•MANHATTAN, NY TO JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY•

Third Person POV

The silence hanging heavily within the interior of the onyx-colored SUV was deafening. Sweat filled the creases of Nicolai's palms as the SUV's tires rolled smoothly over the transition from Manhattan pavement to the Jersey City streets.

Nicolai's anxious gaze clung to the passing buildings while Adrian sat comfortably beside him with his legs crossed and cell phone perched between his palm and thumb.

"Are you nervous?"

A distracted silence acted as the young boy's response.

"Nicolai.", —Adrian's voice hardened before taking on a more comforting tone. —"You don't need to be worried. They're friends of the family."

"Why aren't we meeting them at home like we always do?" Nicolai asked.

"It's important to handle business in person, even where your influence is strongest."

Nicolai's head bobbed as his eyebrows knitted and he wiped the sweat away on his black whipcord pants.

"Do you understand why I'm bringing you?"

Nicolai's toes curled in uncertainty as he struggled to avoid Adrian's inquiring gaze but finally shook his head defeatedly from side to side.

"Use your words."

"Non so."

Adrian hooked his index finger under Nicolai's chin and lifted his face while letting the warm tone linger.

"You're strong, my son, but you have a lot more to learn if you're gonna lead this family one day. Your confidence is weak, but it'll get stronger with experience. That is why I brought you. You're unsure about so many things Nicolai. That's okay, but uncertainty makes for a spineless vigliacco. You will be better than that."

"I'm trying Papa," Nicolai confessed as he straightened his shoulders and wired his jaw. 

"I know. Which is why I'm putting you in charge of today's meeting."

"W...what? Papa, I can't do that." Nick pleaded as his eyebrows anxiously pulled together and his eyelids batted.

Adrian slipped his phone out of his front pocket and responded to one last message as the SUV rolled to a smooth stop behind a large brick building.

"This isn't up for discussion Nicolai. I plan on regaining sole control of Jersey City and expanding until we have the entire state in our palms, but I want you with me along the way."

The automatic doors unlocked and Adrian placed a tender hand over his son's chest.

"You're a Maniscalco mio figlio, and your seat at the table is waiting. Lascia i tuoi nervi nel passato. Andrà tutto bene, vedrai."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

•OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA•

Julia' POV

[Are you gonna be back in time for family day?]

[Yeah I'll be back before noon.]

My distracted gaze volleyed between the text message on my phone screen and the road as I somehow managed to keep a controlled grip on the steering wheel.

The streets were bumpier than I remembered. I nearly missed my turn a few times on account of my wildly bombarding anxiety—not to mention the back and forth I did between the GPS and settings to ensure my phone's location had been disabled.

Despite all of that, despite Matías and Sebastian's words playing on a loop in my head, and despite every clear opportunity to abort mission I still found myself parked in the shadows near Mancini's Oakland club.

I fiddled with my key fob for another half hour debating the pros and cons of meeting Mancini again. The prospect of getting answers to this Stefano mystery was tempting, but if I were being completely honest, it was the immense comfort I felt when we spoke about my father that drew me in each time. Even more than that, Matías' empty words about my son soured me to the core. However, Mancini seemed to sweeten me. I couldn't ignore it.

My head tipped forward and banged against the steering wheel causing it to let out a short honk as I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"Just go in. It'll be fine."

"Just go in. It'll be fine."

"Just go in. It'll-"  A curt knock at my window brought my pep talk/chant to a quick halt.

I lifted my head and turned my attention to a black-bearded man hovering over the side of my car. If Mancini's club emblem subtly embossed on the man's black shirt didn't ensure me that he worked for the Don and his shady business, then his shameless muscles and tattooed arms sure did.

Ever so slightly I rolled my window down—barely enough for a quarter to be passed through. No reason why I shouldn't still be cautious.

"May I help you?"

"Questa è la mia domanda per te. My boss wants to know why you've been sitting outside of his building for the past hour."

"Last I checked this was a public street"—, I replied while waving my index finger back and forth before conceding,—"But you tell your boss that I'll be coming inside shortly." 

I would've preferred entering Mancini's club on my own, but it was clear Mr. Easter Island head had his own agenda. I roughly pushed open the car door nearly hitting him and confidently strutted into the building.

The atmosphere wasn't as tame as before, but that felt more natural than it being empty. Clusters of men were scattered throughout the first-floor lounge area while a familiar composed figure dressed in a wine-colored blazer sat at the wall-to-wall bar.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever come inside." Mancini sassed as he tipped back his whiskey-filled glass.

"Just needed a moment to mentally prepare." A tight-lipped smirk formed while I shed my houndstooth jacket.

"Fair. How are you feeling?"

My shoulders bobbed up and down.

He nodded and snagged a bottle of water from the iced counter and invited me to a more secluded area of the club's main room.

"I'll have to be honest, I didn't expect to see you again so soon after our last conversation. I was certain Mr. Russo wouldn't have even allowed you out of San Francisco after what I did."

I simply offered a bored glance and took a slow deliberate sip of my water.

"So, why are you here?"

Again I stayed quiet, weighing my words and deciding on how honest to be.

"Don't worry yourself. I can figure it out on my own, but I would rather hear it from you."

A clipped sigh pushed past my sealed lips.

"Look, I just came to tie up loose ends. You left me with a lot of questions last time."

"Such as?" He rested his back against the space-grey cushion and crossed his ankle over his knee.       

"...Y-you said Andres called asking you to protect Nicolai and me. Did he..Andres, did he plan on seeing us again?"

My gaze honed in on Giuseppe's expression in case deception lay behind his words.

"That was the original idea, but our plans were thwarted by unexpected events."

"—But I thought we settled that concern.", Giuseppe swooped in with a follow-up comment before I could open my mouth for the second question.

"I know. Just doing some integrity testing."

"Did I pass?" His top lip smugly curled.

"It's a marathon exam, so we'll see."

Giuseppe seemed surprisingly entertained rather than upset—something distantly familiar. It honestly reminded me of the way my father would find amusement in my witty remarks.

"Anyway.", I continued before my brain had time to dwell on those thoughts.

"Next question. I was told that before my father's death... you had a deal with the Maniscalcos. It was close to being finalized, but you broke it off before anything happened."

"Hmm seems someone been giving out history lessons."

"So it's true?" My words eagerly spilled as I set the bottle down and sat up straight.

"Of course, but that's in the past. What's your question, tesoro?"

"Why? Why end an alliance that was certain to increase your revenue and power?"

Giuseppe finished off his drink and followed suit, sitting up and adjusting his blazer.

"Am I expected to traipse through a field of poison ivy or lay with mangy dogs for money as well?"

"That's rich coming from a man who's now keeping one as a lapdog."

"Adrian is merely an experiment, nothing more." He quipped.

"Nonetheless, that is past—during a time when Carmine ran a family full of mongrels. I preferred not to have my wagon hitched to his or Franco's star."

I used the brief intermission between our dialogue to asses my findings so far. Easily I realized the word choice he used to describe the family as mongrels instead of rats, but that may not mean anything. I needed to dig deeper.

"If that's the case, why were you so willing to cover for Vincent Russo? Joanna's death...my father's...they weren't your fault. Yet, for years you acted as his scapegoat."

"The art of deception pays well, my dear."

"Which brings me back to a previous question you tried deceptively sidestepping last time."

"Oh?" Giuseppe raised an eyebrow.

"Why did you shoot Stefano?"

"How else is open season on a man supposed to be announced?"

"Open sea-?"

The always interrupting vibration of my phone pulled the emergency brake on my next question. I plunged my hand into my purse, fishing the device from under receipts, tissue, and a spoon.

The vein running behind my ear throbbed as I read my fiancé's name across the screen.

Wasn't sure what he wanted, but seeing the clock almost strike noon had me guessing he was wondering where I was. 

I knew my nerves were too wracked to answer right now, but after the fight we had I didn't need Matías's suspicion on level 10.

"Hey," I answered, balancing a tone of annoyance and excitement.

"Oh— I didn't expect you to pick up."

"Then why call?"

"Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to hear your voice?" He sweet-talked as his dimpled smile stretched through the receiver.

I wonder if he'd feel that way if he knew where I was.

Discreetly I swiveled away from Mancini and pursed my lips hoping to keep down a blushing grin.

"Maybe. Listen, I'm gonna be late. I got a little caught up."

"Yeah, I figured. It's okay, but Ma wants pastries. I figured since you're at Liv's you could get them there. Mind grabbing some before you leave?"

My lids closed tightly as I took a silent and steady exasperated breath.

"Sure! No problem." I bubbly replied.

"Grazie, Mariposa. I'll see you soon."

Without a moment to waste, Giuseppe made sure to have his warm but smug smile across his face even before I turned back around.

"You should probably get going, tesoro. Keeping your family waiting isn't a good look."

Giuseppe stood graciously and extended a hand to me. There was so much more I had to ask, but while escorting me back to the entrance of the club each question canceled out the last.

As a father would dress his child to brave the cool elements of Autumn, Giuseppe tenderly placed my jacket around my shoulders and brushed his palm across my cropped curls.

"Don. Since we're...I don't know...associates now; would it be improper to ask for a wedding gift? A specific wedding gift?"

"Depends on the request, little one."

Without hesitation, I tacked my drifting gaze to Mancini's and puffed out my chest.

"A clearance of debt. My family is bending over backward for you. As a gift to me, I request a clean slate on their behalf. Please."

Mancini's features flattened as the amused glint disappeared from the rim of his iris. Meanwhile, a relentless, anxiety-inducing silence stretched on between us.

"Deal."