now hanging in our warehouse, where rats of the family belong.”
He starts to talk but I cut him off.
“No, let me finish. They are there at my order, because they are not the men you believe them to be. We have good reason to believe they are working for the Gallinis, and were able to infiltrate our organization quickly, because you didn’t trust your sons.
You created a weak link in our chain, Dad, something that shouldn’t exist, but you weakened our bond with your lies about me and Desiree and your mistrust of the sons who have done nothing but do your bidding and protect the interests of this family. ”
“Back to the Cassone girl,” he yells.
Barely do I manage to keep my temper in check, but for him, and the protection of this family I will, but only to a fucking point.
“It was never about Sophia, Dad. It was about my life, my freedom, my choices outside of yours, to do what other men are able to do. Find a love of their own. That’s what it was about, for me and for Desiree, that’s all she ever wanted too.
And now, after my conversation with Amorte, it will be done. He’s agreed to our terms.”
His dark eyes turn to me. “Your terms, not my terms. I was not consulted, or I would have told you no, just like I have time and time again, but my son is just too fucking stubborn to listen to his parents. Even your mother agrees!”
I blow out a breath. “Leave Mother out of this. Amorte agreed. It’s done.
I’m having Emil work up the documents to make it official, and in the meantime, we’re going to find somewhere safe for Desiree, somewhere she can be away from his clutches and have a life that she wants.
Far, far away from this city. Then she won’t have to worry about trying to get away from her father.
Dad doesn’t say a word and looks to Leandro to gauge his reaction. Leandro stares back pointedly, not giving an inch. He’s not disrespectful, but my brother is with me all the way. My father takes another drink of Jack, emptying his glass before pouring himself another or saying a word.
When he finally speaks, his voice is quiet, controlled, and eerily different.
“Your mother and I have conferred on the subject. I was going to hand you the keys to the Roselli empire next year, after the marriage to Desiree. It’s a hard pill to swallow knowing that your whole life is about to crumble because of a disobedient son. ”
My eyes meet Leandro’s. “What do you mean by that, Dad? If there’s something you’re not telling us, now is the time.”
He nods, taking another long swig of his whiskey as though gaining courage to tell us what he has to say. “I imagine if you have the Gallini soldiers at the warehouse, and Jimmy and the rest of the boys do their job, you’ll find out soon enough.”
The blood pumps through my veins. One fucking riddle after another. At least he’s not throwing glasses. “You tell us, Dad. Tell us now.”
My father tips back his crystal glass and lets the entire contents float down his throat, and then stands, slamming his glass into a million pieces against the fireplace.
“You thought there was a choice Massimo, because I let you think there was a choice. What you don’t understand, because I never told you, is that you’re never really in control, even when your title says you are. ”
I start to say something, but his rage causes me to pause. “Go on.”
He gestures around the entire house. “All of this, do you not think I would give all of this up for you, your brothers, and most fucking certainly your mother? The love of my fucking life and now she’s gone. Gone because you didn’t do what you were fucking told, and started a war, Massimo!”
My chest tightens and the entire world tilts on an axis. “Who, who took her? When…” I’m on my feet ready to strangle the son of a bitch with my bare hands, except Leandro keeps me from tearing him apart. “Where the fuck is she, Dad?”
He looks me in the eyes, and the despair hits me like a slug right to the stomach. “When you think you’re fucking the enemy, they’re always really fucking you. Who the fuck do you think, Massimo? It’s never been anyone else, it’s always been the fucking Cassones.”