Chapter 239
(SASHA)
After they’ve all trooped by the bed, kissed my ring, muttered words for my long life, and given blessings, the master bedroom begins to feel a little cramped. Luigi, Giulio, and Miles are on one side of my bed. Marco is taking up more of the room than the others seem to, even standing on his own at the foot of the bed.
“Thank you all for coming here,” I begin. “I’m aware of the tempting target we make, all of us here together, so I’ll be brief. First of all, I wanted to say thank you to my brother, Marco, for coming back to me in my time of need p>
There’s a murmur of agreement, and Marco grins proudly. “But Marco will be leaving us again,” I say, holding Marco’s eye. “He has a wife and a child who depend on him. He needs to get back to them. It’s asking far too much to keep him here. He’s his own man p>
No one looks at Marco, and it’s so quiet that I can hear the clock in the hallway outside ticking and ticking and the soft creak of the landing floorboards.
At long last, Marco clears his throat. “Yeah,” he says. “That’s right. I got to get back to my family p>
I reach out my hand, and he comes to me, clasps it in both of his, and leans in to kiss me three times.
“You sure, Sasha?” he murmurs roughly in my ear.
“I’m sure.” If he wants to talk it through later, we will. But for now I’m just relieved he realised the role he had to play in my theatre tonight. He straightens and gives a grin that’s only a little regretful.
“And I’ll say goodnight now to all you fuckers. Keep your shit together, eh? And keep my brother alive, or I’ll come back and kick your asses p>
I give them time to bid Marco farewell, and they all say their goodbyes. When the door shuts behind Marco, I motion them closer to my bed. They huddle up, a little semicircle, and I wait another moment just to make them squirm.
“The second thing I want to say,” I go on at last, “is that we are at war.” “We’re gonna get those Irish fuckers p>
Luigi promises me. “Make them regret ever coming into this city p>
“We are,” I agree. “But we can only do that if we pull together. Show loyalty p>
The silence in the room is deep, as though they’re all holding their breath.
Outside in the hallway, I hear a very quiet creaking of floorboards again. “I know not all of you have been happy with the changes I’ve made. I understand that I’ve gone against tradition in many ways and that I’ve made decisions that some of you disagree with. But what I want you to understand tonight is this: I don’t give a fuck what you think p>
That causes a little ripple of movement through the room: some surprised faces, some smirks, some frowns.
“I’m the Boss,” I go on. “My decisions are final. Martino Adonis gave me the ring.” I wait a moment; allow some time for those who need to remember that. ” When I took over, I even gave a grace period. I said whoever wanted out could get out and could leave this family with no fear of reprimand. You all stood by me then. So I’m giving you one last chance tonight. Whoever wants to leave… Leave p>
I look around at every face in turn. “Leave now, and I won’t pursue you. Go join the ranks of whichever family you like. Retire. Move to fucking Hawaii. I don’t care. But after tonight, if anyone here ever questions my authority again—ever questions my decisions again—ever goes behind my back again—I will end that man p>
I wait, but I don’t have to wait long. Luigi is the first to respond. “Understood, Boss p>
“With you. Hundred percent,” Miles says firmly. Giulio, too, is just as quick to murmur his assent.
“Good,” I say, once I’m satisfied that no one is about to head for the door. “In that case, on to business. Luigi is Underboss. And during my recovery, he will be my representative in all things p>
Nods all around the room. I take off the Adonis ring again and pass it to Luigi, who takes it with a murmur of respectful thanks.
“And as for you, Vollero,” I say, “all your bullshit about rats, and you’re flapping your mouth to my goddamn brother p>
“But Jericho… he’s not—I mean, I’d never talk outside the Family He trails off, his mouth open and stammering as I stare him down.
“Never again, Boss. On my life, never again p>
I keep him pinned with my gaze. “On your life, you’ll follow Luigi’s orders like they’re my own, and you’ll show him the same respect you afford me p>
“Yes, Boss p>
“And one last thing, Al,” I say softly. “If you ever disrespect my husband again, ever question whether he really knows my wishes? I’ll cut your fucking face off p>
That face goes pale. “Never again, Boss,” he repeats.
“Then we understand each other.” I pause another moment just to give Vollero’s blood pressure a chance to go down. “From tomorrow, Tyler, Giulio, and I will be at Marco’s for about a month. Miles will drive us there and then come back to renovate and secure my father’s old mansion for me. Luigi will run the Family. Snapper, work with the Alvarado Family to keep pushing back and reclaiming our territories. As for you, Vollero I turn to him with a smile. “I have a very special job for you p>
By the time he hears what I want from him, Vollero is smiling, too. “Ah, those Callahan motherfuckers. Time they paid the price for every shitty thing they did p>
Soon after that, I call the meeting to a close and send the faithful away from me to spread my word, to issue my decrees, to do deeds good and bad. And before they leave the room, I hear quick, light footsteps hurrying away downstairs.
Tyler, it seems, has not lost his penchant for listening at doors.