Page 43 of A Touch of Fate
But her eyes opened all the way, and the look in them was like a douse of cold water. I moved to kiss her, but her hand came up and covered my mouth. “You smell like a liquor store.”
I straightened. “I’ll take a shower and brush my teeth.”
Emma tried to sit up in bed, then winced. “Ouch. Sleeping on the floor is a bad idea. Everything hurts.”
“Why did you?”
She gave me a look as if that should be obvious. “I was worried you’d throw up and choke on your vomit. I wanted to keep an eye on you.”
“I was fine.”
“You were not. You didn’t notice anything. You and Renato broke all our vases and decorations downstairs.”
“You can buy new stuff. You didn’t even pick the decorations, so this is your chance to get something that fits your taste.”
Emma gave me an indignant look. “Samuel, this is serious.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t make a big deal of it. I’m a grown man, and sometimes men get drunk, especially after a shitty day.”
I turned around and headed into the bathroom. I wasn’t in the mood for a discussion like that, especially not when my head felt like it was about to explode. Though, I’d probably never want to have this discussion.
I shoved down my briefs and what remained of my shirt, then stepped into the shower and turned it warmer than I usually showered because the prospect of cold water hitting my head wasn’t enticing at all.
Leaning against the tiles, I closed my eyes. After a couple of minutes, I could hear Emma enter the bathroom, then the sound of water in the sink followed by the electric toothbrush and the occasional squeal of her wheels.
I slowly opened my eyes and turned the water to as cold as I could bear, all the while watching Emma.
She was focused on brushing her teeth, but I could tell she wasn’t happy with the situation.
I stepped out of the shower, rubbed my hair dry, then wrapped a towel around my waist before I joined Emma at the sink.
She looked up at me, her eyes briefly lingering on the bruises on my upper body.
A few of the recruits had managed to land hits but nothing major.
“Why was yesterday shitty?” she whispered. Her brown eyes searched mine with concern and tenderness.
I sighed. I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to share with Emma. Finally, I said, “Two recruits had trouble with the questioning. For one of them, it was his second attempt to become an initiate, and he failed again because of his inability to withstand pain.”
Emma grimaced. “How old was he? I’m sure he’ll grow used to pain over time.”
“Sixteen. Old enough to bear the pain I caused, trust me. He’s too weak.”
“And that made you mad?”
“No, what made me mad was his reaction to me telling him he wouldn’t become an initiate. I had to make a bloody statement.”
Her eyes grew wide. “You killed him?”
“No, though it would have been a suitable reaction. I cut off the tip of his tongue.”
Emma paled. “But he’s only sixteen.”
“I have to lead my men and these recruits. If someone disrespects me, they’ll be met with my wrath. Now he knows and so does everyone else. Sometimes they all need reminding.”
She didn’t need to know how the asshole had disrespected her.
Emma swallowed thickly. I could see her mind working, wondering why that had made me get drunk.
“Stop worrying,” I told her, squeezing her shoulder.
Emma nodded, but I could tell she was still not convinced. She needed to learn when to give up.
On my way to a casino, Dante’s number flashed on my screen. I gritted my teeth. I didn’t think it was a coincidence that he called a day after I’d punished the boy. Had his father complained?
I answered the call. “Dante, to what do I owe your call?”
“Good morning, Samuel. I just wanted to inquire about the state of things in Minneapolis.”
“Let me guess, you got a call from an angry Captain yesterday because I punished his useless son?”
Dante chuckled. “No, not quite. His mother called Valentina, crying.”
I rolled my eyes. “So he ran to his mommy so she could protect him?”
“I don’t know the details, and I won’t call the father to find out. I assume you had a reason to punish an initiate like that.”
“He won’t become an initiate. He failed under torture twice, and he insulted me and my wife. He’s lucky I didn’t cut off more than the tip of his tongue.”
“Indeed,” Dante said. “He should be able to withstand torture at sixteen.”
“He’s weak. He won’t ever amount to anything. I could withstand more torture at twelve than that pussy.”
Again, a dry chuckle. “You are one of my best men, like your father.”
I waited for him to say more as I parked in front of the casino. This one was underground, hidden in a nondescript warehouse.
“But that decision falls under your jurisdiction and is not why I’m calling.”
“No?”
“I want Leonas to see how things are done in different cities. I’m sending him to Minneapolis for the entirety of August so you and Pietro can show him your ways to do business.”
Surprise filled me. My cousin Leonas was fourteen. Of course, he had already been inducted at thirteen. He would become Capo and couldn’t wait until he was fifteen or sixteen like some others. “We’ll show him the ropes and keep him safe.”
“He’s quite adept at protecting himself, but he’s also very cocky and boisterous.”
I knew of Leonas’s troublemaking ways but not everything, I was sure. Dante would make sure the worst didn’t become public. “We’ll keep him in check. Will he live with my parents?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sure Mom is ecstatic to have someone to coddle again.”
“She lost you and Sofia both in the same month.”
“Maybe Leonas will make her glad the nest is empty. No offense.”
“No offense taken. I’m very aware of Leonas’s nature.”
“The question is by what means do you want us to keep his nature in check,” I asked carefully.
Dante cleared his throat. “There are certain limits I’m not willing to cross due to Valentina.”
Of course. Dad too had been limited by how he could punish me by Mom’s love for me. “But those limits aren’t ours?”
“They aren’t. But obviously, he mustn’t be harmed in a way that won’t heal.”
“Of course not. I like the little shit a lot, so that will prevent that from happening anyway. The same goes for Dad.”
Dante chuckled again. “Little shit? You realize he’ll be your Capo one day.”
“And by the time he’s Capo, I’m certain he’s a man I’ll respect too much to remember I ever said those words.”
“ He will be .”
We chatted more about the details of Leonas’s stay before I hung up. Having Leonas in Minneapolis added another problem to my shoulders, but I couldn’t refuse Dante.