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We take a walk toward the back of the dark warehouse, moonlight creeping through the fifty-foot-high skylights. I can’t help but notice all of the popped vessels on his cheeks as we pace in and out of the light. He’s turning ghoulish. It tightens my chest to see him bending to the hand of time.

“Four bodies – no made guys,” I say flatly.

My father looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “That’s it?”

“What do you mean, ‘that’s it’? It’s a big fuckin’ deal—”

He slaps me lightly and holds his hand on my face. “You’re not giving me shit about my decision to help Rocco? No ‘it’sall because of your sentimental bullshit,’ blah blah. The fuck’s gotten into you? This is all my fault, as you love to point out.”

I turn away, lips tight.

“You have feelings for the girl, don’t you?” He snickers.

“They have her, Pop.”

His cackling stops immediately. “The fuck you mean, ‘they have her’?”

“When I went to pay Nicky a visit at the tool shop, he was one step ahead of me, on the way to Star Dust. Apparently, he bugged Capri’s lawyer friends and used them to pin her. It’s all screwed up.”

My father licks his teeth and spits on my floor. “No.Youscrewed up, kid.” He points a finger in my face.

Blood boils in my belly – not because he’s reprimanding me… but because he’s right. I nabbed a knight off Nicky’s chess board, but he took a goddamn queen.

His eyes scan my face. “Hmph.”

“What?” I narrow my eyes.

“I’m proud of you.” His finger turns into another light slap on my face, followed by an intense coughing fit. He wheezes so hard I have to grab him under the arm.

“The hell are you talking about?” I pat his back.

He clears his throat and comes back up for air. “You know how long I’ve been waiting for you to grow the fuck up? Least in my dying days, I get to see it. Written all over your face, kid. You care about Capri.”

My fist clenches. “We’re at the brink of war with the Lucrazis, andthisis what you say?”

“I’m talking about what matters, yeah.” Pop nods. “And all you’re doing is trying to deflect.”

“Fuckoff.” I turn on him again, backhanding the air.

“There’s no shame in caring, kid. I’d have done anything for your mother.”

“Is that why you’re waist deep in strippers all the time?” I growl.

“You know what Mom told me before she went? She said, ‘You do what you want, Stanzo, but you gotta promise me two things.’” He holds up two fingers. “‘Take care of our boy, andyou better not remarry.’” He starts laughing into a cough, and I can’t help myself either.

My mom was funny.

I miss her.

“I did my best on both fronts, Tristano. Now I’m going to offer one more to keep my end of the bargain.”

“Stop with all the cryptic shit, Pop. We have to figure this out.”

“It’s already figured out. I’m giving myself up to the Lucrazis.”

My brow furrows, and a disbelieving laugh puffs from my mouth. “Like hell you are.”

“It’s the least I can do. We’ll end this right now – nip it in the bud.”