Tesoro: Mayhem Makers

Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

DANTE

My leg bounced as I listened to Kate as she spoke with Angelo. He had to get better, there wasn’t any other option.

“Father is on the phone for you,” Frankie whispers in my ear, placing his cell phone in front of me.

Taking the phone, I slip from the room before raising it to my ear. “Si, Padre.”

My greeting is met with laughter. “Things must be good if I’m your priest and not your uncle today.”

“You’re always my, Zio. Frankie said Father was on the phone, he planted a mindset is all.”

Heading for the front door, I step into the yard, needing the cool air to clear my thoughts.

“I was headed to my brother’s house for Sunday dinner and thought I’d check in on Angelo’s progress.”

Zio, or Father Michael, was Marcus’s brother. They were a contradiction in terms as one was a servant of God and the other, one of the most infamous hitmen to walk the planet. Joseph jokingly called the pair Saint and Sinner when he was alive, but Angelo and I called them Zio, or uncle.

“You um…” I trailed off as I look at the darkening sky. Never had I wished for bad weather, but as I thought of the beautiful girl inside I wanted it to snow so much it buried this house for days.

“You called at a perfect time. Angelo woke up a few hours ago. Kate has been checking him over.”

“ Kate? Who is she ?”

Zio never missed anything. Oddly, I couldn't wait to tell him about Kate.

“It’s Doctor Romano. She and I have grown close due to being in the same room with Angelo.”

“Dante, you sound happy. Tell me more about this Kate .”

Standing under the large oak tree, I tell him of how we ran into each other, of the electricity I feel when I touch her. I laugh as I share how she stood up to her coworker, defending a man she barely knew.

“ She sounds lovely. Have you told her about Bellamia ?”

“About that,” I paused, finding it difficult to select the right words. “Can I ask you a question, as my priest and not my Zio?”

“ You can always ask me anything, Dante. You know I leave judgement for God .”

Glancing back at the house, its chipping paint and rotting wood somehow different than when I first saw it. Months ago I found the house useless and not worth the money it would cost to tear it down. Now, it was strong bones and resurrection, much like my soul.

“Do you think God grants do overs?”

“ What do you mean, do overs? God only gives us one life .”

“Like in football, when there is a penalty and the referees have them repeat the play.”

“You mean second chances? ”

“Yes,” I laugh, feeling stupid for not having the right terminology.

“Do you think Kate is your second chance ?”

“When I came to you and asked for guidance in asking Bellamia to marry me, you said never rely on someone else for my happiness.”

“I also said the perfect partner will make you a better person .”

His words stung as much as they did the first time he said them. Bellamia wanted me to leave the family, yet she also wanted the benefits. She was the most indecisive person I knew, her desires changing by the minute. At first her erratic behavior was a turn on, but in the end, it was the subject of most of our arguments.

“Kate makes me want to do better, but still be myself.” A sharp gust of wind hit me from behind, as if a nudge from beyond. “Yes, Father, I think Kate is my second chance.”

Looking up at the oak tree, I watch as a cardinal leaps from a branch and flies away.

“Goodbye, Bellamia.” I whisper as I watch the bird disappear into a line of evergreens.

“ Hey, Dante ,” Zio’s voice brings me back to the conversation.

“I’m here.” Turning away from the treeline, I take several steps toward the tiny courtyard I imagine was a flourishing garden at one time. Now, it’s overgrown with dead weeds and sage brush, broken statues and empty flower pots.

“Good, Marcus, would like a word with you. ”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I wait for him to take the phone. When Joseph decided to groom Angelo and myself to take over, his decision was met with opposition, none more vocal than Marcus, who felt he should have been chosen. Once Joseph died, Marcus tried to have Angelo disqualified, claiming our mother wasn’t Italian. While her eyes may have been ice blue, she was as Italian as he is. Now, he takes every opportunity to try and weasel his way onto the throne. Given the chance, he’d cut the ring from Angelo’s finger with his own teeth in order to posses it.

“ You must have news, Dante .”

“Angelo is awake, the doctor is with him now.” I knew better than to give Marcus any information about Kate until this blew over and Angelo’s place in the Family was secure.

“And the weather? Is it clear enough for travel ?”

Glancing at the sky, “The snow stopped, but I haven't tried the roads yet.”

“Surely the city had salted the roads .”

“I’m sure they would if they could, Marcus. This is Texas, they are better equipped to handle brutal heat, not measurable snow.”

“ Send one of the men to check. With your extended time there, you have created an enemy, one I’m having to deal with .”

Furrowing my brow, “What the fuck are you talking about?” I had my suspicions, however Joseph taught me long ago we have two ears and one mouth for a reason.

“ Watch your tongue ?—”

“Careful, Marcus, lest you forget who wears the ring,” I interrupt, not above pulling the leader card. If Marcus wanted a fight, I'd gladly give him one.

“My apologies …” Marcus trailed off and I could almost picture the scowl on his face. “ The Maldonados are requesting compensation for an incident they say we are responsible for .”

“You should know better than to entertain the ramblings of a psycho.”

The sound of tires crunching over frozen snow pulls my attention to the long driveway.

“If he can prove our involvement ?—”

“Chuy Maldonado couldn’t prove he took a shit if he was carrying it in his fucking hand. Since when did you start bending the knee to pieces of shit like him?”

Reaching for the gun at the small of my back, I make my way around the side of the house as Johnny parks one of the SUVs under the oak tree.

Narrowing my eyes, I notice his face is covered in blood, lip split and the knuckles wrapped around the steering wheel are cut and bleeding.

“I’ll call you back.”

Not waiting for Marcus to argue, I end the call and run to the driver’s side.

“What the fuck happened?” I demand, jerking the door open.

“Frankie asked me to check the roads. I needed gas, but when I stopped a car full of Chuy’s guys jumped out.”

Pushing away from the door, I point at the front door of the house.“Go inside and have Kate take a look at you.”

Johnny shook his head, “I’ve been hit harder by my grandmother.” He laughed, wiping a trickle of blood with the back of his sleeve. “They did have a message for you, Boss. The guy driving said to tell you, checkmate .”

Moving to ask Johnny if they said anything else, Frankie rounds the front of the SUV, a worried look on his face.

“What?”

“Remember when I told you not to ignore your past, it might catch up to you?” Handing the phone in his hands to me, the message on the screen makes my heart skip a beat.

“When did you get this?”

“When I got it isn’t important,” Frankie takes the phone from my hand, scrolling for a second before handing it back to me. “Where it was sent from, is the issue.”

Looking at the flashing dot on the screen, the sound of a horn blowing elicits an oath from my lips. I watch a car fishtail down the drive, the driver waving like a fucking loon in my direction.

“That’s not the worst of it, Boss.” Frankie’s voice is full of regret. “The pilot says the runway is clear, we can leave within the hour.”

“But Angelo?—”

“He made the call,” Frankie cuts me off, regret coating his words.

“Why do I get the feeling there is more you’re not telling me?”

“Because there is, and you’re not going to like it.”