Page 163 of Assassin's Obsession

I shrug. "Killing her would have made the role she's going to play in her father's death impossible."

I'm strangely reluctant to kill Perla. When I mentioned this to Candi, she told me not to worry. If Perla ever came for me again, I wouldn't have to be the one to take her out.

Candi's not a killer, but she's right. My men will kill Perla without hesitation if she poses a threat to me.

"You're a cold bastard, Angelo. That's one of the things I like most about you." Salvatore's grin is a little unhinged.

And I know what people mean when they say I look like I have a demon in my soul. And that's probably one of the things I like best about him too.

Don Messino Dies

The call comes from my uncle a week later. His father's condition has deteriorated rapidly. The doctors are blaming his emphazyma and lifelong gastric trouble like expected.

"I'd like to come to say goodbye," I tell my uncle.

"You are family, Angelo. You are welcome."

"Perla might not agree with you."

"My sister gives her loyalty to the wrong people." The soon to be new godfather of Sicily never liked Perla's husbands.

Including my father.

When I arrive in Sicily, my uncle has a ride waiting to take me to the Messino estate from the private airfield Severu's jet landed at.

There's a hush over the household. They're all waiting for the Grim Reaper to come for my grandfather's soul.

What they don't know is that Don Messino doesn't have a soul and Death is already here.

My uncle greets me with a somber handshake. "Thank you for coming, Angelo. I know the family has not always treated you like we should, but know that once I become godfather, you will always be welcome here."

"Thank you. My life is in New York with my family there."

My uncle nods. "I heard you are engaged to a lovely young woman. The daughter of a capo."

Severu would have told him that. Perla wouldn't have said anything so complimentary.

"He doesn't acknowledge her," I say grimly.

"But her brother's do. One day Renato will be capo in his father's place and things will change in that family."

"Like they're changing in this one." I don't call it my family, but I acknowledge that my uncle has a plan for the future that is very different than my hidebound grandfather's.

"Yes."

Death has a smell I'm very familiar with and it clings to the opulent bedroom as my grandfather gasps his last breaths.

Perla jumps up when I enter the room. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to say goodbye."

She shakes her head and starts to speak, but at a look from her brother subsides back into the chair beside the bed. "Say your goodbyes then."

"I will leave you to it," my uncle says before turning to go.

"You don't mean to leave this killer with our father?" Perla demands.

"He is your son, Perla. Remember the importance of family. He is here to pay his last respects. There is nothing to criticize in that."

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