Chapter 37
Madness
Anthony Paolo Grizolli is not a happy man.
He's an only child. He always gets what he wants. He learned at a young age that his mother was born without the ability to love and realized he would never be his father's favorite. He knows his father doesn't appreciate the way he handles things. He knows he hasn't really won people's respect. Some fear him. Some think he's crazy. Some follow his orders simply because he's his father's heir. And who knows? Maybe he really is crazy. He had always been a lonely child. He still feels small and timid when standing in front of his father's desk. He waited in vain for his mother's love for many many years. He craves for his father's attention. He desperately seeks his father's acceptance and approval. He feels nothing about his cousin's sudden and tragic death.
He liked Terry alright. Everybody liked Terri. She was pretty. She was polite. She had the sweetest smile. He's just not sure if he should be happy that she's now dead. It grieves him that his father loved Terry more. Maybe that's the reason why he always feels this anger deep down within. Maybe that's the reason why he always needs to lash out at someone from time to time. Like the time he snapped and smashed his girlfriend's place. Like the night he killed the three idiots out of cold blood and rage in the night club. His father's men have done their best to erase the evidences. He knows the DA is waiting for the best time to make his move. He won't let them use him against his father. He will find the eyewitness. He will make her disappear. He will leave no trace. He will walk away a free man. He will prove to his father that he's a worthy son. And sometimes, he still thinks of the ever so perfect Valerie Plum, the girl who brushed him off like he was nothing but a piece of shit, the girl he wanted but couldn't have. He still can't believe she chose that nigger over him. Every time he grabs hold of Joyce's fierce red hair and fucks her hard, he pretends she's Valerie. The wavy blonde curls. The sky-blue eyes. The perfect supple lips. The bright seductive smile.
Isn't it nice that Valerie has a little sister?
Tony Grizolli places a hand on his cheek as he allows himself a bark of raspy laughter. He had wanted to step up the plate and make things happen when Valerie and her nigger went to the West Coast for college, but someone ratted him out and Vito had him dragged back all the way from L. A. Like a screaming pig. Tony recalls that summer day. He can still see the coldness in his father's eyes. He can still feel the burning sting on his face. He still remembers his own incoherent thoughts. So the rumour was true after all, he'd thought. Vito Grizolli does rule by an iron hand, and he sure knows how to slap and back-slap people. Vito didn't even show mercy to his only child. He didn't even flinch when Tony spit out a tooth and coughed up blood. He made Tony understand that skipping his mother's funeral to chase after a girl was a terrible mistake. He made sure Tony learned his lesson well. And that night Tony cried himself to sleep. He woke up a different person the very next day. It didn't take long for Vito to start giving him assignments. He's smart. He's a fast learner. He will do anything to earn his father's love.
Even though they both know there's no way to completely tame his madness.