Chapter 36 Cesare
I dragged Rafael closer to me. “So you were trying not to snitch?”
He shrugged. “I had to balance. I’m shit at balancing.”
My hand tightened around the back of his neck. “You’re shit at a lot of stuff,” he growled. “Maybe next time you won’t try to play super spy when all you’re good at is spreading your legs.”
Rafael groaned. “See what I mean?” he asked my kids. “He’s a dick. Not malicious, but definitely a dick.”
I gave him a shake, and he yelped.
“Quiet,” I snapped. “You’re done talking for now.” I thought about everything that had just come to light. There had been so much I had no clue about. Shit that was tied to my family that I hadn’t sanctioned. “Someone’s playing with me,” I said.
“Rocky?” Rafael asked. “He’s closest.”
My chest tightened. I thought about Rocky comforting me when I found out about Rafael.
How he supported me. The way he talked to me.
How long we’d been friends. My jaw ticked.
That was the thing: being friends meant nothing in this lifestyle.
Just because you knew each other for years, it didn’t mean shit.
“Dad?” Benito called.
I frowned. “Rocky’s been loyal since we were young,” I muttered. “Still. He knows everything about me. Every move, every strategy, every plan gets run by him for viability. If anyone could be responsible for this…”
“Then it’s him,” Benito said. “Shit. Uncle Rocky. That’s a low blow. I knew he was always on your side, but I didn’t think he’d ever do some shit like that.”
I grinned, and then cleared my throat as Rafael stared at me. Instead, I used my words. “We should get him out here. I can send a distress call.”
“Good idea,” Benito said. “Let’s see what he has to say. I’m thinking—”
His words were cut off by a ringtone. “My Funny Valentine” by Frank Sinatra cut through the air so absurd and vocal that we all paused. Slowly, we all turned, and there was Enzo, pulling out his cell. He looked mildly perturbed, his jaw tight.
“It’s Valentine’s Day.” When no one said anything, he glared. “Go fuck yourselves.” He picked up the phone. “Yes, baby? I’m busy.”
Enzo listened to the call for a while, just humming or grunting in response. Eventually, he pulled the phone away from his ear and pressed the speaker button. I raised a brow as his boyfriend’s voice filled the air.
“Am I on?” Tex asked, his voice hushed.
“Yes,” Enzo answered. “Tell them what you told me.”
“Okay,” he said. “So like I was saying, I’m working the bar at Blu tonight, and guess who walked in?
” He paused for a moment. “Pietro, Cesare’s cousin.
Which, fine, whatever, but I remember Benito told me to look out for anyone connected to him.
Well, he’s here and he’s bragging. Telling some girl that he’s about to take over the family.
He kept saying he’s about to run New York.
That it’s almost time. He’s a little drunk, so I asked what he meant and he said it plainly.
When the two heads tear each other apart, he would be the only one left to take over.
” Tex sighed heavily. “And he’s got guys with him.
I think he’s trying to build his own shit. ”
Everything clicked into place for me. “Fuck!” I shouted. Frustration worked its way up my body as I clenched my fists. “Pietro,” I grumbled. “I never even suspected him, but he knew a ton too.” My jaw tightened. “Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Tex said. “We got his picture ages ago, and I made sure I stuck close to him as he said it all. Whatever he’s up to, it’s not good.”
“We’ll take it from here,” Enzo said. “Stay away from him, now. Go get one of the guards to watch the bar. You go gather the other wives and bunker down at Benito’s.” He paused. “Now, Tex.”
“I’m already grabbing my stuff,” Tex said. “I’ll text you when we’re all safe. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I stared and then raised a brow. “Wives?”
Gin grinned. “That’s what we call them. Vitale wives.” He chuckled. “Most of them hate it.”
Blake frowned. “Quincey either hates it or loves it. Depends on the day.” His eyes met mine. “Hey, I think I judged you too fast.”
I raised a hand. “Don’t,” I said. “What you did, how you acted? It’s survival, instincts, and smarts. You should have been wary. Trust me. Don’t back down from that.”
“Focus!” Rafael said, throwing up his hands. “If it’s that greasy little worm Pietro, then we need to deal with this!”
“We? There is no we,” I growled. "You're going home.”
“Like fuck I am,” Rafael snapped back. “I’m not going home until you’re home.”
“Gay,” Paolo and Gin coughed at the same time.
I was going to kill them. All of them. And at this point, they deserved it after I got my ass kicked. Parts of me hurt that I had forgotten even existed. I could be proud and still want to knock their heads into a tree.
“Okay, okay,” Benito sighed. “Enough.” He paused. “Rafael, you never explained what you meant about my bloodline.”
“He’s your mother’s brother,” I snapped. “Half brother? Something like that.”
Benito blinked. “Wait, so he's my uncle and my stepfather?” My son blinked at me. “You know what? I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“That’s what I say!”
“Focus,” Enzo drawled. “Pietro.”
Right, we had plenty of time to figure out the entire complicated background of this family.
And for the first time, it felt like I just might still have a family when all of this was done.
Like they might be part of my life. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to fight. Not them at least.
Benito frowned. “I can get him out here,” he said finally. “We’ll tell him we have Cesare. Make it like we want to negotiate. He’ll come out here, probably armed and with his men.” Benito shifted.
“Send the twins into the trees,” I said, cutting in as I looked at my oldest. “Paolo and Gin are the best at ambushing people, always have been. The whole twin thing freaks everyone out a little.”
“Yo,” Paolo rasped.
“Yeah, not cool,” Gin added.
“Get over it, buttercups,” I said. “Blake likes fire. Set their cars to burn. They won’t need them.
” I looked at the rest of us. “Rafael, you need to make yourself scarce. Pietro knows you.” I nodded.
“Enzo and Benito stay. He’s always underestimated Enzo, and Benito? It makes sense for you to be here.”
My oldest nodded. “So, you going back in the hole?” he asked finally.
I sighed. “Yeah,” I grumbled. “Guess I’m back in the goddamn hole.” I paused. “If one of you morons buries me alive…”
“We won’t,” Benito said.
“I won’t let them,” Rafael cut in.
“I would,” Gin said. “So fucking fast.”
Benito stepped forward. “You heard where you need to be. Go,” he snapped as he pulled out his phone. “It’s time to get this over with.”
I turned to Rafael. There was still a layer of shock on me that they had even listened to what I had to say. But the one thing I saw in my boys’ eyes was that look of respect. They kept it with them. Always. Even after all this time.
My hand latched around the back of Rafael’s neck. When he stumbled forward, my lips found his. I kissed him, long and slow. Was he a snitch? Yes. But part of me could respect that he had never actually given them much. Or maybe I was just an absolute dumbass in love.
When I pulled back, my head rested against his. “Stay out of sight. If I see even a glimpse of you and live? You’re not getting dick for weeks.”
“See?” Gin called. “Gay!”
Benito groaned. “I hate my life.”
Rafael, though, was beaming up at me. “I’ll hide,” he said. “And if you try to take dick away from me? I’m going to seriously have to kill someone.”
I rolled my eyes. “Go,” I said as I patted his round ass. “Get out of here. If things go tits up, you run. You understand me?”
Rafael leaned in. “Yes, Daddy,” he whispered against my ear.
We kissed one more time. For a long while, my lips lingered on his. When we pulled away, both of us were panting.
“Go,” I said firmly.
Benito was placing the call. I dropped into the hole and dragged the gag out of my back pocket. As the stage started being set, I moved to my knees. My spine straightened before Benito came down with me.
“Hold still.” The phone call started, and he spoke low and fast. “Yeah, I need you. Hurry up. No, it’s a fucking emergency, come now. I can’t deal with this shit.”
He tied my arms behind my back with a length of rope.
My stomach flipped. Part of me wanted to jump back out of this hole and fight for my life.
That was my survival instinct, the only thing that had kept me safe for all these years.
Another part of me stopped. I had to trust Benito.
He could be setting me up. Double-crossing me.
This could be his moment to get rid of me forever.
Some part of me became resigned. If this was the last time I ever saw Rafael, my sons, the world… Had I really missed out on anything that I could repair at this point? If my son succeeded, wasn’t that the ultimate goal to being a parent?
I hung my head as he climbed out and prayed he didn’t see the tears.
Do what you have to do, son.