Conquered by the Mafia Boss

I come across his grave. It’s a flat piece of stone, and I spit out a stream of alcohol. It splatters on the date.

He died just before I became boss. My old man was a captain.

I worshipped him.

It still burns, even after all these years. I died that night. I made him kneel and put my gun against his head. He didn’t beg. He knew what he had done, what would have happened to me. His fucking son.

I shot him. I watched his brains splatter the pavement and immediately felt unsatisfied. He went so quickly, and I didn’t feel anything. Just rage. Then I pretended to grieve with my ma, even when everyone in the family knew what I had done.

When your own father puts a hit out on you because you’re getting too big, you lose faith in humanity. He was my hero and he betrayed me for the scared, weak old men who couldn’t handle the fact that a young made guy was a rising star. Bringing in millions of dollars a week. Attracting media attention. I was smart. Most guys are good earners. I was the best.

Take it from me: being the best makes you a target. Not just from men-women, too. They want a piece of you.

The wind howls a bitter sound in my ears as my eyes burn, staring at that fucking plaque.

I wish he was alive so I could kill him again.

Then I upend the bottle of bourbon and let it splash all over the grave. It spills over the grass and soaks into the dead blades.

“See you later, Papa.”

Fuck him.

I walk back to my car, where Chris waits outside. “Let’s go to Tony’s house.”

Then I enter the car without another word and Chris drives off. My stomach bubbles angrily. I’m going to be a father. I just know Maya won’t have it in her to get rid of it.

As much as I hate to admit it, I need to talk to someone. He won’t be happy to see me. I let Tony Vidal leave the family to save face. It’s a long story, but he knows exactly what I’m going through.

And I’m a little bit drunk.

We stop in front of Tony’s house in the suburbs of Terrebonne half an hour later. I get out and tell Chris to wait in the car, and then I walk up the neatly trimmed lawn. My fist hammers on the door, and in a few seconds I hear a feminine voice. “Coming!”

Shit. His wife. She hates my fucking guts.

A slight woman wearing a summer dress yanks open the door, her face falling into disgust when she recognizes me.

“You’re not welcome here.”

Fuck.

“Elena, I just want to talk to Tony.”

“He left the family.”

“This has nothing to do with the family. I just want to talk to him, I swear.”

Suddenly a baby’s squalling voice echoes in the house, and Elena looks over her shoulder toward the noise. A tall hulk of a man walks into the hallway, carrying the baby in his huge arms.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Surprise registers in his voice. “Johnny.”

“Hey, Tony. Do you mind if I come in?”

He frowns but nods in approval, earning him a glare from his wife. I step inside and give Elena a jerk of my head as I walk toward Tony. The baby waves its fat fists in the air and gurgles at its father, who smiles.

“Amy, say, ‘Hi!'”

She gives me a toothless smile and I can’t help but return it.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

Elena walks up to her husband and takes Amy from his arms, glaring at me as she walks upstairs.

Sigh.

Tony gives me an apologetic smile. Whatever. I can’t fault her for hating me. He jerks his head and I follow him into his office. The moment the door closes, he rounds on me.

“So what is this, John? Why are you here?”

Can’t he just look at me without the fucking judgment in his eyes?

“I fucked up pretty bad.”

Tony tenses as I sink into his leather couch. He sits across from me and licks his lips.

“What happened?”

A painful grin stretches across my face. “I knocked up a girl.”

“Oh.” He smiles at me. “That’s it?”

“I knocked up the daughter of the president of Les Diables.”

My words hang in the air for a second and Tony’s mouth stretches into a smile, as if he expects me to burst out, “Kidding!”

“You’re serious?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy fuck-”

“Yeah.”

“That’s really bad.”

I give him a pointed look.