Vincenzo was staring into the distance as he was walking outside. He liked to breathe in the air in New York making him feel at home. This was his home. He had missed it. But for how much longer could there be peace. He had put his father in front of his father. That was what is was. He was the reason for conflict. He wanted to resolve it all but he wasn't sure if he could. It was not straightforward. As he was walking he saw one of his father's men approaching "Sir, your father wishes to see you... in his office."
He gave the man a nod and walked away. Finally his father had acknowledged his presence. He had excluded him from every decision since he had ambushed his grandpas lair. It could be his only chance to have any influence. If his father wanted him to stay out of this matter, his father was going to make sure he had no part in it. His father was extraordinary precise and had a high degree of certainty about what he wanted and how he wanted it.
He reached his father's office and knocked before he let himself in. His father expected him so there was no need to wait. As he entered he watched his father making fire in the fire place. He was watching the flames as he was putting wood inside. His father liked traditional ways to get warm at times.
He whispered "Good morning father
Francesco didn't look back. "Good morning son. Did you sleep well?"
Vincenzo asked "Is that relevant?"
Francesco turned and walked towards his desk "Of course." He then poured himself some vodka in a glass "You wish to grow up fast. You want to be the adult. You are not there yet. You are just a kid to me but one without curfew." He then took a sip from his vodka.
Vincenzo slowly approached his father's desk "Father. Did you ask me to come see you to discuss how well I slept?"
Francesco put his glass down soundly "Why? You have somewhere to be? Do you? You need to leave?"
Vincenzo said "No. It's just that I have been waiting all night for you to want to talk to me and discuss ... what happened yesterday."
Francesco walked to the front of his desk and leaned to the table with his hands on his side grabbing the edge "What happened yesterday? Let's think. You defied me. That is what's happened. I gave you advice that you chose not to follow. You are a teenager. This should be normal. You are testing how much you can get away with. That's how I should see it. But I don't. This is not you. You ignored my advice and listened to ... someone else. Now I want to find out why. That is not you. The son I raised won't ignore what I tell him. You could discuss it with me. I told you to leave Jackson. You can't take him on without a proper structure to your planning. If you take on Jackson you must have Plan A, Plan B .... all the way to Plan Z or you will lose ..."
Vincenzo interrupted "Father. But I am certain I wasn't going to lose. I just want the safety of this family. He is a threat."
Francesco said "Every soul out there is a threat. You can't kill them all. Attacking Jackson could work. You could kill him but not without some retaliation. My definition of losing is different to yours. Jackson has lost so much already. He lost my cousin to Arturo. He blames me. If Jackson wishes to kill anyone, it's me. He won't come after my family when I am who he wants. He has a hit list. Arturo and I are on top of it. He won't be a threat to this family unless we are weakened. And what you did yesterday did not strengthen this family. Did it son?"
Vincenzo shook his head and admitted "No I didn't help. I am sorry."
Francesco raised an eyebrow "That shows maturity. To admit when you make a mistake ... to your father. Next time if you come to me and ask me for advice, don't ignore it. You attempted to abduct Jackson's family when you should have ordered a hit on him with less damage..."
Vincenzo said "But you said he is more dangerous when dead than alive."
Francesco said "Yes. I did. So what does this tell you. He is more dangerous dead than Alive. But a wounded Jackson is even deadlier. You wounded him. He knows you tried to abduct his family members. Now he is wounded. He won't rest until he retaliates. Think about how you felt when Vienna nearly died with Jackson involved. That's how he feels. It makes it even. It should feel that way. But right now. You are wounded, I am wounded and so is he... If you left it as it is he could keep guessing... He couldn't be sure if we know of what he has done. Now he knows. So now you are the third name on his list after Arturo and I." He then laughed bitterly "I don't even know which one of us is first on the list now. It's a race for us three to be on top..."
Vincenzo said " Father... What is your decision?"
Francesco's expression changed. He stopped leaning to the desk and silently stared at his son as he started walking towards him while keeping his hands in his pockets "My decision? Be specific son. My decision about what and whom?"
Vincenzo hesitated as his father walked towards him. He couldn't say it. He didn't want to say the word "grandpa" or "uncle Antonio" in front of his father.
Francesco stood in front of his son and then reached his hand to his face. He touched his cheek "You don't need to concern yourself with my decisions son. I handle my decisions without affecting your life path unlike how you made decisions that affected many others. If you want to make a decision make it at your own expense. Not others."
Vincenzo said "I already said I am sorry."
Francesco said "I know. But you shouldn't have to say sorry. Tell me who put you up to what you did or whom and tell me why you did what you did." He then let go and stared his son down as he put his hands back into his pocket "Go on. I am listening."
Vincenzo took a deep breath and thought about his words before he was going to say them.
Francesco said "I wish you had contemplated your actions yesterday before you gave out orders just like how you are contemplating your words right now..."
Vincenzo sighed "Father. What would you have done if you were me?"
Francesco stated "Perhaps I would have done the same. I don't leave enemies alive. If I didn't know about Jackson I would have followed your course of actions. I gave you advice. You didn't know Jackson like I do and you chose to attack. I don't blame you for your actions. I blame those who advised you to go against my advice. I am pretty certain those who convinced you to strike Jackson knew exactly what they were doing. So tell me ... everything. Who was involved? What was said? What was your grandfather's role and what was your uncle Antonio's role.
Vincenzo looked away "It's more complicated than what you think father."
Francesco said "Your hesitance confirms my concerns. Speak son."
Vincenzo looked at his father "I can't. I can't tell you so much. You don't understand father... If I tell you what I know then your life will be in danger."
Francesco looked at his son "My life has always been in danger... even before I was born... I am here listening. Tell me all you know."
Vincenzo rubbed his head and turned. He walked towards the fire place and stood watching the flames. He shook his head "Do you remember when I was little... You used to sit me down next to the fire place and tell me to watch the flames and guess which wood will burn last or the one that survives. Well no piece of wood survived ever. Only when there was some metal mixed up it didn't burn and you put it there deliberately. You said to me to be that metal. We all will burn. It doesn't matter which one of us burns first and last. In a fire place all the wood turns to ash. We all die. But the metal pieces leave a legacy. That piece of metal ... is..." He then turned to his father "your blood. Your family has so much power father. I didn't know the full extent of it until I was allowed to explore them from the inside."
Francesco walked towards him "Where is your stance? Who are you protecting?"
Vincenzo said "I am protecting you from having to have a face off with your family but ... I am also protecting some individuals from you. I don't want a war father. I don't want you to go to war with your family."
Francesco said "I cut off ties with my so called Sicilian family. I will leave them be if they leave my family be. It works. They won't strike me unless you order it. So if you want no war keep them away."
Vincenzo said "It's not that simple. You don't understand father... When I say family I don't mean it literally. I don't mean your Sicilian family ... I mean ... I mean .... your father..."
Francesco was now in Vincenzo's personal space "My father?"
Vincenzo nodded "He has just too much power and influence. I need time ... I need time to find out more. He has so many secrets. He is not an ordinary person. I need him alive and some of those loyal servants he has... I need time to find out..."
Francesco said "You found this all out by exploring the behind the scenes just in this short time you were away in Sicily? I heard you stayed separately in a Home detached from the rest of them..."
Vincenzo knew it was coming... The moment of the truth "No. I found out before ... I have spent years... Since I was 5 to be precise."
Francesco froze "What?"
Vincenzo said quickly "I was in touch with your father ... ever since I was 5. When you left me in care of uncle Antonio to keep me safe, he turned up always and took me secretly to his bases where he did business. I am sorry father..." He swallowed hard as the look in his father's eyes petrified him. He continued "I know how it sounds. I was just there watching your father at work. Uncle Antonio wanted to tell you but he was threatened. He feared for his wife and child. I am sorry you must feel betrayed..."
Vincenzo stopped talking as he watched his father's reaction. Silently his father looked at him. He reached his hand up and put it at either side of his sons face. He stared intensely at his son "I am going to ask you a question and you will answer it honestly son... Did he ... make you kill?"
Vincenzo shook his head "No. He made me watch him kill people."
Francesco pressed his lips and cursed under his breath but then composed himself. "I will make those responsible pay... " He then asked harshly "Tell the truth son. Did he make you kill. Don't lie to me..."
Vincenzo asked "No. He didn't. Why would I lie?...
Francesco said "I am going to ask you again. Did he make you kill?"
Vincenzo was surprised why his father was calmly asking him this unexpected question. He could ask why he didn't tell him before or other details. Why did he insist on this?
Francesco lowered his hands to Vincenzo's shoulders and gently shook him "Tell the truth son. Did he make you kill?"
Vincenzo said "No."
Francesco demanded "Swear it..."
Vincenzo said automatically in response to his father's demanding tone "I swear it..." He then found himself in his father's embrace.
Vincenzo whispered "Father why did you want to know this so badly. He didn't make me kill. But ... did he make you kill?" That was when his father broke away and ordered "You will stay here at this house. You won't follow me. This is mine. This fight is mine." He then walked away.
Vincenzo followed. "Father. Please. Tell me. Did he make you kill?"
Francesco opened the door and turned "You stay here. Don't try following. You won't like the consequences." He then walked out and banged the door behind him leaving Vincenzo frozen. His father didn't deny it. His father's eyes only displayed affirmation. His father didn't answer but Vincenzo could see the answer was yes.
His father was forced to kill. Not by choice. His father had the theme of having choices at the core of his values and principles. He wanted his children to have choices when his was taken away.
Vincenzo felt sick at his grandfather. He felt deceived. He felt betrayed. All made sense now. His father keeping his grandfather away. His father blanking out the man made sense. Perfect sense. Truth at times came out when it was too late.