Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended. Beta'd by HollettLA.
PLEASE READ: BESIDES THIS EDWARD POV, WE'RE ABOUT TO DIVE INTO A DAME/SONNY ARC, SO THE CHAPTERS WILL BE ABOUT THEM AND IN THEIR POVs. I KNOW MOST YOU WILL BITCH, SAY YOU MISS SKIP AND BEBELLA, and their smutt.
BUT I PROMISE TO DELIVER THEM TO YOU SPADES! ALSO, I'VE SLOWED THE STORY DOWN, BECAUSE ALL I TRULY HAVE TO DO IS TIE LOOSE ENDS AND...THAT'LL BE THE END. SO...I SLOWED THE STORY DOWN, ALTHOUGH TIME WILL PASS BY WITH EACH CHAPTER.
LIKE THIS CHAPTER . . .
Two months pass between chapters 43 and 44—time moves forward. And then about a month will pass between chapter 46 and 47.
"Riders on the Storm"
Chapter Forty-Four: Nothing
Edward POV
It was the middle of May when the weather started to warm, my hair was finally back to its normal disarray, and I was finally going to go back to work full-time. For the past six weeks, I've been laying low—conducting my business and giving orders through Sonny.
Speaking of my eldest, he's staying away from the garbage. He and Maggie seem happy again, and I'm glad for that—thank God for that. He's doing well, and I see him practically every day.
Despite our weekly calls, Damion hasn't come back around since that one night when he brought Jordan over. We're still close—talk on the phone, and he meets with his brother for lunch sometimes.
But once again, Bella was starting to stress over his absence; she misses him, which is understandable.
The kid has always—since he's been an adult—kept to himself unless something was wrong. When all that shit was going down with him, he was always here. He may not know it, but when he's stressed…
Damion runs home to Mommy and Daddy for this or that reason, always finding issues as to why he has to be here, whether he realizes it or not.
And as I've always said, "No news is good news."
Damion is fine.
Kylie spent last night at Aro's, as much as that nearly killed me; however, Peto's back from Texas for good.
She'd actually gone to visit him during spring break for a week. We let her go, which took a lot of faith and trust on my part. Bella's proud of me, and our daughter had left for Austin as quickly as we'd all come back from our excursion two months ago.
But now her love is home, and he's taking up most of her time. I'm sure they'll be joined at the hip through the summer, and then they'll all be going to NYU in the fall.
They can do what they want at Aro's, but that kid's not sleeping here—he's not going to fuck my baby girl in my fucking house.
And what I don't know won't give me a fucking stroke.
After showering and brushing my teeth, I pushed my wet hair back, and then I was ready to get dressed and start my day.
Just because I've been home doesn't mean I changed my schedule. I was just getting up at noon, and everything was business as usual.
Bella had woken me up briefly to say she was going somewhere with Maggie, and I quickly fell back to sleep, and I have no idea what time that was. But it was early.
Meanwhile, I'd just fastened the last button on my shirt when I heard my wife enter our home.
Instantly happy, and like the good mutt I am, I walked out into the hall to greet her. Bella's hands were full of shopping bags, and she had some sweat dewing on her forehead.
"Hot out?" I asked, helping to empty her hands.
She blew out a breath. "It's like eighty-something degrees." Our thermostat is always set at sixty-five, whether the heat has to go on or the A/C, so I didn't feel a thing. "And I thought I needed a sweater." She rapidly peeled off the purple cardigan, revealing nothing but her bra.
"You went out like that?" It just seemed odd, her leaving the house without a shirt under her sweater . . . although I dug the view, her skin visibly slick between her tits.
"I was in a rush. What…?" She sat on the chaise lounge with a huff, and her pout made me smirk down to her cute ass.
"Nothing," I said.
My intense stare turned her frown upside down. "What's up?" She grinned.
I shook my head and reached for her hand. "Seriously…nothing." I gathered her into my arms. "I've had fun…being home with you." I started to sway us from side to side, getting two handfuls of ass.
"I know," she sighed, placing her arms around my neck. "I wish—"
I cut her off with my lips because I didn't want to hear it.
Her words—and with the way I've been feeling these days—would sound too tempting.
I would stay home just a little bit longer if she'd asked.
How things have changed . . .
But I know that as soon as I get out there, sit amongst my people again, I'll feel whole—100%, yet in a different way than when I'm with Bella. It's hard to explain.
When I'm with my wife, nothing is missing, but…it's like being between a rock and hard place…torn between two things I love: Bella and work.
It seemed as though I was born to love Bella while I was also born to be who I am.
She's asked me to choose in the past. I never had a choice—not when she was around to ask.
Now…?
I could step back if I want to, but I don't know if I want to.
Logically, there's only a couple of ways my stint will end—death, a long-ass bid, or early retirement—I stop while I'm ahead, leave on a good note.
The latter sounds ideal. I just don't know if I'm ready.
Spending almost every moment with Bella has done wonders for our marriage. I even feel younger, lighter in some way. And even though being with her brings me more joy than anything else in this world, I have this nagging ache—this boredom, having idle hands, staying still and in one place.
It's the itch…
There's a lot more than drugs one can be addicted to.
"I love you," I whispered against her lips.
She smiled wide, keeping her eyes closed. "I love you, too."
My nose touched hers, angling her mouth up to mine again. "Wait up for me."
"I will." Suddenly, her face fell. "You're not coming home—you won't be here for dinner or to see Sonny and Maggie off?" she spluttered, surprise in her eyes.
"I—" I slightly shook my head. "Sonny's waiting at Eclipse for me…We have—"
"No . . ." She took a step back to giggle and grab her sweater. "Kylie should be home soon, and so should Maggie. I dropped them off at the salon. The limo will be here at—"
I chuckled. "The prom, right." I winced, feeling sorry for Sonny now. "They won't kick him out? For being old, I mean?"
"Old? Sonny could pass for a teenager."
"No, he couldn't." And I couldn't believe my wife thought that. "He's mad tall, like me, as wide as a fucking door. Solid muscle! You can tell he's a grown-ass man." Sonny's a monster of a dude. Anyone who messes with my bruiser is a fool…
"He's always been in good shape, and he has no wrinkles." She waggled her finger.
"Bella, he looks like an adult, will more than likely be mistaken for a teacher." I cringed, sticking out my tongue. "Fucking Maggie looks like she's thirteen, unless she's showing off that body…People are gonna think he's a pedophile!"
"No! No, they won't! As handsome as Sonny is? Are you kidding?" She playfully slapped my bicep. "All people will see is them—the beautiful couple they are." She sounded wistful. "It's…not the most usual of circumstances, but Sonny is Maggie's husband. So…no. They won't get kicked outta the prom." Her face blazed red, and she covered her mouth.
"What?" I asked.
It was her turn to act modest and say, "Nothing."
"All right." My gut told me she had a secret, but I was still lighthearted. "Everything's okay?"
Bella flashed me a toothy grin, grabbing for my sleeve. "I don't want to jinx anything."
I rolled my eyes. "Because everything feels normal—perfect again?"
She swallowed, her eyes falling to our feet. "It's the quiet before—"
"Baby—" I held her tightly "—there's no storm this time." Searching her eyes, I saw the fear that hid under the happiness that shined, that lit up her beautiful face. When the tears—good or bad—threatened to spill, I silenced her once more with a kiss. "If there was anything—any-fucking-thing—you'd know. You and Kylie would be on the lam."
"I know." She sniffled and started to laugh. "I'm just used to waiting for the other shoe to drop—"
"Not this time." And I was going to go through hell or high water to make my words true. "The weather is getting nicer. Everyone is chill…Even I feel happier, but that doesn't make everything perfect, nor does it mean impending doom." I widened my eyes. "Okay?" I kissed that nose before I bit it.
She hugged me, resting her head on my chest. "Aro's been outside since I got home—said he's here to pick you up." And I thought that motherfucker was running late.
I pulled away to look down at her.
She shrugged. "I wanted a few more minutes with you . . . sue me. He'll wait."
I kissed her forehead, pulling the sweater tighter around her torso, thankful no one could see inside our home. Usually, I'd comment about her lack of blouse. But as I get older, and days pass, I realize that a lot of shit just doesn't fucking matter—not in comparison to the bigger picture, or what we could fight about. "Lemme go get my jacket."
"Edward?" she called.
Steps away from our bedroom, I turned back to her. "Yeah?"
"Nothing." She waved a hand. "I love you."
I winked. "Stars in the sky, baby."
Bella gave me the widest smile I'd ever seen before she ran toward me—nearly knocked me on my ass. "I think I love you more." She bit my bottom lip. "How is that possible?" She held me so tight. "It's like—the past month or so—since we've been back…we've finally been able to be you and me? Does that sound crazy? I've always loved you…I've always loved you more than my mind and heart could process. But now it's even more? Crazy, right?"
"No," I said, agreeing with every word she'd said, because I felt that way as well. "You're right. Just us…with a little Kylie, Sonny, and Maggie mixed in." I chuckled, rubbing her back. "The only time we're truly alone is at night…in bed." I pinched her ass.
"You're my pervert."
"I am," I agreed. "And you're mine."
"You love it."
"I do." I looked down to kiss her closed lids, her nose, and her lips once more.
"I miss Damion," she whispered. "I know he's happy, keeping to himself…but I feel like he hates us." Her lip quivered, and I stilled it with my knuckle.
"Stop it. You know that's not true." But sometimes, I don't even know, and I promised myself I'd stop trying to figure the kid out. He's who he is, like me, yet unreachable, even to his mother, which I don't understand.
I try to do my best by Dame by giving him what he wants or needs.
He checks in, we talk on the phone, and he's always texting Bella. "Call him. Tell him to get his ass here tonight," I said, letting go to get my jacket. "If you tell him to be here, he'll show up."
And if he doesn't come through for Bella, I'll just have to go pick his ass up.
I've done that before.
"I did…since I invited everyone over for dinner." She pursed her lips. "You and Aro obviously can't make it…whatever. Unless…you guys can make it? Lisa says she has to work late, but Peto will be here with Kylie."
I smiled. "You're pushing it."
Maybe I was insensitive, but I could give a rat's ass about a prom. I'd never been to my own, but I've lived through two proms—Sonny's, when he was seventeen, and Kylie's just last-fucking-year.
"What else are you doing that's so important today? Especially if Dame might be here…?"
Damion never went to his prom, but regardless of how many we've experienced, I still had no idea why it was a cause to celebrate for Bella.
"I'll see what's up," I promised.
/=/=/=/=/
Aro had stopped for coffee, had a venti waiting for me when I entered his whip. "It's probably cold now."
I didn't give a fuck and took a sip. "Feds follow you here?"
"Yup." He let out a breath, pulling away from the curb. "When we hit the avenue, we'll see them."
"Good." I nodded, thinking it better they follow me than Sonny, who they've started clocking.
They're just keeping an eye out, especially since it's been so fucking quiet.
We haven't heard a peep about what happened in Nevada—nothing. I was never called in for questioning. No one ever contested Bella and me being in Bermuda.
Since I've been lying low, they're on Aro's ass, Sonny's too.
It's a bullshit move on my part—not one I'm happy about—but I had to be in the spotlight, so Sonny and Aro could carry on, meet and do what they have to.
I'll sit at Eclipse today. I'll have a few drinks, chill with some I haven't seen in a while. I might have a sit-down or two with those who won't speak to Sonny or Aro...
Instead of running the show, I was more of a front—a ruse.
A fugazi king in place, so my knights and bishops could move around the board.
One fact remains true, though.
I am king…until I say otherwise.
My pawns don't make a move unless I say, although the less I know, the better.
It's a sharp, double-edged sword, but one I'm used to having hang over my head.
It's a way of life, my life, and it's the way it is because I made it that way.
And I don't crack under pressure, so I'm glad to take the heat.
"Have you or Carlisle heard from my father?" I couldn't help myself and laughed.
After hearing about that dude with the busted teeth, what-the-fuck, Alistair-whoever—I wanted to pop him myself. It'd be no big thing, just an hour's drive out of Manhattan, would take ten minutes at best.
The story is still hazy—half-assed, as I still to this day have no idea if Bella's suspicions were true—but baby girl was scared and I trust Bella's instincts.
And once upon a time, he did fuck my wife . . .
It was a no-brainer. That fucko had to go, only I couldn't do anything—not yet, not until some time had passed and the Feds moved on.
Sonny was right in suggesting my father make it look like an accident; he's been bored as fuck being back in New York, antsy, and my son suggested we put him to work.
Ed Sr. knew what he was doing when he lit that fire, too.
The Middletown Fire Marshall ruled it a gas leak—not arson. But Dad's paranoid for some reason. He hasn't come back to Brooklyn since.
The last thing I heard was something about hookers, ecstasy, and Atlantic City.
And I worry about Kylie . . .
"C says he's coming home tomorrow—taking a bus or something."
"Oh." I nodded. "If I get as old as him…"
When I started to laugh, Aro joined me.
"Hey, I hear you…already know what you're gonna say." He turned onto the highway.
"Yup." By the time I'm my father's age—if I get up there—everything in my present might be slightly behind me, like it is for him. I'd travel the world with Bella. We'd drink ourselves silly every night, and I'd pop Viagra and any other fucking thing I had to rock her pussy nightly.
When you're as old as Moses, what have you got to lose?
"Hopefully, I'll be a grandfather or something."
"You will," Aro sighed, smiling brightly and giving me some weird look.
I stared at my best friend.
"I'm just saying…twenty-five years from now?" He glanced at me again. "Relax, and no. I wasn't spying by my son's bedroom."
"Yo, I didn't even ask you that," I said.
"You were thinking it." He nodded.
"No, I wasn't," I argued, about to scold him. "Pervert—thinking about that. The-the babies being in the room—"
Aro barked out a laugh. "They're nineteen, not babies anymore, Skip."
I hated his words, no matter how true they were. "Shut up." I wasn't about to agree. "They're babies…We're old. You know what I mean."
"Nah…I do." He didn't say anything else.
/=/=/=/=/
Being that it was so early in the day, Eclipse was empty, save for the few from Sonny's crew and the employees milling about and getting the club ready for tonight.
Eclipse runs itself.
I don't know why my son bitches on occasion. After all, I was him a short time ago—running in and out of the clubs—doing my thing.
And just to be a dick, I placed a bet with one of my son's bookies. It's baseball season, and the first subway series is set for this weekend. I put my money on the Yankees; the Mets suck, so I was sure I'd win my cash back and then some.
If I lose, I'd like to see Adriano come to collect.
He'd never have the audacity to come at me with his hand out; I'd bust his fucking kneecaps.
But he's Sonny's new right hand, and I wanted to fuck with him.
Adriano also said that Sonny was in the office, but the door was locked.
Finding that odd, I exchanged a look with Aro and dug my key out of my pocket. I don't know what I expected to find—sneaking up on Sonny—but my eldest was sprawled out on the pullout couch, asleep and dressed in a suit.
When did he get here? An hour or two ago? And he's already taking a nap?
"How cute…" Aro crooned, lightly pinching his cheek.
"Yeah, he works so hard." My tone was sarcastic as I sat at the desk. "I should take a picture and send it to Bella."
Pursing my lips, I did just that—making sure I stayed nice and quiet to capture the moment—since my wife thinks I work this poor kid to death.
When Sonny's cell actually dinged with a text, he jumped with a start, sucking the drool back into his mouth. "What-what's up?" he asked, looking from Aro to me.
I shook my head. "What's up with you?"
He sat up with a light groan, pushing his hair back. "Nothing…" He yawned.
"You went to the brokerage? Midnight Sun?" I asked.
He nodded. "Ant's at the brokerage—that's all squared away. What was I supposed to do at Midnight Sun?"
I shrugged. "Don't you go there every day? Check it out?"
"Not every day…Oh! Jasper requested a sit-down."
"What for?" Aro and I asked in unison.
"What's he want?" I jerked my chin.
Sonny leaned away and stretched, his back making a cracking sound. "That feels awesome."
I threw a paperclip at his ass.
Sonny caught it. "No clue…he wouldn't talk to me."
I nodded. "Call him. Tell him to come here tonight."
"He won't . . . asked that you make an appearance at Midnight Sun." Sonny's words made me laugh. "I know. I told him…he had to come here, but then it's like a fucking pissing contest. Fucking Jasper."
"My cousin has that…inflated sense of entitlement…kind of like you." I smiled and pointed to my son.
My eldest had no reply but looked to Aro. "You deal with it. I don't need his shit. I pick up your money every week—" he looked to me "—and that's it. Jasper's problem's'not my problem."
"I'm making it your problem," I said.
Sonny widened his arms. "What the fuck?"
"You got time to nap, you got time to go to Midnight Sun."
"Today?" he asked.
I waved a hand. "Or, after you tell Maggie a bedtime story."
"I have reservations…This means the world to Mag, and prom night lasts all night!" Sonny exclaimed.
"It does?" I guffawed.
He shook his head while Aro and I continued to chuckle. "Youse are just dicking my balls."
I grabbed the bottle of Jack out of the drawer to pour myself a drink. "Yeah," I admitted, taking a sip. "Jasper wants something—whether it's info or whatever—bad enough, he'll show up tonight." I had a gut feeling my cousin was just upset about being kept in the dark…regarding a lot of things as of late.
We haven't spoken since before I went out to Nevada, and I've obviously been off-limits. "Don't worry about it," I told him, although it'd be best to get the rulers out from jump—if Jasper has problems taking lip from Sonny—I could settle it before any wild shit happens. I don't know, nor did I truly care.
When the torch is passed it will be Sonny's problem, though.
My cousin will never hit the big time like my Santino. He hasn't earned it either, but he thinks what he thinks—that he should get this or that—when he deserves nothing.
A Cullen will carry the reins after I'm through with them.
Like Caius, I've always kept an eye on Jasper, too.
Just in case shit…
"So…" I trailed off, my eyes going from Sonny to Aro. I'm here no less than twenty minutes, and I'm ready for a fucking nap—tell Sonny to move over. "Things are slow—quiet."
"Don't jinx it." Like Bella, Aro knocked on the wooden desk.
Sonny made a face, like my words weren't true. "We might get a small squall from the west."
I raised a brow. "Jersey or Philly?"
"Philly would be south…" Aro said.
"Yeah," Sonny agreed. "If I said south…that would indicate Philadelphia—"
"Fucking spit it out. I don't give a fuck about geography!" I almost shouted. "Southwest. What the fuck? You want coordinates, too?"
It was their turn to chuckle at me.
I gave them the finger. "What's going on?"
"I don't know yet." Sonny stared at me. "I honestly don't know…I spoke to Dame about something—"
"Whoa!" I put my hand up to stop him.
Sonny spoke over my protest, kept going. "It's old business, nothing new. His hands are clean."
I made to settle down while my mind still ran away from me. "Then, what?"
"Amelia?" He smirked. "I told Dame weeks ago to…extend a tree branch—"
"Olive branch," Aro muttered; we ignored him.
"But he hasn't done anything!" Sonny laughed, despite looking frustrated.
"Uh…" I still didn't understand.
"And now…Jasper tells me Shorty was at Midnight Sun with a group of friends."
Confused, I tilted my head to stare at him. "Anyone who lives in New York City knows not to go clubbing on a Saturday because of the bridge and tunnel crowd—if I'm being elitist about it," I laughed.
"Elitist?" Sonny repeated.
I ignored him. "It's been that way since…I was Kylie's age, probably before when Tunnel and Lime Light owned the night."
"I never went to Lime Light," Aro mused.
I waved a hand. "Techno music, glow sticks—place so packed everyone's sweating on everyone. This one or that one ODing in the corner."
"Sounds like fun...sounds exactly like The Tunnel."
"It was." I smiled. "I was young, though . . . damn. Like fifteen?"
"Hello!" the child in the room hollered.
"Start at the beginning," I instructed. "What's the big deal? She came to the club. If Kylie wanted to party in Jersey—although I don't know why she would—I'd rather her go to a place I knew. A place where someone might look out for her. Despite any differences Luke and I now have—"
"That's bullshit." Sonny spat.
He had me, but I shrugged my shoulders anyway. "Tell me why it's a problem."
He groaned. "A while ago…she called Maggie's phone looking for me, pretending to be some jump-off I was boffin'."
"Oh!" Aro shouted.
"Yeah," Sonny mumbled. "I don't know what her deal is. My boy at AT&T traced the call back to her—"
I put my finger up to grab his attention. "Amelia's not stupid, could have called from a prepaid cell—"
"Exactly. She wanted to get caught!" Sonny exclaimed. "She's looking to stir some pot and throw a rock in my game?"
"What game?" I asked.
"My marriage—I'm just saying." He settled down. "Dame never squashed anything."
"They broke up…that's squashing things," I laughed.
"No…" Sonny pulled on his hair. "It was too easy. Dame's told me that story before. Jordan was hiding in his closet—"
"For real?" I asked. "Now that's game."
"Right?" Aro gave me a fist pound.
"Jordan was hiding in his closet—" Sonny's voice was significantly louder "—when Amelia showed up. She admitted some shit, about how she'd lied—"
"I know." I grumbled.
"—and Dame showed her the door. She left, and nobody's heard shit since? Except the time Luke came here to speak to you?"
"And your father told him to step off," Aro said.
"Doesn't matter." Sonny shook his head. "There's always more drama to a breakup, no matter who's fighting which battle…there's always more drama. It can carry on because women can be relentless, and Dame got off too easy. And a scorned broad? Are you kidding me? The lengths they'll go through if they don't move on…? But she's not even going for Dame. She's fucking with me, which…Yo—" he shrugged and slapped his thighs "—it bothers me. She called, she showed up at Midnight Sun—she even asked for me, said a fucking bartender—and Jasper said she was flirting with him, tits all in his face. I don't know what she's up to, but she didn't get whatever she wanted out of calling Maggie. None of us have truly been around—easily accessible to her—and she's asking Jasper questions? She's got something up her sleeve . . . but I told Dame."
Sonny blew out a breath and took off his suit jacket. "I told him to reach out to her, to just call and see what's up, see if they could mend fences in their own time…to avoid some bullshit." He moved his arm with a flourish. "And the whole thing is totally fucking stupid. But if she fucks around, we will retaliate, and Luke's not one to take something as big—something concerning his daughter and her honor—sitting down." He clapped once. "Understand now?"
The kid had a point, I guess, and I'd guess he'd have more experience in the scorned woman department. While my son could charm the habit off a nun, he's also had his share of slashed tires, slaps to the face, and just a number of random fucked-up acts done to him by the women he's hurt—and most of that was because he'd just move on, not necessarily hurt them…Maybe string them along? Who knows? Nobody's fucking perfect.
Before Bella—before she'd started slapping me around—I'd been called a prick and everything else under the sun by chicks who didn't like my hit-and-run style.
"I have to talk to Luke again," I said.
"But since you basically kicked him out of the club last time, you gotta go out there." Aro finished the thought I wasn't going to say aloud for me.
"Thank you, Mr. Wizard." Again, I was sarcastic. "But fuck that. I'd make him come here. I'm still surprised Luke hasn't come to me crying. There's still beef between Philly and Jerz..." My mind wandered back to that.
Philly was trying to move in on New Jersey, but no big gestures or hits had been made.
We—New York—had basically kick-started it, turning their small disagreements into a war.
But they don't know that.
Regardless of me trying to stick it to Luke, their conflict is also what's keeping the F.B.I. at bay.
There's one car—one car following me instead of a cavalry clocking us all.
The Feds have their priorities, too, and they stalk where it's simplest. Right now, there's a tiny war within small quarters. All of which makes both Philadelphia and New Jersey easy targets; meanwhile, we were supposed to have Luke's back—take out Philly with him, but they never did nothing to me, have good cheesesteaks, the Liberty Bell…and I'd agreed to that before Luke had disrespected me, thus nullifying our alliance.
I still took control over Bayonne and Newark Bay—what was promised to me, because I stole it and Luke couldn't put up a fight. But what's right is right. I said there'd be peace in Staten Island—total bullshit issue—and in exchange I was supposed to pull my guys back, let Dirty Jerz do them, and I get control over the imports and exports out of those bays.
The whole deal was off, but I still got my end.
Philly doesn't fuck with those docks anymore—what's legit mine now—even though that'd started the whole thing. And you know what? Most crap's been going down near Camden, New Jersey—so I've heard—so there's no beefs in Staten Island.
"Adriano's a capo now," I spoke of the half-breed I made the bet with—the one with the Jersey connections.
Sonny had split up Caius's guys and promoted two to captain, which essentially spread work around, lessened his load. We also opened the books and six young guys got their buttons, including my nephew. Anthony...I was pressured into making him. Both Carlisle and Sonny swore Ant would make it up to me. To a degree, it made sense since I didn't know when I'd hold another ceremony, but Anthony was still wet behind the ears.
Anyway, Sonny did all that, put all this shit into motion, when he came back from Bermuda.
Again, I knew Sonny could handle what I'd given him. I had faith. He just had to get his head outta his ass and think.
"He's running those ports, too…" I pursed my lips. "I want him poking around. I wanna know the official score—what's up between the two families." I'd previously told everyone to stay out of it, despite starting the first battle. "But…only tell him what he needs to know." I stared at Sonny. "I'm serious. We'll know what they're up to, but Adriano opens his mouth…" I wiped my hands clean. "It'd be a sin…for him to move up and out so quick."
Sonny grinned. "He's been doing that, acting like he's playing both sides, but he only tells Luke what I tell him to."
Impressed by him taking such initiative, I just nodded my head. "And…?"
"Jersey's up. We opened the books and so did they. Luke's got four more heads of muscle at his disposal. They've moved through Philly a few times…they're starting to take over."
"Huh…" Aro snorted, giving me a wary glance. "Like rats...scavengers scattering around."
"Stop," Sonny said. "Regardless, the idea is to stay out of it—let them kill each other, continue to keep the heat off us. Hey, if it's over by next year, and youse are still bored…we take out whoever's leftover." He was correct but getting too excited over nothing.
"Relax," I laughed. "We're still staying out of it. All right? I just wanna what know what Luke's next move might be."
Expanding never hurt anyone.
Stomping out the competition only hurts the competition.
"Skip…even if they teamed up against us, we could wipe them out. We're the biggest organization with alliances at every turn. We could tear them to shreds, and then expand even more. It'd be a gold mine. We'd take control of Newark and Philadelphia—"
"Yo!" Sonny shouted at Aro. "Cool it."
"The fuck…" Aro stared Sonny down.
"Who you think you are, Napoleon?" Sonny cracked up. "What are we, Nazis? We're gonna take everybody on the eastern seaboard out? We goin' after Boston next?"
"Hey..." Aro tilted his head. "Boston would have our back if we gave up that Vermont shit."
"What are you, crazy?" Sonny was in disbelief. "You're talkin' World War III," he laughed.
"Knock it off—both of youse!" I banged my fist down. "We're doing nothing." I racked my brain because I'm old and forgot how this whole conversation started. "Luke's got his hands full already. Whatever Dame's old twat does—she starts trouble—Luke will come to us on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. He can't take another hit right now, and what's she gonna do? Really? I refuse to worry about some little girl."
"If Damion—"
"Damion isn't going to do anything," I said. "If Amelia feels she has a score to settle—"
"What?" Sonny was visibly upset. "Why does it even have to get to that point? You want some shit to pop off, just so you can have Luke by the balls? For your amusement? You already have Luke in a corner. He can't move or do anything without your approval. Fuck. Luke's scared to even ask for help. You could swoop in and interfere—put a stop to the war itself, but you think it's entertaining."
"So, what?" I wasn't ashamed of that. "You caught me." I rolled my eyes.
"Things are going well. We're making more money than ever before and there's peace, Dad." He called me "dad" and not "Skip" to drive his point home. It was duly noted, but he had me all wrong. "Everyone in this family is happy."
"I feel we're worrying over nothing." I kept my tone low so he'd calm down. "Your mother and Elena were friends. I'll have Mom call her, see how Amelia's doing…Sonny, the girl made one phone call, which could be considered a prank, and she had a few drinks at the club."
Sonny leaned his elbow onto his knee, pointing his finger at me. "You always taught me to trust my instincts—to strike before being struck, and this li'l broad seems like a loose cannon to me. She knows way too much about how shit works. Not worrying because she's a female is bullshit. Amelia—holding a nine—is just as deadly as I am. Meanwhile, all of this might be settled if Dame just talks to her."
A large part of me agreed with Sonny, while I also felt he was making a big deal out of nothing.
What the fuck could Luke do to us?
Not much. I could see not wanting to deal with such a thing, but my son had nothing to fear.
He continued. "She's also got a few more tricks than anyone with a dick can pull—a pussy, her daddy's army ready and willing to do her bidding for the right price . . . All I'm saying is that something small could turn into something catastrophic—New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia—all at each other's throats because Dame broke her heart? You've also taught me how to pick my battles, and this isn't one of them. I'm not getting pinched or fucking killed before I'm thirty because of some bullshit like that."
"Look—" I sipped my forgotten drink "—you're that worried about it…? Handle it the way you see fit, but we stay outta their way. Let Luke handle his own against Philly. You start poking around, he's going to ask for help, and...I don't wanna help him. He disrespects me, so now it's time for him to sink or swim."
Sonny laughed. "All I want is for Dame to call her…He's being such a coward, or he just doesn't give a fuck. He's got more to lose than we do."
I shrugged.
"More importantly, why are you so reluctant to let Dame lie in his own bed?" Sonny asked.
I didn't know how to answer him, but I knew many things to be true. Damion merely brushed up against the thing. He stepped back; he's doing well with school and his girl. Asking him to contact Amelia would be like dragging him back in, making him think he needs to be strapped, he'd have his guard up.
Damion doesn't know that I sometimes have people watching his back.
He doesn't know anything . . . not anymore.
"I don't want him involved—"
"It's his mess! How many times do we have to save the day? How many more have to die—"
"Shut your mouth!" I shouted.
"No! You warned him. You told him from jump to stay away from Amelia if he wasn't serious—not to get involved, unless he was 100%—and he did it anyway. He's like a toddler testing to see if an iron's hot or something, but you never let him get burned…so he goes back to check it out. You keep letting him get away with everything! How's he gonna learn—not only in this thing of ours—but in life? If we keep cleaning up for him?" Sonny asked.
I scoffed. "The same fucking way I clean up your shit!"
"My shit?" Sonny pointed to himself.
"Hang on!" Aro widened his arms. "I'll call Luke…go with honesty…say Amelia's poking her nose where it shouldn't be, and let him handle it. He doesn't want any problems with us. If it's brought to his attention, he'll take care of it—leaving us all outta the equation."
I toasted my scotch to that and finished what was left in the glass.
But that didn't appease Sonny. "What have you cleaned up for me?"
"Let it go." Aro rushed out.
"No…for real. I'm curious." Sonny stared at me.
And I . . . I did not . . .
For the first time in my life, I didn't want to fight fire with fire. I wanted to keep my word to my wife. I wanted us all to get along, and egging Sonny on would result in another Cold War amongst our family.
"Sit down and shut your fucking mouth," I demanded.
Sonny shook his head. "You don't talk to Dame like that."
"For the last time, stop worrying about how I treat your brother. Okay?" I was trying really hard to be nice, stay calm. "You that pissed you gotta go to the prom, what?" I widened my arms.
My eldest wouldn't look at me, had his jaw squared. "You know I'm right. You also know I'd do anything for Dame, but he went too far, and now there are still repercussions from his actions. Since that night he clipped Joe...it's been a domino effect. This, this, and this one had to die...now we have problems with these people. And now that bitch is calling my wife? If you don't do something, if my brother does nothing, then...yeah." He looked to me. "I'll handle it how I see fit." Which was what I just told him.
I opened my mouth to reply, but I shut it just as fast.
Aro turned around to face him. "Katie called me…"
I bit my lips together to stop from laughing at the look on Sonny's face. He was whiter than normal with wide eyes, probably surprised by my friend's timing.
"Yeah…" Aro practically spoke to himself. "You know, about all that honesty?" he asked Sonny.
"Listen, I could give a flying fuck if she moves back to Brooklyn or even Bay Ridge. I want nothing to do with her," Sonny said. "I've put all that past me."
Aro looked to me. "Can I believe him?"
I nodded. "The only one he's looking for a fight from is me." It's been that way since Sonny was in diapers, as it seems I can never do right by him.
Doesn't he realize…Doesn't he see that he's practically in the driver's seat? On the throne already? My being out and about is basically only to thwart the F.B.I., so Sonny doesn't get pinched—the heat doesn't shift, and—God forbid—they figure out who's really running the show.
These days, there's really not a thing I don't involve Sonny in.
We confer, talk it out, and sometimes it gets heated; however, while I still throw orders at him, I'm listening more, absorbing his words instead of tuning out his bitchy rants.
And, if he's correct, I ultimately tell him to handle certain issues how "he" sees fit.
He's smart.
When he's my age…
Whereas I like to think I turned this shit into an art form—my own masterpiece—Santino might just turn organized crime legit in his time, if such a thing is possible…
Because of me, he has a lot more connections than I ever did at his age.
But I'm still top dog, the boss, until I officially say otherwise.
My plan might just have to stay a secret for a while…until Sonny and I truly bump heads. It will come to that, and depending on how hard he fights me, it will let me know if he's ready or not.
"No," Sonny disagreed. "You said something, and I wanted you to finish what you were saying...I don't want to fight with you." His eyes were pleading, and I believed him.
"Don't you have a tux fitting or something?" I smirked.
He scrubbed his face with his hand. "I did that yesterday." And like that—the snap of my fingers—Sonny calmed down.
"Your mother's real excited…try and smile for pictures."
Sonny agreed and then looked to his phone. "I gotta go."
"I thought the prom wasn't 'til later?" I asked.
He pulled his jacket back on. "We're having dinner before…at like five…to be there by seven. I have to be ready to go by three—at your house for pictures—and before that, I gotta get the good champagne that doesn't give my wife a headache, and sprinkle rose petals on a bed at the Waldorf." Sonny sounded like a fucking robot, naming shit off his fingers.
"Oh . . . of course." Again, I tried not to laugh at his old ass going to a prom. "By all means."
For some reason, it was fucking hilarious.
"I'll—" I took a good look around the office, and everything was still the same. "I'll do my best to be there."
"By three?" Sonny asked. "I gotta haul ass." He threw us the peace sign and rapidly left the room.
"What that kid won't do for that little broad." Aro shook his head.
"That's his wife," I said, because I understood. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for Bella. "You wouldn't—"
"I'm a nice guy, but there are limits. A cheesy-ass prom?"
"It's a school dance…" I laughed, but only when Aro dissed it was I truly ready to defend it—my son and his choices. "Call Luke—say what you gotta say."
Aro stood from his chair. "I'll be out back, smoking a cigarette."
I heaved my ass out from behind the desk. "I'll go with you—put the call on speaker." I snatched the bottle of Jack before we left the office.
Once outside, I kept my hand out for a cigarette.
"Don't you ever buy your own?" Aro bitched, giving me one.
"Fuck you and gimme a lighter…When you're here, you ever pay for booze…?" I raised a brow. "No."
Aro sucked his teeth and got all cunty while he placed his phone to his ear.
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