13. Emmett #2
“Good. Now, because of this very crucial step of succession, I have found it acceptable to test the two eldest grandsons, Vaughn and Alessio. I want to see who will take over after me.”
A tense silence falls in the room.
A made-up tense silence… after all, this has been known for a while. Grandfather made sure to spread the news.
“But, Padre , hasn’t Alessio always been the heir?” Emilio instigates craftily.
“Alessio is and has always been my heir. When has that ever changed?” Grandfather questions calmly. “I’m just giving Vaughn a chance.”
Or rather, giving me a whetstone… that will surely break in the near future after it has served its purpose.
I just need to know what exactly the old man’s plan is.
“If you’re giving Vaughn a chance, why not add my son—” Giovanni starts, but Grandfather cuts him off.
“Is your son qualified?”
Giovanni falls silent angrily.
“ Padre , what’s the criteria you will use to choose between the two of them?” Emilio asks, ever so keenly.
“Well, competence, character among other things, but you should know, I’m not the one choosing. The girl will.”
“Which girl?” Angelo asks ever so innocently, as if he’s not aware.
“I believe you already know who she is, so don’t try to be smart with me here!” he snaps. “The groom she chooses will automatically be the next family head on the day of their wedding.”
A ripple of incredulity moves around the room.
This kind of nonsense has never happened before, and they all know it, but none of them will ever oppose it because in their eyes, Vaughn has won.
“When will we know?” Emilio presses on.
“In fourteen days,” he says pointedly.
I can feel the old cripple’s sharp gaze on me, but from the beginning of this meeting to now, I still have my back to the room.
“Now, while I also agree on the step that was taken today, I disapprove of the blatant disrespect for hierarchy that Alessio displayed, which is breaking one of the Family laws.”
Here it comes.
“In light of that, I’m stripping Alessio’s authority by two levels, taking back the Tiger Division from him and placing Vaughn in charge instead.”
An audible murmur erupts in the room, like shocked, gossiping market women that just heard a juicy rumor.
The Tiger Division is one my mother single-handedly expanded and grew.
It is the most lucrative, and also the most important division in the entire Outfit, simply because that division deals with arms, secrets, power, minerals, the manufacturing of heavy artillery, aircraft, military carrier ships, and other heavy hitters only ever whispered about.
The Easton Family doesn’t do basic Mafia crap like drugs and prostitution.
Power has levels… and so does greed.
The Tiger Division is by far the most prosperous, and most tantalizing. Only my mother and I have been in charge of it. No one alive, not even the old cripple, has ever had the chance to control it, and he hates that too.
Because of their deeply ingrained loyalty, the captains that run the Tiger Division only answered to my mother when she took over from Great-Grandfather.
Armando never had the same fortune to do so like his daughter, and after his daughter came me… and now he wants to place Vaughn there?
It’s almost laughable.
From the outside looking in, this move looks like the harshest punishment toward me, but not really.
I eye the old man.
What are you planning?
Giovanni, Emilio, and Vaughn look appeased by this punishment. Only Angelo remains silent and calm while the old man holds my gaze.
What is he up to exactly, because that punishment is impossible to execute, and he knows it.
“From this moment, my decision is now final,” Grandfather announces, looking straight at me with clear displeasure in his eyes…
and something else I can’t place. “In two weeks, the girl will make a decision, but don’t you dare come back until your father is presented in front of me. Am I understood?”
I hold my grandfather’s gaze, my mind racing.
Does he know I wanted this time? But no, I always cover my tracks. Not even Vaughn is aware that I intentionally gave him all the information he believes he found by himself.
But still, there’s something in the old man’s eyes that I haven’t seen in a long time…
Well then, let’s act along.
“So, this is what you want?” I say with a sneer. “He can’t even find accurate information but you’re giving him my position?”
“Yes.”
We watch each other silently, while my uncles and Vaughn are busy celebrating their victory of having me stripped of my power and then chasing me away.
Just then, there’s a soft knock on the door, then it opens softly, and Ripley comes in.
“Young Master, the plane is ready.”
I’m not surprised to hear Rip’s words. It’s clear Grandfather had been planning to send me away for a while.
“Well? Aren’t you going?” Grandfather demands, daring me to defy him. “It’ll take months for that matter to be closed.”
Months…
“Ahh, it’s better for Alessio to go now then,” Emilio jumps in. “Vaughn will take care of everything in America. You don’t have to concern yourself with that anymore.”
Grandfather only looks at me, knowing damn well that he’s pushing me out according to the setup of my uncles and cousin.
“How can I leave without thanking you for your thoughtfulness?” I state seriously, fighting for calm.
When I turn to leave, I don’t bother looking at Vaughn or my uncles.
I just have one thought on my mind.
I should’ve kissed her.