With just a confident wink and proud smile, he confirms it.
“So, what do you need from me?”
I feel my brother’s presence as he walks up behind me; they also train us to recognize each other’s footsteps and how we all walk. It minimizes the risk of mistaking family for an enemy on missions—no two people walk the same. I’m not saying mistakes don’t happen; sometimes, we just can’t afford the time to focus on who’s around us.
“It’s Donnie’s plan,” Daddy says. “He will break it down for you. Good luck, son.”
Donovan tenses as I spin to face him. His face is still red. I guess his balls are sitting deep in his throat from my brutal kick, and I even-tempered. I contemplate doing it again when I consider how he spoke to me in the gym.
“Thanks,” Donovan said sarcastically.
I’m starting at square one with my brother on this matter, and it takes a lot not just to say, “fuck it,” and walk out. Why are they beating around the bush? I’m already in a shit mood, and their apprehensiveness tells me it won’t improve.
“Out with it,” I spit. “I haven’t got all day.”
“Do you have your gun on you?”
I hear our father scoff behind me.
“If you’re afraid I’m going to shoot you, just know I can kill you eight different ways with one finger,” I say, raising an eyebrow.
“Pipe down Satan’s spawn,” Donovan grunts.
I keep my eyes level with his, challenging him as I direct the following words to my father.
“Daddy, if I kill your heir, do I get the throne?” I ask with a wink.
Though my tone makes my words sound like a joke, the only joke is standing in front of me. Donnie is up for becoming the leader, but he is terrified of my impulsive tendencies.
“Enough!” my father thunders.
“I’m going to shoot the both of you if you don’t stop wasting my time. Donovan, how do you expect to take over? You fear your fucking sister!”
The threat, delivered in the posh British accent, bounces off the walls. My father’s rare display of temper surprised us both. Quickly intimated, Donovan straightens his spine and lowers his head. On the other hand, I stare at my father, not taking my eyes from him; I knew I’d gotten my temper from somewhere.
The calm before the storm, that’s my dad, is all I can think as he continues to put my brother in his place. Donovan and I typically end up bickering. He’s always so eager to please my dad, always needing control, and me, only wanting to be a pain in my brother’s ass.
“The man trying to take us down has potentially incriminating evidence against us,” my brother says, pulling me from my thoughts. “His best friend is the brains behind the scenes.”
“Hacker?”
“Bastian Collins,” Donovan agrees. “We need someone to get on the inside and get those files.”
“That’s what you have Hazel for,” I say with a shrug.
Hazel Cortez, our tech queen, took her father’s position when he stepped back. We’ve always held our business close, preferring to employ generations of families rather than hire from outside. The fewer new people you bring, the fewer people you have to stay on top of. Not that any of these motherfuckers wouldn’t turn on us, given the right incentive. The chances, however, are lower this way.
“Dad, she’s smart, but she still needs work,” Donovan teases.
I draw back my hand to send it into his face, but my father grabs my arm, stopping me. I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him, facing my brother, my father’s way of playing referee.
“Do I need to fucking count to three?”
I can’t help but giggle at my dad’s response. Anyone looking into the office would wonder how this dysfunctional family maintains a thriving illegal business and how the family man beside me can be a notorious criminal. I, who take very little seriously, get off making a fucker bleed and thrive on control and ruin. My brother doesn’t give two fucks about inheriting the mafia. Then my father, who’s anal-retentive and strictly by the book when it comes to the code of honor.
I’ve had enough of my father and brother bickering about fuck knows what, so I step in.
“Donnie, I’m seriously tired of looking at you and have no more time for your shit today. So man the fuck up and get the fuck on with it.”