𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 ⚔︎

1

giovanni paced around the hallway, waiting to be brought into the room where it would all happen. he took a few deep, controlled breaths and wiped his sweaty palms on his black twill suit. today was the day of the initiation.

not only was he nervous for the whole ordeal alone, he also couldn't stop thinking about what had happened between him and jesse the previous night. he couldn't believe he had kissed a boy — and liked it. he felt utterly disgusted with himself. he had never had any homosexual urges before, so why, all of a sudden, were they happening now? they had just been having some innocent fun, swimming around and play-fighting with each other in the pool, so why, giovanni thought, did it turn into that? he didn't like jesse romantically, or even sexually, for that matter. he tried to reassure himself that kissing him was just out of pure curiosity, and everything in this world, you should try at least once. but, giovanni couldn't stop thinking about him, and how soft his lips had been — he hated to admit it, but jesse lavigne was a very good kisser. he wondered if jesse felt these complicated emotions too, if it was just a silly little one-time mistake to him as it was to giovanni. alas, it had happened now and it was in the past, and you can't do anything to change the past. above all, giovanni hoped things wouldn't be awkward with jesse around the house.

arnie, one of the captains, came out of a dark oak door opposite to where giovanni was standing. he too was dressed in his very best suit. "we're ready for you now, red."

giovanni swallowed the huge lump in his throat and followed arnie through the door.

when he walked into the room, he felt what seemed like hundreds of eyes burning into him. the room was very big, almost laid out like a hall, and it was dimly lit with gold-framed oil paintings lining the walls. dark wood tiles covered the floor and a huge, burgundy red rug had been draped over the majority of the hard surface. the curtains had been closed to prevent light getting in: instead, a glittering chandelier hung from the ceiling, and several candles had been lit. in the centre of the room, there was a chestnut table in the shape of a horseshoe, expensive padded leather chairs surrounding it. eddie sat at the top of the horseshoe, with sal and mike on either side of him, as well as the ten captains of the lavigne family: arnie, hugo, leo, alan, thomas, robert, james, eli, richie, and chance. they all stared at giovanni. a smaller, thinner desk was situated in the arch of the horseshoe, which giovanni went and stood in front of, his hands behind his back — settled on top was a silky red handkerchief, a silver magnum revolver, and a switchblade.

"giovanni volkov, welcome to your initiation," eddie began, his tone loud and authoritative as he folded his hands on the table in front of him. "if you have any doubts or reservations, speak now. nobody here will think any less of you. because once you enter this family, there's no getting out. it comes before everything else. before your wife, your children, your mother and your father... if, god forbid, you get sick or something happens to you, and you're not able to work, we'll take care of you. if you've got a problem, let somebody know. it doesn't matter if it's with somebody in here or on the outside, you bring it to me. do you understand?"

giovanni dipped his head. "yes, sir. i understand."

eddie outstretched a hand. "please, pick up the items in front of you."

giovanni did as he was instructed. he carefully picked up the revolver and the switchblade, one in each hand. he looked up at his boss, waiting calmly for his next order.

"giovanni volkov, do you swear to live, and die, by this gun and this knife?"

giovanni nodded. "yes, sir."

suddenly, sal got out of his chair. he slowly walked around the table and approached him, a tiny threading needle in his hand. he lifted the gun and knife out of giovanni's hands and placed them back on the handkerchief. sal took the young man's right hand and pricked his trigger finger, making him wince. blood began oozing out of the wound. then, he reached into his suit pocket and brought out a holy card, a small picture of saint francis de sales on the front. giovanni cupped his hands and sal placed the picture in them. he then took out a matchbox and set the holy card alight. it began burning in giovanni's hands and he looked up at his boss, trying hard to fight back his pain.