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“I want to remain here in New York. Against my father’s wishes, I applied to Julliard. I was accepted. I’d like to finish high school here so I can become involved with their internship program.”

Nothing could have surprised me more.

“Wow. That is… amazing. Yes, you can stay here. I’ll make arrangements.”

He seemed relieved. “Are you selling my father’s house?”

“No, Enzo. This is your home. Your father left it to you.”

For the first time since I’d known the young man, he smiled. “Really?”

“Really. I will check on you from time to time. You will need to abide by the rules your father established and you’ll have security at all times. At least for now. No wild parties and there will be no overnight female guests. Do you understand?”

I thought for certain he would shut down just like before, but he chuckled. “You sound like a father.”

I thought about his statement and was able to answer with pride.

“I am a father.” Of all the things I’d done or experienced in my life, of that I was most proud.

Well, along with being married to the most intelligent, sinful, beautiful, and opinionated woman in the world.

And she was all mine.

CHAPTER35

Alejandro

“A drink?” Don Lupini asked almost immediately after I’d walked into his office.

I nodded to Dion, who left and closed the door behind him. What I had to say was for the Don’s ears only.

“A scotch.”

“Excellent choice. You can always tell a decent man by his choice of liquor.” He purposely poured a twenty-five-year-old Macallan, the bottle something I’d admired once before when in his office.

“It’s amazing what you can learn by what a man drinks and eats, the vehicle he drives, and the friends he keeps.”

He tipped his head while still pouring, narrowing his eyes. “Yes, you’re right.”

The intro was a perfect lead into the conversation that needed to occur between us.

Only he wasn’t certain what that entailed as of yet. I remained quiet as he brought the two glasses. He’d directed me to one of the leather chairs when I’d arrived instead of the stiff chair in front of his desk.

He thought this a social call.

It wasn’t.

As he sat down, for the first time I realized how much he’d aged. The last couple of months had taken a significant toll on him. While I’d heard him talk of retirement, I doubted he was ready to give up the helm with so much remaining up in the air.

Words had gotten out that the DEA was looking to arrest soldiers as well as flip them into becoming informants.

That meant business on the import-export side was slow, new customers hesitating to do business with a half dozen crime syndicates. Luckily, my former identity had yet to leak to the general population, although there were rumors. If I had to guess, likely fueled by Don Lupini himself.

I’d never believed him to be a friend or a real ally even though I was married to his daughter. The business was and always would be dog eat dog. The survival of the fittest.

“To what do I owe this pleasure? Is my daughter alright? Did you come to tell me I should expect additional grandchildren?”

I laughed. “Not yet. You know your daughter is quite independent. Besides, she’s determined to continue working in her clinic.”