Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. (Martin Luther King Jr)

“I compromised my family too many times and when I finally decided to step up it was too late.”

“That’s not true.”

Senior smoked.

“I was the reason their mother abandoned them. I was screwed. I was about to be caught.”

“By the police?”

“No, I wouldn’t worry about that. It happens from time to time. A couple years in the joint now and then aren’t too bad. I was respected in jail back then. No, I was about to be caught by the man I was working under. My partner and I had been skimming a little off the top and my partner got offed, I knew I was next and I had nowhere to go. Everyone under me was under him and suddenly I went from second in command to royalty screwed. So I resorted to the enemy.”

“Who’s the enemy?” Penny gasped.

“The law,” he shrugged. “I was put in the witness protection program. They bought me this house. But my wife wouldn’t go. She refused to leave her life and her lifestyle. I told her I had to take the boys. I explained that they were in grave danger, as was she. She let me take them as if we were splitting up property. I told her she would never be able to speak to them because it would compromise our location and she cried but she didn’t come. She’s now married to one of the men I used to work with and lives the same life I led back then.”

“Do you miss her?”

Senior shook his head. “I miss the life but not her. The only thing she gave me was the boys and I have them now. They are my life. Family is life, remember that.”

Penny nodded.

“But I wish I could give them the luxuries they almost knew when they were babies. I burnt too many bridges and now the best I can do is small time shit. The law doesn’t protect me now. The trial is over and the kingpin is gone; murdered in jail by the man he gave up in the eleventh hour. You’ll come to find that people always have a price, a boiling point. Freedom was his price. Family was mine. Once you reach your boiling point you’re done. I can never succeed in this business again. I can never trust anyone again.”

“But you still make money.”

“Pennies.”

“But this is a big.”

“This is Vincent’s project.”

“But you all share your profits as a family.”

Senior looked away from the house and into Penny’s eyes. “We did. Vincent is suggesting a new pay scheme. This isn’t sitting well with me, Penny.”

“What did you say?”

“I agreed. Whenever someone is trying to overthrow the power the best thing to do is to let them think they have control. Let them believe they are gaining ground.”

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Penny repeated from a book she had once read.

Senior smiled.

“Maybe I’m a paranoid old man.”

Penny nodded. “I’ll watch out for him.”

“Vincent or Tommy?”

“Both. Don’t worry while you’re away, I’ll take care of all of them.”

For the first time since her wedding day, Senior embraced her.

“You’re a good kid, Penny, a very good kid.”

He snubbed out his cigar on the fence and tossed the butt into the forest.

They started back to the house together.