Page 44 of Corrupted By the Capo

“Unclench your fists,” Nico said.

I hadn’t realized I’d clenched them, but I followed my cousin’s instructions, and together, we walked to the don’s office.

“You wanted to see us, Don Carlo?” Nico said.

The old man was wearing his standard attire: smoking jacket, leather slippers, cigar in his mouth.

He looked tired and ancient, even more so than usual. His skin was more papery now, and his finger trembled, though I noticed he tried to stop them.

But I understood him now in a way I hadn’t before.

I had never said it to Nico, but I had never understood why losing his wife and son had shaken him so.

It was part of the life.

I realized now how foolish I had been.

Molly was alive, and I would do everything in my power to make sure she stayed that way long after I was gone.

But the absolute torture of not knowing she was okay, the thought of losing her…

Don Carlo lived that every day.

Lived with the regret of knowing he hadn’t been able to save his family.

Yeah.

I understood him now in a way I hadn’t before.

“If the cigars or my enemies don’t put me in the grave, you will, huh, Enzo?” the don said.

I smiled. “I’m…”

“It’s handled, Don Carlo,” Nico interjected.

“Nico, I was talking to Enzo,” the Don said.

Nico looked at me, and I nodded.

To my surprise, my cousin relented, and I knew he wouldn’t say anything more. Nico often complained that looking after me was a full-time job, but when I looked at him, I was sure I saw a respect that I hadn’t seen before.

“I take full responsibility,” I said, my gaze unwavering as I stared at Don Carlo.

“For what?” Don Carlo said.

“I killed Fabiano Genovese and two of his men. I also torched the Genovese warehouse.”

“And where are the bodies?” Don Carlo said.

“They've been disposed of,” I responded.

“So they won’t even get a proper burial,” he said.

“They got the burial they deserved,” I responded.

The don’s thick, bushy brows arched.

“This wasn’t business related?” he said.

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