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“I get the impression Severio would rather die than give up the Order.”
She shrugs. “Gio said that with the right amount of pressure, Severio would step down.”
“Gio lied, Mom. He lied and deceived us, and now Daddy is dead. You’re sad, and I’m…” I don’t know what I am.
Corrado strides into our kitchen as if he owns it. He throws Daddy’s green book on the counter, plops down next to me, and holds up a green pen. “They even made little green pens they would have given my members in order to sign over their wealth.” Corrado slides the pen into his pocket. “Your father was going to become the green serpent. It’s all in the book. Most of it, that is. I just need a few more things, and then we’ll get along supremely.” He watches my mom. “You know what I need.”
My mother throws the molded dough on the tray and sprinkles flour on it, then shoves the bread into the oven. “Gio’s location. I don’t have it. I swear.”
“I don’t need that,” Corrado says.
My mother looks puzzled. It must be my expression that gives it away, because she claps a hand over her mouth.
“Mom, Gio’s fine. It’s not what you think. He seems to have disappeared, is all.” As I comfort her, I wonder why she’s more devastated about Gio than she ever was about my dad’s death. I shouldn’t be thinking like that about my mom, but I can’t help it when I see her this way.
“He’s okay, I promise. Right, Corrado?”
“As far as I know, Gio’s fantastic.”
I offer my mom a cup of coffee, and she takes it.
Corrado inhales deeply. “Homemade cookies.”
“I’ll pack you some before you leave,” I say.
Absentmindedly, he rubs the leather-bound book. “Here’s what’ll happen. The Capone family remains in the Order. You’ll be taken care of for as long as you earn your keep and prove yourloyalty. The last one will be hard, but your family isn’t the first and won’t be the last who tries to topple us.”
I refrain from pointing out that neither my mom nor I had much say in matters of the Order, but Corrado regards us collectively as the Capone family, which means we sided with Gio. Who did what is inconsequential. “What do you need from me?”
“Mrs. Capone,” Corrado says. “Tell your daughter what the Order needs from you.”
“They’ve granted us mercy. The price of admission into the Order is power. Always power. Gio can’t govern the island if he’s not here, so we must replace him.”
“Replace him gently,” Corrado says. “So as not to disturb the stability here or our dealings with our friends in Sicily and Germany.”
“Who are these friends?” I ask.
Mother and Corrado give me a knowing look.
Ah. Mobsters. This conversation moved beyond what I understand of family and politics, but my mother seems comfortable, if not in her element.
She smiles as she washes her hands. “You never intended to hurt me,” she says. “You came here knowing where the stupid book was and you just needed me to fold before your eyes so that I’d know you are the Head and I’m just another of your members.”
“Sometimes people need cruel reminders.”
“I’ll do it,” she says.
“Do what?” I ask.
“Become the next prime minister.”
My jaw slackens. Dramatically, I use my hand to close it. “You? A prime minister?”
“Why, yes, Cristina. Me. Unless you want the job.”
“No, thank you, but why does it have to be either of us?”
They’re giving me “the look” again. I’m out of my depth here. “Let me guess. The Order needs the Capone family’s ties to hold on to the power.”
