S
ofia was sitting on a cold bench across the street from Luca’s school. She spent the last thirty minutes waiting for the school to dismiss the children for the day. The cold winds passed through her hair, making them wave like a flag. Sofia kept looking left and right expecting the unexpected; the instincts of a Don’s widow.
A man in a black suit, wearing sunglasses walked towards her and took a seat. “Glad you are back.” the man said looking straight ahead at the school, as if
he was waiting for his child to walk outside the schoolyard.
“I’m glad, I’m back. Too much damn pasta and good wine” Sofia said laughing faintly which looking at grandson’s school.
“What was that phone call about?”
“We‘re back in business.”
“We?”
“Jessica Lombardi and I.”
“Michael’s bambina?”
“Si.”
“How? Why?”
“You know why, Andrea.”
The man nodded while Sofia wasn’t looking at him. “Since…” the man paused.
“Since my husband’s death, we‘ve been hunted like rabid animals. That’s why we‘re back to take control of New York once again.”
“That Stronzo Jacopo. He‘s the worst thing that could ever happened to the us, Italians here in New York.”
“Who?”
“Jacopo Saltinotti. The merda’s
a psychopath.”
“He’s running things down here now? I thought he was just a Soldato.”
“He was.”
“But?”
“But desperate times require desperate measures.”
Sofia felt sad as if she was the one to blame for this madness.
“So, how can I help?”
“We’re forming an alliance with the families.”
“Impossible.”
“Jessica had already talked to Sabina.”
“She’ll never side with you after what your son had done.”
“She already has agreed to. It’s not about one family being in control.”
“Then what?” the man asked and stopped realizing that he answered his own question. The man nodded realizing what Sofia meant.
“Anyone else?
”
“No. You‘re the first I’ve reached out to personally.”
“I’m glad you did. You know I was always loyal to Luca.”
“I know I can trust you, my good friend.”
“You can. We’ve been out of the game a long time.”
“So have we, Andrea.”
Both remained silent for a moment. Andrea’s face had lit up like a lighthouse seen in the distance of a dark sea. He thought about the good old days when Sofia and Luca were on top and how his empire flourished.
“Okay, I’m in.”
“I knew you would be. Anyone else I need to reach out to?”
“We‘re like livestock with no farmers. Reach out to the Episcopos and Fondas.” The man lowered his voice wanted to keep this between him and Sofia.
“The Episcopos are still in the business of building churches?
”
“That’s the only thing they have now. They’ll want to join.”
“Thank you, Andrea. We’ll be having a family dinner in three days. I expect you to be there.”
“It’s great to see you back, Sofia.”
“Likewise.”
“New York needs you now more than ever.” Andrea got up, holding his hat, so it wouldn’t be blown away and walked down the road as if he was never there.
Sofia remained there proudly smiling. She was respected and most feared by the old Dons of New York City. Luca’s name still had prominence. The new gangsters in town will soon realize. Her eyes shedded tears thinks about the old days of Michael and Luca. The mutual respect they had for each other’s territories. Nowadays, no one respects no one even amongst the Italians.
A few minutes later, the school bell rang, and the schoolyard was filled with kids, running around in paradise. A flood
of little kids stood on the pavement outside the school and among them, Sofia’s grandson, Luca smiling. Sofia walked over, rubbing his head and grabbing him by the hand. The two of them walked home, going over Luca’s first day at school. He was excited to meet new friends.