Page 140 of Savage Don

Before Domenico and Sonia were allowed on my property, they were searched for weapons. During that search, my men were instructed to plant about a half dozen different listening devices on them.

The plan was always to bring up Artuzov during the contract signing. First, I wanted to see how Sonia would react—and I got exactly what I wanted. Guilt was written all over her face.

But that wasn’t enough.

The second part of the plan was even more important.

There was no way that Domenico and Sonia weren’t going to talk about Artuzov on their way home. And whatever they discussed, it was going to be recorded by one of our listening devices.

“My men are still decrypting the recordings,” Leonid says, to my disappointment. “We had to wait until we were sure the squabbling couple was sleeping before we turned the devices back on.”

As frustrating as it is, I know Leonid made the right call. There’s no way Domenico didn’t have a device scanner waiting for him both in his car and at home. All of us mafia goons use the same one, and the most common practice is to use it both before and after big meetings, especially when the opposing side is allowed to search us.

But the shit we stuck on Domenico and Sonia weren’t any old listening devices. No, the shit we used came straight from our friends at the Black Delphi. These magic little devices can be turned off so that they’re impossible to detect. Yet, even when they’re turned off, they still record.

The problem with that is that we can’t listen to anything in real time.

What we can do is turn them on when we think the coast is clear. Then we can transfer and download the data that was recorded earlier in the night.

Still, It’s all encrypted. Leonid’s men are working around the clock to get that shit ready for our ears. And I can’t wait to hear it.

But that will have to wait.

“If we don’t have the recordings yet, then why are you calling?” I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose. Tonight was intense, and in a much different manner than what I’m used to.

A good night’s sleep next to my girl is in order, but in this line of work, you can never rest.

“Well, first off, I just wanted to check up on a friend. Is that so wrong?”

“What’s the real reason?” I ask, shaking my head. Still, I feel a little smirk lift the corners of my lips.

“There’s some trouble down at the docks. Nothing serious, but it could be fun.”

“Don’t you have a wife to go home to?” I tease.

“Sophia is off colonizing the west coast with her Greek legions,” Leonid says, and I can practically hear him shrug.

“Why didn’t you go with her?”

“I was going to meet up with her after a job I had here, but then I heard about Maksim, and I had to make sure my general was going to be okay.”

“And you’ve decided to stay in town?”

“Sophia can handle herself. I miss her. But I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t help you and you… well, you know.”

Failed.

“Yeah,” I mumble. “Thanks, buddy.”

“Just doing what I can. So, is that a no on coming down to the docks to bust some heads?”

“Are they Italian heads?”

“No. Just some low-level thugs.”

“I’m going to stay in.”

“You’re getting soft in your old age,” Leonid playfully taunts.