“The only thing that matters here is that he went after one of mine, so my question to you is, are you going to deal with him, or am I?”
“Let me take a look, see what’s going on.”
“I just told you what’s going on.”
“I know, but I have to… there are things that need to be done. I can’t just get rid of this guy off the force; he’s been with us for….”
“Oh, so you’re saying I’m taking care of it.”
“No-no-no, Draco, come on, this is me.”
“Yes, I’ll let Pop know how helpful you were.” I dropped the call before he could give me any more of his bullshit and waited. I even looked at my watch to check the time. If this hump makes me wait longer than ten minutes, I will indeed handle it myself.
I plan to any damn way, but I want his own to give him the boot first. I want him to feel like a fish out of water. I want him to lose what little power he thinks he has with the force behind him, and then I’ll move in for the kill.
Now, this piece of shit is not the first to come after me. Even heaven doesn’t hold the son culpable for what the father has done, but these fucks stay on my ass with their shit. But the fact that he went after Lance is what’s going to make his pain worst than others. This fuck’s gonna wish he never saw my name come across his desk by the time I’m done with him.
Seven minutes. That’s how long it took before the commissioner called back. “He’ll be gone by end of day today.”
“I want to be there.”
“Draco…”
“I’m there, or the deal’s off.”
“Fine, be here by noon.”
“No can do, the kids get off at two-thirty.”
“The kids?”
“Yeah, see you at three.”
I hung up because what’s he gonna do? Then I called my lawyer, who picked up on the first ring. “How’d it go?”
“He’s getting the boot today at three. I need you there.”
“I will be; now try and keep your nose clean in the meantime, will ya.”
“The fuck did I do?” He chuckled and hung up, prick.
Now, in every Sicilian movie, the consigliere is Sicilian. My boy is a Jew whose great-grandfather didn’t make it out of Auschwitz while his grandfather carried a number on his arm for the rest of his life. He’s got a score to settle and not just with the Nazi fucks who terrorized his kin. He goes after any and all injustice, and he’s good with this shit.
I met Levi my freshman year in college, and we’ve been thick ever since. He’s not my lawyer just because of his intelligence and case record, but because of his personality, because of the man he is. A standup guy with a heart of gold and the instincts of a school of piranha scenting fresh blood in the dirty waters of the Amazon. And he loves fucking with anyone who fucks with me.
He’s probably the only one outside of Pop, my brother, and my son, who knows my plans and what I’ve been doing to take the family legit. In fact, he’s played a big part so far in helping me bring that dream to fruition. And though I don’t need him this evening, sometimes I take him around for ballast. He’s the most expensive weapon in my arsenal.
I sent a text to both boys telling them to come straight home after school. I never give up a chance to show them their own power and the fact that they have me, if no one else, standing in their corner. Lance has been there for my son since the two of them met more than a decade ago. I love him for that, but the truth is, I love him even more because my son loves him like his own soul. Anything I can do to make up for what my boy thinks about himself I’m here for.
GABRIEL
My phone went off in the middle of biology class, and seconds later, I saw Lance remove his backpack to fetch his. Pop! I looked over at Lance, who was looking back at me quizzically. Poor Lance got caught in the middle of my family’s drama a few years ago when the schools first started cracking down on cell phones.
Pop lost his shit! According to him, his kids will always have their phones on them when away from home. When he was reminded that there were no cell phones when he himself was in school and he turned out fine, his answer was that somebody somewhere realized the need, and that’s why they exist now.
I wasn’t there for the showdown with the headmistress and whoever else sat in on that one, but the end result is we have our phones on vibrate and have the respect not to use them during class and only answer if there’s an emergency. Since we’re all here except for our parents and grandparents, any incoming call is an emergency as far as I’m concerned because who else would be calling us during school hours?
As for Lance, there’s nothing the twins and I are dragged into by Pop that he’s left out of. So, I’m guessing he received the same message, to come directly home and no pussy footing around after school, whatever that means. Pop’s been in a mood since Lancelot’s little reveal the night before.
He’d grunted through breakfast and only had smiles for the females in the house. Ma didn’t know what the hell was going on; she’s in her own world these days. I know what her deal is, but neither of us is talking. I’m not one of those braindead assholes who think blaming the victim is the way to go, but I know that she’s aware that I now know the truth about that night, and it’s probably hard for her to face me.
I understand why she watered that shit down, but how do I tell her that I don’t blame her? That this changes nothing about the way I see her and feel about her? If anything, I have more empathy and compassion for the girl she once was, the girl who’d endured that abhorrent shit and was still able to move on with her life, get married and raise relatively decent kids, and on top of that, have a heart like hers.
I also have a lot of respect for Pop. Not many men would’ve stepped up and taken on the raising of the son of a monster. The way he loves Ma, I’m surprised he could stand to see the reminder of Ricci every single day. Then again, he doesn’t know the whole story, and I won’t be the one to tell him.
When the bell rang for lunch, Lance jogged over to my side. “What’s up with Unc?”
“Beats me! Probably have something to do with what happened last night.”
“I figured, but what can it be?”
“Knowing Pop, you have to ask? Most likely, someone’s going to get their ass handed to them. Do me a favor, watch the girls for me; I have something to take care of.”
“You’re still doing that shit? I thought you were done now that you’ve found grandpa. What gives?”
“Just some last-minute stuff, nothing bad, I promise.” Of course, he didn’t believe me and the look he gave me said as much, but I ignored him and headed out of the building for my hiding spot.
I was supposed to take care of this yesterday, or was it the day before? But I got sidetracked dealing with Sicily and Gianna. Now that Pop sent out a summons, who knows how long his shit is gonna last, whatever it is, so now might be the only downtime I have. Besides, this thing is time-sensitive, and I can’t expect them to wait on me forever.
I made sure I was alone though I wasn’t expecting anyone to infiltrate my personal space and dug out my device, and attached the portable charger. I typed in the necessary information a very sterile-looking room came into view seconds later, where Dr. Naz’s face popped up on the screen. Crazy fuck! Genius, but crazy, nonetheless.