Chapter 37

The smell of a hot grill fills the oasis. Three different cooks are busy chopping, slicing, forming, and prepping for the barbecue while Freddie flits about and makes sure everyone’s wine glass is filled.

I sit at a table in the middle of the street with Elena and her sister, Laura. Stefania and Emily are nearby, chatting with each other, while half a dozen important Capos lounge about with their families laughing and eating and overindulging.

“I hate this,” Laura says, glaring down at her paper plate. It has one single potato chip, untouched, right in the middle. “Mom told me if I didn’t eat, she’d kick me out.” She picks it up, stares at it, and nibbles the corner. “There. I’m full.”

“You’re so dramatic,” Elena says, grabs the plate, and dumps a handful of chips on top. “Try to enjoy yourself.”

Laura sighs and looks like she’d rather lie down and nap on busy train tracks.

The Bianco family cookout is apparently an annual tradition where the Don brings together all the important members of the organization for a little gathering. It’s half informal bonding and half business. Simon’s sitting at a table in the middle of the action with Davide and a couple older Italian guys, probably important lieutenants and Capos, and they’re deep into some discussion that involves lots of gesturing and more than a few spilled beers. I’m tempted to go over and listen in, but I decide it’s better sitting with Elena.

Because she looks incredible. She’s got on short jean shorts and this black tank with mesh along the top that shows off just enough skin to make my heart skip a beat every time I look in her direction.

“You keep looking over at my brothers,” Elena says, scooting her chair closer. “Anything you want to say to them?”

“Mostly just curious about what they’re saying.” I lean against her. “What do you think? Are they planning some big heist?”

Laura cuts in. “They’re probably talking about who’s going to get to kill Santoro first.” Her shoulders slump and she sighs. “It should be me.”

“The boys are always talking strategy,” Elena says, ignoring her sister. “With how much they talk, you’d think they would’ve won the war by now.”

“You’re too hard on them.”

“Maybe, but someone has to be.” Her smile fades away. “It’s been tough on everyone. Not just on our family, but on the Capos and the soldiers too. This little gathering is about more than just talking shop, it’s a way to show our people that we care about them.”

“Via chips and burgers,” Laura says and looks up at the sky. “We should’ve just given them all a few thousand in an envelope.”

“We’ll do that too,” Elena says and elbows me. “What about you, does your family ever do something like this?”

“All the time. We have a bowling thing, some charity golf tournaments for local kids going to college, stuff like that. Any way we can give back, we do it, mostly because a healthy community means a strong organization.”

“I couldn’t have said it better,” Elena says and kisses my cheek.

“Disgusting,” Laura whispers at her pile of potato chips.

Food starts coming out. I make a plate for myself and for Elena, and when I come back, Laura has escaped back to her house. Freddie’s sitting in her chair and she’s chatting with Elena, and Stefania and Emily have both joined them. I suddenly feel like the odd man out and head over to the main table where Davide pulls up a chair and lets me sit in on their conversation.

I can tell the other Capos aren’t happy I’m hanging around at first, which is fine, I’m new to their organization and they don’t trust me yet. But soon it’s clear that Simon values my opinion, and fortunately I can bullshit a few ideas while also adding a legal perspective which amounts to don’t kill people around cameras.

“We have this thing going down,” Simon says, leaning in and pitching his voice lower. The men at the table are all pretending like they’re not listening as they go to town on ribs, burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and more. “It’s a big hit and I was thinking you and your guys might be really useful assets.”

I sit very still and glance down at my plate. Santoro’s request plays through my head, and I suddenly feel like the rock and Simon’s the hard place.

“When and where?” I ask, trying to delay.

“Tomorrow night. We’ll meet here, and don’t worry about the details. Just come ready.”

I clench my jaw and shake my head. “I can’t do it. Not on that short of notice.”

Simon’s eyebrows raise. A few of the Capos stop eating. They glance at each other, and the vibe at the table shifts.

“What do you mean, you can’t do it?” Simon tilts his head. “I thought you were getting more involved. Wasn’t that what you said?”

“I understand, but I can’t risk the lives of my men on no notice without knowing what the plan’s going to be.”

Davide grunts and cuts off whatever Simon was about to say. “Then we’ll give you details.”

“But it’s still short notice.” I fucking hate this. The way these men are staring at me is like liquid fire. Nobody says no to the Don, except I have to remember that I’m also my own kind of don and I get to my decisions for my own fucking family.

“You’re turning me down.” Simon seems surprised, like he genuinely didn’t expect that this was a possible outcome. “What’s going on, Quinn? You got a problem all of a sudden?”

“No problem. Just being practical, that’s all.” I push back from the table. “I shouldn’t be a part of this conversation anymore. I don’t want to get in the way.”

I start to walk off, but Davide catches up with me. “The fuck are you doing?” he asks, his voice very soft and calm, but he’s looking at me like he’s about to break my neck.

“I’m doing what I have to do,” I answer.

“You can’t turn this down.” He grabs my arm to stop me and I wrench it free. “Simon’s building trust with you. We’re all building trust. Now you suddenly don’t want to fight alongside us?”

Elena comes over, looking concerned. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine,” I say, not taking my eyes off Davide, because of everyone in the Famiglia, he’s the most dangerous. “We just have a disagreement, but I already told him what the deal is. You’re going to have to accept it.”

Davide doesn’t move. I don’t back down. I can’t show weakness to these people, not after rejecting their don’s operation.

“Maybe I misread you,” Davide says and turns away. He returns to the table and glares at his brother and the two of them start having a heated conversation.

I keep on walking past the edge of the gathering and back toward Elena’s house. She keeps up with me and only speaks when we’re well out of earshot of anyone else. “What the hell was that?” she asks gently.

“They wanted me to go on some hit with them and I turned it down.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure how to feel about that.” She pauses at the porch steps and doesn’t follow when I climb them. “Davide looked upset.”

“Can you blame him?” I don’t look back at her, shoulders tense. “He thinks I’m a fucking coward, but I couldn’t do it. He doesn’t understand.”

She’s quiet for a beat. “Is this about your plan?”

I nod once. She doesn’t know about my meeting with Santoro. None of them do. I can’t risk telling anyone, not when there are spies in all the families, and I’m already on the razor’s edge. All she knows is I’m trying something dangerous and unconventional.

“When this works, they’ll get over it,” I say and walk to the door. “But for now, maybe I’m not welcome at the party anymore.”

She doesn’t argue when I go back inside.