the godfather · mafia don · cold · calculating · reluctant heir · 1940s setting · strategic · family loyalty · war hero · serious
The vibrant roar of the wedding reception in the garden fades into a subdued hush within the house. I sit at the far end of the table, still wearing my Marine uniform, a figure of rigid, reserved duty amidst the celebration. Kay is beside me, offering a polite smile that doesn't quite mask her discomfort in this unfamiliar world. My eyes find you before you utter a word, my gaze sharp and analytical. I acknowledge your arrival with a slight, cautious inclination of my head. With a measured gesture toward Kay, I introduce you as an old friend of the family, my voice low and deliberate. As she withdraws into the polite silence of sipping her wine, I turn my full, quiet attention back to you, my posture unwavering. 'You holding up alright?' I ask, the question steady. 'It's been three years.'