Gio

“Yep.” I deadpan. “And I’ve been sober for the whole ten. More than you can say.”

“Ah, fuck you!” He spits.

“No thanks, I have your sister for that.”

The anger Johnny was showing rises tenfold at that comment. He jumps, ready to cross the desk for me. Frank catches him quickly, keeping him just far enough from me that he touch me, but close enough that he can see the grin on my face. “Fuck you!” he spits again. “You fucking dago, you’re gonna fucking regret this!”

His threats are useless.

Even his slurs don’t scratch my back.

I’ve heard them all.

Dago, ginzo, goombah, guinea.

People who hate Italians have a list of words to call us, but I don’t give a shit.

At the end of the day I’m the one with money in my pocket.

“Get him out of here.” I wave a hand to dismiss him.

I have a meeting to prepare for, and I’m done with this little shit. Gian and I are having a sit down with Lil Bobby Paladina and it’s important that it goes well. In order for us to prevent a civil war, Gian needs to take his seat at the head of the family with everyone in agreeance. The men would follow their captains, so we need to get the last two captains in line, Bobby is one of them.

I stand from my chair, adjusting my suit. We’ll have the meeting downstairs in the bar. It was early, the place isn’t open yet and the only employee here is Justine, the bar manager. She’s good at staying out of sight when I’m conducting business.

I tuck the Glock I favor safely away in my desk drawer before heading down to the bar. It’s frowned upon to bring a gun to a meeting with another capo.

Frank and Charlie are both taking Johnny to rehab, I don’t want to risk him throwing a fit and trying to run off so I sent them both. Unfortunately, that leaves me with just Tony for the meeting. Meetings with other capos are typically less violent, as we know the rules and live by them. And even if I wanted to, rules say I can’t touch another capo.

Made men, in general, are off-limits, this is a brotherhood. You don’t hit a made man, and you definitely can’t kill them. Most of all you stay the fuck away from their women, whether they’re a wife or a side piece.

This thing of ours, or better known as la Cosa Nostra was a group based on common values and rules. These things keep us in line, keep us connected. Gian is a stickler for these rules, he believes in this brotherhood more than any man I’ve ever met.

He also fucking loves money.

That doesn’t hurt.

Bobby Paladina, the capo we’re meeting with, has been around for a long time. He runs a large crew that brings in a lot of money for la Famiglia. His crew has a few construction rackets, sports betting, and some low-end poker games. They’re a tight team, avoid drama for the most part, and bring in money.

There’s an unspoken rule in la Famiglia that the men who bring in the most money are the ones who get promoted. When you add up the dollars, that ma

n is Gian. He has monthly poker games with high rollers that bring in so much cash I get twitchy thinking about it. His crew boosts trucks and turns the profits in a day, faster than anyone else in New England. Gian runs a tight ship. and they make bank because of it.

The problem is, even though the old guard knows how well Gian is doing, they’re too spiteful to hand him the promotion he rightfully deserves.

Things are going to change, we’re going to make sure of it.

Bobby arrives at The Alibi first. He’s a fat and stubborn man. He drinks too much, smokes too much, and is far too loud. He enters the bar like he owns the place, his stubby legs carrying him over to my table.

“Bobby,” I stand for his arrival, giving him a customary kiss on the cheek.

“Gio,” he gives me a curt nod. “Where’s your brotha at?”

“He’ll be here.” I respond politely.

It’s not that I hate the man, I just don’t like anyone who’s not backing my brother. My blood brother.

Since the former bosses’ death, there’s been a power vacuum in this city. I know my brother is meant for the boss’s seat, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get him there.