Page 27 of Unwritten Vows
Derrick
First thing the next morning, I drive the few hours to Rhode Island to see my father. He doesn’t know I’m coming, but we often stop in just to chat. We work closely, after all.
I stroll into his office around noon and am greeted to a sight I never thought I’d see. Edoardo sits in the chair opposite him, holding a drink, grinning like a fucking shark.
He has the presence of mind to look thrown off balance for a split second, but rights himself so quickly that I’m not sure anyone but me would have caught it. “Derrick, son. Come sit.”
I swallow hard. I don’t know what to do in this moment.
Edoardo took shots at me just a few nights ago, and now my father is sitting across from him.
What do I say? Should I be charming? Should I play into whatever little game my father is playing?
Or should I be indignant and ask the questions I really want to know the answers to.
I keep my face completely blank until I make up my mind. I’m going to have to do a bit of both. “Hi, father. Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Everyone knows who Edoardo is. Of course I know who he is. This is just a way to hurt his pride without being overt until I figure out what else to say.
“Edoardo Panicucci.” He stands up, observing me from head to toe. “And you’re Derrick Stepinov.”
I blink at him. “Well, of course. Everyone knows who I am.”
We glare at each other for a full 30 seconds before Edoardo finally laughs. “Of course, my boy! Of course we do. Young and infamous, that’s what you are. Enjoy it.”
I move on, wanting to get this conversation over with.
“So, to what do we owe the pleasure? You’ve come a long way.
How long have you been in Rhode Island? Can’t have been last night, since you were otherwise engaged.
” I harden my facial features further, but keep just the hint of a mild, affable smile on my face.
His own smile grows. “I am always otherwise engaged. But when I really want something, I make time to obtain it.”
I feel like there’s a double meaning to those words, but I don’t have time to ponder what it might be, and I’m sure he won’t be telling me what it is. I just need to cut through the bullshit now. “Okay. So what do you want?”
He laughs again, looking at my father and then back at me. “I’m very busy and was just about to head out. I’m sure your father can talk to you about why I was here today. And last week.”
Those last words ring in my head. And last week . My father has been in contact with Edoardo since last week , which is about when this shit started happening.
“Have a great week, Stepinov. Consider my terms. I know my way out, and I’m sure the two of you have a lot to discuss.” Edoardo nods at my father, and then at me, before heading out the door.
I watch him leave without saying goodbye, and as soon as he’s out the door, I turn back to my father. I’m trying to keep my all-consuming rage inside my body, but it’s slowly leaking out. I wrestle my facial expression into submission, but I can’t stop the words from spewing out of me.
“What in the everloving fuck was he doing here, father?”
“Watch your tongue, boy,” my father replies, eyebrows raised.
“I’m not a boy. And Edoardo is our enemy, as well as a complete wild card. He’s open about his dealings in the skin trade, and I’ve even heard he sells younger girls. Why are you sitting here having drinks with him?”
I’m never so insolent in my father’s presence, but I’ve been holding this rage in for too long, and this is the tipping point, it seems.
My father lets me sit and stew. He lights a long cigarette and puffs, letting the smoke drift over to me. I don’t move a muscle or blink, even for a second.
“He is not our enemy, Derrick.”
Perhaps I shouldn’t be, but I’m truly staggered by those words. “He took shots at me just last night!”
My father leans forward, lays his cigarette in the ashtray, and tents his fingers together.
“We don’t know that it was him for sure.
And I want to remind you that we haven’t determined a side one way or another, no matter how pressured we’ve been.
We haven’t even gone into agreement with Yaroslav and his daughter yet. ”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re playing both sides. You’re going to get us killed.”
My father’s expression reeks of disappointment after my statement, as if I simply don’t understand. “No, Derrick. I’m going to get us the best deal. I’m going to get us power and wealth beyond our wildest dreams.”
I sigh in exasperation. “Not sure if you’ve realized this, father, but we’re already extremely rich.”
He leans back and studies me. “You know, I never took you as a man who would yield to others and accept second best—who would just take whatever is given to you without wanting more. If only you could have been like that with me. Instead, I’ve always dealt with your questions and attempts to go your own way. ”
“That’s very poetic, father, but I just don’t want to be known as the weasel of the Bratva world. I’m already seen as some good-for-nothing, rich, airheaded playboy. I really don’t want everyone to think I’m secretly some slimy rat who will go behind their back to get what I want.”
My father shakes his head. “We are in a mafia brotherhood, Derrick! We all do this! I thought I raised you to play this game better.”
“I don’t want to play games with my life, father. Just for money and prowess.”
“Well, you will, Derrick.” I feel my father closing the door on this conversation, and as much as I want to push back, I know it will be fruitless to do so.
“You will do it, just like you always have. Everything must go smoothly for the next few days, do you understand? You have a lot of work to do, but after you seal the deal with her, I will let you in on the full scope of my plan.”
I don’t want to wait. He’s telling me to continue just as I was before, but it feels like he’s changing things up, and I can’t get a clear picture as to how or why. Still, I know he won’t give the information up until I do what he asks, and it’s what I want, after all.
“I’ll be back in three days,” I say, leaving without a goodbye.