Page 108 of Bellini Bound

Matteo gave a sharp nod. “Consider it done. Anything else, gentlemen, before we disperse until next month?”

When silence ensued, he buttoned his jacket. “Excellent. And it should go without saying, your names will be on the guest list for our first-ever—and possibly only—casino night. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better places to be this evening than defending myself and my decisions to a bunch of aging capos who have somehow gotten it into their heads that this organization is a democracy when it’s the furthest thing from it. This is your one and only warning: I hold the title of Don. If youeverthink it’s a good idea to ambush me during a routine status update again, I suggest you say your final farewells to your families before leaving the house. Are we clear?”

I couldn’t help but smirk as the eight capos’ faces drained of all color.

This meeting only served to highlight that it was long past time for a changing of the guard. We needed fresh blood in this room, men who were on a similar wavelength with Matteo and me—and maybe Gio if he ever came back—so that we weren’t constantly fighting internal battles.

A divided house was a weak house, and it left us susceptible to further attacks if any of our enemies caught wind of possible dissent.

I was fucking sick of being in a defensive position all the time. If cleaning house was what it took to fix that, then so be it.

Out with the old and in with the new.

“Aw, look at you, pretending to work.” Matteo’s voice filtered in from the open door to my office.

I gave him the finger. “Shut up.”

He leaned against the doorframe, tucking both hands in his pockets. “I’m heading home so my babysitter can clock out.”

“Head of security,” I corrected for the millionth time.

Matteo shrugged, shoving off the wall. “Same difference.”

“Whatever you say, Boss. Wouldn’t want to leave my wife a widow for speaking out against you.”

The bastard smirked. “Admit it, you loved it when I put them in their place.”

I scoffed. “Of course I did. They’re a bunch of assholes, and I’m tired of their bullshit.”

“I’ve been thinking about your suggestion. A forced retirement of sorts for the current capos.”

My ears perked up. “Yeah?”

“They’ve grown too bold. It’s time to knock ’em down a peg or two and then put them out to pasture. With a new generation at the helm, we need to surround ourselves with men who can grow with us instead of keeping on the ones who are constantly comparing my decisions to ones my father would have made.”

“They’re gonna be pissed,” I remarked.

He nodded. “Probably. But I plan to sweeten the deal with a very generous severance package.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “And if they don’t accept?”

“Then they’d better hope their wills are up to date.” While it was a casual statement, I knew he meant business. Matteo didn’t issue idle threats. He couldn’t afford to.

“When are you thinking of lowering the boom?”

“After casino night.”

I hummed. “Probably a good idea. Don’t want anything fucking up that windfall.”

“My thoughts exactly,” he agreed. “All right, I’m gonna go. Want me to hold the elevator for you?”

“Nah.” I shook my head. “Got a few more things to wrap up here, then I’ll head out.”

Matteo reared back in surprise, almost as if he genuinely believed that I sat here twiddling my thumbs all damn day.

Shooing him with my hand, I said, “Go. The longer you hang around distracting me, the longer it takes me to get home to my own wife.”

He rapped his knuckles against the doorframe. “See you tomorrow.”