“Why the fuck do you think Enzo got made?” Paulie says, his words underlined by his personal frustration. “And if I recall, you weren’t exactly in the loop with Dom’s decisions back then. Or now.”
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.That’swhy that fucking idiot is Dom’s number two? Because of a DNA test that Enzo’s probably smart enough to pay off someone to fake?” I shake my head and consider what he’s telling me. “Dom had one sister. She was afucking nun until she died. How the hell did Enzo get Dom to buy that she had a kid?”
Paulie’s dark eyebrows, threaded with hints of silver, rise to his hairline. “Apparently, she joined the convent because she got in the family way, and no one knew about it because she gave up the baby for adoption. Enzo claims he’s that baby.”
“Fucking hell.This changes everything.”
Paulie nods slowly. “Sure as fuck does, which is why we need to know that you’re our man. Because there’s no chance in hell Cav and Creighton will walk away from their lives to run the organization. No one would follow a woman, so Eden’s out. That leaves you and Enzo. And I think we all know who we’d rather have at the top of the food chain.” Paulie sucks in a big breath and releases it just as slowly. “Enzo would get us all killed. Even you see that.”
It’s the truth. I have zero doubt in my mind that Enzo would be the death of us and possibly the entire Casso name, especially since Dom declared that we’re going to war with the Rossettis. Enzo is practically foaming at the mouth to snuff out GTR’s dad just to prove a point.
And that’s exactly when all hell would break loose.
“Fucking hell,” I say again, turning to lean on the sink. I stare at my reflection. It’s the same face I see every fucking day, but now there’s another question I have to answer.
Am I looking at a mobster ... or at a businessman who needs to cut ties with the family completely while I still can?
Paulie walks over and claps me on the shoulder. “Think about it, Cannon. We’ll support you. Respect you. Follow you. You could take us to a new level. Kick some of the petty shit. I don’t know that I could go legit, but if you wanted to take us in that direction, I’d give it a shot and wouldn’t argue.” His gaze meets mine in the mirror.
“Thanks for that, man.”
“You’ve got a lot to think about. Just know that it’s not only your life on the line here. I’d like to live long enough to retire in Boca like Benny. You’re my only hope of that happening.”
He backs away and returns to the party, leaving me leaning on the counter, collecting my fucked-up thoughts during a rare minute of blessed silence.
At least, the bathroom is largely silent. My mind is the site of a riot.
What the fuck am I going to do?
The door to the bathroom swings open and in walks the last person I want to see right now.Enzo.
I push off the black-and-white-specked countertop and stride to the paper towel dispenser as he turns to the urinal to take a piss.
Deciding I don’t have a fucking thing to say to him, I head for the door. As soon as my hand touches the knob, Enzo breaks the silence.
“I don’t give a fuck what Paulie and Junior want. This family is mine. I’ll kill you before I’ll let you take it from me.”
“Go fuck yourself, Enzo.” I yank the door open and let it slam shut behind me as I stride out—right into Dom.
“Something wrong?” my father asks, and I move out of his way.
“Not a damn thing.”
His dark eyes sharpen on me, and I know he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying.
“I’m hearing talk tonight. Lots of talk.”
I shrug and straighten my jacket. “About what?” Playing the fool is a role he expects from me.
“Conversations that shouldn’t be happening on my goddamned birthday. But Monday, you and I are gonna sit down. Talk about the future. I didn’t spend my whole life building something to let other people make my fucking decisions now. Understand me?”
I know he’s waiting for ayes, sir, I understandresponse, but I’m not giving him that. Not tonight. I don’t care that it’s his fucking birthday.
“Mondayit is, then. Excuse me, I need to find my woman.”
Dom’s expression takes on a chilling glare. “Yeah, Drew with the laugh. You better know what the fuck you’re doing with her because she’s a fine piece, and I’d hate for something bad to happen to her.”
Everything drops away but the man in front of me. The room goes silent. Every party attendee disappears. It’s just me and Dom and his vague threat against Memphis hanging in the room. A threat I won’t stand for.