Page 12 of Rotten Men

With no apologies and no fear.

Just courage and deceit.

I won’t beg for his leniency, but if it comes down to it, I will beg for his aid. Because without it, condemnation awaits. And I have hurt too many people in the past to let it happen again. For his sake, I have to try. Even if it means to condemn my own soul, and mourn something I will never have again—their love.

Five

Vincent

I pull up to my driveway in desperate need of a hot shower and a stiff drink. My body yearns for a full night’s rest and a decent meal, too. Unfortunately, no such thing will be possible since it’s already close to dawn, and in a few hours I’ll have to repeat this hellish day all over again. A shower and a change of clothes is the only amenity I’ll have time for.

I knew going in thisCosa Nostraordeal would create havoc within the syndicate, and that my days would revolve around strategizing the best course of action to take, as well as hear out the elders’ endless opinions. It’s a courtesy I give them, and one I’m starting to resent. Their impish views and craven notions are complete contradictions to my own wants and visions. We’ve had three months to set a plan in motion—one that will disintegrate New York to nothing but a pile of ash. Yet they still come up with ways to stall my attempts in proceeding with an attack.

I have no doubt Bianchi is behind their feeble pleas of caution. Behind closed doors, the devil whispers in their fearful ears, undermining my will at every turn. Aside from complete fratricide, the only choice I have is waiting for Silvio to get sloppy and betray me in a way that can justify me slicing his throat in front of every lastcapo, putting an end to his influence.

Funny enough, I was under the impression I would be cutting up another traitor in my midst before Bianchi. Unexpectedly, Ciro came back from his New York assignment with pertinent information on where our enemy is most vulnerable. After scrutinizing every detail, and sending out my own secret scouts, I was pleasantly surprised my underboss did such a thorough job. I must admit, when I gave him the task, it was under false pretenses. I was sure once he came face to face with theCosa Nostra’sdon, he would use it to his advantage and strike a deal against me.

Never thoughtIl Bastardohad any sincere loyalty to anyone, other than to himself. But he has surprised me before. There was a time where he was right at my side in search of someone who meant nothing to him but meant a great deal to me. Those long grueling days, and even more tempestuous nights, made everyone apprehensive of my state of mind, yet Ciro never flinched at my manic, destructive behavior. Dominic might have been the one who kept me sane those two years on the road, but it was Ciro who kept up with my voracious need to scorch the earth until I found who I was looking for.

When my uncle demanded we return home, calling off the search for Selene, I’m not sure who was more disappointed. Honor and obedience to my boss bound me to cease my ventures, leaving all questions unanswered and my hope shattered. But Ciro had just invested two years of his life with little reward or acknowledgment from my uncle. Maybe that was what made me thaw a little in regards toIl Bastardo.No amount of sacrifice or hard work would ever be enough for my uncle to acknowledge him as his blood. But I took notice. So did the men who had been with us, especially Dominic.

Ciro had gained enough favor with my men that not even the boss himself could refute him. As amade man, I have to admire Ciro’s gumption and professionalism facing such odds. But as a Romano, I cannot let his ruthless virtues blind me from the fact he can easily use them against me. In that way, I too must take a page from my uncle and keep my inner circle consisting only of my true family—one that will remain loyal to the end.

I’m about to step foot out of the car when my phone starts to ring. My first instinct is to ignore the asshole that is blowing up my phone at five in the morning, but when I see Gio’s name pop up on the screen, I reconsider. Maybe he has news which will uplift my current mood.

“Pronto? Kind of late to be calling, don’t you think?” I answer, annoyed.

“Or early. It all depends on your perspective,” I hear him goad me on the other end of the line.

“Just tell me things are up to par up there. I could use a little good news,” I huff out, closing my eyes while pinching my brow to lessen my current headache. I lean my head back on the headrest; my body slumps, relieved at the small moment of rest. My aching, burdened shoulders—a sign of my true exhaustion—yearn for the hot, waterfall shower I promised them.

“Aww. Who’s getting the big, bad mob boss down?” Gio continues to taunt childishly, his contagious laugh ringing out, always a reminder of youthful, carefree times.

“Give you one guess,” I reply, frustrated.

“Don’t think I need it. It can only be those fucking old cowards. Remind me again why we can’t just put a bullet in them and be done with it?” he growls, irritated that I don’t follow his counsel on this particular matter.

“Our code won’t allow such savagery. If I start killing offcaposon a whim, then I’ll lose the trust I have with the ones I leave standing. Nomade manwill feel secure in their role thinking I might kill them off just because they share a different opinion than mine. That’s not how we do things.”

“Whatever. Just seems like too much of a hassle to keep those dicks at the table. They smile with their hands out when they get their cut, but then turn around and bitch about how they got it in the first place. I say, let Dom pay them each a visit and show them some manners, that’s all,” Gio informs impassively.

“I’m starting to miss the days when you were a pacifist,” I interject gravely.

“Yeah, well, we all had to grow up sometime, right?” he quips back unremorseful.

“Hmm.”

“Anyway, talking about those dipshits is not why I called. I wanted to let you know that everything is fucking amazing here. Just visited the third casino tonight and am starting to think that living in Canada has some major rewards. If any Fed were to look at their books, even with a fine-toothed comb, they’d find nothing. Calabrians sure know their shit,” he informs me enthusiastically.

Last fall, after Anna Maria’s funeral, I went to meet up with the Calabrians. We formed this alliance as I felt it in my bones that it would greatly benefit the Outfit. Giovanni confirming my suspicions is just the boost I needed to hear tonight.

“Good to know. Stay there another week or so to make sure everything is on the up and up, and when you return we can inform Bianchi his laundromat services are no longer needed. That little pinch in his pocket should inspire him to be more creative in getting his power back.” I smirk, thinking of how close I am to endingThe Butcher.

Joyful days in my life have been seldom and far between, but the day I finally get to kill Silvio Bianchi will make up for every missed opportunity. The amusement I expect from Gio falls short of my expectations when he only offers a small, timid chuckle as his reply. The minute he opens his mouth though, I understand why.

“Vince, there’s still one more piece of business we have to talk about. Antoine wants to know if you’ve given more thought on his proposal. If you might have had a change of heart, maybe,” Giovanni mutters cautiously, knowing exactly how I feel about the offer made by the Calabrian boss.

“She’s cute, you know? Maybe a little too demure for your taste, but hey, she’s French-Canadian, right? I’m sure she has to have some fire in her veins,” Gio continues on, and I’m two seconds away from hanging up the phone on my best friend.

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