Chapter Ten
“You’re sure?” Thomas Rossi asked.
Giovanni nodded, knowing the news he gave wasn’t what his boss wanted to hear. He didn’t think for a second it was easy for anyone to learn that your own child wanted to kill you.
One of the capos had been willing to talk so long as they’d give him a quick death.
The Butcher’s skill at torture had reached far and wide. Everyone who knew of him was aware of what he could do. How he could keep men and women alive, on the brink of death, spending their hours on earth begging for him to end it.
Giovanni had granted the man’s wish, and the moment he had all the details and evidence, he’d granted the man his wish.
Thomas rubbed at his temples. “He’s … Giovanni, thank you.”
“What will you do?” he asked.
“I will find him, and then I will have no choice but to kill my own son. My flesh and blood.”
Giovanni pulled out another small envelope. “This might be a saving grace for you.”
Thomas took the envelope with a frown. “What is this?”
“Your son raped a girl many years ago. He was sixteen, she was fifteen. It was the first … incident you made me clean up. She got pregnant. You provided the money, and I can guarantee you that the boy is a good one.”
Thomas pulled out the picture of the young girl and the son. He let out a little gasp. “It’s like looking at Leonardo.”
“The boy’s name is Neal. He’s a good kid. She’s a good mom to him, but …she’s sick. Cancer. Her family tossed her out after everything, and she’s been on her own.”
He looked at the older man. “You’re giving me a second chance.”
“No, that boy can be a second chance, but you have to meet her. I went and saw her the other day. She doesn’t have much longer. She knows what this will mean for her son, but if you’re willing to take him, to make him your heir, she will follow your will.” Giovanni had also promised that he would keep an eye on her son.
“I will meet with her,” Thomas said. “Is there anything we can do to help her?”
“No, death is already coming for her, Mr. Rossi. All we can do is make her passing from this world bearable.”
The man nodded, and he saw tears in his eyes.
“I was going to … announce you as my new heir,” Thomas said.
Giovanni nodded. “I know.”
“This is your way of saying no.”
“Mr. Rossi, you have been a good man to me. I will serve you, and the next line that deserves my protection, but I’m not the man who can run this. Your capos, your soldiers, all of them need a man who scares the fucking shit out of them. That is what I am for. It’s not to … lead them. I’m here to show them that nightmares exist.”
Thomas burst out laughing. “And how is that wife of yours?”
“She is … pregnant,” Giovanni said.
“You think I don’t know what you did, but I do. Leonardo was never good enough for that woman, but you are. You’re good for her. She is making you a good wife.”
“She is the best of us,” he said, nodding.
Thomas stood and held his hand out. “Bring me my son. I will be the one to take him from this world.”
Giovanni put his hand in his and shook.
Just as he was turning to leave, his cell phone went off. He apologized to Thomas, who urged him to take the call.