“Dominic,” Victor continues. “I know you’re a new boss, and you’re standing up in front of your family right now, trying to show them how in charge you are. But, this is the kind of issue that starts wars in Our Thing. We’ve already been down this road, so let’s not forget how it went last time when you were at my warehouse. Your family has stolen a lot of money from me, and if it isn’t returned with interest, it’ll be considered a breach of peace, and an act of war.”
“As much as I can appreciate the political analogy, I already told you we have the money. And I already told you I didn’t have a problem going to war. The money is here, but the time isn’t. I don’t have time to argue with you about it. We’re not bringing it tonight, and if you think that justifies a war, then you’ll fire the first shot. Once that happens, it is what it is, and we’ll see who’s left standing. Do what you gotta do, Victor.”
“Well let me just say this,” Victor snaps. “Today is Tuesday, and for every day you don’t bring me my money and my truck, you’ll add five hundred grand to the payment. And if the money and truck isn’t brought to me without a single cent missing by the time I wake up on Friday morning, you won’t have to bring me anything, because what you’ll owe me will be worth more than money, and I’ll be there to take it.”
Before I can drop some witty, aggressive comeback, the line goes dead.
It was a terrible idea for me to talk to Victor, because I can’t fucking stand him. My hatred for him might start a war all by itself.
This isn’t about the money. It’s about principle. As a boss, Victorcannotlet us get away with taking what’s his, and as much as I don’t like the old geezer, I know I’d do the same thing if I was in his shoes. I’d be ready to cut someone’s fucking head off to prove my point. I’d love to flex my muscle on this, and I will if he keeps pushing me to it, but the truth is that Jimmy was the one who started all this. Thanks to him, our family owes Victor, and that’s how the Commission will see it too. It doesn’t matter how much I want to break Victor’s neck, the Commission will see us as the ones who started this shit, and that’s no good. I want to kill Victor for pushing this so hard, but the rules of La Cosa Nostra have me handcuffed.
I put the phone down and turn to face my family. They’re all on the edges of their seats, dying to know what Victor said about the money, but I’m not sure how to put it. So, I decide on the blunt approach.
“Every day we don’t bring the truck, he wants us to add half-a-mil,” I say. Everyone at the table looks worried and uncomfortable. I turn to Jimmy. “This is the kind of shit that gets people clipped. Find the fucking truck. Now.” There’s nothing left to say, so I get up and walk out of the room.
When I reach the elevator, I think about how shitty everything just became in no time at all. The robbing of the wrong truck, Victor’s daily half a million dollar interest, the truck vanishing into air, and now Victor making threats to my family. My stress level went from zero to a hundred in a matter of hours. I’m feeling a new sense of annoyance that can only come with being the boss, so I pull out my cell and call the only person whose voice can make me feel better. She answers on the first ring.
“Hey, babe. How’d it go?” Alannah greets in her soothing voice.
“I think I got a fucking problem that’s gonna require something drastic,” I reply.
“Why? What’s going on?” she asks, hearing the worry in my voice.
“I think I gotta fucking kill Jimmy.”
