Page 55 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

How could he?

“I have too many things to deal with, all at once. Corrado, Edmond, the men, the fucking bomb. All of it.”

“What if it’s all the same man behind those things, though?”

“That’s too simple,” Gian said. “It’s too easy. This life isn’t easy. Nothing about it ever is.”

Constantino didn’t bother to argue that point.

“One thing at a time,” Gian added, “and whether you want to admit it or not, there are a lot of men who would benefit from putting me in the boss’s seat.”

“Your point?”

“It’s easy to point the finger at Edmond; easier, even, to make me look at him. No one said these men were fucking dumb, Constantino. I’m not going to treat them like they are, it could have been anyone.”

“I still think Edmond—”

“Yes, because you would also benefit from me, not him, holding the highest position,” Gian interrupted. His friend stayed quiet for a long minute. “Do you see my point, now?”

“To an extent,” Constantino said quietly.

“Then give me time to think and work this out. I need to talk to people, look them in the face and see if they lie to me. I know these men, I’ve spent my whole life with these men. It has to be one thing at a time, man. That’s how a smart man does it. I won’t tear a whole organization apart, in an attempt to rid myself of only a couple of bad seeds. My grandfather built this fucking family into what it is, and I won’t ruin it.”

“Don’t take too much time.” Constantino laughed, though it came out strained and dry. “You were lucky with the bomb, but that luck won’t last forever.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks.”

“Just saying.”

“I’ll call you later,” Gian muttered.

He didn’t even bother giving a proper goodbye before he hung up the phone.

The elevator door opened, and Gian stepped out to a waiting consigliere for the building. The man smiled, and held out a key fob.

“Your new Mercedes is waiting at the front, Mr. Guzzi.”

Gian took the device. “Thank you, Gene.”

“Have a good day, sir.”

He looked over the key fob for the new Mercedes as he exited the building. The car he’d wanted had to be shipped in from Quebec, leaving him without a vehicle for most of the week. He’d simply used his enforcer as a driver, but he was glad to have his own wheels again. The sleek, black two-door parked in front of the building was running, warming up in the cold March air.

Gian unlocked the car, but he didn’t even get the chance to slip inside the driver’s seat. Another black car, a four-door Mercedes with dark windows, pulled up beside his on the street. He recognized that damn car, and it took all he had not to ignore it and get inside his Mercedes.

The back window of the car rolled down.

Gian gave the man sitting in the back a look. “Edmond.”

“I think you mean ‘boss,’ Gian,” Edmond replied coolly.

“I said what I meant.”

Let the fool make of that what he wanted.

Edmond’s jaw tightened. “Get in the car. Let’s take a drive.”

Gian’s hand twitched with the urge to reach for the gun at his back, but he knew better. It was broad daylight, in the middle of a very busy street and city, that was filled with cameras for the city and the police.