Chapter 40
FORTY
Adrian
Sam
My house. 30 minutes. Bring Madi.
It feels like my phone is burning a hole in my pocket ever since I read that text. I show up at Sam’s house five minutes early with Madi on my arm. There’s a heaviness hanging over us at the unknown of what comes next.
Last night, I made love to my wife until we both passed out from exhaustion. Only waking this morning to find our time running out. Ever since we confessed our love yesterday, she’s been attached to my side, scheming ways of getting me out of this mess.
“We could run away,” she says, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.
I turn, both of my hands landing on her shoulders as I lean in and kiss her forehead. “ Amore mio, that would only delay the inevitable. Besides, I don’t think you’d like life on the run.”
She scrunches up her adorable face. “I wouldn’t. But I’d do it for you.”
“And I love you for that.” I give her one last kiss before I ring the doorbell to Sam’s home, a Filmore mansion he inherited from his father. It seems fitting for the new King of New Orleans.
It’s John who opens the door, giving Madi a pleasant smile before he looks at me sourly. “Sam’s in his office,” he says, and then to Madi, “Zoe’s out back.”
Madi gives me one last misty-eyed look, pressing up onto her tiptoes to kiss me deeply. Her tongue says the words her mouth doesn’t. I love you.
And then she steps back, a solemn look on her face as she turns away and moves down the hallway. I watch her walk, searing the image into my mind as if this might be the last time I ever see her.
I betrayed the Costello famiglia.
I’m going to die today.
I’ve made peace with the fact, even as my heart races as I step into Sam’s office. I wanted revenge and I failed. I chose Madi over it, a choice I would make again and again and again.
And now it’s time to pay the consequences of my actions.
Sam’s office is at the front of the house, a well-lit room with dark cedar furniture and red accents. He’s sitting behind an oversized desk, nursing a mug of coffee, when I walk in.
“Morning,” he says, raising the mug. It’s not a cheerful greeting, per se, but still far too nice of a greeting for a man whose life he’s about to end.
“Good morning,” I return.
“Sit.” Sam gestures to the seat across from his desk.
I unbutton my suit jacket and slide into the seat, facing him. We stay like that for a long moment before Sam speaks again.
“So I was right,” he muses, leaning back into his seat and taking a sip from his mug. “You were out for vengeance if what John tells me is true.”
“It is.” I nod. There’s no point in making up a story now.
“You wanted to take down the whole family for what Big Al did to your father.” It’s not a question as much as a statement.
“Yes.” It feels good to say the truth aloud.
I wait to hear what my future holds, finding it difficult to sit still. “I can’t blame you,” he finally says, leaning forward and setting the mug on his desk. “I think I would have killed us all with my bare hands if someone murdered my father.” He pauses for a moment. “Actually, I did do that.”
“I take that as confirmation that Damien is dead.”
Sam smiles, winking at me. “I stand by what I said before. Big Al shouldn’t have done that. If your father had worked for mine, he’d still be alive right now. But I can’t change the past; all I can do is work on the present.” He pauses briefly, letting the words sink in. “So, you love my cousin, then?”
I nod. “Very much so.”
“And you would have saved her yesterday if she didn’t do it herself, huh?”
I chuckle. “I should have known she’d be too stubborn for my help.”
“That sounds like Madi.” Sam laughs. “She’s been like that since she was a kid. Maybe it’s because she’s the youngest.” He smiles fondly. “But she’s always been too stubborn for her own good. So you know, I have no intentions of making her a widow.”
Shocked, I lift my head to look at him face on. “Are you saying…”
“All’s forgiven, Adrian.” He waves a hand as if that clears the past, creating a blank slate.
“I-” I stutter on my words, not sure what to say. I was certain that today would be the last day of my life. No one fucks with the Costello family and gets away with it. But Sam is offering me a chance at redemption.
“I want you to work for me, though. You’re a damn good lawyer, and I also have no intention of wasting your skills. I’m not like my uncle, Adrian. I don’t go around killing for sport, especially not my own men. If you work for me, you’ll be an advisor. A consigliere. I can keep you on the legal side of things, if you’d prefer. But I think you and I could do great work together if you’re willing to be at my side.”
I never truly wanted to work for this family. The entire time I have, I’ve always had a scheme brewing in the background, driving me forward. What Sam is offering makes me part of this family. A consigliere , his advisor. I wouldn’t be a pawn in this game, I’d be at the top. And if Sam is being honest, it would be like the family my father was working for. It’d be something better.
“So it’s done, then?” I ask, inhaling a deep breath. “This war?”
Sam nods. “Almost. I have one loose end from last night to wrap up. After that, it’s over.”
“A loose end?”
“A witness. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. I have men tracking her down as we speak.”
I nod, not wanting to know any more about the her currently being tracked down.
All this time, all this fighting between the Costellos...it’s over now.
“Okay.” I extend my hand across the desk. “I’m in.”
Sam grins, standing from the desk to walk around and shake my hand. “We’re gonna be great partners, Adrian. Welcome to the family.”