Chapter 6
My father had not come back for me.
That truth irritated me more than I expected.
He came back because of a vote.
Of course.
A Mafia family reunion ruined by governance.
“What vote?”
I asked.
Lorenzo looked embarrassed.
“The Founders’ Seat.”
I stared.
“That still exists?”
“Symbolically.”
Evelyn laughed.
“Not symbolically.”
There.
Different interpretations.
The Founders’ Seat was an old Vercetti tradition. One honorary position held by the oldest surviving direct descendant of the founder.
No crews.
No operational authority.
But moral weight.
Ceremony.
Mediation.
A voice elders listened to.
When Lorenzo “died,” the seat passed to Stefano.
After Stefano died, it became vacant because nobody could prove the next claimant.
Evelyn wanted it.
Not for herself.
For her branch.
Graham.
Technically an outsider by marriage.
But if Evelyn could establish that her father’s designation extended through her, Graham gained influence.
Absurd.
Unless Lorenzo returned.
Then the seat became his automatically.
I looked at my father.
“You came back for an honorary chair.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I came back because they were planning to use it against you.”
My eyes narrowed.
“How?”
“The seat cannot command.”
“I know.”
“But it can call an elder review.”
There.
More serious.
A review would not remove me.
But it could publicly challenge decisions before captains.
Create doubt.
Slow commands.
Force explanations.
Useful if someone wanted to weaken me without declaring rebellion.
“Who was going to call it?”
Evelyn said nothing.
Graham did.
“Me.”
I almost laughed.
“You?”
He lifted his chin.
“I have support.”
“From who?”
Silence.
Lorenzo answered.
“Six older capos.”
My jaw tightened.
Enough to create noise.
Not enough to control me.
Yet.
“Why?”
Graham looked at Lucas’s empty child seat through the glass.
“Because you’ve become reckless.”
I stared.
He continued.
“You moved too much authority away from elders.”
“Yes.”
“You give staff direct access.”
“Yes.”
“You let donors influence public projects.”
“Yes.”
He sneered.
“You turned a Vercetti institution into charity theater.”
I smiled faintly.
“The planetarium fundraiser bothers you.”
“It embarrasses the family.”
Interesting.
We owned a public science education foundation.
Apparently children learning astronomy threatened tradition.
Then I understood.
Lorenzo did not return because he missed me.
He returned because old men were about to weaponize his empty chair.
May you like
That hurt.
But it was at least honest.
