Page 64 of A Touch of Fate

“To produce an heir who can become Captain?”

Fiorentino nodded, his expression shut off. He regarded me with the hope that I could help him. But what could I possibly do? By now, more men were filing in, all of them older than Fiorentino, some old enough to be my grandfather. I greeted them all, and eventually, they settled on the chairs around the table or took a seat in front of the TV. Five men were wheelchair users. Others had lost their sight, their arms or hands, foot or leg, and one had obviously suffered a serious injury to his head judging by the scar that ran across his skull.

I talked to a few who seemed open to a conversation and eventually stopped by Fiorentino’s side, who was talking to Geno. They weren’t signing, and I noticed that the boy had putin hearing aids. When I stopped beside them, they fell silent. “Should we sign, or would you like to continue like this?”

“I’m not very good at signing,” Geno said with an embarrassed smile.

“Oh. All right. Should I sign and talk?” I asked Fiorentino.

He shook his head. “Just talk. I can hear you if you don’t talk too quietly.”

“Why didn’t you wear the hearing aid before? You wouldn’t have to read your father’s lips if you did.”

“My father sees it as a sign of weakness. He doesn’t want me to wear it in public. He prefers me to be silent and invisible.”

I had to stifle a rude comment about his father. “Because your speech is slightly impaired?”

Fiorentino gave a tense nod.

“He should be proud of you,” I said finally.

“Fiorentino wants to become a Made Man,” Geno said.

“Have you talked to my husband or father-in-law?”

Fiorentino shook his head. “My father would see it as a betrayal. He doesn’t want me to become a Made Man because I can’t do anything.”

I scanned the boy. He was tall, and he looked fit.

“I taught him how to fight. I still do. His father is okay with that so he can protect himself.”

“I could talk to my husband. Is there anything you’re particularly good at?”

“I’m good with computers. Hacking, coding, security systems.”

“That sounds promising,” I said, then fixed him with a stern look. “Are you sure you want to become a Made Man? Right now, you’re free.”

Fiorentino’s expression turned fierce. “I want to be part of the Outfit, nothing else.”

“I’ll put in a good word for you.”

Emma seemed filled with a new purpose when I came home for dinner that night. Leo had told me how she’d spent the day, so I knew she’d spent three hours at the community center.

I went over to where she waited at the table for me and kissed her briefly before I took my seat across from her. She wore a flimsy top that revealed her slender shoulders and throat, and the enticing swell of her breasts. I wondered if she’d worn the same thing during the day.

Before I’d even said a word, she asked, “Do you know Fiorentino?”

I shook my head, racking my brain for that name. He definitely wasn’t one of our men. “He’s one of your Captain’s sons. He’s hard of hearing.”

“He’s the Greco heir.”

“Not if you ask his father.”

I sat back as our cook served us involtini and risotto, my favorite combination. I didn’t have time to eat several courses every night.

“The boy isn’t part of the Outfit.”

“But he wants to be.”

---