Page 29 of Memento Mori
“And I expect nothing less from you, my love.”
The air was tainted with sorrow, rage, and uncertainty as we sat in silence. Where this ended, I couldn’t say, but I did know Marianna Rizzo wouldn’t know what hit her.
Chapter Eleven
IT’S TIME
Antonio
One week later...
The cacophony of honking horns filled the air as cars and taxis were squeezed bumper to bumper, their sounds bouncing off the raised blacked-out windows of the town car. This was the last place I wanted to be, but as the head of the family, I had no other choice.
Aaliyah’s small hand grasped mine, bringing my attention away from the monotony of the people, the cars, the never-ending sea of high-rise buildings of the city. Chicago never changed, but today it was different. The excitement had been replaced with a cloud of sadness.
“Antonio, we’re here, my love.”
Her soft voice broke through the cloud of despair that had consumed me. Oblivious to my surroundings and not realizing the car had stopped, I nodded, not trusting myself to speak because of the thoughts swirling in my head. After receiving the news I’d been on autopilot, like I was having some type of out-of-body experience. I was present, physically. I could respond when asked a question. I could even hold a conversation. But I wasn’t here mentally. I was on the outside looking in as I went along with life like nothing happened. Like it all was a dream, and I would wake up and it would be any normal day. But it wasn’t and I would never wake to a normal day ever again.
“Let’s take a moment so you can compose yourself, before we go inside.”
“I don’t think I can do this, Aaliyah.”
A sinking feeling of despair consumed me, settling in the pit of my stomach like an unwelcome guest. Sadness hung heavy in my voice, even to my own ears, and it triggered something deep within me. I dropped my head in my hands and let out the uncontrollable gut-wrenching sob I held since the doctors pronounced him dead more than a week ago.
My father was gone.
My wife cradled me against her chest, holding me tightly until my sobs subsided. If my father were here, he would curse me out for breaking down, for showing any amount of weakness because of him, especially at a time like this. He would tell me todry it the fuck up and act like the Rizzo he raised me to be. But I felt an ache in my chest so massive, crying was all I could do.
“You can do this, Antonio.”
Frantically, I shook my head from side to side. I couldn’t. I couldn’t say goodbye to the one person who had been everything to me—who meant everything to me.
How could I move forward without him guiding me?
“You can and you will. Papa Rizzo wouldn’t have it any other way, Antonio. You are Don now, my love.” She gently cupped my face. I closed my eyes, calmness encompassing me. “And your enemies are circling like vultures, waiting to pick your eyes out. You can’t show any weakness even as your heart breaks.”
I laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever. Some of the heaviness weighing on my chest lifted. She was right. They were all like circling vultures waiting for my downfall just as they had my father’s. And as Don, I needed to portray strength even with a broken heart.
The other Families would be looking for any sign that my father’s death had weakened the family.
“I’m here with you. Lean on me and I will give you strength.” I wiped the tears away, straightened my tie, and ran my fingers through my hair to ensure it was perfectly styled. I was Don Rizzo now. The pillar of this family. I would not show any weakness. “Are you ready?” she asked.
“I am.” I reached for her outstretched hand, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin, and brought it to my lips. “I don’t think I could do this without you.”
“And you don’t have to, my love. I will be with you through it all. Until death do us part.”
“Until death do us part. I love you,Bella.”
“And I love you.”
The rapid taps on the window forced a sigh from me.
It’s time.
Despite the sun hiding behind the gray clouds, I shielded my puffy, bloodshot eyes with my Ray-Bans as I opened the door, prepared to embrace my new reality. I was no longer the Underboss of the RizzoFamiglia. Now I was Don and capo di tutti capi. Boss of bosses.
Alessandro stepped back when I exited the black town car, then I reached out to help Aaliyah from the car. Once she stepped out, I wasted no time embracing my brother, holding him tightly, and then turning to my sister Chantal and hugging her as well. She was barely hanging on. Her steady stream of tears threatened to bring my own to the surface, but I fought them back.
