Page 227 of Bitter Poetry

“And Roman?”

His wife has had their baby while he’s been locked up with us. I considered ending him when I was trying to get Carmela out of the coffee shop, but something stopped me.

“I like Roman. He’s alright.”

“Not what I’m asking.”

“I choked him out for what must have felt like no fucking reason, so, yeah, he was likely to be pissed and out for my blood in the warehouse. But he’s also not a dick, you know. Just a soldier doing his job. He also doesn’t hit as hard as Peter or Bo, and I think that’s why Jero put him in the team. The last time they worked me over, it was only Peter and Bo, and they just did as they were told. No offense taken beyond it fucking hurt.”

“And Peter and Bo?”

“Bo just does what he’s told. Not a lot of thinking going on, if you know what I mean. Peter is competent at what he does. He’s also the closest soldier to Ettore besides Jero.”

Leon nods and turns to Dante.

“Peter worked for Cedro before Ettore,” Dante says. “Jero likewise worked for your father before. Neither of them is a dumb thug and both have always been polite and professional with me; Bo and Roman, I don’t know personally, nor the rest. I might have seen them in passing. Let’s see what they say whenwe talk to them. No one wants to take the life of a good soldier who was only doing his job, but we also don’t have the time and luxury to give chances and risk being fucked over.”

“Agreed,” Leon says.

The men are brought up one at a time, cuffed, with two soldiers standing at their flanks. Leon does the talking. They are shown evidence of what happened to Cedro and his late wife.

The first man gets a shake of Leon’s head when our soldiers take them out. The second a nod. Then two more shakes.

I don’t imagine he’ll send them back to Edoardo. They’ve been here and know too much now. I’m guessing they’ll be taken somewhere quietly and disposed of.

Then comes Bo. He’s shocked by the information. He gives me a cagey look before focusing on what Leon says.

He gets a nod.

Peter is next. His face is a stark mask as he listens to what Leon lays out.

“I have eyes and ears,” he says. “The servants talk. Brigida was vocal to those she trusted about Ettore’s treatment of Carmela. He wasn’t the same caliber as his predecessor, that’s for sure. But as far as I knew, Cedro had given Carmela to him in good faith. As for him being responsible for killing your father and Mrs. Accardi, you could easily have fabricated the evidence, and I haven’t heard Cedro’s side of this. But there have long been rumors that Ettore has agreements in place with the Russians. I even escorted him to several meetings. I did not personally attend the talks… Edoardo did. Do I believe Ettore is capable of doing what you claim? Yes, I do. Did I want to work for him? No. After Mrs. Accardi’s funeral, I went to Cedro and pleaded with him to let me enter his service. He told me he wanted me to work for Ettore, where I could protect his daughter.” He shakes his head. “I failed that duty.”

There is a lengthy pause. “If I killed every man who had failed Carmela,” Leon says. “That would include everyone in the room.” He calls his soldier to take Peter out. He also gets a nod.

Next comes Roman. He shuffles into the center of the room and sneers at me. Leon doesn’t even get to start before Roman starts on me. “You’re such an asshole, Christian. My wife had a fucking baby that I haven’t even fucking seen. You choked me out, motherfucker. And Istillpulled my punches!”

“Pulled your punches? You punch like a girl!”

“AND I nearly put my back out dragging your heavy ass!”

“Enough!” Leon barks. He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Take him the fuck out.”

“I’m going to kick your ass, Christian!” Roman roars, fighting to break free of the two guards. “My wife was going to name our baby after you. I swear to God, I will disown him if she has!”

“I’m going to kick your ass right back. Bet she’s glad you’ve been gone so you don’t eat all her fucking cakes!”

“Er, boss? The decision?” one of the soldiers manhandling Roman out of the room asks.

“Yes,” Leon growls. “For fuck’s sake. Yes. Any man who has to deal with Christian’s bullshit deserves a second chance.”

The door closes. Dante is smirking. “I like him.”

I huff out a breath. “Yeah, I like him too. That’s why I only choked him and didn’t shoot him.”

Finally comes Jero, and after all the excitement with Roman, his quiet presence makes a marked contrast.

Leon gives him the same talk.