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“Say the word.”
I raise my voice enough for everyone to hear. “Very steady targeting.”
Alessio says, “I’m getting instruction from Catlin. Can you believe they have lookout towers here?”
“Amazing.”
Alessio asks, “Do you think we should have those at the new house?”
“Well,” I tell him, “You’re in theirs, Right?”
“that’s where we are, yes.”
“They’re obviously a dangerous security hazard. So, no. I don’t think we should have them.”
Don Romano is fuming. Frustrated and impatient, with targets still painted on both of his sons’ foreheads.
I ask Alessio, “How did you find me here?”
“Catlin went to Mikey, and the two of them traced you.”
Ed and Dario are starting to get twitchy. Ed’s eyebrows steeple as he says, “The dot. It’s still there, right?”
Don Romano nods, gravely.
Alessio says, “This is dramatic, right?”
I look around at Don Romano, who is fuming, his two petrified sons and the red-faced, impotent guards.
“Yes,” I say into the phone. “I would say that everybody here is impressed. Under the circumstances, this is only the start of the payback. You could take the shots.”
I can feel everybody holding their breath. After a pause, I tell him, “The point is made. There’s no need.”
With a gentle smile, I turn to Don Romano.
I tell him. “I would be within my rights to have Ed and Dario’s heads drilled right now. When I have you kidnapped, Don Romano, remember my understanding. My kindness and my courtesy.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Getting home after all that, I’m feeling dislocated. Everything feels odd, like I’m out of place somehow.
In text messages, Jerry is pressing me for an answer. I know the answer that I have to give him, but I’m not ready. I can’t quite bring myself to do it. Not yet.
Don Pucci texts, wanting to meet in a diner.
When I arrive, we’re both wearing running gear. I ran a dozen blocks to get here. By the look of his sweatband, I’d say he ran further.
We sit in a booth at the rear of the bright, fifties style, chrome and leatherette diner.
He tells me, “Chicago approached me with an offer. They want to offer franchising to us. Full recognition. They will recognize us through the Commission. All that they ask for is that I have you removed as the head of the Famiglia Fortuna.”
He watches me as he tells me, but I feel like it shows interest and concern on his part. I’m still on my guard, wondering what his motives might be, but I can’t think what he would have to gain by telling me.
“I’m sure they will have made a similar offer to someone in your family.” He looks up over his coffee. “Not to be indelicate. I’m not trying to pry.”
I press my lips together and nod. “I appreciate you letting me know. Don Romano told me they made an approach to him, too.”
He nods. “I would bet on it. They likely promised that they could be made the head family. Don Romano would head up the the whole region.”
