DRACO "What am I paying you four for again?" "Sir?" Reel it in Draco; you can't blame them for not being able to do what you yourself can't. Yeah, but I'm at the end of my rope. I've been racing against the clock in the last couple of weeks, trying to get ahead of my son and failing miserably. It's not just the Sicily situation that has me on edge these days either, but my son seems to have gone rogue in a way that not even I expected. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that the only reason I know anything about his doings is because he's allowing me to. What do I mean by that? The boy has straight-up run an Op singlehandedly from his bedroom where he knows I can easily see what he's up to. I'm not sure, but I think my guys are having way more fun working with him than they ever did with me. Of course, I'm the mook who's trying to go legit while these fucks live for the dark side. I guess they were getting bored with my shit, and he's lit a spark under their asses. It would be fun
GABRIEL "Hey, your guy just moved a shit ton of cash in the last few days. I traced the transfer to an account that has been open in his daughter's name since she was about three months old." "Oh really!" "Yeah. Not only that, but from his movements, it looks like he's tying up loose ends almost like he's preparing to go away or something." "Ok, thank you." I sat back and smiled after hanging up the phone with one of dad's people who specializes in financial forensics. I've been keeping my eye on Felix this whole time, watching his movements listening in on his calls to get a feel for where his mind is at. He had no idea that Becky had been attacked and was in the hospital until I made sure that one of the women she'd tried so hard to befriend knew about her circumstances. Of course, word had already got back to him that she'd been staying in a motel, and then once she was moved to the homeless city, I made sure those same women were made aware. Just to up her embarrassment a
GABRIEL I thought it best to give Fontane a call and let him know we were coming. He's been living in the bottom of a bottle the last two weeks. This visit was as much for him as it was her; even though he didn't know I knew it, he should at least get to say goodbye. I may have overshot this one as well because she was visibly shocked by his appearance. He looked gaunt as if he'd lost weight since the last time we saw him, and there was a sadness in his eyes that I personally thought was too little too late, but that's just me. She's his kid, and as much of an ass as she knows he is, I could understand how his appearance rocked her a little. I guess I was here for myself as well to some extent. Maybe it was my last shot at giving him a chance to be some type of father to his daughter and not the selfish prick he's always been. I'm still not sure where we landed on that scale. First, he answered the door looking like a lost puppy. His conversation was disjointed at best, with a
GABRIEL Paris! What's not to love? I already had my plans mapped out before we even left the states because I knew I would be playing it close. Even though the flights in between the two cities are relatively short, especially by private plane, the drive out to the convent where the runaway was supposed to be would bite into my time. I hadn't had time to find an airport or landing strip close to where she is because a lot of Sicily is still old school, it seems like, and the place she's at is like stepping back in time, at least that's what it looks like on paper. So, knowing my family and their personalities, I set things in motion through well-placed hints and suggestions. I knew the girls would hit the ground running, which works out perfectly for me. The whole family had decided to get involved, and Gianna's grandmother, due to her reconnection with my nana and wanting to be there for her granddaughter's first coming out ball, was no exception. Pop was nervous as hell from
GABRIEL I excused myself to the restroom at the first available opportunity so I could make a call to the lawyer to who I'd asked Pop to give a heads-up. I gave him a rundown of the situation in as concise a manner as I could, to which he didn't ask any questions and acted as though the call was just another of its kind in a long line of many. He's been around since a little before the end of Gramps' reign, so I'm sure that may be true. "Try to get him off with manslaughter with extenuating circumstances." "Anything else?" "Yes, I have some evidence that should help his case." At least I have enough good in me to do this. Without Gianna's involvement, I would've let him rot, but I can't help but worry that she may look back someday and want this piece of trash in her life. Westerners are big on giving forgiveness, especially to those who never get around to asking for it. The evidence I had consisted of all of Becky's actions in the last couple of days. Unbeknownst to her, 'F
GABRIEL The ball, the main event. I did my part well. It was no hardship; I was genuinely and sincerely blown away by Gianna when I got my first look at her in the haute couture ball gown she'd chosen from one of the leading fashion houses in Paris. Unlike other debutante balls, this one was all about introducing high fashion, and the gown she wore along with the jewelry was provided by a very well-known designer. Words cannot describe what I felt as I took her in; her beauty, so surreal, like a picture, come to life. Not a hair was out of place, her skin flawless, the midnight blue dress that matched her eyes perfectly and hugged her curves in all the right places, she looked like a dream. "You're beautiful." I kept myself in check, taking only the touch of her hand and a soft kiss to her brow for myself, though it was hard to stop there. I warred viciously, with myself internally fighting hard not to cross the line. I knew it was going to be almost impossible to let go of somet
GABRIEL The look of confusion on my followers' faces when we didn't head in the direction they expected was priceless. I'm surprised it took them this long to question the early morning outing seeing as how nothing was open this early except maybe cafes. But I'd decided to throw them off the scent entirely by waking them myself and inviting them to join me. Of course, I never told them we were going back to the catacombs; they just assumed since I'd made mention of finishing up my tour—a bit misleading but not an outright lie. But I'm sure they knew the place didn't open this early. They were even more flustered when the driver pulled onto the tarmac where the jet was waiting. I pretended not to notice their shared looks when the jammer in my pocket blocked them from making any calls. I'm sure they suspected me of sabotage, but what were they going to do? Of the five of us, only one of us is a level ten grandmaster, and besides, I'm the boss's son, they wouldn't dare lay a
GABRIEL "Tell me!" If I were sitting down, I'd be at the edge of my seat. The fact that I'd imagined just this scenario wasn't lost on me. From the time I found out that she'd disappeared and when I'd tried to triangulate between her disappearance and his, but having nothing to go on, I could only speculate and surmise. Now I did sit down on the bench as my whole body felt like it was on fire, and I was in danger of passing out any second as the blood rushed from my head. "It was just a few days after the incident. I'm not sure why I kept going around them. I didn't want to be ostracized, I guess, didn't want them turning their hatred against me. I'm sorry I wasn't a better person back then." "They all moved on as if nothing happened, even joked about it amongst themselves in the following days. There were whispers around the village, so we knew word had gotten out somehow. Then one night, your grandfather Mr. Antonelli showed up at the place where we were all hanging out. It was