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With time, she will move on and so will I.
I take the stairs two at a time. I need to get away from here. Away from her and any reminders of what could have been.
Grabbing my phone, I call Dad. He answers on the third ring. “What’s wrong, son?”
“We need to have a heart to heart and talk about the future of the Marino legacy. I have some ideas.”
“Great. I finished with my meetings early and am starving, so let’s grab a bite to eat.”
“I’ll meet you at Mario’s in ten minutes.”
I end the call and head straight to the restaurant. It will be good to do a checkup on the businesses we protect. Spencer usually handles it, but being the boss’s son, I need to make an appearance every once in a while.
I park on the side road and the laundromat that’s next door to Mario’s Pizzeria. The owner, Bruno, is sitting behind the counter changing the channels on the small television that’s hanging from the ceiling.
He stands up as soon as I pull the door open and step inside. “Mr. Marino, what can I do for you?”
“I’m just checking on things before I get a bite to eat with my father and making sure you are being taken care of.”
“Oh, yes, sir. I’m extremely grateful for the added protection. There hasn’t been an incident since the last time. The Reapers don’t come around anymore.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. Let me know if anyone ever causes problems. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
“Thank you for everything.” He goes to the register. “Are you here to collect the payment as well?”
“No. I was just in the area and checking up on things. Keep with the same payment schedule.”
“I wanted to thank you for being so lenient when I got behind on my payments.”
“That’s no issue. Is the backroom working out for you?”
After he struggled to make payments, I came up with the idea of using the back storage room for weekly poker games. Of course, he pays me a small percentage for sending guys his way, but it’s turned his business around overnight.
“It’s been great. If there’s anything I can do to repay you, just let me know.”
“That’s not necessary. Your loyalty to my family is enough for now.”
When a small family comes inside to wash their clothes, I head next door to Mario’s Pizzeria. Mario and Lucia are in the kitchen cooking, while a few patrons occupy a couple of booths along the side wall.
They greet me with a friendly smile when they see me.
“Look who it is! Little Joey Marino. It’s been forever. And you’re not so little anymore.”
“Hi, Lucia. How are you?”
The older woman rushes over to me and wraps her arms around my waist. “My God. If you put on any more muscle, I won’t be able to hug you.”
Mario comes out of the kitchen for a minute to give me his normal handshake, with a clap on my back. “It’s good to see you, son. How are things?”
Growing up, Mario’s door was always open to me when I would need to escape Dad’s overprotectiveness. Sure, he might have put me to work, but I knew I was safe here and Dad knew I was off the streets.
“Eh, you know how it is. Some good days and some bad days. The Reapers seem to have crawled back into the hole they came from, but that usually means they are plotting something.”
Mario lowers his voice. “How are things with Rossi?”
“Not good. He shot at Dad when he was entering the arena, and he tried to have me killed. I almost didn’t make it out of my burning car.”
“He’s playing with you guys. He wants you to be scared.”