24. Chapter 23
Tucker
“The autopsy report came back this afternoon.” Everyone’s attention turned to Sandro, who was sitting at the head of the table, where Lucian had sat the last time I was in here.
Giulia now sat at the opposite end as she was no longer the wife of the Don but was to hold a place of respect until Sandro married.
“It was ruled a stroke. No signs of foul play.”
That was a relief. Marco, who now sat in front of me and to Sandro’s right, nodded. “As we expected. Have the other families reached out?”
“Yes. There is a syndicate meeting tonight at The Crimson Room. I’m expected to attend as the head of the Vitale’s.
Marco will go as my right hand man. I’d like you, Tucker, to be my third.
” Elio’s head snapped towards me and his nostrils flared, but Sandro kept going.
“I know it should be you, Elio, but with this new alliance between the Vitale’s and the Givenchy’s, I thought having him there, showing the Givenchy’s back me, would be good.
He’s also a skilled negotiator, and that’s something I may need tonight. ”
Elio sat back, no longer looking mad, but maybe a little hurt. “Why would you need someone to negotiate things?”
“I’m not delusional. Though I’m the rightful heir, I’m young.
All the other Dons have at least twenty years on me.
I’m also the only one without a clear line of succession.
Adriano Accardi has a daughter that just graduated high school.
I know father talked about possibly trying to build an alliance through joining our families, but I made her hate me so that I could stay single. ”
Marco chuckled. “Yeah, she loathes you. I’m not sure that’s the best move right now. Couldn’t you just go for someone that would be easier? Literally any woman on the street.”
Sandro shook his head. “I need someone that brings a connection because otherwise, we’re an easy target.”
Elio looked at me and grinned like the Cheshire cat. “I vote for Leyla Givenchy.”
I felt my dad stiffen from a few seats away, but he wouldn’t say anything because it wasn’t his place. I, however, had no such issues. “Say her name again and I’ll slit your throat. Remember that I outrank you.”
Sandro smirked at me. “Those are two more reasons. One,” he looked at Elio, “he does outrank you technically. Two, you like to stir shit and we can’t afford that right now. Even though he’s not from our world, he knows how to handle himself like an heir and I need that energy at the table tonight.”
I gave Sandro a nod. As much as I didn’t want to go, I was part of this family now and I knew I needed to step up. “When do we leave?”
“Forty-five minutes, so eat up.”
“When we leave here, we need to move the girl.” The ride to the meeting had been in silence so far, but Marco was the first to break it, when we were only about a block away. “If Accardi takes the brothel while she’s still there, he’ll do what your father had intended to do.”
Sandro scrubbed a hand down his face. “I know. But what the fuck do we do with a fifteen-year-old girl that’s been branded and is now an orphan?”
We’d found out a couple of days before the wedding that when Lucian’s goons grabbed her, they killed the mom so she wouldn’t report her daughter missing.
I couldn’t saddle my family with a troubled teenage girl. Especially since we didn’t know what she’d do when she was released.
“She’s got to get out of the city. If she stays here, there’s too good of a chance that she’ll be either captured and sold, or rat you out.” The car pulled to a stop right outside of our destination. “But that’s a problem for later. Getting through this then getting her out is priority number one.”
As soon as we entered The Crimson Room, we were escorted to the back immediately. There were two guys the size of houses standing outside of the door and we had to check our weapons before going in.
Sandro had said this was standard procedure and made me carry a gun so I’d have something to turn in. Me not turning one in would result in a complete pat down and then I’d look weak to the others when they realized I really wasn’t packing.
Eight of the ten chairs were already filled and there were four guys standing against the wall. Though Marco was technically Sandro’s second, he wanted me at the table. Marco hadn’t seemed nearly as offended about that as Elio had about me coming instead of him.
Marco seemed smart so he probably saw the wisdom in his cousin's choice.
“Alessandro.” A man I recognized as Nico Ricci, was the first to speak.
“Let me be the first to give you my condolences. I know we were all surprised by your father's untimely death, but I’m glad the autopsy didn’t show any foul play.
The death of a leader is horrible any way you slice it, but it’s even worse for family morale if it isn’t a natural death. ”
Alessandro gave him a nod. “Thank you. It definitely was shocking for everyone in the Vitale family.” He turned and gave his attention to the others.
“I have my brother-in-law, Tucker Givenchy, sitting with me tonight. While he’s not officially leadership of our organization, my father had him inducted and wanted him to share the same kind of respect my right-hand man would.
I feel confident my father would have wanted him by my side for this meeting. ”
Don Pasero gave a nod. “Of course. We know he was excited about uniting your families.”
“I’m going to cut to the chase.” The man I recognized as the Don of the Bronx, Carbone, leaned forward on the table.
“With your father’s untimely death and you now taking the lead, there is no clear line of succession should something happen to you.
That means that if you die unexpectedly, there could be a power vacuum.
That would potentially affect us all. A successor needs to be named. ”
Sandro nodded. “Yes. Our line of succession will be finalized after the funeral, but I was hoping to discuss a potential marriage with Don Accardi to his daughter Valentina tonight.”
The man scoffed. “You didn’t seem to want anything to do with her when your father brought the idea to the table.”
Sandro lowered his eyes in respect. I wasn’t sure that was the right move since he was now the man’s equal, but what did I know?
“I was young and stupid and couldn’t imagine getting married to anyone.
I was also still pissed about Arianna’s arrangement and absolutely hated Tucker for the simple fact that he’d be marrying her one day.
I didn’t want an arrangement like that with Valentina to ruin the relationship I’d formed with your sons.
Now, as an adult that is in charge of his family, I can understand the value in an arrangement like this. ”
Don Pasero leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not a bad idea, Adriano.
You know your daughter is a wild card. And Alessandro has always proven to be a natural born leader.
We all agreed he’d do his family proud when the time came.
Hell, if I had a daughter that was of age to get married, I’d be trying to steal this deal from you.
Since he can’t wait until my Bianca is of age due to the circumstances, I think this is the best solution. ”
I leaned forward, resting my clasped hands on the table.
I’d done my research as soon as dinner was over and on the way here.
“It’s been a long time since there was a marriage between the families.
Hell, it’s been a long time since a Don took control of their family before he was married and had kids.
Valentina marrying Alessandro, the daughter of a don marrying another don, could prove the accords are working.
While there’s been peace for a long time, we all know the police are watching and just waiting for something to pop off.
This alliance could make them finally believe that there’s actual peace between the families.
If they believe that, they back off some, and I don’t have to tell you just how much that helps you all out. ”
Don Ricci smiled like the Cheshire cat. “I, for one, wouldn’t mind the cops backing off. This arrangement would have my vote.”
Agreements rang out from the other two dons and all eyes turned towards Accardi. His jaw ticked as he considered his options before he finally caved. “I’d be willing to have a discussion between just our two families after this meeting.”
Sandro smiled and gave another head bow. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Don Carbone cleared his throat. “We also wanted to discuss the funeral. I know it’ll be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is in your territory. We would like to ask permission to come and pay our respects. We will limit it to ourselves and our heirs so as to not appear threatening.”
Sandro chuckled. “Are you trying to say you’re not a threat in your old age now?”
All the men laughed, which was good because I would have worried that they’d all have too big of egos to take a joke. “In all seriousness, I appreciate the gesture and will grant you permission to attend.”
“Thank you. We know it’s been a long few days so I don’t want to keep you too long. I’m sure you’d like to have that discussion with Adriano and get home to rest.” Don Pasero gave us both a nod, then he and his heir got up and left, the other men, aside from the Accardi’s following behind.
As soon as the door was closed, Marco came and took the seat on the other side of Sandro, Tomasso doing the same and sitting in the open seat beside his father.