Chapter 49
Chapter
Forty-Nine
Vince
“Are you going to tell me what happened with you and Luna?” My brother asks as I get my covers and pillow situated on his couch.
“I’m no better than Uncle Joseph.” I aggressively punch my pillow to flatten it out.
“For the love of God, Vince, will you stop with that shit?”
“I was her guardian.”
“Did you fuck her when she was a minor?” my brother challenges.
“No! Of course not.”
“Were you grooming her as a prepubescent child?”
“I didn’t know her as a prepubescent child.”
“Exactly.” He crosses his arms. “What else you got?”
That I used her, like every other piece of shit in her life.
“She’s better off without me.”
Aldo throws his arms up in frustration. “What you’re doing is self-harm. No different than Luna cutting herself. ”
“How do you know?—”
“Saw her scars when we were hanging out at Bridget’s. You’re cutting yourself, too, Vince, except you’re bleeding internally.”
Maybe he’s right, but it’s too late. I’ve already cut my femoral artery, and I’m bleeding out.
There’s a knock on the door.
“You expecting company?” I ask.
“No.”
I grab my gun from the coffee table, stuffing it in the waistband of my shorts before walking to the door and glancing out the peephole. “I’ve got to handle some family business,” I tell Aldo. “If I don’t make it back, I want you to keep an eye on Luna. Look out for her, even if she doesn’t want you to.”
“Goddammit, Vince. I hate this!” Tears stream down my brother’s face.
I go to him and wrap my arms around my baby brother, smoothing his hair like I did when we were kids. “I’m proud of the man you’ve become. Always remember that.”
Another knock, this one more insistent.
“It’s time,” I say, letting go.
“Vince, I love you,” Aldo tells me, using the hem of his shirt to wipe his face.
“Love you too, little brother. Lock up behind me.”
I step outside and close the door to find the family’s hit man waiting for me. “Darius.”
“Vince. Come with me.”
I walk to his car, sliding into the passenger seat. “You doing the dirty work?” I ask, proud that my voice is steady.
“Nah, I’m the delivery boy,” he says, looking over his shoulder before we take off.
“So I’m not getting knocked off tonight?” I press.
His face is unreadable. “I didn’t say that.”
I let out a heavy breath. “Come on, just tell me. ”
“I’m taking you to meet with the boss. That’s all I know. Scout’s honor.” He places his right hand on his heart.
“You’re no scout.”
He flips on classical music. “True enough.”
“How’s your family?” Might as well make my last ride a pleasant one.
“Getting bigger. Lily and I are expecting.” He beams.
“Congrats. That’s great news,” I tell him.
“Thanks. Couldn’t be happier. I’m one lucky son of a bitch.”
“You believe in luck?”
“Wouldn’t be here with you today if not for it.”
“Lucky me,” I mutter.
“That remains to be seen.”
“I thought you didn’t know?—”
“I’m messing with you.” Darius chuckles.
Arriving at the boss’s house and clearing security, Darius escorts me inside.
“Boss.” I knock on the office door.
“Enter.”
I step inside the room to find the boss, Sam, and Fabio.
Romeo says something to Darius in Greek, and he responds with laughter in his voice.
“Good luck,” Darius tells me before closing the door.
“Vince.” Romeo gestures to the empty chair between the underboss and my capo.
“Gentlemen.” I nod at Sam and Fabio before taking my seat.
“I’ve considered what we discussed, and I’ve come to my decision.” Romeo tents his fingers, pausing. The most dramatic pause of my life. “And that’s to give you a decision.”
“Alright,” I say tentatively.
“Option one. You’re out. Your name stricken from the books, like you were never part of this family. You’ll close your sportsbooks and settle up, and we’ll part ways.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. Like I said, once you’re stricken from the books, it’s a clean slate for you. Go live your pedestrian life.” Romeo waves his hand.
“And option two?” I ask, not quite believing option one.
“Option two is you join the family,” Romeo says.
My brow furrows. “I don’t understand.”
“As children, Sam and I were warned never to be alone with Uncle Joseph, and now we know why,” Romeo admits. “My father should’ve put a bullet in that pedo’s head long before you and your brother came on the scene. But he didn’t.”
“No, he didn’t,” I say through gritted teeth.
Romeo holds up his hands. “I can’t undo what’s been done; I can only hope to atone. You and your brother were wronged by a member of this family, and I’m in a position to make it right.”
“I’m not following the part about me joining the family,” I tell him.
“It’ll be more a symbolic made ceremony, with your capo sponsoring you,” he explains. “Someone who can vouch for your honor and fitness. Someone who genuinely wants you to be a part of this family.”
“Hell, I’d do it myself if Fabio didn’t already volunteer,” Sam says.
“There’s your ties to the family. The boss, underboss, and capo all vouching for you,” Romeo tells me.
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“You’ll keep your seniority,” he continues. “Close your sportsbooks and open your restaurant. I wouldn’t mind expanding our reach down the shore.”
“I need some time to think about this,” I say.
“Of course. Take twenty-four hours to sleep on it. Just know if you choose option one, you’ll have a hard time finding commercial space for your restaurant.”
“How do you figure?” The realtor indicated it was a done deal.
“I’m the proud new owner of all the vacant commercial buildings on the island. The building with the most restaurant potential had a bid; sorry to that bidder who lost out.”
I laugh in disbelief. “You play dirty, boss.”
Romeo’s lips quirk into the faintest hint of a smile. “Never said otherwise.”
“Both of you.” I stare Fabio down.
Fabio holds up his hands in surrender.
I turn my attention back to Romeo. “I don’t want to be a frontman; when I say I want a restaurant, I want to be the chef.”
“Can you cook?” Sam asks, a bit surprised.
“Yeah, I’m a damn good cook, but I’d like to get a few months of culinary school under my belt,” I admit.
Romeo waves his hand in dismissal. “You’ll apprentice with Nonna in the kitchen. Take twenty-four hours?—”
“I’ve made my decision.”
“We’re here as a symbolic gesture. Vincenzo ‘Vince’ Rossi has been a member of this family for years, but the circumstances surrounding his sponsorship by Uncle Joseph have left a stain on this family’s history. I would say God rest Uncle Joseph’s soul, but that fucker can burn in hell.”
Amen.
Romeo holds up a picture of Saint Dismas. “We swear by blood on the patron saint of thieves when we join the family. Some say there’s no honor amongst thieves, but I disagree. This family is built on honor, and if Uncle Joseph were here with us, I’d demonstrate that fact by cutting off that sick fucker’s dick. Sadly, he’s not, so this ceremony will have to do. Fabio, do you make a recommendation?”
“Boss, I nominate Vincenzo ‘Vince’ Rossi to rightfully join the Parisi family. He’s been a rock in the family for sixteen years. Our oddsmaker, even when sports betting became legal and the odds were against him. He’s someone I’d be happy to have my back, and I want him to know the family will always have his.”
My good eye becomes blurry, but I fight back the tears.
Swearing the oath, I prick my finger and watch the blood fall onto our patron saint’s image.
Romeo holds the picture in the candle flame. It ignites, and he tosses it in a bowl as it burns to ash. “Welcome to the family.”