22. Damian

‘Move! Just fucking move!' Damian called out, banging his fist down on the finely manufactured Ferrari steering wheel.

The traffic didn't look like it was going anywhere in a hurry. Literally anywhere. Of all the days for a combination of roadworks, a robbery, and a huge pop concert to be going on. There was no denying the fact that it was absolutely horrible luck for Damian, but that didn't change the fact that right in that moment all hope seemed like it was slowly but surely draining away.

This can't be happening.

It just can't.

I need a fucking break. Any break at all…

Damian banged his fist down on the steering wheel again. He knew that he needed to stay composed, but that was far easier said than done.

Damian could see that Nico was trying to get in touch with him too. As the message flashed up on the phone screen, Damian could only hope and pray that it wasn't more bad news…

Brother, I'm hearing that this is Reed's big move. He's coming for all of us and he's doing it right now. Antonio's safe, I've arranged enough armed guards in the hospital to protect an entire fucking country. I've got my best men keeping me safe and a dozen others on patrol. Reed comes near me and he's screwed. I know this ain't easy, but have you considered that it might not be the best thing to be headed over to Jake's by yourself? Nico.

Damian shook his head. He knew that Nico was simply looking out for him, and he didn't mean anything bad by his words. But Nico didn't have anyone in his life like that. There wasn't a special boy in Nico's life who he would do anything for.

Nothing was going to keep Damian away from Jake's place. Hell, Connor Reed could have a hundred of his best men there and Damian was still going to show up with his trusty pistol and fight to the death. That was simply how Damian was built. He knew no other way.

Thanks for the heads up, Nico. But you know me, I'm not backing down. And certainly not for this motherfucker. Don't worry, I'll see you on the other side. And if not… it's been a blast. Damian.

With that, Damian put his phone away and focused his mind as best he could. Jake's apartment was still too far to run toward. If the traffic just eased up a little bit, Damian knew that he could be over at Jake's in super-fast time.

But it was easier said than done.

As a way of centering himself, Damian thought back to a trip he took with Gianluca, many years ago. Gianluca had only recently taken Damian under his wing, and Damian was super-excited to be going on a mafia business trip to Florida with Gianluca.

But if Damian had been expecting a wild time of clubs, boys and partying, he had been sorely mistaken. Instead, Gianluca had taken Damian to some of the most exquisite restaurants and cafes in town. At first, Damian had been a bit put out. After all, he was younger then and enjoyed going out and letting loose as much as he could.

But Gianluca wanted to show Damian that sometimes in life, the real pleasures were those that you had to work harder to get. Learning how to appreciate good food and wine was ultimately way more satisfying and fulfilling than downing jello-shots and getting frisky with total strangers.

But it was one evening, perhaps three days into the trip, that Gianluca really showed Damian what mafia life was all about. And it came to a head in a moment that Damian would never forget. The pair of them had been eating at a fantastic traditional Cajun restaurant and on their walk back to the hotel, Gianluca did something that to this day remained a defining moment for Damian.

As they were about to enter their hotel lobby, Gianluca stopped and knelt down to tie his lace. But Gianluca's shoes didn't have laces, they were slip-ons. Instead, Gianluca took a gun out of the special inner lining of his sock and quickly turned and fired it.

It might have seemed like a random shot. But as Damian swiveled around, he saw a tall figure collapse in a heap. The fallen man was carrying a sawn-off shotgun. The man had been on his way to execute Gianluca.

‘So you see,' Gianluca said. ‘Sometimes we let the enemy think he has the advantage. And that's when we strike the death blow.'

Back in the traffic jam, Damian shook his head and smiled. Gianluca was a master tactician, never failing to have a plan or a way out of a situation. Gianluca was so cool under pressure too. And that was exactly what Damian needed in this moment too. Instead of getting frustrated by the traffic, Damian needed to utilize the time and plan exactly what he was going to do should he, as he suspected, find himself confronted by Connor Reed and his thugs.

Damian knew one thing for sure though. He was going to protect Jake and make sure that whatever happened, Jake knew just how special he was to him – and if that meant that Damian lost his life in the process, then that was a price worth paying.

Suddenly, there was some movement in the distance. One car, then two, then a third. Slowly but surely, the cars ahead of Damian began to move forward. Creeping slowly at first, the cars soon began to move away and go off on their own individual journeys.

This was the moment that Damian had been waiting for.

Now was the time to show the whole of New York City who the fastest, most fearless Ferrari-driving mafia hitman was.

‘Lets. Fucking. Move,' Damian said, his voice a steely, low growl. ‘It's time to end this and get my boy back under protection.'