Jax 

Chicago IL

The first spot Vinny pulls up to is a car dealership.

"You own this?"

He lets out a small laugh. "I do own a lot of things, but not this. We're here to get Tori a car."

"She doesn't even have her license yet," I point out.

"It's an incentive to get it, and I'd rather she has her own car for lessons instead of having to take one of mine," Vinny explains. "You want one too?"

"What?" I whip my head around to glare at him. Did he just offer to get me a car like it's a damn candy bar?

"You'd think I offered you poison with that reaction," he says with a short laugh.

"You won't even give me the money I need, and you want to hand me a car?"

He lets out a sigh. "Do we have to keep going around about this? I think we're both tired of this game, Jackson."

Alarm bells shoot through every nerve of my body, my neck hairs standing on end as I freeze and go fucking speechless.

"Here's what we're going to do," Vinny continues. "We're going to get Tori a car and you one too. Let it sit in the underground garage to rust, or drive it. Up to you. Then we're going to go to one of my favorite restaurants. I think you'll like it, and we're going to have a little chat. Sound good?"

I gulp... words. Where are the right words?

"Relax, son," he says with a slightly amused look. "I'd never harm you. Even if you are here to kill me."

"What. No," I stammer, but he's already opening the door.

"Let's go," he says, giving me no option to argue.

***

I now own a ridiculously overpriced town car, and so does my little sister. Vinny had the dealership drive them back for us.

Tori will be thrilled. I feel sick about taking anything from this man. I didn't bother telling him I don't know how to drive either. The last thing I need is for him to offer me lessons. I'll just have to teach myself.

I'm wrecked about what he said earlier. I knew he knew I was lying, but I didn't expect him to call me out on it so soon.

What do I do now?

"Tell him you're there to stake your claim. He'll respect that." Franky's words run through my head. With the altercation with Gina this morning, I think that is my best option. I need to speed this thing along anyway. I can't stand the idea of Sam alone out there much longer.

If only I could find some way to talk with Franky without Vinny knowing, I could send him back to check on her and get her more food. I hope she's getting enough fat in her diet. I have no idea what Franky brought her, but we were nearly out of the goose fat we rendered when I left.  I hope he brought her oil or lard, but he's a dumbass, so probably not. 

The car.... Maybe I could go?

No. If Vinny had one of his guards follow me, she'd be screwed.

"We're here," Vinny says as he parks abruptly, pulling me from my thoughts.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," I snap, my face flushing with anger when I see the name of Vinny's restaurant is called Chrissy's Cafe.

He named his so-called favorite restaurant after my mother.

"Please don't be upset. I bought this place to honor her, to keep a piece of her alive, not just for me but for you someday, too."

"Honor her?" I snap, unable to hold it back. "Maybe you shouldn't have fucking killed her then."

"I did not kill her," Vinny snaps right back. "Let's go inside, and we'll talk more."

He gets out before I have a chance to argue. I force myself to follow him even though I want to run in the other direction.

It's for Sam, and I'll do what I have to for her.

The cafe is bright and cheerful in contrast to my heavy mood. Vinny walks through a set of doors, and I follow him into a private dining room.

We don't even get seated before a waitress comes running in, all eager to serve him.

"Just a few cokes and we'll each have the Italian beef sandwich." Vinny sits down and motions for me to join in.

My mom used to make that all the time; she called it her specialty. I look up and find Vinny's gaze on me. He looks ... sad.

But that's not fair. He doesn't get to be sad. It's his fault she's dead. I'm about to tell him just that when he starts talking again.

"Your mom and I loved cooking together. I'm the one that taught her how to make that sandwich, and it instantly became her favorite," Vinny says as a small smile tugs at her lips. "She'd always tell me we should open a cafe somewhere far away and live a simple life. I thought that was possible at one point, but I was a fool. There's only one way out of this life."

"Well, she knows that better than you now," I say, leaning back and crossing my arms around myself—anything to protect myself from him and these words I don't want to hear.

"I didn't want that to be her truth, too. I know I hurt her badly when I took over the business, but it was never a choice for me. I wanted your mom to have one, though. If she didn't want this life, I was okay with it. All I wanted was for her to be happy."

"How the hell does shooting up her brother's wedding make her happy?"

"There are things you don't know about that day. Things I'm not going to tell you," Vinny leans closer, talking quietly. "But I will tell you this. She was supposed to be safe. I made damn sure of that, and that's how I know you weren't there. She told me you were home here in Chicago, not in Vegas."

I cross my arms and start slowly shaking my head. "She couldn't tell you anything. She was dead!"

"Not when I last saw her," Vinny's gray eyes are so intense as they bore into mine. "I don't know what the hell happened. But — I'd never. " His voice breaks, and his eyes start to water. I never expected emotion like this. I always assumed he was a narcissist.

I tell myself he's putting on a show, but as he dabs his eyes dry with a napkin, it's hard to be so sure.

"I was so devastated it almost ruined my marriage," Vinny continues, and my eyes widen even further. "How do you tell your wife and mother of your children the love of your life just died, and you can't get out of bed?"

"But— I don't understand. I don't...you warned her?"

"Of course I did! And I know it doesn't absolve me. I still blame myself in many ways, but she left. I saw her leave."

"They found her body. She didn't leave," I argue.

"She went back then, and I don't understand why," he mutters.

"Maybe to save everyone else," I guess. "She's not someone that would walk away and let everyone else die."

"You don't know everything, Jackson, and I can't tell you."

"Can't tell me what?"

"I won't. You've suffered enough. I see it in your eyes. They're haunted," he says, looking at me like he knows me, making me shudder. "Where were you? What happened to you? I know you haven't been on the streets."

"How can you possibly know that?"

"She told me you weren't in Vegas. She wouldn't have lied to me about you."

"I went there after. I had to see the place where she died, and then I stayed there on the streets."

"I've taken in a lot of guys off the street. I know the look, and you don't have it. You're putting on a front, a decent one. Meredith bought it, but I don't."

The server walks back in with our food and sodas. The sandwich is loaded with slow-cooked roast beef, pickled peppers, and melted provolone, just like my mom used to make. A lump forms in my throat, and I have to hold back the tears.

Vinny picks up his sandwich and takes a huge bite, closing his eyes as he savors it.

I watch him. All his words are swirling around in my head like a damn blender. Is he telling the truth? Did he really warn her? Or is he playing me like he did her all those years ago?

The love of his life? Yet —he chose a life of bloodshed and crime over her. She didn't forgive him for that. Why should I?

I don't. I won't. No matter what he says, I need to stay tough.

"Eat up, son. You're going to need to put some weight on if you're aiming to kill me."

"I'm not here to kill you," I say, and then I let out a sigh.

"Well, you're not here for money. You're more than capable of getting that. There's no way your uncle didn't have money stashed away somewhere."

I pull the wallet Meredith bought me from my back pocket and then take that age-old letter that I folded and shoved in there. I hand it over to Vinny, whose eyes fill with remorse as he opens it and reads the words he once wrote to my mother, along with the promise to groom me to be his successor if I choose it.

"I'm here because I want what's owed to me." I hope this comes out right, and he believes it because if not, me and Sam are both fucked. "My entire family died because of you. I hate you. I'll always hate you, but I'm damn sure not going to have it be for nothing. I want to take over and when you're gone, I'll bring the Mancini name back, and I'll run it better than you ever did. That's how I'll beat you."

Vinny is quiet for a long moment, studying me, and I wish the floor would open up and swallow me.

"Okay," he finally says with a short nod as he hands the letter back to me. "A promise is a promise, but Jackson, you still have a choice, right now. I never did, and I always swore my kids would. Are you sure you want this?"

He had a choice—he could've run away with her, but I've argued enough with him for today.

"I'm sure."

"You don't have to decide right now. Take some time to think about it," Vinny says. "Did you hear what I said earlier? Once you're in it-"

"There's only one way out," I finish for him. "But you said you wouldn't ever hurt me."

"And I won't. You'll always have the choice to leave, and I'll protect you as best as I can, but you'll make enemies, you'll know things dangerous things. It's going to change you in ways you won't ever get back. You should take some time and think about this."

"All I've done is think about it. I know what I want."

He gives me a stiff smile. "Then finish your lunch, and we'll get started." 

*Book rec!! If you're enjoying this one, check out Fate Mistaken by @LNRoberts1 

It is a really fun mafia thriller like this one, but it is based in Italy. It's got family drama, romance, twists and turns, scandal, secrets, and much, much more! This is book 3 in the Fated series but can be read as a standalone.