"Don Bastione is back in Italy!" Julian announced.
Don Genovese remained seated behind his desk, fingers lightly steepled, his gaze thoughtful as he absorbed the information. "Is he now?" he said finally.
Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"Yeah. I just heard. You want to go ahead with the plan?" Julian asked. He stood across from his father’s desk.
"Yes," Don said. "But first confirm with Luciano if the information Bastardi gave is still good. I don’t want to be caught unawares."
"I have to go to New York?" Julian asked, though he already knew the answer.
"How else do you plan on carrying such sensitive information?" he replied smoothly. "Oh—and make sure to give him the message this time," Don Genovese added. "I haven’t forgotten that you deliberately left some information out the last time I sent you to New York."
Julian’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smirk. "It gave you a pretty much needed insight into Luciano’s distraction in New York, didn’t it?" he countered.
"It wasn’t what I asked you to do," Don said.
Julian looked away with a small shrug. "Fine," he said. "I don’t want to argue about Luca anyway."
"That would be a first," Don Genovese said dryly. "And Julian?" his father added.
"Yes?"
"After the Bastione business is done," Don said, "we need to start looking into getting you married."
Julian was caught slightly off guard—not by the concept itself, but by the timing. "Why so abrupt?" he asked.
"Because I am afraid you may start fucking your brother’s wife," he said plainly. "Now that their relationship is strained."
Julian’s jaw tightened ever so slightly, his expression shifting into irritation. "When I find someone, I will let you know," Julian replied.
Don Genovese tilted his head faintly, as if considering that answer and finding it insufficient. "You have a limited time," he said. "Find one, or I find for you."
"Yes, father," Julian answered.
Don Genovese nodded once, satisfied enough for now. "Get ready to leave," he continued. "And as soon as Luciano gives the go ahead, come back here immediately. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir."
Then Julian turned, opening the door and stepping out into the corridor beyond.
*****
"So, you are leaving for New York uhn?" Bianca asked, as she stood in the center of her war room.
Julian stood beside her, his hands tucked loosely into his pockets as he studied the map. "Yeah," he answered simply. "What’s the next step?"

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