Page 7 of Forgetting the Enemy
I chuckle. “Is that all you got, Pop? I was hoping for a little guidance here.”
“This is your call, Michael. In six months”—he gestures his hands to encompass everything around him—“this will be all yours. The decision has to come from you. I’ll stand by you with whatever you decide, and I will give you all the guidance you want, but I will not make this decision for you.”
“Do you think it is doable?” I ask. I heard everything he just said, but I need something from him telling me it can be done.
He stands from his chair and walks toward me. Patting me on the back, he says, “Michael, my boy, over the years I have seen you accomplish the unimaginable. I have no doubts you would be able to accomplish anything once you put your mind to it.”
“You’re not gonna give me anything more, are you?”
“Nope, it’s time, Michael. Spread your wings and fly,” he says.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“Of course.”
“I know what I want to do, but tell me, if you were me, would you do it?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Ah, now who is the manipulator?”
“Come on, Pop, would you?”
“If I was your age and in your shoes, fuck yeah I would do it. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see that SOB dead and his fucking underboss, Masserie, buried six feet under.”
“That’s what I’m thinking too. I just needed to hear you say it. Thanks, Pop.”
“Now can I ask you something?” my father asks.
“Of course,” I reply.
“From what you tell me, Vince is doing this for many reasons. First is to get Zaira out of the marriage contract from hell but, more importantly, to also rid us all of Alberto and Victor. Which, I have to say, pleases me. We’ve had to suffer from their violence for far too long.”
“Yes, that’s what Vince tells me.”
“So my question to you is this: Why are you considering it?”
His question takes me aback. It is the last thing I expected from him. And if I stop for a minute, I would have to say my reasons fall in line with Vince’s.But why would Zaira’s marriage be a concern of mine?
When I don’t answer right away, my father asks, “Michael, are you doing this because of Zaira?”
“I guess, partly,” I reply thoughtfully. “But like you said, we’ve endured enough from Alberto and Victor to allow them to continue.”
“Son, I know you know we’ve always had hopes for you and Zaira. You both grew up together, played together, and I always believed there was a connection between the two of you. But a lot has happened since those days, damage that can’t be reversed.”
“I know, Pop.So cosa stai dicendo,” I reply.
“I don’t think you do know what I’m saying.”
“Pop—”
“Look, I’m just saying don’t get your hopes up on something that most likely will not happen, okay? Don’t let your guard down, and remember to stay true to your family. That’s all I’m trying to convey here.”
“I got it.Capisco.” I take another hit from my cigar. Letting the smoke swirl around my head, I think about what my father said. It’s fucking scary how he can see right through me. I mean yeah, I’m definitely doing this for the families of New York, but I do have an ulterior motive—that fucking Victor doesn’t get to marry Zaira. With Alberto out of the way and Zaira not betrothed, I get a shot at what should have been and not what might have been.
But Pop is right, and I need to be careful. I could be opening myself up to a world of hurt. I guess only time will tell. In the meantime, I’m not gonna worry about how all this will end. I have to be optimistic, and that’s exactly what I am going to do along with enjoying this Partagas with my father.
Staying in his office, we continue to enjoy our stogies in relaxing silence. These moments with my pop are priceless and too far in between. There will come a day when I will be on my own and not have his advice and guidance. For now, I soak up all I can.
