He paused and considered the young men before him, both in their early thirties—young for what he was about to set on their shoulders.
But that was good. Old men like him, aging men like Donnie, who’d been raised up in the old ways, could not be the shepherds of the new ways. Nick considered himself a traditional man who was open to progress. It was time for progress to overtake tradition.
His time wasn’t up yet, but he was ready. When his heir was ready for the seat, Nick would have no qualms stepping down, taking on the role of the sage advisor.
It was time to make Trey ready.
Nick turned to Tony first. “Tony. You have served me well for years. You’re my best enforcer and you have a good mind. When you make a mistake, you make it right. I trust your instincts, and I respect your heart and will. You are an excellent capo, and you’ll remain in that role. But today, I’m naming you my Chief Operations Officer.”
Tony blinked once. He took in one visible breath. Then he said, calmly. “Thank you, Don Pagano. I’ll work every day to deserve your faith in me.”
“I know you will.” Nick turned to Trey. “Nephew. It’s time for you to know the workings of our family at the top. One day this office will be yours, and when that time comes I want you to feel confident that you belong here. Today, I’m naming you my consigliere. You’ll have an office here in the executive suite, and you will sit at my left hand in all family business. In the shipping business, you’ll be made Executive Vice-President of Sales.”
Trey’s cheeks hadn’t yet faded from that earlier blush, and it deepened again now, but he responded calmly, with a subtle nod. “Thank you, Uncle. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t.”
He glanced at Donnie, who stood at once and went to the bar to pour out four glasses of scotch. When they all had a drink and Donnie was seated again, Nick raised his glass.
“To a new era in our family and in our world. Cent’anni.”
“Cent’anni,” the others echoed.
“Donnie will explain to you the details.” Nick said and finished his scotch.
Donnie stood. “C’mon, you two. Let’s take this to my office.”
Tony and Trey stood and followed Donnie to the door. Nick followed, and Tony offered his hand at the door.
“Thank you again, don. Your faith in me means everything.”
Nick shook with him again. “I don’t give it lightly.”
Donnie went out, and Tony followed. Trey lagged behind and turned to Nick. He smiled a quixotic smile, full of meaning but difficult to read.
“I love you, Uncle,” he said.
“And I you.” They embraced again, and Nick felt the broad strength in this young man’s shoulders.
Good. He would need it.
~oOo~
About an hour later, Donnie knocked and leaned in. “They’re starting to make the changes. They’re both still rocked.”
“Good. Come.” He had one more staffing thing to deal with, and though he’d just opened his circle to include Tony and Trey, in this case, he needed only Donnie’s ear and mind.
Donnie came in. Since Nick had stayed at his desk, Donnie took up his seat before it. “Something else?”
“Yeah. Alex.”
Donnie’s quick intake of breath suggested he’d been waiting to talk about the boy and had some things to say. “Yeah.”
“What do you think of him? In light of last night?”
“I think I want to turn that around and hear your thoughts first.”
Nick chuckled. “Yes, but I pay you to give me advice.”
“But Alex is dating your daughter, Nick. That’s a complication I can’t get inside.”
“Which tells me you have reservations about him.”
Donnie shook his head. “Not reservations about him. More concerns for him.”
“Meaning?”
A wry smile lifted the mobile side of Donnie’s face. “You got me to talk first, of course.”
Nick returned the smile and waited.
“He did what you asked of him, and he didn’t hesitate. You know I had misgivings, bringing an unmade kid that green into a meeting with stakes so high, but he didn’t choke.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“On the other hand, he was obviously badly spun by it all, and in a way that gives me pause. It’s normal to have trouble with your first kill like that, but I don’t know, with Alex, there was something else going on.”
“He doesn’t want it. This life.”
“I don’t think he does. Or he’s not sure, at least.”
“Tell me his story.” As much time as Alex had spent in Nick’s home, among Nick’s family, in the