Epilogue I Cesare
Two Weeks Later
Walking into Vitale Construction’s office building was like walking into a different lifetime.
Before I’d ever been shipped off to prison, before I handed the throne to Benito, this had been my place.
Everything looked more modern now, the colors cool, neutral tones.
My loafers whispered against the ground as I checked my watch.
The inscription felt like it always pressed against my flesh, a constant reminder of him.
I looked up as Benito’s office door opened.
Right on time.
“You’re here,” Benito said. “They should arrive soon. You’re sure about this meeting?”
I sat down in a leather chair and ran my hand down my shirt.
No tie. Just the expensive button-up that Rafael insisted on now that he had unlimited access to my money again.
His exact words had been an insult so cutting and fashion forward that I had no idea what he’d said to me, so I’d just fucked him into the floor instead. He still bought the shirt.
“Yes,” I said. “Samson is an old friend of mine. He’s been based in New Jersey for a while, but I believe his reach is getting too big there.
Besides, the Acetos left a gap.” I leaned forward and rested my forearms on my knees.
“The Marinos are good people. Hard working. Samson and his wife, Lilian, they’ve been doing good shit for years. I keep in touch with him.”
“Hard to believe you got friends, old man,” Gin mused.
“Keep calling me old man. I swear I’m gonna put you on your ass.”
He held up both hands. “Goddamn, man. I was just being friendly. Benito, tell your father to calm down.”
“Stop bothering him,” Benito said as he wrote on a stack of papers in front of him.
“Now you’re on his side?”
“I swear to god, Gin, I will lock you in the closet.”
“Why? So he can piss himself?” I asked.
Giancarlo glared. “Hey! We can’t make fun of past traumas! Ash said it wasn’t okay,” he growled.
I held my hands up. “Jesus, no one can take a joke anymore. I can’t say anything.”
“Seventy-five percent of your language is offensive. Dad, leave him be,” Benito said without looking up. “I don’t have time to have blood cleaned up from this office again.”
“Again?” I muttered. “What the hell happens here?”
“Paolo and Gin happen. Or Enzo and Gin. Or Blake and Gin…”
“Why the fuck you tryin’ to make it like it’s all me!” Gin objected. “Sometimes, you all are just assholes.”
“And sometimes I don’t like blood in my carpet,” Benito said, finally glancing up with a glare that looked eerily like mine. “Sit the hell down, Gin.”
Paolo strolled in at that moment, breaking up the boys’ bickering. He plopped down on the couch with Enzo on his heels. Blake was the last to file in. He winked at me and smacked my shoulder before he sat down with Paolo.
We talked for a little while before the knock came on the door. When it opened, there were the Marinos. I stood up and met Samson. We shook hands and then pulled each other into a tight hug, smacking each other on the back.
“Lilian,” I said, kissing her cheek. “Welcome in.” Once the door was closed behind them and three other men, I waved a hand. “These are my boys,” I said proudly. “You can run everything through them.”
“Not you?” Samson asked, his thick eyebrows tensed in confusion. “I thought we would be working with you.”
“No,” I said, holding up a hand. “I’m retiring.”
“Bullshit,” Gin laughed. “He’s retiring from being a pain in our asses. I mean, he’ll still be around though.”
I rolled my eyes. “Mostly I’ll be working import–export so if there’s any smuggling to be done, that’s when you’ll be dealing with me.” I waved a hand toward Benito. “This is my oldest. He’s the one you’ll be interacting with.”
“Oh, not me,” Samson said with a laugh. “I’ve just about retired myself.
” He smiled. “These are my boys. Damon is in charge,” he said, pointing to a man that looked just like him with dark eyes and hair, that he’d once had before the gray set in.
“Nash is his second,” he said, pointing to the other male with reddish brown hair.
“And then Lucero is our enforcer. Helps us out.”
I stared at the last hulking male. He was bigger than everyone in the room, not just tall, but wide, with a face that looked like he could eat cans and spit them back out at your feet.
“That ain’t a man; that’s a giant,” Paolo muttered.
“Stop before he breaks you in half,” Gin whispered entirely too loudly. “Goddamn, I thought he was a mountain in the office. I was about to ask if I was finally having my next psychotic break.”
Blake snorted behind his hand.
I glared at all three of them. After a moment, they swallowed their bullshit and straightened up. I turned back to Samson.
“They’re—”
Samson waved a hand. “It’s all right! Lucero is our biggest boy; he’s used to it.” We glanced at Lucero, and he blinked.
“Yeah?” he asked.
Clearly, he hadn’t been paying attention even a little. I sighed.
“Kids,” Samson and I said at the same time before we grinned.
“If you two are done,” Benito said, standing up as he smoothed down his suit. “I would like to discuss the particulars of your integration into New York. Yes, we have a missing space. But I want to see if you fit in here.”
Damon walked over to Benito and extended his hand.
“We hope we will. I’ve already drawn up some ideas and sent them to your email the day before.
My family is in several sectors that won’t interfere with your businesses, but support them.
We’re not looking to take over, just find a bigger piece of the pie that fits us.
” After Benito let his hand go, he folded them in front of him. “Let’s talk business.”
Benito looked him up and down before he nodded once. “Let’s.”
I raised a brow at Samson. He shrugged and made a face that said “let ’em talk.” We both sat down after Lilian had a comfortable place. He offered me a cigar, and I smelled it before I nodded.
“Smells divine, old friend,” I said.
“Wait until you taste it. I brought an extra one for Rocky. How’s he doing?”
“Good.” I smiled as I clipped the edge of my cigar. “Taking a well-deserved vacation with his wife.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He lit my cigar and then his own. “I haven’t seen you smile this much since the boys were born,” he said lowly. “What’s got you looking like that?”
I exhaled. “My boys are good. I’m taking time off.” I shrugged. “And I’m in love.”
Samson looked surprised before he smiled. “Good. We should all be so lucky.”
Yeah, he was right. I was a lucky son of a bitch.
“Would you stop fidgeting," Rafael said for what felt like the tenth time since we got in the car.
Traffic was a bitch, and I was glad that I had Marco driving. I was bound to lose my shit on the people around me. They were driving like it was their first day on the road.
Familiar buildings came into view, and my nerves skyrocketed.
I’d been held at gun point and it had produced less nerves than this.
Marco pulled over, and before I knew it, the back door was opening.
Taking a breath, I adjusted my clothes and stepped out.
Rafael laced his hand with mine as we walked into the building.
Everything was a blur as we got into the elevator.
The doors slid closed, and for a second, I could understand Gin’s phobia with small spaces.
“Shit, I forgot the gifts,” I growled.
“I have them right here, sir,” Andrew said. I hadn’t even noticed him. I’d completely forgotten he was in the car behind us.
“Thanks,” Rafael said, taking the five bags and passing the life-size unicorn into my arms. “Do you need to go over it again?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.” The urge to grunt was right there at the back of my throat.
“Navy and Nyra are Paolo and York’s girls.
They are twelve. Their favorite colors are light blue and dark blue.
Navy is captain of her basketball team and Nyra is nationally ranked on the debate team in her age category.
They both are on honor roll and have taken a liking to going to the batting cages. ”
Why was I not surprised by that last fact? I nodded, needing him to keep going.
“Emika is Benito and Harlow's daughter. She is officially one year old and is already walking. She loves anything and everything soft and anything Benito. Lastly, we have Luca, Ash and Gaincarlo’s son. He’s a little over six months.
Gin makes him carry a squishy hammer everywhere.
That’s it for human grandchildren for now. ”
“What do you mean for now?”
Rafael glanced at me. “If your kids are anything like you, there will be plenty more Vitales to come.”
“I feel like you’re trying to insult me.” I grabbed the back of his neck and dragged him closer. “You wouldn’t be doing that, would you, gattino?”
He gave me an innocent look that I didn’t believe for a second. “Never, Daddy.”
Andrew coughed behind us, reminding us both we weren’t alone. He was lucky. I should shove my cock down Rafael’s throat and force him to sit there till he learned his lesson.
“We also have Molly, Gin and Ash’s dog. Golden retriever.
Don’t know if she came today, but we brought her bones, and Ash a new clicker set.
He’s trying to train her.” The smile on his face was devious.
“Pennelope and Vox are Enzo and Tex’s cats.
An orange Maine Coon and a blue-gray cat. We got them treats and toys.”
Rafael mumbled under his breath just as the doors opened. “Yep, that's everyone. Ready to be Grandpa of the Year?”
Fuck no. I rolled my shoulders and followed behind him. Tony stood at the door, nodding to us as he opened it. Andrew took up position right next to him as we entered Benito’s place.
The chatter in the room seemed to come to a halt. Maybe we weren’t ready for this. Sure, me and my sons had patched things up on the surface, but it was a work in progress.
“You’re stiff,” Rafael whispered.