Page 37 of Bobby

“You’re late.”

Vinny snorts at my words as he takes off his jacket. An unexpected rainstorm came in, and I suspect that’s what pisses him off more than being two minutes late to our meeting. Vinny has an issue with things not going his way. Including the weather. He prefers to be in control of everything and to be prepared for it all. But based on the water dripping from his hair, he wasn’t as prepared as he wanted.

It’s just a few drops of water to anyone else, but for Vinny, it’s a sign of something he can’t control.

I thought he was crazy for having this dislike for the weather not changing to his will, but he isn’t the only don I’ve met in my life. Dad was similar, but it just took me time to realize it. Mom always carried extra things in the car to appease his weather aversion as a kid. I didn’t notice it until I saw the issue with Vinny. And then the other dons our family has met with over the past ten years.

Dad was the don of New York. It took Vinny and the rest of us boys falling in line to get him to take over the entire East Coast. We have men we trust in every city, and those we took the reins from in the other cities were willing to hand over the control. After some exchanges. Some with words, others with guns. In the end, we won out. The Leone family established itself, and we make sure to keep it on top. And we’ll continue to do so until we pass it along to the next generation.

Our family will always be successful because we rule as a family, not as a dictatorship like so many families before us. That leads to resentment, something we made sure to overcome when we were children. It also helps that none of us are the type to want to control all of it. It’s not about power for us or to make a name for ourselves. We were raised as a unit and plan to continue to be one.

“Quit gloating and tell me what you know.”

“Not sure we have that long, dear brother.” I smirk as I pass over the whiskey glass I’ve already poured for him.

He takes it with gratitude as he sinks into the leather chair opposite me. We’re in the famiglia’s penthouse, a place we go to discuss business when we want to speak without unwanted ears listening in. This entire building is here for the famiglia, with rooms for most guests and a full staff to cater to most needs, as well as a hospital wing. It has all the amenities of a city if someone wishes to stay here for a long time. And sometimes, we make sure that happens. Though they get less of a view of the city and more of the bars we place in their locked rooms. Not all prisons need to be dreary—some are fashionable enough to not let it appear you’re being held until it’s too late.

He sighs heavily. “Do you ever tire of trying to be witty?”

“No.” I’m not the funny one in the family. I know that. I have my moments, but true laughter comes from Tommy’s jokes. Well, it used to. After his incident in Russia, he changed. But I’ve noticed that having Payton in his life has changed him again. He’s still serious in his new position as the “face” of the Leones for those looking to get in with the boss, but he’s also learning to enjoy life again with her by his side.

“Danny warned me.”

“Warned you about what?”

“You. And this whole recent change.”

“New change?”

“You going to keep doing the owl questioning thing?”

“Why?”

“Jesus.”

I let my smile drop and clear my throat to get us back on topic. “Marco and Danny have taken care of those directly linked to the theft. We’re already collecting assets to get the money back.”

“And their families?”

“We made it clear what’s going on with them. They know repercussions will be severe if they decide they’re not happy with the end results.”

“End results” meaning we took most of everything from them, but not those with children. They get a stipend to keep them going. Those with family members who can work and support their families were given options. Opportunities inside the famiglia. Janitor and lower bullshit jobs. Pay will be shit, and they’ll be known as people who are not to be trusted, but it also means we have eyes on them. Death is too good for them. Letting them go penniless doesn’t get me back what was stolen. Sure, it’s money that I’ve taken steps to retrieve, but it’s also their time. They stole hours of company time to do this, so they will work long hours for the rest of their lives to compensate. Those who truly were innocent, the kids and such, will not be judged by their parents’ actions.

“Good.”

He drinks his whiskey, and I just sit. I know not to fall for the quiet routine with him. If Vinny wants to talk, he will. If he’s quiet, he’s thinking. Both are things I respect about him and give him room to do. Growing up as the second oldest, I learned quickly how he operates. We were inseparable as children, and each time Mom had another kid, we welcomed them into the pack. We took care of them in ways older brothers do. We teased them and stood with them, but we also taught them what we could. Especially after Dad died. Vinny took on the job immediately, and I fell in line with him. I grew up aspiring to be the very best for Dad, and then that transferred to Vinny.

It didn’t take him long to tell me to stop putting his needs above my own. That I could have dreams and hopes that differed from his. That shadowing them to focus on what he wanted only hurt the family rather than helped it. He also told me I had something he needed. I was young and impressionable enough at the time to zero in on that more than the other things he said.

He wanted me to go to college. To use my love of learning to build the family name higher than it was. Even as a child, Vinny had grand plans to take the Leone family to a higher place. He’s never satisfied with being mediocre. He always wants to be the best.

At first, it was to be the best Don for the family. But soon, the war started with the Maranzettis, and when Dad was killed, well, that made things go dark. Our childhood wasn’t covered in blood, but we didn’t revel in it either. We were taught a middle ground. Dad showed Vinny and me the dark sides of the Mafia when we became teenagers. The others didn’t get a taste of it until after he died. We saw things and understood why they happened. Nothing was done in our family out of jealousy, but because of betrayal. Which could come in many forms.

“Explain to me why Danny is concerned.”

Now it’s my turn to sigh. I can’t ignore it like I did with Danny. We might not run this family as a dictatorship, but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect everything that Vinny has done for the family, the famiglia, and me. He forced me to be my own person, and I can never repay him for that.

The least I can do is tell him the truth.