6. Vinnie

6

VINNIE

“H ow the hell does it depend on me?” I demand, still standing over my grandfather.

“Maybe I need to tell you a little story,” he says.

“Please spare me.”

“Sit down, Vincent. And hear me out.”

I suck in a deep breath, counting to ten. Then I take my seat again, opposite my grandfather.

“Once upon a time?—”

“Oh, for the love of God…”

“Shut up, Vincent. You’re younger than I am, stronger than I am, maybe even smarter than I am. But I’ve got something you don’t have.” He narrows his cold, dark eyes. “The wisdom of a lifetime lived. I’m about to share some of that wisdom with you.”

“Fine,” I huff, resisting an eye roll.

“I was young once. Younger than you. There was a time, believe it or not, when I wanted to leave the family.”

I open my mouth to speak but he holds up a hand.

“Please. Let me finish.”

I widen my eyes. Did my grandfather just say please?

“So,” he continues, “I decided I might be the one to leave. That I might be the one to break away. And you want to know why?”

“Not particularly.”

“Jesus Christ, Vincent. Believe it or not, I’m trying to help you here.”

“Fine. Go on. I won’t interrupt you again.”

“Damn right you won’t.” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before continuing. “I was promised in marriage to a woman much younger than me. Your grandmother. I was in a situation much like you find yourself in now, although I was younger than you are. I was twenty-five years old, and my betrothed was fifteen. We were to marry when she turned eighteen. But during those years, I was young. Young and full of life and—to put it crudely—horny as hell.”

Oh God. Do I really have to hear about my grandfather’s sex life?

“I met a young woman. Her name was Serena Deville. She was twenty-two years old, had just finished college, and had a vision. She wanted to change the world.”

Change the world? Who the fuck doesn’t want to change this world? But I stay silent.

“She was so vibrant and full of life. Beautiful too, with the palest blond hair and the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen.”

Grandfather closes his eyes then, and a look of—is it serenity?—crosses his face. I can’t imagine my grandfather ever being serene. But something softens his face.

“Our meeting was anything but romantic. She was walking down the street, not looking where she was going with her nose in a book, and she ran into me. Her book fell to the ground. I reached down, picked it up, and handed it to her.”

“Is this a real story or a scene out of a romantic comedy?”

He ignores me.

“When I looked into her eyes… I just knew.” His eyes soften in a way I’ve never seen them before. “She was someone I needed in my life. Then she smiled at me, thanked me for picking up her book, and apologized for running into me. I knew I shouldn’t, but I had to see her again. So I asked if she’d like to get a cup of coffee.” He pauses.

Just when I’m about to say something he starts talking again.

“My father found out we were seeing each other. He told me to let her go. I told him it was just sex. I was using her. After all, I couldn’t touch my intended until she turned eighteen. It was not as if I was expected to remain chaste until our wedding. But your grandfather?—”

“You’re my grandfather.”

He clears his throat. “Your great -grandfather knew. He knew it was something more. He knew I had developed feelings for Serena. Feelings that got in the way of the business we did. Feelings that threatened my place in the organization.”

He stops again.

Already I know what’s coming.

“I refused.” His entire body deflates slightly. “And I suppose you can guess what happened next.”

“She was taken care of?”

“Worse, Vinnie. Much worse.”

I wait, expecting him to go into detail.

But he doesn’t.

Instead— “She was my Achilles’ heel, Vincent. She weakened me. How I wish I could say she was only taken care of. But no, my father saw that she suffered. Made sure that I knew every little detail. And I learned that the only way to survive in this family was to harden myself. Build a wall around my heart. Do what was expected of me and do it well. Marry your grandmother and become the leader of this organization I was born to be.” Then he scoffs. “Of course your grandmother was a huge disappointment to me.”

“Because she only gave you one child?”

He frowns. “Only one, and a daughter at that. I hated her. Not just because she couldn’t bear me sons, but because she wasn’t Serena. I lost the love of my life, Vincent. But I should never have had that love in the first place. That was my mistake.” He looks me straight in the eye. “Don’t make it yours.”

“We’re two different people, Grandfather.”

He holds up a finger. “All people are different, Vincent. But know this. If Raven Bellamy—or any woman other than your intended—is keeping you from doing your best for this family, trust me that I will have her taken care of. And be glad that I have more of a heart than my own father did. Death will be a mercy to her.”

I say nothing.

Does he expect me to feel sorry for him? After all the grief he’s caused? All the havoc he’s wreaked? What he did to me? To Mikey? To my grandmother? To countless others?

So he had a great love. So what?

He could’ve fought for her. He could’ve left the country like I did. Hell, I’d still be there if not for Savannah. I came back for her. Of course in retrospect, I wish I’d come back for Mikey too.

“So you’re telling me that you were actually capable of emotion at one point in your life?” I say.

He crosses his arms. “You think so little of me, Vincent.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re right about that.”

“I’m not asking for your pity or your sympathy.”

“That’s good, because it won’t be coming anytime soon.”

“The point of the story is?—”

I rise again. “I’m not an idiot, Grandfather. I know the point of the story. Stay in line, or you’ll kill Raven. That’s the point. And I’m supposed to be grateful to you that you’ll just kill her instead of putting her through whatever torture they did to your great love , Serena.” I stare him down. “Well, I’ve got news for you. I’m sure Serena was an innocent in all of this. I’m sorry she had to go through whatever hell your father put her through. But don’t tell me you haven’t done the same to others or worse. Because it will be a lie, and we both know it.”

With that, I turn to leave the office.

“Vincent?”

I look over my shoulder. “What the fuck is it now?”

“Do not defy me. You may have won this first battle. But you have yet to gain my trust.”

I turn around then, walk to the other side of his desk, and pull him out of his chair. “You listen to me, old man. You want me to run this family? Then you have no choice but to trust me. I will not keep jumping through hoops. You told me to take care of Giacomo Puzo, and I took care of him.”

“You did so indirectly, and in doing so involved several other people.”

“You’re right. I didn’t put a bullet between his eyes as you would’ve had me do. But I took care of the problem in much the same way that I’m sure you’ve taken care of problems over the years. You don’t want me heading the family? I’ll leave the country tomorrow. Then who do you have?” I tighten my hold around the scruff of his shirt. “I came back. I came back so Savannah could have a life. I came back to take my place. But you, Grandfather, have to let me take my place. You won’t live forever. At some point you have to trust me.”

“Let go of me, Vincent.”

I keep hold of his collar.

He chuckles. “Do you think this makes you big and strong? Using your obvious physical power over an elderly man?”

I let go of his collar and push him back into his chair. “I don’t think of you as elderly, Grandfather. And be honest with me. You don’t think of yourself that way either.”

Grandfather adjusts his tie. “I’d like you to join me for lunch today.”

“What? We’re just done with this conversation now?”

“I have a meeting.” He looks at his watch. “And then I want you to join me for lunch.”

I sigh. “Fine. Where and when?”

“At the McAllister house. We will be joined by a special guest.”

“Fine. Who?”

He smirks. “Your intended. Declan’s daughter, Belinda.”