Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“Hi, Al.” Sophie leans over and touches her cheek to Al’s.
“Hey, sweetheart. I was wondering if you’d do that thing again. What you did in the hospital?”
“Reiki? Yes, of course.” Pleasure lights Sophie’s face.
I settle in an armchair while Sophie stands next to the bed to cradle Al’s forehead between her two hands. She works in silence for a long time, moving hand positions every so often, her countenance angelic and glowing, even in the dim light.
The drawn muscles of Al’s face relax, and his eyes drift closed. They open twenty minutes later when Carmen enters the room, carrying glasses of iced lemonade which she sets on the table beside us.
“Thanks, honey.” Al reaches for a glass and takes a sip of his. “And thank you, Sophie.” He looks at Sophie appraisingly. “You know, my brother’s crazy about you.”
Her eyes flick across to where I sit, and I smile and wink at her.
“And I know my brother,” Al goes on, ignoring me. “When he decides he wants something, he doesn’t stop till he gets it.”
Sophie flushes. “So I’ve noticed.”
“So are you really going to marry him? You’re not going to let our ma talk you out of it?”
Sophie laughs. “Not your mom or mine.”
“Glad to hear it.” Al looks from Carmen to Sophie. “Can you ladies give me a minute to talk business with Joey?”
“Sure,” Sophie says, and she and Carmen leave the room.
“Any update?”
I already filled Al in on how I handled the Matranga’s and Sammy yesterday. “Ned says they’ve got nothing on us.”
“Good.” Al looks at me thoughtfully. “So...do you still want to step back?”
I run my hand through my hair, blowing out my breath. “Yeah.”
“For her or because that’s what you want?”
“It’s what I want. I’ve never really been cut out for this, Al, you know that. I know I’ve been a disappointment to you. I never wanted to be boss—I may be trained for it, the men may respect me, but it’s not what I want for my life.” I shake my head. “I’m not like you. I wish to God I were, but I’m not.” I stare at him, some of the emptiness I used to feel before Sophie seeping back in.
“You’re not a disappointment,” Al says fiercely, then winces and brings his fingers to his temples. “You never were—not to Pops, not to me.”
I shove my hands in my pockets and bow my head.
“It’s true. You are who you are—it’s not something less than me or anyone else in the Family. That’s why I convinced Pops to send you to college—I knew you had gifts in areas we didn’t. And it takes a team, Joey. It takes all of our skills.
“I don’t want to run this organization without you, but if you want a change of duties, you got it. You want to just be the business accountant, that’s fine. You’re great at it. Who knows what wizardry you can pull? I know we’re better, safer, and more secure as a family because of you. You’ve brought diversity to us. No one can take us down without the world financial markets falling apart. Whatever makes you happy is okay by me.”
I gape, scarcely believing my ears.
“What? Don’t look so shocked. You’re my baby brother. You think there’s anything I wouldn’t do for you?”
My eyes burn as I embrace my brother with several claps on the back. “Thank you.” The words don’t come close to expressing my gratitude.
“Now go on, you’re giving me a fucking headache. Go and take care of your beautiful bride out there. She’s perfect for you.”
Epilogue
Two months later
Joey
“I know what you think, Nancy. You think I’m not good enough for your daughter.” I finally cornered Sophie’s mother, who timed her flight in for our wedding, so she would arrive right before the wedding rehearsal. Clearly she wants as little to do with the Family as possible.
“You’re right—I’m not. But I can promise you I will take very good care of her.”
Nancy looks away, scanning the family members milling around the private room at L’amore with wine glasses and hors d'oeuvres before the rehearsal dinner, probably looking for a rescue from her husband. Her eyes are the same cash green as Sophie’s but with paler skin and hair, they’re not as striking. Still, her beauty has held over the years, which tells me my wife will be just as hot at sixty as she is at twenty-seven, not that I had any doubt.
“I’ve taken a step back from the organization. Did she tell you that?”
Nancy drags her eyes back to my face. “I’m sure she believes that.”
“It’s the truth. Listen...I’m sorry Artie broke your heart—”
Sophie’s mom sucks in a sharp breath.
“—but it’s not going to be that way for Sophie. I have legitimate investments we can live on, and I have most of Al’s business flipped into legal business dealings. I love your daughter, Nancy. I love her. And I’m going to work every day to make her happy.”