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“Donna Lucia?—”
“Oh, but there was one thing I wanted to ask you, though.”
“Donna Lucia?”
“Yes, I’m so glad you happened to call. I was wondering, did you have a favorite?”
“What?”
“Son. Did you have a favorite son, Don Romano? People always say they don’t but then they have to say that, don’t they. And if they do, maybe its always the firstborn. But I don’t know. Did you?”
“Why the hell would you ask me that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. It just popped into my head. Something I had been wondering.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Early the next morning, Carlo drives us all to the exclusive Pacific Breezes Mall
He says, “I don’t see us letting Alessio have all the fun. I’ve arranged for a consultant to bring you the best, the most exclusive scents, all the best high-end fragrances, oils, soaps and lotions, along with the cream of the cosmetics and beauty products.”
From the seat behind, Bruno chimes in, “That’s for the morning. After lunch, we’re taking you to the Ferrari dealer.”
I say, “Our businesses are hurting all over.”
Carlo agrees. “The bars, the tables, the betting, all the street trade is dark. Dead. No shipments, nothing is moving. We’ve got basically nothing coming in. For now and the foreseeable future, we’re living on air.”
Looking out of the back window, Alessio says, “At this rate, we’re never going to get even a fraction of our businesses back off the ground.”
“We passed the tipping point,” Carlo says, “Even the Farino’s are going to have more of a position and a stronger presencethan we do. It’s time to face it. We are truly and royally fucked. We’re going to be a minor family from here on.”
Pursing his lips, Alessio says, “Bit part players at best.”
I say, “We could go to Chicago for help.”
Bruno’s face folds. “Owwwwww.”
Alessio scowls. “Minke. Think what that would cost us. You think things are bad now. Do that and we would be slaves in no time.”
Carlo’s head shakes. “We’re fighting on too many fronts right now.”
“And we’re not getting stronger.” Bruno agrees. “We’re getting worn down. We’re losing it out there, big time.”
“So.” Carlo says, definitively, “What else is there to do but shop?”
“I don’t get it.”
After we park and while we make our way to the elevator, Bruno touches my sleeve. Gets me to hang back with him.
I never heard him sound more flat and low. “We’re fucked, Lucia. We’re all totally fucked.”
“Wait, you’re kidding, right?”
“I wish. This has all turned bad and it is totally beyond the point of no return. All three of us have just been scooping out whatever we can in cash. That’s what Alessio was doing, buying jewels and watches for you.”
He looks around. My heart falls as he lowers his voice still further. “He wanted to pour portable wealth over you, in parcels you could carry. We’ll do more today, but I think that’s it. After this, we’re all getting the hell out of Dodge, and we suggest you do the same.”
I feel like I’ve been hollowed out. “Where will you go?”
