Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
I talked to a few who seemed open to a conversation and eventually stopped by Fiorentino’s side, who was talking to Geno. They weren’t signing, and I noticed that the boy had put in hearing aids. When I stopped beside them, they fell silent. “Should we sign, or would you like to continue like this?”
“I’m not very good at signing,” Geno said with an embarrassed smile.
“Oh. All right. Should I sign and talk?” I asked Fiorentino.
He shook his head. “Just talk. I can hear you if you don’t talk too quietly.”
“Why didn’t you wear the hearing aid before? You wouldn’t have to read your father’s lips if you did.”
“My father sees it as a sign of weakness. He doesn’t want me to wear it in public. He prefers me to be silent and invisible.”
I had to stifle a rude comment about his father. “Because your speech is slightly impaired?”
Fiorentino gave a tense nod.
“He should be proud of you,” I said finally.
“Fiorentino wants to become a Made Man,” Geno said.
“Have you talked to my husband or father-in-law?”
Fiorentino shook his head. “My father would see it as a betrayal. He doesn’t want me to become a Made Man because I can’t do anything.”
I scanned the boy. He was tall, and he looked fit.
“I taught him how to fight. I still do. His father is okay with that so he can protect himself.”
“I could talk to my husband. Is there anything you’re particularly good at?”
“I’m good with computers. Hacking, coding, security systems.”
“That sounds promising,” I said, then fixed him with a stern look. “Are you sure you want to become a Made Man? Right now, you’re free.”
Fiorentino’s expression turned fierce. “I want to be part of the Outfit, nothing else.”
“I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Emma seemed filled with a new purpose when I came home for dinner that night. Leo had told me how she’d spent the day, so I knew she’d spent three hours at the community center.
I went over to where she waited at the table for me and kissed her briefly before I took my seat across from her. She wore a flimsy top that revealed her slender shoulders and throat, and the enticing swell of her breasts. I wondered if she’d worn the same thing during the day.
Before I’d even said a word, she asked, “Do you know Fiorentino?”
I shook my head, racking my brain for that name. He definitely wasn’t one of our men. “He’s one of your Captain’s sons. He’s hard of hearing.”
“He’s the Greco heir.”
“Not if you ask his father.”
I sat back as our cook served us involtini and risotto, my favorite combination. I didn’t have time to eat several courses every night.
“The boy isn’t part of the Outfit.”
“But he wants to be.”
I could tell how agitated Emma was. Staying out of family business, unless the situation was extremely dire, was one of the top rules in our world.
“I know how you Made Men think about family business,” Emma muttered, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
“It’s serious. He could be very valuable for the Outfit. He is tall and strong. He can fight, Geno assured me.”
“Geno?” I asked quietly. Leo had mentioned that they’d talked a lot. I doubted Emma was someone who would cheat, but my trust issues were hard to overcome. The person I’d trusted most, my own twin, had betrayed me to save the man who’d kidnapped her and killed my friends. That wasn’t something you just moved on from.
“One of your—”
“Enforcers, I know who he is.” He’d shown admirable perseverance returning to his former position after his injury.
Emma pursed her lips, then continued. “He’s good with computers. He could help the Outfit with hacking and all that stuff.”
“Fiorentino, not Geno, I assume.”
“Yes,” she said, sounding exasperated. It was quite entertaining. “Why won’t you induct him?”
“His father asked us not to induct him.”
I remembered the conversation now. My father and I had talked to him without the son, and he’d assured us that his deafness would be too much of a risk for us and him.
“That doesn’t usually stop you, right? A boy born to a Made Man belongs to the Outfit. Or could I ask you not to induct a future son of ours?”
I regarded Emma curiously. We hadn’t broached the subject of kids yet, and I had no intention of discussing the topic now, nor did Emma from her look of regret over bringing it up. “Of course, our son will be part of the Outfit.”
“Then give Fiorentino the chance to be a Made Man, too.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her demanding voice, though it was more endearing than insulting.
“Please, Samuel. He can hear with hearing aids.”
“Not as well as someone with regular hearing, I assume.”
“Don’t tell me that the older Made Men still have amazing hearing after decades of gunshots and explosions.”