Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“He’s well. We moved our mother to the house a few months ago, so he’s with her now.”
“That’s good.” He studies me as he drinks, and I know he has more to say, so I wait. Stefan is about my age, give or take a year or two. “Family is important, but brothers can be a tricky thing.”
My jaw tenses. I know what he’s saying. Watch my back. Trust no one. But I have to trust Bastian. What I’m doing, it’s for him too. We’ve come this far because we’ve trusted each other.
“Bastian carries guilt over what happened.” I hate Vittoria Russo, but I think guilt makes him hate her more.
“Guilt? How so? He was a child when what happened to you happened.”
I recall the day in our kitchen. Bastian speaking up and getting Geno Russo’s attention.
“Too long a story.” He nods, although he’s still assessing me. “And he is young. He’ll learn.”
“I’m sure he will,” he says after a beat, which makes me wonder if he’s sure at all. He finishes his drink and checks his watch.
I finish mine. It’s time I head back. We stand. “Thank you again.”
We shake hands, and he walks me out to where Jarno, my trusted right-hand man, and two soldiers wait beside him. One stubs out his cigarette as we approach. His driver will take us back to the airport, where I’ll take a private jet back to Naples, then the helicopter to the villa. It’s the fastest way to travel. Living remotely has its advantages, especially to keep my mother safe, but it presents a challenge if you need to be anywhere fast, so I bought the chopper along with the house.
I mull over my conversation with Stefan as I travel home. Bastian’s guilt over what happened that day in the kitchen. Not Hannah’s death but what they did to our father, to us. If he’d stayed quiet, would they have left? Would we have appeared less of a threat?
Bastian is young. He’s only twenty-five years old, but I know he’s loyal to me. In spite of disagreements we’ve had in the past, we’re always aligned on the bigger things. Although, I wonder if that’s how he sees it.
My phone pings with a message, and I unlock the screen. It’s a text from Bruno. Bruno Cocci worked for Humberto for twenty years and has sworn fealty to me. In fact, he thinks I need to do more with my uncle Sonny to quash any further dissent and finally unite the family. But Sonny is my blood, my mother’s brother, and she needs him now.
Bruno: Check the headlines.
Several links follow both in American and Italian papers. I open the English language one, and there, across the front page, is a picture of Vittoria Russo in a ball gown posing for the camera at a fundraiser for children, according to the banner behind her.
The headline reads “Luxury Hotel Heiress Kidnapped by Rogue Italian Mobsters.” The rogue reference stinks of Sonny.
Scrolling through, I find photos of the chaos, although nothing that would make either Bastian or me identifiable. Not that that would be hard to do given our matching scars, but this isn’t about getting the authorities involved. My brother and I are unnamed. Sonny wouldn’t go that far.
The other papers are similar, using the same photos. I text Bruno.
Me: I’m going to guess Sonny is involved.
Bruno: I spoke with my contact at the Italian papers, and I can confirm that. He’s working with your enemy. It gives you grounds, Amadeo.
Me: He’s my uncle.
Bruno: Blood and loyalty do not always go hand in hand.
I know this.
Bruno: One more thing. Russo sent a message asking if $1500 is about right for ransom amount.
I burn at the casual mention of the hush money they intended to pay after he impregnated my fourteen-year-old sister and his bastard spawn killed her. I rein it all in. I must stay in control. It’s close now, the destruction of Lucien Russo. The erasure of the Russo family from this earth.
Me: Then he remembers us. Good.
Bruno: You don’t want the authorities involved, Amadeo. Not now. They’re in Sonny’s pocket.
I know that. And Sonny will make trouble. But I’m prepared.
Me: Let them get involved. I have a plan in place. You know that.
Bruno: Too soon for that, isn’t it?
Me: I’m flexible. Arrange a dinner tomorrow night. Very public. I want Sonny there. And his lovely wife.
She’s a cunt.
Bruno: Why? You go out in public, you risk arrest.
Me: I’ll be fine. Arrange it. And get the word out to anyone and everyone. That includes Chief Greco.
Greco is itching to take my brother and me down. He backs Sonny and is as corrupt as they come.
Bruno: Are you sure about this?
Me: Do it.
I scroll through to find Bastian’s number and text him.
Me: You up?
Bastian: It’s midnight. I’m not an old woman.