18. Complex Family Paths

What Tristan had witnessed at the church was beyond his imagination. Who would have thought that the Don would declare Vincenzo as his heir at that church? It was impossible in his mind. He didn't think the Don was going to leave his empire at Vincenzo's mercy. Surely the Don knew that Francesco Rosario's son was not one to compromise with the kind of men who worked for Don Vitorio. He was going to demand his own rules to be followed and his law was going to be the law. He could accept the responsibility but it didn't mean he was going to agree with it. What was the Don thinking? Then there was Paulo Rosario who was looking at his grandson with an unreadable expression across the dining hall where they were serving lunch. Was the man satisfied? Tristan could see Don's resemblance between Vincenzo and his grandpa. They were both secretive characters. With Paulo Rosario you did not see his cards at all until he struck you hard. It was the same with Vincenzo. He didn't show any emotion just like Paulo. On the inside he harboured secrets but didn't disclose anything.

Tristan looked at Vienna and put his hand on her shaking hand that was on her lap " It's alright Vienna. You don't need to be distressed. He knows what he is doing. Have some food. You have hardly had anything to eat."

They were sitting in a far corner on a table having food from the buffet lunch that had varieties to choose from. But Vienna wasn't interested. Her parents had gone to their room and were having lunch in private to discuss matters. Vienna had not been herself. She was in total shock just like her mother. It was peculiar how much Vienna had in common with her mother. She went into shock just like her mother after seeing her brother being crowned the Don.

Tristan tried again " Vienna. Look at me."

Vienna looked up with sad eyes.

Tristan looked deeply into her eyes " Look. You shouldn't worry about your brother. He is not weak... He does not need sympathy."

Vienna argued " Tristan... This is unheard of. I don't know much about this arrangement but I know it's not normal for anyone to take over as the head of a family at the age of seventeen."

Tristan replied " That's because your brother is not normal. He is not a typical teenager. Vienna you have lived with your brother all your life. You should know by now that your brother is different. He is a born leader... He had been prepared for this. Your father allows him to make his own decisions. I am sure of it. But please don't expect him to refuse this position. That's false hope Vienna. Your brother will not step aside when given a responsibility. He is not a quitter. He lives for a challenge and it's right in front of him. He has to take it or someone else will who may not be sympathetic to the principles that Vincenzo is loyal too. Then the lives of your extended family in Sicily will change and not in a good way. It is who he is. Your brother is a Don."

Vienna took in his words and replied " But there had to be another heir. Why my brother was chosen is baffling... I don't want him in danger."

Tristan stated " I would have been surprised if someone else was chosen. Your brother is the most suited leader in your family. He is ready. But what surprised me is how the Don trusts your brother not to overrule him. He now has to step aside. Nothing stops your brother from putting some people in your extended family on trial for the past. Your father has no ties with them right now. Who can guarantee Vincenzo won't clash with them and won't seek revenge for the past? So I think you have no reason to worry. Besides you must trust your father. He is the head of your family and will protect Vincenzo if he needs protecting from these people."

He made it sound so simple. He was able to take the most complex problems and make them sound so simple and straight forward. She took a deep breath " Tristan... I hope you never had to do what he has to... It's just too much to take in. I am so happy your family doesn't have any customs to put you on the spotlight."

Tristan looked away and silently stared into the distance.

Vienna noticed he went silent. She sensed something was wrong. She asked " Tristan... Are you okay? Did I say something wrong? I mean your family doesn't have such customs. They do things differently. Right? Tristan talk to me."

Tristan turned to her " Vienna. I can't say anything that will make you feel any better."

The tone in his voice put her on edge. Suddenly her heart started racing as she felt his stare on her. She could t begin to describe how Tristan was able to make her feel that way by just silently staring at her. His eyes looked hardened. He never lied to her. It could only be affirmation of her worries.

Vienna felt cold. She felt numb " Tristan. Please tell me you won't be put on the spot... But it can't be as bad as this. You will take over from your father. You won't have to do anything like Vincenzo. Right? Please  say something."

Tristan stared into her eyes "Vienna. Don't ask me a question if you are dreading the answer. You don't want to know about my responsibilities Vienna..." He then reached his hand to her cheeks and stroked her forehead " Vienna. There is so much you don't know about the Irish side of my family. Maybe it's better that way. When you are ready to find out then I will tell you..."

Vienna stuttered " Tristan. You are scaring me. No matter what it is, it can't be any worse than what's happening here. Vincenzo has to go to Sicily and work to keep peace as the Don is stepping aside. He has so much to do... That much I know. But what happens in your family can't be worse. How can it be?"

Tristan said " Do you want to take a walk Vienna? We can get some fresh air and then we can come back. You may find your appetite."

Vienna couldn't answer when he demanded something in this manner. He was not asking even though there was a question mark in his sentence. He was telling her. He wanted them to be alone. She shakily nodded and stood up as he lead her away from the dining hall down corridors. Tristan walked them to the library room of the hotel and closed the door. He then without warning lifted her in his arms and sat her down on the desk in the room.

Tristan had his arms wrapped around her waist. He leaned back slightly giving her space to breath but held on to her tightly as thought not wanting her to move while he was going to address her. He spoke in a serious tone " Vienna. There is so much you don't know about me. All you know know is me and my siblings. All you know is I am an O'Neil. You know my grandparents. You know I have some distant cousins like Niall O'Callaghan who is an Aussie but he is an heir to his grandpa here in New York and he is going to be trained to take over. That is all you know. You don't know who else I am linked to."

Vienna was shaking now. The tremors going through her body couldn't be stopped. She tried to no avail to hide her fear.

Tristan felt sorry for her and slowly leaned close and embraced her gently as he ran his hands up and down her waist " Look Vienna. I can't expect you to understand this but just like Vincenzo's life doesn't only belong to him, it's the same case with me. There are forces out there that are linked with me and what you know about me does not cover them.

Vienna shook her head and pushed his chest " Please tell me what's going on. I thought you had no secrets..."

Tristan slightly pulled away but still kept hold of her waist while staring at her " Vienna. I have no secrets with you. There are people who are linked to me that you haven't met. You never crossed paths with them Vienna because they are Irish. There are not many Irish families here in this meeting. There are hardly any. These families are just a few exceptional moderate Irish crime families. The ones who my father is allies with do attend these meetings because they are close friends with Sterling Johnson and my father. But the other Irish families are different. You haven't met them because let's face it, the O'Neils are your family's only Irish ally. It's rare to see the Irish and Italians in one room. This is an exceptional sight. Vienna. You ask me a question and I intend to answer it truthfully but you don't have to hear the reply if you are not ready. How much detail do you want me to give you?"

Vienna was taken back. She didn't know what was more shocking now. Watching her brother becoming a Don or Tristan referring to the Irish she hadn't met. She breathed " I want to know enough to be assured that you are safe... Tristan ... I am scared. You talk like Vincenzo now... How bad can it be? So there are other Irish families and my father is not their friends... That is understandable... But why did you tell me this? There is more ... isn't it? But what can there be? It can't be as bad as Vincenzo's case. My brother is now the head of the Rosarios and involved with Sicilian mafia. It can't be worse than this. Please tell me."

Tristan stared into her eyes " Vienna... I wanted to tell you this when the time came but now is a good time. You have the right to know. I don't know if my situation is worse than your brother but it's not any better. I don't see it how you do. I see it as natural. You see it shocking. For me it's not like that. Time has gone by Vienna. I don't know when my time comes to take on my own big battles like your brother but I don't have good news for you. It can be soon..."

Vienna was breathing heavily now as her heart rate was speeding up again. " Please tell me what's going on.... Why do you talk like this like something is about to happen?"

Tristan sighed and looked at her with his intense stare " Vienna. I will tell you but it's a long story. Something will happen but it's nothing to worry about it. It was meant to happen. I can give you some details but I don't know everything even myself. I don't tell you this to worry you. You asked and I tell you..."

Vienna said quickly " Please. I want you to stay safe. No matter what it is it can't be as bad as what happened today at the church. It can't be that major in scale. Right?" She then took a deep breath trying to tell herself it couldn't be that bad.

Tristan hesitated and then spoke in his serious tone " Vienna. It's a long story. I don't have all the answers. You make your own conclusions... It's nothing related to the O'Neil side of my family... It's my other side..."

Vienna asked " You mean the Giovanni side?"

Tristan shook his head " No. I am talking about my grandmother's side. She changed her family name to O'Neil when she married my grandfather. She is herself from an Irish family who has been running the underground Irish criminal world for decades. Her family has been running criminal organisations since the ... 1800s..."

Vienna gasped " What?" She was shocked.

Tristan nodded " I know. You have met her. You must have thought she can't be related to even a bigger mob family but she is. Her family ran gangs for decades and got bigger. Her family are a major force in Boston and New York. They are also ruling in Ireland. So her family is not what you expect to be. I don't know as much as I like to. I know her family is not like other families. There was an Irish mob war years ago. Her family won the war and took over many families. But it came at a cost. Many perished. Many heirs perished. I don't know how to tell you this but ... Trent and I are the only remaining male heirs of the O'Kane family."

Vienna covered her mouth. She knew of that family. She knew their story full well. She just didn't know her world was going to turn upside down at hearing their name. The head of that family, Jackson O'Kane was amongst one of the most brutal Irish mob bosses for generations. She had no idea that Tristan was related to him.