“Pop, there were some new faces at school today. You know anything about that?” I ran him down out back where he was winterizing the outdoor kitchen as soon as we got home that evening, after sending Gianna off with the twins to cause mayhem upstairs.
“I’m not the principal. How the hell would I know about their attendance? I mean headmaster.”
“It’s a she so headmistress, anyway, that’s your story? You don’t know anything about it?”
“Yep! Who are these people you’re talking about?” The fact that he didn’t stop moving and didn’t dare look at me was a dead giveaway.
“I saw four new faces that seem very familiar. It took me a minute to remember where I saw them. Two of them were in my martial arts classes when I was a kid the other one; I could’ve sworn I’ve seen at the shooting range, and the other looks exactly like this kid from my Paranza Corta training back in New York.” His, ‘dammit’ said mostly under his breath was answer enough.
“What are you expecting them to do? I don’t need babysitting, and I’ve been shaking your goons for years.”
“Son, I know how this works. Once you get the taste for vengeance, once you’ve wet your beak in that pool, it’s hard to turn back.” He was saying a hell of a lot without saying too much, but when he turned to look at me, the worry I saw there made me think about what I’d come out here to demand.
I was going to tell him to remove them, or I’d make their lives hell, but I owe it to him to give him peace of mind. “Fine, tell them they don’t need to hide anymore; there’s no point. How did you find them anyway?”
“You brought them to me.” He said with a wry smile as he polished the grill.
“Huh? How did I do that?”
“When you were a kid, the twins were the first ones; you don’t remember? It seems like every class you took, you’d find the most underprivileged or the ones who didn’t have a good home life. On the way back in the car after I picked you up, you’d go on and on about them, so I had a look.”
“You mean, you’ve been taking care of them all this time?”
“Don’t make it sound so noble. By the time I was your age, your grandfather had already picked my team; it’s just what we do. I was hoping since I’m making strides in taking the family legit that you wouldn’t need one, but…” He shrugged his shoulders.
“You didn’t train them just to have them watch my back, did you?”
“Of course not; they each have their own lives, but they’ve always known that this day might come.”
“Pop…”
“It’s what they wanted, Gabriel. You may not have realized it, but you bringing them to my attention all those years ago is what changed their lives for the better, and they never forgot it. I started thinking about bringing them in after the fight, and now with Fontane and whoever else you’re tangling with, I think it’s time.”
“What fight?”
“Boy, you forgot the cops were at the door?” Well, shit, I had indeed forgotten about the douche. Gianna had taken over every aspect of my life.
“The Fontane woman made bail, by the way. It wasn’t easy, but we swung it. The case is in three months, so whatever you’ve got planned, you’d better get on with it.”
“No problem. I’m heading in; I still haven’t found Gianna’s dress for the party yet. Oh, by the way, I need the plane this weekend.”
“Where’re you going on?”
“I’m taking Gianna to Virginia to see her grandma. Later.”
I didn’t want him to see what his care for me did to me. The fact that he’d gone to such lengths, that just from my word as a little snotnosed kid, he’d changed the lives of four boys who I remember were victims of abuse in one way or another, is something I’ll never be able to repay.
I wish my future had any part of what he dreams for me. I know he’s working this hard to legitimize things for me to take over when the time comes, but my selfish ass has other plans. She’s my mother. I can’t live in a world where the injustice done to her goes unpunished. And my honor won’t allow me to go on living after taking the life of the man who’d been part of giving me life, no matter how monstrous he is.
DRACO
Well, isn’t it dandy that I’d changed my mind and told the boys not to pretend not to remember him? After giving it much thought throughout the night, I’d realized that that would mean all the training I’d made sure Gabe got would’ve been for nothing if he couldn’t make them. Stupid, but the kid has me catching my tail to keep up.