283

Valentina was usually the peacemaker in our family.
She did not like the persistent conflict between her brother and her father, but this time it was my decision to invite John for a clarifying conversation. With the war getting worse, I could not allow quarrels among my men, much less with my family.
“I hope they don’t fight in front of the children,” Val said with a sigh.
Horace was the first to arrive in the late afternoon. He seemed not to have slept much in the last few days, and I wondered if the problems with John were causing him so much stress or if something else was behind his obvious tiredness .
He shook my hand briefly and gave me a tugged smile. I appreciated his work, but we had never gotten along very well. He was as closed off as I was, which didn’t help much in creating a closer bond. “Congratulations on becoming a father again.”
“Thank you.”
His expression became more relaxed as he approached Val and Leonas. He hugged her briefly.
“I’m so glad you were able to come,” Val said, looking happy.
Standing next to each other, it was unmistakable that Val and Horace were brothers. They had the same eyes and almost the same hair color.
“Anna!” I called. “Your uncle is here.”
Footsteps rumbled upstairs, then Anna flew down the steps almost tripping and jumped into Horace’s arms. He lifted her with a smile. “Be careful. You’ll hurt yourself.”
I gave him a few moments before nodding toward my office.
Val’s expression contracted. “We want to have coffee and a piece of cake.”
“It will only take a few minutes.”
She said nothing, but I knew she would tell me hers later. I appreciated that Val had his own head, but I was also glad that he knew when to keep up appearances.
Horace put Anna down and followed me to my office.
“What is it?”
“Where have you been these past two days?”
Horace’s eyebrows rose slowly. He chuckled and shook his head. “First my father, now you? Why is everyone always questioning me? I didn’t know I had to announce where I was going.”
“Unlike your father, I am your Chief.”
“So this is not just a friendly family visit, all right,” he said bitterly.
I gritted my teeth. “Answer my question, Horatio.”
He met my gaze. He was not overly nervous, at least no more than the situation called for. He was angry, that much was obvious. “I had a furious argument with my father two days ago, then again yesterday morning. You know he can’t let it go.
Every time he sees me, he criticizes every single choice I make, especially my refusal to marry a woman he proposes. I’m fucking sick of it. I knew I was going to lose my mind with him and I didn’t want that to happen, so I decided to clear my head. I went to a few bars, drank a little too much , fucked a few girls … and now I’m here, Dante.”
“What bars?”
He laughed darkly. “The Voda and the Kamchatka. My father made it very clear a long time ago that he doesn’t want his fellow Made Men to see my escapades, and no one knows who I am in the bars owned by the Bratva.”
I narrowed my eyes but could not detect a lie. “It is risky for you to enter these bars. Although our war with the Bratva in Chicago is currently dormant, it could change at any time.”
“Judging by my appearance, I could be Russian. No one has ever asked me any questions.”
I nodded. “The main reason I tried to call you is that Rocco and I suspect that a spy is behind some unfortunate incidents, and since you worked closely with the Family, you might know who got too close to them or perhaps one of their women and switched loyalties.”
Horatio shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t think of anyone. The guys I’ve worked with are loyal to you, Dante. I can’t imagine them betraying the cause. Maybe there is no spy. Rocco may be a little paranoid, if you ask me.”
I had to agree, but even without Rocco’s insistence I had suspected we had a mole. “Trust me, it’s not an idea I take lightly, but it’s a viable option and we need to be vigilant and find whoever is behind it.”
“I’ll keep my eyes open,” Horatio said. “Just tell me one thing, did Val invite our father so we can make peace?”
“Yes. But first, let’s have coffee and a piece of cake. I’m sure Val can’t wait for us to get back.”
Val gave me a quizzical look as Horace and I entered the dining room. I smiled at her, but I could tell she was still worried.
Fortunately, Anna was eager for attention from her uncle and continued chatting away with her chatter. Leonas was sleeping in his crib in the corner of the room, not at all impressed by our conversation. He seemed like an accommodating child. I hoped it would continue into his teenage years, but most boys have a rebellious phase, so I was prepared. Either it would end when the boy reached adulthood or it would extend into adulthood and turn into resentment or even hatred, like between Horace and his father, or between me and mine. I wanted things between my son and me to be different, but Leonas, too, would soon feel the burden of being a Rider and heir to the Outfit.
The bell rang and Horace let out a sigh. ” Now the peace is over.”
“Don’t be so negative. Please try to make peace with Dad. For me and Mom at least.”
Horace nodded, but his expression made it clear that he doubted it would work. John and Livia entered the room, followed by Gabby.
“Do you need anything else?” asked Gabby. Since Val had taken responsibility for instructing her, Gabby had become less shy around other people, especially men.
“We have everything we need, thank you,” said Val as she rose from her chair to greet her parents.
Horace and I got up as well. Anna had already rushed to her grandparents and hugged them one after another. Her relationship with my parents was not that close, but they were not affectionate types, and Anna was a child who needed a lot of affection.
Livia walked over to her son and hugged him tightly, then gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Why do you have to worry us so much?”
“Mom,” he said softly but firmly, and pulled her hands away from her face. “Maybe you should ask Dad why.”
John’s face flashed with anger, but after a glance at Anna who was watching with wide, curious eyes, he merely smiled as he stiffened.
“How about we have coffee first and then you two discuss whatever you need to work out?” suggested Val.
“Very well,” said John.
The atmosphere at the table was frosty. It reminded me of dinners at my house in the past. Fortunately, Val made sure that our family dinners were a pleasant and warm gathering.
Anna and Leonas would never know anything different, except for the few times they had had to dine at my parents’ house.
Afterwards, I led Horatio and Giovanni to my office for a drink and a chat. I didn’t want Anna to see her uncle and grandfather fighting with each other, and judging by the angry looks they exchanged, I had no doubt there would be some loud arguments.
I closed the door. “Keep your voices down. I don’t want the rest of the house to hear.”
“I can control my impulses,” Giovanni said in a firm tone.
“Really? Did you control your impulses when you called Lucy a slit-eyed whore?”
“That was once…”
“Twice.”
“And it’s been years. Don’t tell me you’re still obsessed with that damn girl. For God’s sake, there are millions of fish in the ocean. What’s wrong with our girls? There are so many beautiful Italian girls who can’t wait to marry you, and you reject them all.”
“Because I don’t want them. Stop pestering me with possible brides!”
“You need to get married. You are twenty-five years old. If you want to be Sub-Chief, you have to be married. End of story.
I won’t resign before then.”
“What does my marital status have to do with it?
Do you think I will be a better Sub-Chief because I am married?
Why should my men respect me just because of a marriage?”
I cleared my throat. Their voices had risen and could definitely be heard far beyond this room. “You don’t have to get married now, Horatio, but your father is right. At some point, you must at least choose a good bride. Our traditions are as they are and they are not going to change anytime soon.”
“And that is good,” John intervened.
Horace shook his head. “So if I don’t marry one of the girls you want, I won’t become Sub-Chief?”
“Surely you want to marry someone?” I asked, trying to keep calm even as their fury kindled mine.
“Of course I want to get married. But not one of the girls my father suggests.”
“As long as I’m breathing, you won’t marry an Outsider!”
I stepped in between them because things were about to escalate in a way I could not allow. “That is enough. You will have to find a way to get along. We are at war. We have to unite to fight the Family. Petty family disputes are the last thing we need.”
Horatio crossed my gaze. “Let me go back to Minneapolis and work for Peter. I can’t promise anything if I have to stay in Chicago.”
“I don’t expect your promise, I expect obedience,” I said abruptly, looking at them both. “But for now, you can go back to Minneapolis.”
John opened his mouth but I raised my hand. “This is a temporary solution. I want you two to find it. You, Horatio, will have to decide on a wife within the next year. And you, John, will consult with Horace about possible marriages.
Find a solution and don’t drag Val into it.” The last sentence was said in a more threatening tone than I had intended, but Val was suffering because of the growing conflict between her father and brother, and she needed all her strength to take care of our children.
Horace tightened his mouth but nodded abruptly.
John sighed. “That sounds reasonable to me.”
“Can I leave now? I would like to return to Minneapolis as soon as possible.”
“If that’s what you want,” I said.
“It is. I’ll say goodbye to the women and then I’ll leave.”
He turned and walked out of my office.
John shook his head. “Am I being too harsh? I don’t know what he expects! He knows the rules.”
“Is he still with that girl?”
“No, she broke up a long time ago. At least, that’s what he told me. I made my point very clear then, so I doubt he would have lied.”
“Maybe things will calm down once he gets married and realizes it’s not the end of the world.”
“I hope Leonas never gives you the same problems.”
I hoped so, too.
Eight months later Bibi was a wonderful bride. She was practically radiant. At her first wedding, she had cried tears of horror in the bathroom after the ceremony. Today, she smiled and although I could tell she was nervous and a bit overwhelmed by the attention , she exuded happiness. Darius towered over her, dressed in a dark suit, his short dark hair and carefully trimmed beard. His expression was steely, a mask he had probably developed as a mob lawyer.
Sofia, Anna and Luisa were the bridesmaids and looked lovely in their matching pink dresses. It was not a big party, just a hundred guests and a garden party at Bibi’s villa. To the surprise of many people, Dario had agreed to move into that house. His penthouse was not a good place for a family, and his older brother had inherited the family mansion.
I tried to entertain Leonas by rocking him and singing his favorite song while watching Bibi and Dario accept congratulations from the crowd. Even Bibi’s parents seemed softened by her second marriage. Not that those two had any right to stick their noses into Bibi’s life ever again.
Leonas squirmed in my grip, dissatisfied with being carried. It was early August and he was already quite mobile at eight months old, pulling himself up all the time. He wanted to explore the garden on his own, but with so many people around I couldn’t let him crawl on the lawn.
My eyes landed on Maria who was trying to calm her crying two-month-old baby. Rocco was talking to Dante and my father near the bar, obviously indifferent to his young wife’s anguish. The girl was in her twenties and had not only been forced into marriage with Rocco, but had also become pregnant almost immediately. It was obvious that she was overwhelmed. In the few times I had seen her since she had given birth, she always seemed close to tears.
I walked toward her with Leonas still wiggling and gave her an encouraging smile when I got to her side.
“Hey Maria, are you okay?”
She nodded quickly. “Hi Mrs. Ca-” “Please call me Val. There is no need for formality. I’m not that much older than you.”
Rocco Jr. had subsided into his mother’s arm, obviously fascinated by Leonas’ antics. An idea crossed my mind. “Why don’t you come over sometimes so our boys can play together? When they are older the six months between them won’t be so noticeable.”
Her face lit up. “Sure, if Rocco allows it.”
Even now I found it incredibly strange that both her husband and son were named Rocco. This had been a common practice in the Mafia in the past, but it only showed how obnoxious Rocco Scuderi was, and really had no reason to be.
“I can’t imagine he has anything against you meeting the Capo’s wife and son,” I said with a smile.
Fabiano walked toward us. He had grown and was as tall as me. His boyish features had become harder, alert, and as I had noticed before he walked, like his ribs hurt. I should have talked to Dante again about this. Making the boy strong for his future tasks was one thing, but mistreating him was another.
“Do you want me to take him a little?” asked Maria.
She bit her lip. “You know your father doesn’t like it.”
Fabiano clenched his mouth but nodded.
“How about keeping Leonas, Fabiano? That way I can cuddle Rocco for a while.”
Fabiano nodded and took Leonas from me. It was obvious that he had been holding his little brother often for the past two months because he was making sure he was supporting my son in the right way, even though Leonas was already much more mobile than Rocco.
“May I?” asked Maria, who nodded, an expression of gratitude crossing her face. I cradled her son in my arms and her eyes fixed on me. “Is it okay if I freshen up and get something to drink while you take care of him?”
“Sure,” I said.
Maria left quickly, without looking back. I felt pity for her.
“How are things going with your initiation?”
Fabian looked up, surprised. “Fine, I suppose?” Caution filled his eyes. “Can I talk to you about it?”
I let out a small laugh at his confusion. He was such a teenager. “Well, I’m the Chief’s wife.”
“Yes…” She shrugged her shoulders. “My father expects a lot from me before he wants to allow me to become a Made Man and get the tattoo.”
It was so typical of the Outfit to keep the tattoo rumors among initiates and people who were not Made Men when Fiore had discontinued the tradition long ago. The Outfit Chief had never gotten a tattoo, only his soldiers, but even that had been small compared to the Family and Camorra ones, just a tiny chrysanthemum on his neck hidden by his hairline. It was meant to show that the man had already been marked by death and did not fear it because chrysanthemums were funeral flowers in our tradition. Fiore then decided it was best not to show their association with the Mafia in any way, which was also why he insisted on calling himself Boss, not Capo. Many people still called Dante the Boss even though he had gone back to being Boss.
“Maybe it’s a good thing that you will be older. It’s a hard life.”
Fabiano grimaced and looked again at Leonas who was trying to wriggle out of his grip. “He is not happy on my arm.”
“He’s not happy in anyone’s arms right now. He wants to crawl .”
Rocco Jr. on the other hand had fallen asleep in my arms. He had the dark eyes and hair of the Scuderi family, not Fabiano’s lighter appearance inherited from his mother’s family .
Rocco and Dante walked toward us. Fabiano immediately became tense but I only smiled.
“What’s going on?” asked Rocco politely. That tone was one he used because Dante and I were there. I had a feeling that his words would have been harsher if he had been alone with Fabiano because the look he gave the child was chilling.
“I asked Maria if I could hold your son for a while because he is such a cute baby, and Fabiano had to help me with Leonas in the meantime, which he generously agreed to do. Right, Fabiano?”
Fabiano nodded, “Yes.”
Rocco frowned. “Where is Maria?”
“She went to the bathroom. Oh, I asked her if we could meet once a week so our children could grow up together. I hope you agree.”
The stern look was replaced by pride. “Sure.”
“I can take him now,” Dante said to Fabiano and took Leonas from him. Leonas briefly stopped fidgeting but then tried again to get down on the ground. “He has his own head,” Dante said with a chuckle.
“You can give me my son now, too, Valentina. I’m sure you’d like to get something to drink,” Rocco said politely, extending his hands. I had to stifle a grunt. When I handed him Rocco Jr.
it became obvious that he wasn’t holding it very often and was just trying to imitate Dante. I did not comment.
Rocco knew what face to show Dante and me, but I also knew what he looked like behind the closed door. When I was still in contact with Aria, he had admitted it to me.
I did not trust him at all.
Eight months later Leonas stormed out of his room before I could grab him, completely naked. I ran after him laughing. “Stop!”
He obviously did not. His new hobby was tearing off his clothes and diaper and running around the house until someone caught him.
My heart almost lost a beat when he staggered down the stairs. She was already very stable on her legs at seventeen months, but the steps were something else.
Anna poked her head out of her room wide-eyed, a crayon in her hand as usual.
Leonas laughed even louder as he was about to fall down the stairs. Fortunately Dante stopped at the base of the stairs, probably alerted by the noise and caught Leonas before he could fall face down.
He caught his breath halfway down the stairs. “He’s fast.”
Dante observed Leonas with an exasperated smile. “You have to listen to your mother and you have to keep your clothes on.”
Leonas chuckled as if it was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
Dante in his elegant three-piece suit holding Leonas completely naked was a lovely sight.
I was sweating from trying to get our son to wear clothes three times in a row.
Dante looked at me and then said, “How about I dress him?”
He climbed the stairs until he reached me, then kissed me on the mouth, lingering a little longer, the look in his eyes telling me he wished we had some alone time. I wasn’t sure what she found sexy about my sweaty appearance, but I didn’t care.
“Good luck,” I said. Leonas obeyed his father better than I did, but at that moment he was testing his limits. “I’m going to check on Anna. Her piano teacher is coming in thirty minutes and I have a feeling she hasn’t rehearsed her song yet.”
“Are you drawing again?” asked Dante as we walked up the stairs beside me. I was glad he often worked from home so he could be there for our children. Many fathers were mostly absent from their children’s lives, but it was not something I wanted. Anna and Leonas liked spending time with him.
“She is talented. Maybe we should also consider getting her an art teacher.”
Dante nodded, “That might be a good idea.” I gave Leonas a little nod before heading to Anna’s room. As expected, she was sitting at her desk, hunched over a sheet of paper, drawing a field of flowers. She was only four years old, but she was already focused and motivated when it came to art.
She looked up briefly when I walked in and crouched down next to her. “It’s beautiful, honey. But have you rehearsed your piano lesson song?”
She smiled shyly as she peered at me through her thick dark lashes. “Once.”
Her small keyboard lay abandoned on the bed.
“Is that a lie?”
Her smile became even more embarrassed.
I stood up and held out my hand to her. “Come on. Let’s go downstairs and practice the piano. I’ll help you.”
Anna put down her crayon, took my hand and followed me outside. Dante wanted our children to learn to play a musical instrument, as he and his sisters had done.
He considered it a lesson in perseverance and patience. I had also learned to play the piano when I was a child, but I had not played for years until Anna had started taking lessons a little over a year ago.
The beautiful Steinway piano was in the center of the library, and seeing it always made my heart sing. Anna and I were sitting next to each other. I was not a good musician and like Anna, piano lessons had always meant duty, not joy. However, I was trying to make our time spent at the piano a fun adventure for my little girl, so perhaps she would soon discover her love for this beautiful instrument. We played a few fun melodies before we started practicing the song her piano teacher had given her as an assignment.
“Mommy, will Daddy be sad if I don’t play the piano?”
Anna asked softly.
I paused. “No. But he likes listening to you play. And it’s like learning to write or count. Someday it won’t be hard anymore and you can do it without thinking about it .”
Anna thought about it, then nodded. “Luisa is really good at playing the piano. Much better than me.” I could feel a tinge of jealousy. Anna wanted to be the best at everything she did.