The Life - Rebirth (The Life 4)

Sal walked me out to the multi-car garage with pride, and I had to admire his collection, which was nowhere near Pop’s, but it was decent enough. I whistled low and long when I saw the gold and black Bugatti that had been shined to within an inch of its life. It was a beauty, and I exclaimed as such.

“Get in, get in.”

“No-no, that’s not right; you should give this to one of your sons or your grandson,” I said this, of course, because I heard and saw the others coming. But Sal, who was like a kid in a candy store, didn’t seem to notice.

“No, you are my first grandson; you’ve lost so much already, I will make it up. I will make sure you get what is rightfully yours.”

“Papa, what’re you saying?” Ricci and his wife and kids joined us, all of them looking fit to be tied except the girl who was creeping me the fuck out by now. I have nothing against Ricci’s kids per se, beyond the fact that I plan to destroy their lives as they know it, but somebody should’ve explained to this kid that looking at the man you’d just learned is her brother like that is not the way to go.

I didn’t have much time to give to her, though, because of the heated debate that erupted between Sal, Ricci, and Jr. If they were this upset about a car, I can’t imagine the hell they’re going to give him when they find out what he plans to do with his will. Sal totally ignored Jr., probably because of his latest stunt of skipping school, but he was back to calling Alonzo a disappointment.

That one decided to turn his ire against me like a fire-breathing dragon. “Nannu, I’ve caused you trouble; I should leave.”

“No, niputi, come back here.” I kept walking back to the house as he lit into them. He caught up to me in my room where I was packing.

“Gabe, you mustn’t do this, don’t worry about this; it’s family, it is expected. Come with me; I will show you as I promised.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mean to cause you trouble; it’s good enough for me that I met you that I came here to the place my people came from.” That last part was the soft touch I used to pierce his heart. He came over and took my hands in his.

“You’ve done nothing; you’re a good boy. Your father, he has guilt; this is why. But you mustn’t suffer for this. Ah, I'll show you the Antonelli cottage. Would you like that?”

“Sure!”

“I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to find him as yet, but my people are searching everywhere.” They’ll have to find him in Draco Russo’s kitchen, and I don’t think anyone wants that.

“I know that you are trying; I appreciate it. It would mean so much to my mother. I just want to give her this, to make up for….”

“To make up for what? What is this you owe?”

“For being born.”

That one cut him deep; I saw, and coming on the heels of what just happened out there, I knew what he felt. I played on his sympathies for the rest of the day as he showed me around the palazzo before taking me down the way to show me the little cottage where my mother had grown up.

Emotions overtook me when I saw the place, as I tried to imagine my sophisticated mother living in such a humble abode. I could almost see her here, a young, carefree girl like the twins, like Gia. The tears Sal saw when he turned and looked at me were real.

GABRIEL

I knew this time would come, the time when I would stand face to face alone with Ricci. I was proud of myself as I stood there outside in the winter garden where I’d purposely gone to isolate myself making it easy for him to follow. After placing little devices where needed throughout Sal’s tour, which I recorded with the camera on my watch, I’d gone back to my room to rest and to check up on my handiwork.

Felice and the kids had taken off somewhere, and I knew Sal was in his study with his two sons when I went on my first expedition back to Felice and Ricci’s room. If anyone saw me, I could just explain myself away as being lost as it was my first time in this big house, but no one saw me, and I didn’t hang around long enough to get caught.

Of course, I could’ve probably walked in without issue since the whole staff seemed confused by my presence and because no one had kicked me out and I seemed to be Sal’s new favorite grandson; who would dare object? But I didn’t want any hiccups when the questions started later, as I’m sure they will.