CHAPTER ELEVEN

Back in Jericho, after Jenay had relayed all that she had found out about the family drama, that one particular incident still left Charles astounded. “ Are you telling me that Roz slapped my brother in front of his men ?”

“That’s what Teddy told Monk,” Jenay responded. “Monk told Ashley. And Ashley told me. So yes, that’s what I’m telling you.”

They were still in Jericho, still sitting on the sofa in the office at their hotel after Jenay had relayed to Charles all that had been going on in the family while he was in Boston. She had given him every detail about all the hell, as she had put it, that had broken loose in the family in that one day alone.

Charles was dismayed by the news. It had been simmering underground for some time now, but it all appeared to be bubbling up. And all at once. He shook his head. “They’re supposed to be the leaders of the family. The OGs. The ones the younger set look up to and emulate and bet the success of their futures on what they’re seeing in the present. How the hell are they gonna navigate marriage and family when every one of the people they look up to have fucked-up marriages themselves? It’s like it’s rampant now. Like it’s a poison in the bloodstream of our family. Reno and Trina on the brink. Mick and Roz on the brink. And Sal and Gemma’s still going through shit. And Tommy and Grace.”

Jenay looked at her husband. “Tommy and Grace? I didn’t say anything about Tommy and Grace. They don’t have any issues.”

“Which means they have a ton of them,” said Charles. “Tommy’s sweeping that shit under rugs and Grace loves him too much to tell how she truly feels. Neither of those scenarios are sustainable.” Then he frowned again. “We’ve got to do something about it.”

“And don’t forget Teddy and Nikki,” said Jenay. “They’re barely on speaking terms too.”

“Ted and Nick? Are you serious? I knew they had some minor issues, but I thought they were good. Who told you they’re on the brink too?”

“Teddy told Monk Paletti,” Jenay began.

Charles continued it for her. “And Monk told Ashley and Ashley told you, I got it,” he said. “Teddy tells Frankie everything.”

“They’re still best friends.”

Charles leaned forward. As the undisputed head of the Sinatra and Gabrini families, he knew something had to be done. He also knew he was the only one with the clout and muscle that could actually do it. He was in deep thought.

Jenay allowed him that space to concentrate. He was one of those deep thinkers who always came up with good solutions if you gave him enough time. She gave him all the time he needed.

She even went behind her desk to get some work done. But just when she was hitting a groove, he spoke up.

“That’s it,” he said as if he finally put all the pieces together.

“What’s it?” she asked him.

He continued to keep his own counsel, but then he looked at her. “A marriage retreat.”

She smiled. “You’re kidding right?” When she realized he wasn’t, she was astonished. “Charles! How in the world are you going to get Reno and Trina and Sal and Gemma and Tommy and Grace and Teddy and Nikki to go on a marriage retreat? And don’t even mention those forces of nature Mick and Roz! And this close to Christmas? There’s no way they all will agree to something so personal like that.”

“They don’t have to agree to shit,” Charles said. “But if I say they’re going, they’re going. Get Reno on the phone,” he ordered Jenay, as he called Mick. Reno would be a hard nut to crack. But he knew Mick would be the hardest.

But no matter what they said or didn’t say, and no matter how much they hemmed and hawed, it didn’t matter to Charles. They were going to that retreat even if he had to go, pick them up, and carry them all the way there himself.

Two weeks before Christmas and there was no way he was going to allow this family to fall apart.

Not on his watch.