Page 25 of To Have and To Hold

“Our men.” Papá shook his head. “Some are blaming the famiglia for our war. Before Dario and Catalina married, we were friendly with Herrera.”

“You agreed to have Cat marry. Do you think that was now a mistake?”

“Fuck,” he growled. “El Patr?ndidn’t leave me a choice in the matter. And now Camila…”

I repeated my question. “Do you think it was a mistake, either on your or Jorge’s part?”

He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his inside suit coat pocket and offered me one. I shook my head. It wasn’t that I never smoked, only that when I did it meant I was stressed. I refused to admit to that state of mind at the moment.

Dad removed a lighter from his slacks pocket, lit the cigarette, and took a long drag. The thing was that my stress smoking came from an example in my life.

“You’re stressed about this?” I asked.

He blew a cloud of smoke into the breeze. “It wasn’t a mistake on either of our parts.” He tipped his face up toward the sky. “Dante is my son-in-law as well as Dario. I trust them, more than I did their father. Jorge made an alliance with the Kansas City Mafia. Herrera made an alliance with the Volkov and Kozlov bratvas. I’m concerned we chose the wrong ally.”

“Herrera and Volkov have fucked Kozlov. That doesn’t sound like an ally.”

“Jano doesn’t have what it takes to bejefe. He’s too young. This new turn of events is making our ranks concerned. Do you know what frightened soldiers do?”

“They fight.”

“They run,” he said. “And they’ll run to Herrera.”

I shook my head. “I refuse to believe that.”

“Youth has a way of blinding people, always seeing possibilities when experience would tell you that the fucking house is on fire. I can smell the smoke. Either we get out or go down in flames.”

I turned to face my father. At over a quarter century my senior, he was the man I always looked up to and admired. Maybe it was youth. Maybe it was that Nick and I were closer to Jano and Rei than our fathers were. Whatever the reason, this moment felt earthshaking in a way I wasn’t ready to internalize. “If you’re not for the Roríguez cartel, Papá, then you’re against it. I never imagined you would be a traitor.”

Shaking his head, he released another cloud of smoke. “A traitor is by definition a person who commits treason. I haven’t betrayed anyone or any organization. I swore an oath to Jorge and to Señor Cruz before him.” His dark stare met mine. “You’re a man now, Em. Start thinking like one. Two of my daughters are married to Luciano men, two very powerful men. I will never turn to Elizondro Herrera, but I’m not above asking my sons-in-law for clemency. This ship feels as if it will go the way of Bella.”

“My oath was to Jorge and since to Jano. As long as my sisters are under the protection of the famiglia and the alliance is intact, I will support both sides. The only clemency I may ask for will be for Mama if she finds herself a widow.”

The bright lights of a Cessna preceded the rumbling sound of engines as the plane carrying Dante and his soldiers touched down on the runway.

Papá tossed the remains of the cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out on the tarmac. “Be careful, Em.”

“Jano sent us here because of our connection to the Lucianos—a friendly welcoming crew, remember?”

Chapter

Eleven

Emiliano

Dante Luciano, the consigliere of Kansas City, was the first to step from the cabin of the private aircraft. Ducking his head at the opening, he then stood erect at the top of the platform and scanned the illuminated tarmac. His dark stare settled on Papá and me. A single nod was our greeting as he climbed down the stairs. There was no doubt that his sports coat concealed at least one holster with a gun. I’d say two if I was a betting man. There were most likely a few knives beneath his blue jeans. A parade of men dressed in black and carrying duffel bags followed in his wake.

The convenient thing about private air travel was the ability to carry weapons of all sizes across state lines. Judging from the bags over the men’s shoulders, they were in possession of multiple weapons, including long guns.

Dante extended his hand first to Papá, his father-in-law. “Camila and Catalina are safe.”

Papá shook his hand and nodded. “That’s reassuring to hear.”

“Thank you for heeding Jano’s call,” I said, also shaking his hand.

“Ju familia es nuestra familia,” he said with a grin. “Camila has been trying to teach me. I’m trying but not the fastest of learners.”

“You’ll ride with me,” Papá said. “We have four vehicles to drive all of you to Jano’s home. I believe Silas has arranged vehicles for you to drive.”

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