“He might not. He might not even know who I am.”“I doubt that very much. He’s not as stupid as the rest of you are.”“Why am I included in this?” Sebby says.“Because you’re stupid,” Donald replies. “Even if you didn’t do anything tonight, specifically.”Sebby laughs. It’s impossible to offend him.“Where were you?” Donald says, rounding on Neil.“I was on the main level,” Neil says calmly. “With Nora Albright. Her father owns the Fairmont in Millennium Park. He called me a greasy little criminal once. So I fucked his daughter in the Greens’ formal dining room. Sort of killed two birds with one stone, in terms of revenge.”Donald is shaking his head in disbelief.“I can’t believe you guys. You’re acting like children. I never should have let you go over there.”“Oh, get off it,” Neil says. He’s not one to take Donald’s shit, even if it means coming to blows. “Since when are you a good boy? You hate those paddy fucks as
“What is it with you Italians?” he sneers. “Where did you learn your manners? You come to a party where you’re not invited. Eat my food, drink my liquor. Then you break into my house. Try to burn it the fuck down. And you steal from me . . .”I feel Sebby stiffen ever so slightly. He doesn’t look back at me, but I know he wants to.I’m also confused about what the fuck Calester is talking about. Then I remember the pocket watch, still tucked in the front pocket of my shorts. I’d completely forgotten about it.“Look,” Sebby says, “the fire was an accident. We don’t want any trouble.”“Well that’s just bullshit, isn’t it?” Calester says softly. “You came looking for trouble. And now you’ve got it.”It’s not easy to rile up Sebby. Threatening his little sister is a good way to do it. Now he’s bristling, balling up his fists in return, and stepping all the way in front of me.“You think you’re some kinda tough guy, bringing your boyfriend along?” Sebby says, jerking his head toward the st
I don’t know what I was thinking, jumping in after that watch.The moment I hit the water—still fucking freezing, barely warmed up at all by the early summer weather—the cold is like a slap to the face, waking me up.I’m so desperate that I keep diving down, eyes open, searching for a glint of gold in the black water.Of course, there’s nothing to see, nothing at all. The water under the pier is choppy, full of sand and pollutants. Even at midday the sun would hardly penetrate. At night, it might as well be motor oil.My suit constricts my arms and legs, my dress shoes weighing me down all the more. If I wasn’t a strong swimmer, I might be in serious trouble. The waves are trying to smash me against the pilings, the pillars sharp with muscles and barnacles.I have to swim away from the pier before I can stroke back to shore. All of that takes enough time that Jack is pretty much freaking out by the time I drag myself up on the sand—filthy, soaking, and angrier than I’ve ever been in m
JuliaMy brothers are down in the basement, suiting up. Or at least, Donald and Neil are. Sebby is still at the hospital with my father. His knee is fucked, that much is certain. Ribs are broken, too. I can’t bear the look of misery on his face. His season is ruined. Possibly the rest of his career. God, he might not even walk right after this.And it’s all my fault.The guilt is like a shroud, wrapping around and around and around my head. Each glance at Sebby, each memory of my idiocy, is like another layer wrapping around my face. Soon it will smother me.I wanted to stay with Sebby, but Father snapped at me to go home.There I found Donald and Neil strapping on bulletproof vests and ammo belts, arming themselves with half the guns in the house.“Where are you going?” I ask them nervously.“We’re going to kill Calester Green, obviously,” Neil says. “Maybe the rest of his family, too. I haven’t decided yet.”“You can’t hurt Nacy,” I say quickly. “She didn’t do anything wrong.”Neith
“I don’t understand how you’re the one that eats the most out of any of us,” Neil says, without looking up from his knife.“I don’t!”“How many times have you eaten today already? Tell the truth.”“Four,” I lie.“Bullshit,” Neil scoffs.“I’m not as worried about my figure as you are,” I tease him.Neil is vain about his appearance. With good reason—all my brothers are handsome, but Neil has that male-model prettiness that seems to make girls’ panties spontaneously combust. I don’t know a single girl who hasn’t slept with him, or tried to.It’s a weird thing to know about your own brother, but we’re all pretty open with each other. That’s what comes of living in the same house for so long, with no mom around to keep them from treating me like just another little brother.And that’s how I like it. I’m not anti-woman—I’ve got no problem with girls who want to be pretty or feminine or sexy or whatever the hell. I just don’t want to be “treated like a girl,” if that makes sense. I want to b
“That’s completely different!” I tell them. “You were from the same culture, the same background. The Geralds are mobsters. They’re old school, in the worst sense of the word.”“That’s part of the value they’ll provide,” my father says bluntly. “As we’ve grown in wealth and influence, we’ve lost our edge. You’re my only son. Your mother lost both her brothers. There are precious few men on my side of the family. In pure muscle, we only have what we pay for. You can never be sure of the loyalty of hired guns—there’s always someone willing to pay more. Since Chris took over, the Braterstwo are becoming a serious threat to us, something we can’t necessarily deal with on our own. The Italians have the same problem. With our two families aligned, the Butcher won’t dare strike at either of us.”“Great,” I say. “But who’s going to protect me from my betrothed? That girl is a wild animal. Can you imagine her as a politician’s wife? I doubt she even knows how to walk in heels.”
All too soon, it’s time for the Greens’ stupid engagement party. I feel like these people would throw a party for the opening of an envelope. They’re so ridiculous and showy.Still, I know I’m supposed to behave myself and put on a good face for it. This will be the first test of my compliance.I wish I had someone to get ready with. I loved growing up with all brothers, but it’s times like this that a little feminine company wouldn’t go amiss.It would be nice if I had someone to assure me that I don’t look like half-melted sherbet in this stupid dress I bought. It’s yellow with scallops along the hem. It looked alright on the mannequin, but now that I’m trying it on at home, I feel like a little kid all dressed up for Easter. All I need is a straw basket over my arm.At least Father nods in approval when he sees it.“Good,” he says.He’s wearing a suit. Donald has on a black t-shirt and jeans, and Neil’s wearing a leather jacket.My brothers are refusing to dress up on principle. A
She stares at me like she has a slight suspicion I’m making fun of her but doesn’t believe that could possibly be true.Calester’s hand tightens painfully around my waist. It’s hard not to wince.“Julia loves tennis,” he says. “She’s so athletic.”Christina smiles uncertainly.“So do I,” she says. Then, turning back to Calester, “You remember when we played together in Florence? You were my favorite doubles partner of that trip.”It’s funny. I could give two shits if Christina Cuntley-Hart wants to flirt with Calester. They might have fucked last week, for all I know. But I find it pretty fucking disrespectful that she’s doing it right in front of my face.I look over at poor Geoffrey Hart to see what he thinks about it. He hasn’t spoken one word so far. He’s got his eye on the television over the bar, which is playing highlights from the Cu