Tex
“Sixty people total,” I whispered under my breath in disgust as Nixon shook his head at me.
We both knew what was happening.
What would happen.
“We either join him, or fight him.” Nixon slammed his hands against the table. “We can’t justify killing sixty people, including teenagers. Are you kidding me right now? Is this what she did to him? Is this what we did to him?”
I was quiet.
We all had a darkness inside us.
Some of us fed it.
While others feared it.
I was safely between both options, wondering if there would come a day when I would watch myself lose my soul to it and embrace the darkness as my friend.
I grabbed my gun and stared it down then put it in the holster strapped to my chest. “Look, Nixon, there is no right answer here.”
Nixon started to pace a hole through the wood floor as I sat in silence in his office.
Chase wanted his vengeance.
And while we killed rats.
We didn’t take out entire bloodlines.
That was more Russian than Italian.
But Chase wasn’t listening to reason.
All he wanted was every memory of her dead.
None of us blamed him to begin with.
But now? Now he needed a fucking leash.
And nobody had a chain big enough to tie him down.
We’d lost complete control because each of us figured he’d snap out of it and start with the jokes again, and easy laughter. That one day he’d wake up, and it wouldn’t be all gloom and darkness.
But Chase Abandonato, my brother, my friend… I hadn’t seen him since the day she left this world, and a part of me feared she’d taken him with her, leaving only a shell of a man.
With no soul.
“Call a commission,” I whispered.
Nixon’s head jerked to attention. “The last time we did that—”
“I know. I shot my dad. Good times. All I’m saying is… if we call a commission, we can at least have the Families’ vote, bring in the big guns from Sicily to stand with us, and if need be—”
Nixon closed his eyes.
I didn’t need to finish the sentence.
If need be… we’d end him.
Was he even human anymore?
How many times had Nixon’s little girl walked to Uncle Chase and clung to his leg only to have him walk away from her?
One time she’d even fallen and scraped her hand.
I’d never been so pissed in my entire life.
I’d been surprised Nixon hadn’t pulled a gun on him right then and there.
Nixon stared me down, his eyes filled with so much sadness it gutted me, ruined me. These were the days I hated being the Capo, hated making the tough decisions.
“Make the call,” Nixon finally said. “I’ll tell the others.”
“Tell the others what?” came Chase’s voice as he pushed the door open and found a seat in one of the empty chairs.
Blood caked his fingertips.
He was a stranger to me.
A stranger to us.
I eyed him up and down. “You look… great.”
He flipped me off.
But there wasn’t even any joy in the way he tried to verbally spar with me. Everything was just… dead inside.
My chest tightened. I looked away. I had to.
I’d always given Chase shit.
I would do anything to get that Chase back.
Instead of this haunted stranger sitting in front of me.
“We should talk.” Nixon sat.
Chase scowled. “Yes, let’s talk about the sexy woman you sent to my house this morning.” His eyes flashed with fury. “She can’t stay with me.”
“Sexy?” This was news. My eyebrows shot up. “What’s she look like?”
Nixon gritted his teeth. “Tex, any time but now would be good, literally any time but now for you to be yourself.”
Chase didn’t even flinch — no smile, no laugh, no joining in. God, he sucked ass.
“I pulled a gun on her.” Chase shrugged. “She has no clue how deep she’s in, and she’s been at my house for two hours.”
“Two hours, and she’s already driving you insane?” Nixon pointed out.
“Her presence is irritating.” Chase’s jaw clenched. “I want her gone.”
“The contract states we provide a place to stay during her training, and since you volunteered to house all the records and documents in your several safes, that means it makes sense for her to stay there.”
Chase looked ready to explode.
I intervened. “Chase, I looked at your plan.”
Chase leaned forward. Blood in his eyes. Killing in his soul. “And?”
“The five families can’t sign off on this. Hell, not one of us is willing to sign off on a contract that ends up killing sixty people. You’re talking four generations of—”
“Rats,” Chase finished. “This is what we do!” He stood and slammed his hands onto the desk.
I stood. “Let me finish.”
He crossed his arms. “I’m listening.”
My eyes flickered to Nixon; he gave one small nod of encouragement.
I didn’t need his blessing, but I was glad to have it anyway. I continued. “We’re going to call a commission, explain the situation, if you get a winning vote, you have our support.”
God, it hurt to even contemplate it.
“And if I don’t get a winning vote?”
The room crackled with a tense silence.
“What happens if I do it anyway?”
Nothing.
I said nothing. Just stood to my full height.
“Unbelievable!” Chase roared. “The one time I need you guys to have my back, and you’re plotting my own death against me!”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve never been dramatic. Don’t start now.”
“I need this!” Chase’s voice was filled with so much anguish I wanted to pull him in for a hug, but he’d only answer with his gun. He’d refused to let anyone touch him since the funeral. “No!”
He jerked backward from the room.
Nixon reached for him.
Chase just shook his head. “If you won’t support me, maybe I’ll challenge your position.” He eyed Nixon with hatred. “Boss.”
Nixon glared. “Fucking. Try.”
“Alright, then.” I separated the two of them and stood in between. “Let’s go have some wine… I’m sure the commission will agree. After all, this isn’t crazy, your idea of vengeance, totally normal. I’m sure they’ll see it your way.”
I rolled my eyes once I left the room.
And nearly puked when Mo walked toward me and winked then rubbed her flat stomach.
Shit.
Sometimes, I hated the mafia.
Today.
These last four months.
I hated it the most.