On impulse, he opened his contacts and scrolled all the way to the bottom. Seraphina's number was still there. The name sat on his screen like an accusation.
His thumb hovered over the call button for a long time.
After two cigarettes, he didn't dial. Instead, he sent a message.
[Seraphina, tomorrow is Grandpa's 80th birthday. I suggest you don't try any stunts at the celebration. Don't cause trouble for Daniela or her baby.]
He stared at the screen for a full minute after sending it. No typing indicator appeared. No read receipt. Nothing. He locked the phone and set it face-down on the railing, then lit a third cigarette with the Zippo, the flame catching in the wind before holding steady.
The next day. Don Salvatore Valente's 80th birthday celebration began at the Family's estate, every room lit and staffed, soldiers in dark suits stationed at every entrance like fixtures of the architecture itself.
Dominic arrived hand-in-hand with Daniela, publicly and confidently, as though they were a perfect couple. Associates and Capos noted it. Some looked away. Others filed it for later.
They remained side by side, affectionate and high-profile, until Salvatore Valente himself entered the venue. The old Don moved slowly, his cane striking the marble floor with each step, and every conversation in the grand hall died mid-sentence. Men who ran their own crews straightened their spines. Wives stopped talking. The gravity of the room shifted to a single point.
Only then did Dominic finally let go of Daniela's hand and walk over to his grandfather's side to help him welcome the important guests: allied family heads, old-world associates from Sicily, a federal judge who owed the Family three favors.
"Why didn't Seraphina come with you?"
Faced with his grandfather's pointed question, Dominic's lips pressed into a thin line. The old man's voice was quiet, but in this family, quiet was where the danger lived. For once, Dominic actually defended Seraphina.
"Sorry, Grandpa. Seraphina's been busy these past few days preparing your birthday gift. She's been exhausted, so I told her to rest and come a bit later."
Salvatore studied his grandson's face for a moment longer than was comfortable, then turned to greet the next guest without a word.
Two hours passed quickly.