The Woman in the Trunk

The fearful ones needed to be interrogated.

The uncertain ones would just need to have their loyalty inspired. It shouldn't be hard considering they'd put up with my father's shitty leadership for so long.

"You," I said, pointing to several of the fearful and uncertain ones. "On the streets. Listen around. We're not worried about the Morellis or the D'Onofrios. Work any leads you have on the other families. Get it out that I am back and I am fine and I am taking my father's place. You," I went on, pointing to some of the relieved ones, thankful for their acceptance. "We need to gut this place, get all the useless shit boxed up, and get rid of it. And anything even slightly incriminating, questionable, all the weapons, everything else, we need to sort and deal with. I need to know what my father didn't make public knowledge. No surprises."

"Me?" Christopher asked, chin jerking up. "You know what your job is. Find her," I told him, giving him a hard glance, getting a nod before rushing off.

"I need ten guards here at the house. Everyone else, I need you making the rounds at our local businesses, drop in, tell them we are giving them this month off from their debts until I can meet with each of them personally to make sure the rates have all been fair. Yes, fair," I affirmed when brows pinched. "My father leaned too hard on some, and not hard enough on others. We are fixing that. But they don't need to know that. Just tell them what I said. And otherwise, business as usual. Except you now come to me with your problems. Coffee," I told Emilio as the others decided who would stay and who would hit the streets. "What did the cops and coroner say about my father?"

"Accidental consumption of peanuts. Though no one has any idea how. You know how your father was about nuts."

I did.

I never even tasted peanut butter until I was an adult. He made some rule about how the people who owed us debts couldn't touch or eat nuts the day debts were collected each month. He was anal about it. Which made sense since he had a severe allergy, and almost died twice.

Why he hadn't gotten to an epinephrine pen was beyond me.

That said, I wasn't exactly sad about it.

I saw it in his eyes as he pulled that trigger.

He meant to kill me.

He might have sent someone to finish the job had Chris not called Emilio, getting him to stand at my side night and day in that hospital.

So good riddance to bad rubbish and all of that.

"How are you feeling really?" Emilio asked as I leaned back against the counter, taking a breath.

"I have a headache. And I'm hungry. I just need to get my strength up. Another day or two, and I will feel normal again."

"Glad to hear it. I know you have been waiting for this day for a long time. Kinda sucks that you were in limbo for a good part of it instead of being able to jump right in."

"It's alright. I'll catch up.

"I know you will. You were born for this."

"How many of those guys do you think have secrets like Paulie had?" I asked, cracking my neck.

"That particular secret? I hope to fuck none. But I don't know. I guess you never do. But that's why we have Brio," he declared, handing me my coffee.

"Speaking of. Where the fuck was he? I didn't see him out there?"

"I'm not sure. I know your father's guys said they saw him the night of his death, but not since. Then again, I wasn't keeping tabs on him either."

"Okay. Well, call him in. We need his particular skill set."

"On it. We have to order food in. There's nothing here to eat."

"Alright," I agreed as the house started to burst to life, everyone going into rooms, taking everything that wasn't bolted to the walls down, looking behind pictures, checking inside clocks, drawers, under loose floorboards.

Anything questionable got brought to me.

Dozens of guns of unknown origins were put up on the table to be gotten rid of. I didn't know what might have been done with them, and I didn't want my father's sins on my back. Or rap sheet.

Money was, of course, left with me to squirrel back away when no one was looking. Though everyone who was busting their ass was going to get a stack or two before they went home for the night.

I wasn't above bribing loyalty if I needed to at first. Money always has been and always will be a powerful motivator.I had trouble sleeping those first two nights.

I wanted to say it was because there was so much to do, so many people to see, so many fires to be put out.