Page 112 of The Bonventi Hitman
We head downstairs, and the doorbell rings. Lydia walks past to go open the door.
"Lydia, actually, could you take Anna into the kitchen for coffee? I'll get it."
She pauses for a moment, "Oh, okay. Yes, come on, dear," she says and ushers Anna away.
I open the door, and Enzo greets me with a hug.
"Fucking crazy last night, huh?" he asks, coming inside.
"Yes, I don't know how that happened," I say, shutting the door.
Enzo waves his hand, "Ah, you're alive, Russians are destroyed. It's fine," he says and starts walking but stops and turns, "But Sammy, poor Sammy," he says.
"Yes, I?—"
"Let's talk in your office," Enzo says and starts walking.
When we're inside the room, he quickly takes a seat.
"You want something? I can have Lydia?—"
"No, no, please sit."
I sit down, and I'm filled with hesitation. He has a look on his face I can't quite make out.
"About last night," I say.
"I'm not here for that. I know what happened, and it's worked in our favor, so I'm happy. Who would have thought the feds would rid us of the Russians?"
I shake my head in pretended disbelief.
Enzo looks at me for a second and then speaks.
"Gabriel, how long have we known each other?"
I pause, thinking back. "A long time."
He nods, a small smile showing on his face. "Remember when you first joined us? You were just a kid, 18, right?"
"Yes, how could I forget?" I smirk. "You took me under your wing when I had nothing."
Enzo laughs. "You were a scrappy little shit, but I saw potential in you. Remember that first job I sent you on?"
I lean forward, grinning. "The protection racket down on 18th Street? Christ, I was so nervous I could barely speak when I walked into that deli."
"But you got the job done," Enzo says. "You always did."
We share a laugh, and I feel the unspoken tension dissipating.
"Oh, and what about that time we had to move those shipments through the docks?" I ask. "Back when your grandfather was still running things?"
Enzo nods, his expression growing serious. "That was a close call. If it wasn't for your quick thinking, we would've lost everything."
"We were younger then," I say with fondness. "Took more risks."
We fall into a comfortable silence, thinking over our past. The illegal activities, the close calls, and all the victories.
Enzo shifts in his chair.
