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That’s what my heart wants.
But my cold, black soul is going to watch him twist in the wind. I can see what he’s done. How he has betrayed us. Betrayed me.
In my heart, I want to hold him. To save him. To repay all the times he’s saved and rescued me. Protected me.
But I can see what he’s done. And it’s not going to be alright. Not ever again.
For that, my soul screams from deep down inside me, a silent howl for revenge.
“All that they want is to see a more traditional structure in the family.”
“Do you mean that they want you in charge?”
“It’s not about who’s in charge.”
When he says that, I want to shake him, grab his immaculate lapels and shout in his face. It’s all I can do to stop myself jumping at him. Knocking him flat onto his back. Sitting on his chest with his hair bunched tight in my fists while I bang his head against the thick carpet.
Can’t you see it, Alessio? Can you really not see what this is? Have you learned noting?
My breath leaves me in a silent shock, like the floor dropped open under my feet.
He’s lying to me. I know that he is. It’s always about who’s in charge. Always. Everything is. Now, this time, more than ever. If it was one or all of the Fortuna sons who were at the head of the family business, nobody in Chicago would care ab out us. We would never even come up in their conversations.
Their precious Commission would not bat an eye.
In eighty years, maybe more, Chicago haven’t given one single thought to us in Seattle. They never come to visit. They don’t call, they don’t write. Not one contact, not a word, as far as I know, not for the best part of a century. The East coast families, Florida, Vegas, and LA don’t recognize us and the Commission don’t either.
We were all getting along with that, with the fact that the Commission and all the families include us out of their whole world. They were okay, we were okay. So what changed? It makes me stop and take a breath. Then the business of the whole country suddenly takes notice of us. Now.
Now that one of our major families is being run by a woman. A woman with what they will call ‘unconventional ways.’
Is that really it? Is that why they’re making this move now? Are they really re-considering their whole policy toward the Pacific Northwest — the policy of going about their business as though we didn’t even exist, they’re going to re-think al of that because a family is being run by a woman?
Well, if they think any of that is going to change on their say-so, they’ll find they have a bigger fight on their hands than they’re ready for.
I would have expected Alessio to be the first to say it. My bold Alessio, the face that lights hot coals of fear in mens’ eyes, the man who wears power like a tee-shirt. I’ve always counted on him as my most brave and outspoken champion. Can he really be ready to throw that away?
What could they have offered him?
“That’s all they want in return for what? They’re offering franchise, right? Has your Uncle Jerry come with a guarantee?”
“Not just franchise, Lucia. Not only franchise for us, for the whole region. All of our made guys will be fully recognized, full privileges, coast to coast.”
But what’s in it for you, Alessio? How have they bought you and taken you from me?
“There’s more, Alessio. I know it’s more than that.” I keep my voice steady but my throat is sore from welling up.
He says, “Yeah, this is the good part. Are you ready for this? Our family is going to be the head family. For the whole region, Lucia. All of Washington State and Oregon. The whole Pacific Northwest territory.”
I wonder how he thinks Don Romano and Don Pucci are going to greet those joyful tidings.
Sure as hell, I’m not going to be the one to deliver the message.
“There’s still a part that you’re not saying.”
“Lucy…”
“You’re breaking up with me.”
