I sat down next to Gian, and Mags sat on my other side. “Enough about kids,” I said, cutting him off before he made her even more uncomfortable. “What’s the deal with tonight?”
He sipped his drink and gestured. “Look at them,” he said. “Does this seem like a group that’s about to turn down their new Don?”
I looked out at the strip club. He had a good point—the men were in good spirits, laughing loudly, shouting over the thumping music, watching the girl dance, drinking too much. It was a party atmosphere.
“I need to know this is going down okay,” I said, staring at Gian.
“Trust me,” Gian said. “It’s settled. Even Roy’s on board now that you married his niece.”
I sucked in a breath and reached back for Maggie’s hand on instinct. She let me squeeze her fingers, but seemed surprised. I let her go quickly, realizing what I was doing, and stood up. “I should get this started. Mags, stay here with Gian. He’ll take care of you.”
“Careful with that,” Gian said. “You leave a pretty girl around me, I’m liable to scoop her up.”
“Good luck with that,” Maggie said. “Aren’t you married? And got a baby?”
“Fair enough,” Gian said with a sigh. “It’s sad, but I’m loyal as they come.”
“Then stay that way,” I said, and strode up toward the stage.
Eyes followed me. Half the club stared. I wished I knew what they were thinking. These were the most powerful men in the family, the Capos that ran all the individual crews spread throughout our territory. There were twelve in all, though I planned on adding more in the coming months. More Capos, more crews, more guys, more power. I wanted to grow the family, not leave it stagnant.
I climbed up onto the stage next to the DJ booth. A few guys hooted and laughed, and I grinned and flipped them off. I told the DJ to cut the music, and he passed a mic over. The stripper grabbed her top, piled a stack of twenties into her arms, and got the hell out of there.
I didn’t walk out near the pole, but I stepped forward next to the booth and surveyed my crew.
Some of the men in this group were killers. Some of them enjoyed it, got off on it. Some were thieves, some were con artists, some gambled and drank and fucked. They were all dangerous. These were my people, the men I grew up with, my family.
“You know why we’re here today,” I said and my voice filled the room over the PA.
“You gonna take that top off or what, sweetie?” Matteo shouted out. He got a few laughs and I smiled at him as his Capo made sure he shut up.
“My father ruled over his family for a very long time,” I said, continuing on as if Matteo hadn’t spoken. He looked properly chagrined. “Cesare Valentino was a good Don, a fair Don. He was difficult, yes, and sometimes went too far in his punishments, absolutely. But he made this family the power it is today, and to that we owe him a great debt. So raise your fucking glass and toast my passed father.”
“To Cesare,” Hector shouted. The men echoed him and drank.
I stood surveying them another moment before I spoke again.
“We are a family,” I said softly. “I don’t use that word lightly. The Valentino family has been my home, and you are all my brothers. I have bled for you all and killed for you all, and now I come to ask for your support as the Don of this family. We are not a fucking democracy, but we do vote on this position. If you’re in favor of me taking over, stand now.”
Gian was the first to his feet. I caught Mags’s eye and she frowned at me slightly chewing on her lip. Matteo was up next, though he didn’t count, followed by Lorenzo, and Hector, and more Capos, until they were all on their feet.
Roy Paganini was the last to stand. He saluted to with his glass. “To the new Don,” he shouted.
The men broke out in cheers. They roared and drank and laughed, and I took a moment to bask in it, only one moment, because though this was a good thing, this was a high point in my life, I knew that it meant only more work was ahead, only more danger.
“Let’s drink,” I said. “Get more girls out here. Everything’s on the house.” I handed my mic back to the DJ and the music came back on, and several girls came out from the back. Their big fake tits swayed and the boys laughed and shouted as they threw money.
I shook hands on my way back to the table. Roy lingered too long, leaning forward to say, “Don’t disappoint.” I shot him a smile and pushed past until I sat back down in my chair next to Maggie.