“I knew before everyone, before I even turned myself in that Jimmy had gone against me, that he was working with the G-Man even before Val’s death. After the shoot-out at Temptations, when Adrianna pulled that trigger, I had to make changes. My family couldn’t go on suffering for my crimes. Then Nikki was kidnapped by Deke Rogers and Mikey was shot and nearly killed. I went to Rocco and told him I was turning myself in. I told him what Jimmy had done, that he had a hand in killing my underboss and that I had to still get the G-Man.” I pause, taking in the shocked expression on his face. Ah, you got to love the element of surprise.
“It was all part of the plan, Anthony. I went to Rocco before they cuffed me in Florida and after he took his oath I turned myself in. I let Jimmy dig his hole deeper and deeper, bided my time and Rocco’s, giving him an opportunity to know my organization like the back of his hand. It’s time for him to reign now, especially with me being transferred to the G-Man.”
Anthony remained silent.
“You’re going to take Rocco to Jack, make sure the alliance we have with the club carries over with Rocco as the boss. Rocco will run the family with the same values and earn Jack’s respect just like I did. Now, I’ve given Jack and the club control over some of my interests but other than that, Rocco will run things from now on. Jack knows Rocco is in the business but he doesn’t know he’s taking over my organization and that he is now the boss of the Pastore family. The Pastore family isn’t going under like everyone assumed it would.”
“This is bullshit,” Anthony seethes.
“Why don’t you say it, man? You’re only grief with Vic’s decision is that he chose me instead of you,” Rocco accuses.
Anthony snaps his head and glares at Rocco.
“Know what the fuck you’re talking about before you speak. It was my choice to leave this life, mine and mine alone.”
“Right, and you got the out that nobody gets. You got to walk away and claim a life for yourself. You got a fucking family, man, a beautiful family…you don’t need to be in my shoes,” Rocco says. “I don’t have what you do. I’ve got no one that stands a chance at getting hurt by the choices I make. The only life I’m responsible for is my own.”
Anthony balls his fists as he digests Rocco’s words for a moment before turning his gaze back to me.
“You’re slick, Vic. Always have been and always will be I suppose,” he mutters.
“And don’t you forget it,” I tell him, leaning back in my chair. “Which leads me to the next order of business, I didn’t forget about you or Michael for that matter. —You’ll always need protection and the Satan’s Knights can only do so much. The club has their own enemies they have to worry about and can’t always be relied upon to take care of what’s mine. Rocco will provide protection to both of you as well as your families for a legit place within the organization,” I reveal.
“Adrianna will kill me if I go back, Vic. I can’t do that to her, I won’t do that to her and I won’t do that to my kids—”
“I’m not offering you your old place back. I’d never do that,” I interrupt. “Someone will have to run the contracts for the docks and I want that someone to be you. I’ve set Michael up to be the foreman in the local union, Rocco will make sure the union is covered and all jobs they bid on they’ll get.”
“So, we’ll still be in the fold and earn the respect and benefits of being made men without having to kill anyone?” He asks incredulously, anger dripping off of each word.
“So you’ll be protected,” I correct, leaning forward and pinning him with a stare. “I’m making sure my family is taken care of because when I die I won’t be here to protect any of you.”
Anthony narrows his eyes, staring back at me skeptically.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“I’ve told you all you need to know. Now, Jack’s waiting for you to introduce him to his new ally…you know better than to keep the Bulldog waiting,” I reprimand.
I push back my chair, standing before signaling for the guard to take me back to my cell.
“Give my daughter a kiss and tell those two babies of yours their grandpa loves them,” I rasp before looking to my nephew. “Button your collar and buy yourself a tie goddamn it. Appearances are everything.”
My legacy will live on in the lives of the two men staring at my back as I walk away from them. One will carry my family and the other my empire.
I’ll die but my name will always live on.
Chapter Nine
Inspecting it for any rough edges, I run my hand over the freshly sanded table making sure Bosco had taken my order seriously when I demanded him to sand and prime this damn thing. This table was as much a part of our club as I was. It had been through hell and back just like everyone who ever sat around it. My predecessor, Cain, and his old man, Pops, built this table with their own hands and it has held up through war, death and the exchange of power. As long as I hold this gavel this fucking table will stand tall, and should the day come when I retire from this life, Blackie better be prepared to have his sanding papers ready.
I pull out the chair at the head of the table, taking my rightful seat, and lean my back against the worn chair as I reach for my pack of cigarettes.
I have to quit.
I bring the cigarette to my lips and fish through my pockets for a light.
Tomorrow I’ll quit or the day after that.