Page 42 of Blood and Penance
Without hesitation, I pass the gun to Lorenzo who’s standing beside me. “Take Giancarlo.” Lorenzo looks at me, and I can see the question in his eyes. I’m not taking the throne. I want my son out of harm’s way. “You can trust me. Just take my son.”
After a brief moment, he gives me a nod. I turn my attention back to my son. “Hi, son. Could you go with Uncle Enzo, so I can talk toNonno?Then I’ll come get you.”
I focus back on my father who narrows his eyes. “You have nothing to fear from me,” I say. "Let him go."
“Go with Uncle Enzo, andNonnowill get you some gelato as soon as I’m done talking to your papa," Giovanni says. "How’s that sound?”
The way he speaks to Giancarlo, you’d think he’s the most loving grandfather. However, we all know it’s a lie. He's nothing more than a snake, a pariah looking to destroy anyone he gets his hands on.
Giancarlo nods enthusiastically and jumps off my father’s lap. He runs around the desk, and I bend down, holding my arms out. He races into my arms, and I hug him so tight. I close my eyes, not believing I’m holding my child.
My son.
“I missed you,” I mumble against his head full of dark curls. "So much, my boy."
“I missed you, too,” he says, pulling away. “Can we go get Mama after I eat my gelato? I miss her too.”
My heart clenches inside my chest, and tears well up in my eyes as I gaze at my son, a forced smile touching my lips.
“Of course,” I say while trying to hide the fear in my voice. “Let me talk to yourNonno, then we’ll leave. That’s your Uncle Enzo.” I point at Lorenzo who gives Giancarlo a small wave. “He’s going to hang out with you until I’m done.”
“Okay,” Giancarlo says.
Lorenzo reaches out his hand to my son, and Giancarlo takes it like he’s known his uncle his entire life. I watch as Lorenzo walks out of the room with him, then closes the door behind him.
“I don’t like that bitch,” Giovanni says, “but she’s done a good job raising him. He’s very respectful. He acts like a Puglisi.”
I blow out a breath and face my father. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I sneer. “You kidnapped my son! Seraphina is fighting for her life all because of you!”
My father leans back in his chair, picks up a cigar from the ashtray on his desk, then relights it. He blows a billow of white smoke into the air like he has no care in the world. “Sit down. So, we can get this shit over with, Gianni. It’s time you come home.”
“Home?” I ask in disbelief. “This family has never been my home. Phoenix and my son are my home.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You ungrateful piece of shit! I’ve done everything for you, and you turn your back on me for that bitch! Then to become some priest,” he says with disgust. “How’s she doing, anyway? I haven’t heard if D’Amico got what he came for.”
“That was you?”
I thought he may have been behind it, but I hoped beyond hope that he wouldn’t hurt me like that. I’m his son, but I should have known better. He’s shown me who he is. He cares about no one but himself.
“Of course it was me. I made a deal.” He says it like it’s the most natural thing for him to do. “My grandson for that bitch. He can have her. She's no use to me.”
“You son of a bitch!” I race toward him, but before I reach him, he grabs his gun, then points it at me.
“Sit down,” he orders.
“You gonna shoot me?”
“Sit the fuck down!” he shouts.
After a few moments, I do what he says even though I know he won't shoot me.
“Now we’re going to come to an agreement, Gianni. I’m tired of doing this bullshit with you. You’re my oldest son. You are my heir! Not Sergio, not Lorenzo, not Dante! You! Now fucking act like the man, I raised you to be and not some pussy whipped bastard!”
“There’s no agreement we will ever come to, Giovanni. I’m not taking over the family and my son will have nothing to do with you.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to make that call, son.” He waves his gun in the air. “See, I’m the one holding the gun. I'm the one calling the shots because I'm the fucking leader of this family!”
“You won’t kill me,” I say, causing him to laugh.
