Chapter 24: First Sunday

The first ordinary Table of my time as head of the family started at noon on a Sunday.

The first thing I saw was the youngest captain's chair, empty at the foot of the walnut table.

Nobody had asked me to fill it, and I left it where it was.

I sat in my father's chair at the head.

Cesare sat on my left, in the third seat, in a charcoal suit I had picked out myself.

The old adviser sat at the foot, with his folder and his coat buttoned to the neck.

The white-haired captain brought the cigars, because someone always did, and I let him light one with the window open.

The dog slept under my chair.

"Order of business," said the adviser.

We dealt with the docks, which now ran clean.

We dealt with the foreman's request for a new crane, which I granted.

We dealt with the restaurant opening on Taylor Street, nine days away.

Cesare was pretending not to worry about it.

Fiora had written the reservations list herself, and it was already full.

"Next," said the adviser. "The south pier receipts."

The man with the thin gold watch cleared his throat.

He had paid his debt to the other family in full, and I had liked him better for it.

"Miss Orsini."

"Head of the family," said the white-haired captain, mildly.

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Mafia Fiancé Thought I'd Always Let Him Get Away With Anything from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.