Page 48 of Third Degree

“Of course, Elio. Anything. You know I have your back.”

As I pulled up to Julian’s house, I disconnected the phone from the car speaker and walked inside with Ricardo still on the line, thankful that no one was in the house.

“I am getting married,” I simply stated. There was a heavy pause on the other line.

“Okay. Is this a congratulations moment?” Ricardo inquired cautiously.

“Yes,” I confirmed, my voice tinged with determination.

“Who is it?” Ricardo’s voice held a hint of hesitation, aware of the complex history between the Ricci family and myself.

“It’s Gianna Ricci,” I disclosed, further elongating the silence. Ricardo knew the implications and the deal we had struck after that fateful night.

“Is that a good idea, Elio? Angelo won’t approve or be pleased with this,” Ricardo said carefully.

“I have to do it for myself. I’ve dedicated my entire life to the family. Even when my wife wanted out, I secretly continued to support them. It’s time I do something for my own happiness,” I asserted, my resolve unwavering.

He blew out a heavy breath. “All right. I understand. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve this. How do you want to do it?”

“I need you to contact the Ricci family. We need to legitimize our dealings now that our previous arrangement is ending. Tell them we’ve decided to marry Gianna to the eligible bachelor in the Marchetti family. Without divulging any details, they’ll presume it’s Alex. He’s on the path to becoming a governor and technically single,” I revealed, carefully planning the intricacies of our scheme.

“They’ll connect the dots, considering you haven’t found a wife in all this time,” Ricardo began piecing everything together, comprehension dawning upon him.

“Exactly,” I pressed. “I need you all present at the wedding, though. When it dawns on Angelo what is happening, then it isn’t going to be pretty. The boys will be there.”

“We will bring some of the cousins with us,” Ricardo answered. “Does the daughter know?”

“No. I don’t want her tipped off before the big day. If any of the guards her father has on her figure it out, then the deal will be completely off before it even starts.”

“Okay.Va bene(Very well).”

“There is one more thing, Ricardo,” I murmured.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” he responded. I could practically hear his eyes rolling.

“I will finish setting up the last club in San Diego, but then I am done. I want to be out of the family. I want to enjoy my new wife. I am finished.”

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line. I was expecting a tongue-lashing.

Finally, he said, “It’s about time we both retire, eh? Give the family business over to some of the hungrier younger folks. I think we both have had our fill, and it’s a fucking blessing we have made it this long.”

This was a response I most certainly wasn’t expecting.

“Yeah. I agree,” I said with relief.

“At the end of the day, I know this is what you’ve wanted for years. I know what you did for Bea, for the boys, for the family. Your boys already have ties with my own, so I don’t feel like I am losing you, but I think it’s about time we enjoy the fuck out of the retirement we deserve.”

“Thank you for everything, Ricardo.”

“Of course. I will make the call to the Ricci family. The deal will be done by tomorrow. The wedding will proceed in a couple weeks, I presume. I will text you with the details.”

“Grazie(Thank you).”

I slammed the phone down, the sound echoing through the room. This was it, everything I’d worked for, everything I’d plotted and schemed to achieve. It felt like the stars had finally aligned in my favor, but a nagging sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.

I couldn’t shake the sense that danger lurked just beyond the horizon, waiting to strike with ruthless force.

The tides were shifting, and I needed to be prepared for whatever storm lay ahead. Every move, every decision, had to be calculated, precise and executed flawlessly.

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