The Life: Sacrifice (The Life 3)

It’s no secret that Pop is stuck in his ways and would prefer we keep our feet wet in some aspects of the old business. I can’t help him with that. I don’t know why the hell he sent me to those fancy schools if he wanted me to continue where he left off. The thing is, Gabe, unlike me, wouldn’t be as easy to control as Pop thinks. Once the boy sinks his teeth into something, it’s hard getting him to let go. And I gotta tell ya; his mind scares the shit outta me.

“Well, we kinda knew it would be like this. Damn, I thought we had more time, but I need you to work your way in before we leave for Europe in a couple of days, so at the very least, learn how to keep up with him, will you.”

“You knew it would take time; you said so yourself. But I gotta say, he’s tougher than expected, and I think his sisters work with him against us.”

“I have no doubt about that. I forgot to warn you about them. They’re almost as devious as their brother, don’t trust them either. If they tell you he went left, go right, remember that.”

“They’re not that bad really, just very loyal to their brother, is all.” I scoffed and left it at that.

“Whatever, listen, here’s what you do, for the time being, stay close to the girl, wherever she is, that’s where he’ll be. And do your best to get on his good side, will you.”

“We’re working on it. At least he hasn’t sent us packing.”

“There is that. Okay, back to it then.”

Damn boy. I haven’t heard a peep about Sicily, he hasn’t made any moves in that direction, but I’m almost certain he’s going to do something while we’re in Paris. Maybe I’ve been going about this all wrong. Instead of fighting him or trying to stop him, I should probably just find a way to protect him on his path. That’s what a good father does.

But somehow, my gut tells me that if Gabe goes down this path, there’ll be no turning back. I’m not even sure why that is, but I never bet against my gut. So, all I can do is keep my eyes on things because the kid can run circles around me with his computer shit, and we both know it.

* * *

GABRIEL

* * *

I watched on the home security monitors as the four ninja turtles walked out of Pop’s home office. I can just imagine what that little meet was about. Out of respect for Pop, I don’t have eyes and ears in his private spaces, but it’s not needed. All I have to do is keep track of when he sneaks Lancelot in for a private consult, and I can figure out the rest.

I don’t plan on leaving him in the dark forever, but I know I have to beat him to the punch, or he’d try to do what’s mine to do. Ma seems completely clueless to the fact of what she’d set in motion; she’s so caught up in Balls and debutant crap that she hasn’t given a second thought to the fact that I’d be that close to Sicily in a few days.

In fact, since I brought Gianna home, Ma seems to have forgotten all about the seeds she’d planted so long ago. I thought letting Pop know what I’ve been doing here the last few days would keep him off the scent, but now I think I overplayed my hand. Why else would he be meeting those four all of a sudden if not to put them on high alert?

Too bad for Pop, I’ve taken what he taught me along with my own knowledge and honed myself into what I am today. He doesn’t know it, but I plan to use them to my advantage when the time comes without them even being aware. Tommy and the others had been easy. They’ve been groomed to see me as their de facto boss, so giving them orders is a piece of cake. And Pop seems to forget that the four that just left his office owe me a debt. After all, I’m the one who brought them into his life, and knowing them, once they’re reminded of that fact, they’d see things my way.

It’s manipulative as shit, but I never claimed not to be. I only hope that when it’s all said and done, he realizes that I did it for him. I don’t want my Pop involved in any of this. Pop would kill Ricci. I have no doubt about that. But unlike me, he’d stop there because he wouldn’t want to leave Ma and the girls alone in the world without him, so he’d probably end up in a cell somewhere for life or ten years minimum. I’ll never let that happen.