“Let’s give her some time, all right? She did just shoot me. I wouldn’t put it past her to do it again.”
Chase chuckled. “Hell of a lucky shot. I’m surprised you’re still walking straight, a foot to the left and you would have been—”
“Thanks, yeah, I know what I would have been. Dying.”
We picked up our drinks and walked back to the house.
I opened the door to see Mil, Mo, and Tex all back in the room watching us pensively.
It was as if they had all taken in a huge breath and were waiting to see if me or Chase needed to go to the hospital.
“It’s fine.” I waved my hand in the air. “Nobody’s going to die.”
They exhaled in unison.
“Not to rain on anybody’s parade, but we gotta call the men together tonight. Let them know what happened.” Tex shoved his hands in his pockets.
It was awkward. A few weeks ago I’d been the boss. I’d been the boss for years and now I had to look to Chase. After all, his blood was the boss’s blood, the man I used to call father.
He clenched his right hand, and light bounced off the ring. “Make the call, Tex.”
“Right away.” Tex pulled out his cell and started making arrangements.
“And the funeral,” I said. “We can’t forget about Phoenix.”
“No.” Chase nodded. “We won’t forget him.”
Chapter Fifty-two
Nixon
I watched as the men slowly began trickling into my house. Most of them were so damn happy to see me alive it was as if there wasn’t this giant elephant in the room—Chase being boss, and me being… what? What was I? I grabbed a glass of wine and took a seat.
Chase called the meeting to order just as Sergio walked in.
The men began to whisper between themselves.
And then Frank Alfero walked in, with Luca.
It hadn’t occurred to me until now how much power was sitting in that room. The head of the Nicolosi family from Sicily, the Abandonatos, and the Alfero mafia boss. Frank nodded at me and took a seat opposite on the couch.
“Gentlemen.” Chase cleared his throat. “Please welcome Luca Nicolosi and Frank Alfero. They’ve been gracious enough to attend our meeting.”
Luca nodded at Chase. “Someone has to clear the air.”
Over the next hour Luca explained in great detail the plans that had unfolded over the past few weeks. How I’d gone to him and staged my own death in order to snuff out Tony. How I needed more proof and how, in a moment of clarity, the De Lange boss, Phoenix, had redeemed himself by not only helping us, but by finishing off the rat that put us in that situation in the first place.
I watched as men, the ones I had grown up with, the ones I had looked up to, shook their heads, slapped backs with one another and began mumbling prayers under their breath.
Yes. We were the mafia.
But when family died? When lives were uselessly lost in our tight-knit family? That wasn’t business. No, it was tragedy and each and every one of them knew it.
When Luca was finished, Frank stood. “I’d like to say something.” He cleared his throat and looked around the room. “I’d like to thank your family. Not only did you put me into hiding, but you protected my granddaughter at all costs. It’s because of you that I may finally let go of the death of my son and daughter. It is because of you that I am able to hold my head high once again. I owe you my allegiance. This fighting, between us, it ends. It ends now.” He took his seat.
Chase stood. “There is one more thing to discuss.”
I knew how uncomfortable it would make him, so I stood and walked over to his side, giving him silent encouragement with my presence.
“Nixon and I…” He looked to the ceiling. “Well, we discovered some things about our pasts—things that really shouldn’t matter anymore. Regardless of my own parentage, and regardless of his, I motion to reinstate Nixon as the boss.”
“Chase,” I growled. “What the hell are you doing?”
He turned to me and grinned. “My damn job, like you ordered me to.”
It was unanimous. Chase slapped me on the back and left the middle of the room. I wasn’t sure how I felt, but for some reason it was right. Even though I wasn’t blood related to my father, even though normally that was how things worked. I was good at what I did. And I wanted it. Sadly, I couldn’t bask in the glory of it that long, not when I realized that now things were once again backward. If Trace wanted to end up with Chase, he was once again the safer choice. Damn.
“One more thing.” Luca stood. “Since I am here, it is imperative that we notify the De Lange family of the happenings. It is also crucial that the next boss be appointed.”