18. Chapter 18
18
Two days after the wedding, husband and wife were in bed together. They conversed while the music box listened. Every word that slipped out was intentional. Substantial enough to be of interest. Vague enough to protect their interests. They were strategizing once again. Her on on her laptop. Him on his phone.
"Who are you texting?" she asked.
"Marcello," he answered. "What about you? What are you working on?"
"Blackmail."
"Almost done?"
"Just about." With dark hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, Elyse was staring at her screen, scrolling and muttering, “Who knew dead men could still be useful?”
Renata’s memory card might be full of outdated data, but the damning evidence she gathered during her lifetime hadn’t been in vain.
Alessandro set down his phone and glanced over, shuffling closer to press a kiss on her bare shoulder. “With enough imagination, anything can become a weapon. Even the dead .”
By diving into the their roles in the supply chain, analyzing offshore accounts, and locating the specific seaports they used for containerized shipments, Elyse and Alessandro essentially found the cheat codes to the operational ins and outs of Vincenzo’s partnership with the Beltrán cartel.
Younger men had since replaced the old guard, but, even now, not much else changed. Business still functioned in a similar way. Such knowledge became a powerful tool. It'd lead her husband, Elyse realized, down the path to retribution.
“If all goes well,” she murmured, “you’ll have the power the dismantle your father's empire from the inside out.”
“I cannot wait to burn it to the ground.”
Their eyes met. Green lingered on brown and blue-gray. They hadn't been with each other all day. Ever since their plans kicked into high gear, husband and wife had been seeing each other less and less. Alessandro’s schedule as capo was hectic as hell, and Elyse was just as busy, hustling behind the scenes. It had become increasingly difficult to find time to touch base with each other.
Two days ago, they managed to shower together for fifteen minutes.
Yesterday, they met in one of the guestrooms for less than twenty.
Whenever Elyse and Alessandro found a rare moment together, though, like this one, they bounced ideas off each other. She’d identify potential pitfalls in their plans. He’d come up with solutions. Elyse would help set the pieces in place. Alessandro would execute the final blow. Together, they worked to shatter the bones of the Vitale empire, fragment by fragment, and rebuild from the wreckage.
Technology was introduced to ensure their operations ran with more efficiency and transparency. An international army of elite lawyers and accountants was assembled. A cut of their earnings were set aside for new investments.
Recently, it was becoming apparent that some members of their clan were resistant to the shifting winds. It troubled Elyse. The next day, she managed to catch her husband for a few minutes before heading out to a meeting. Elyse grabbed Alessandro’s hand and shoved him into the study. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have in front of the music box.
“What is wrong, cuore mio ? You looked troubled.”
“I am troubled.”
“About what?”
“Antonino and Nitto. It’s always one step forward and two steps back with them. They’re dead set on sabotaging us.”
"I am aware," he grunted. "Those fuckers are growing bold."
"What should we do about them?"
“I have been thinking about following in my mother’s footsteps.”
“How?”
“By stealing a page from your grandfather’s playbook.”
“I’m listening.”
“Marcello is very good at hacking into shit. It would be a shame to let his talents go to waste. I have asked him to compile some documents and recordings that, I believe, will serve us well in the long run…”
Dozens of names were soon added to the chopping block. Each one linked to the importation, purchase, or possession of heavy drugs that could put offenders behind bars anywhere from eight to twenty years.
Antonino Buscetta had been elected as Vincenzo's consigliere for almost a decade running. Back then, he oversaw much of the shipments their cosca redistributed across Europe.
Nitto Messina served as the main broker between their cosca and the Beltrán cartel in all matters relating to their cocaine supplies.
Gilberto Garcia and César Castillo were their main points of contact with the Beltrán cartel.
Carlo Moretti appeared on the list, too, even though he had nothing to do with the cartel or cocaine.
When she saw Carlo’s name, Elyse couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you add him?”
“The fucker shouldn’t have fucked with Father Boselli.”
“Fair enough.”
As the days went by, more names piled on.
Each of these men had been chosen for the same reason. They were respected but replaceable. With the exception of Antonino and Carlo, the rest were mid-level associates, important enough to raise alarm if authorities nabbed their asses. Not important enough, however, to cripple the cosca with their absence.
On Friday, Alessandro informed Elyse over dinner, "I worked out a new agreement with the authorities.”
She took a small bite. "I assume my grandfather had a hand in it as well?"
After a sip of his wine, Alessandro gave a nod. "Benedetto was the one who helped broker the deal with the police."
Elyse listened carefully as her husband outlined his plans. In the weeks to come, Alessandro intended to deliver the incriminating documents and recordings they’d been collecting to the police chief, Boris Demasi. Boris agreed to only go after the names on their shit list. He’d look the other way when it came to their allies. It was a risky move. Alessandro was turning his back against Omertà . The other clans would skin him alive if they failed to pin these leaks on Gaspare.
“What does Boris get out of this arrangement?”
“Some men suffer from hero complexes. Boris happens to be one of them. He will get the credit for putting a sizable dent in European and South American drug trafficking.”
Was corruption still corrupt if it ended up making the world a better place? She remarked, “Men like Boris tend to be walking contradictions."
"Are they?"
"Makes me wonder,” mused Elyse, “is a hero still a hero if he cares more about his legacy than the greater good?"
Alessandro scoffed. “Fuck the greater good. Everyone is self-serving. Good and evil are only separated by circumstance. Even good men can be evil when fate forces their hands, and devils turn into angels once they find something worth fighting for.”
"I guess nothing is ever purely wrong or purely right."
Perhaps, she thought, it depended on the intent. Was Boris motivated by righteousness? Fear of the mafia? Or the ambition to advance his career?
Understanding everyone’s intentions was key to survival in their world.
"I’m worried that Boris might go after you at some point," Elyse remarked with a nervous gleam in her eyes. "Can we trust him?"
"Of course not, he would like nothing more than to put me behind bars," Alessandro replied breezily, "but your grandfather has dirt on the man. Boris cannot turn on us without risking his neck and reputation."
For once, Benedetto and his love of blackmail were working in their favor. Elyse then asked, "What will happen after Boris arrests our men?"
"I think," he theorized, "the Beltrán cartel will distance themselves from us, at least, until the investigations and court hearings die down. I will take advantage of the upheaval from these arrests to distance myself from them as well and expand into other industries."
"Do you think we'll experience pushback from allies?"
Her husband answered, "Not if Valentina plays her cards right."
Under the guise of friendship, Elyse had glued herself to the blonde’s side after the wedding. It allowed her to keep a close eye on Valentina. With a doubt, Valentina was the queen to Gaspare's peasant in their marriage. Gaspare seemed utterly terrified of his wife even while he panted after her like a dog in heat. There had been no honeymoon for the newlyweds, and the blonde claimed that she kicked Gaspare out of their bedroom on their wedding night. Signor and Signora De León had been sleeping in separate rooms since then.
“As far as I can tell, Valentina knows exactly how to play her cards,” Elyse murmured. “The only question that remains is whether or not she’ll end up playing us, too.”
Without hesitation, he assured her, “She will die before I let her fuck us over.”
Green eyes flickered with alarm, but she stayed silent, knowing that Alessandro was simply going to do what needed to be done. He always did. She prayed that he wouldn’t have to kill Valentina, though. The blonde still irritated Elyse from time to time, but not as much as she used to.
Dessert was served. Husband and wife moved on to discuss other matters that needed to be resolved. Each problem seemed to lead to a new one. It felt never-ending. As dinner came to a close, neither of them managed to finish their plates.
They’d lost their appetite for the evening.
Over the weekend, Elyse went to brunch at a local cafe with Valentina. Monte and Luca accompanied her. Mariposa tagged along as well. The three women greeted each other and swiftly fell into a steady flow of conversation while Monte and Luca stood guard beside them.
“How has my brother been treating you?” Mariposa asked Valentina.
“Like a fucking goddess,” Valentina preened. “But you will never guess what I did to him yesterday.”
With a cool expression, Elyse glanced over. “Did you try to kill him again?”
“Maybe.”
Mariposa prompted, “So… what did you do?”
"I walked around the house in a négligée ," Valentina revealed with a nasty chuckle, "just to see him get hard.”
Mariposa pretended to vomit in her mouth.
Valentina ignored her, continuing, “Then I pulled out my gun when he tried to touch me. I think he pissed his pants a little."
Elyse bit back a smile. She didn’t want to laugh at Gaspare's expense, but she found herself enjoying the blonde's dark and twisted sense of humor more and more. Probably against her better judgment.
"Serves him right,” Mariposa commented with a smirk. The dark-eyed girl didn't seem to possess an ounce of sympathy for her brother's plight.
While the ladies were started on their meals, Mariposa kept stealing glances at Monte. Then, out of nowhere, her face suddenly scrunched up as though she was in pain. She released a moan of discomfort.
Concerned, Elyse asked, “Are you okay?”
Clutching her forehead, Mariposa sighed dramatically. “I have had the worst fucking migraine all morning.”
“I might have some Ibuprofen on me.” Elyse reached for her purse. “Want some?”
Panic flashed in Mariposa’s eyes. “No, no! That will not be necessary. I think I just need to get some… rest.”
“In that case, why don’t you head hom—”
Before Elyse could even finish her sentence, Monte stepped forward and grunted a bit too eagerly, "Posso portarla a casa a ... riposare." I can take her home to... rest.
With a grin, Luca coughed loudly at his partner.
Monte blushed and looked away.
Green eyes widened with understanding. Then, she held in another smile. Elyse kept Luca at her side and permitted Monte to escort Mariposa back to his apartment to get some "rest."
As Monte and Mariposa drove away, Elyse and Valentina exchanged wry looks. They’d both seen through Mariposa’s little performance but knew better than to call her out. It was all for the best, anyway. Without Mariposa around, they could talk freely about Gaspare. Elyse had chosen not to tell Mariposa about what they were going to do to her brother. No matter how much Mariposa hated Gaspare, De León blood still flowed between them, and Elyse feared that Mariposa might try to intervene before their plans came to fruition.
Quietly, Valentina informed Elyse, "I have been sending Gaspare to strip clubs and bars with Taddeo. They are practically besties now."
Taddeo's real name was Damiano Parule. Elyse murmured, "Do you think he might be suspicious of Taddeo, though?"
Damiano was one of Boris' undercover officers.
"I do not think so," Valentina replied. "Gaspare has the intelligence of a worm and the observational skills of a naked mole-rat.”
“Aren’t mole-rats blind?”
“Exactly.”
“Did you get the photographs of them together?”
“I did.” This meant Valentina had secured the proof they could use to cast Gaspare as a police informant.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done. I mean it,” Elyse murmured. "Let me if anything else comes up.”
"I will."
They parted ways shortly after. Elyse returned to the palazzo and found her husband in his study. She updated him on Valentina's progress with Gaspare.
He asked, "Is it time?"
She nodded. "Now or never."
They were, of course, referring to Alessandro's list of names. Evidence on Antonino, Nitto, Gilberto, César, and Carlo could now be released to Boris. They’d send the files through a burner phone.
Her husband's jaw clenched. A pained expression twisted his handsome features. "I feel like a fucking traitor."
"But why?"
"For biting the hand that feeds.”
Elyse huffed, "Keep in mind, these hands belong to assholes who wouldn't think twice about killing you."
Alessandro sighed. "Still..."
"Look at it from a different perspective," she stated in gentler tones. "There's poetic justice at play here. You’re helping your mother finish what she started. Renata's legacy can live on through you.”
The dimness in Alessandro's eyes grew brighter. "Is that what I am doing?"
"Don't doubt yourself, Alessio," Elyse whispered as she placed her hands on his chest. “You’re the best man I know.”
Alessandro grimaced. "I cannot help but question everything, though. This was not how my father raised me. Omertà is sacred."
Her expression hardened. "Fuck Vincenzo. Fuck Omertà , too . Rules only apply when nothing is at stake. If your father was ever forced to choose between sending himself or his friends to prison, I bet he wouldn’t hesitate to rat them out. You said it yourself. Humans are selfish by nature ."
His gaze widened at the force of her outburst. Elyse wasn't done. Fire burned in her eyes as she forged on, "A traitor wouldn't fight for what's right when everyone wishes to kill him for it."
He paused again. "Elyse…”
Something in the tone of Alessandro's voice set her on edge. "What's wrong?"
Tension radiated from him. "If something happens to me over the next few weeks—"
Refusing to even consider the possibility to losing him, Elyse interjected, "Please don't say shit like that. I don’t even want to think about it."
Alessandro placed his palms on either side of Elyse's shoulders and gazed into her eyes with an intensity that felt deeply unnerving.
"I am not saying anything will go wrong," her husband reiterated softly, "I am saying if something does go wrong, I want you to take that manila folder I gave you, and go to London. Do not stay in Palermo . Start over as Eve Davies and never look back. Promise me, Elyse. Per favore ."
Elyse rejected him in a heartbeat, "No."
He ground his teeth. "Cuore mio..."
She ground hers. "Alessio..."
"I am trying to look out for you."
"I'm not the kind of person who abandons ship the moment shit hits the fan."
“But you no longer have to be— that kind of person . You have me now. What kind of husband would I be if I fail to keep you safe?”
In the past, whenever the going got tough, she’d always gotten tougher. Elyse reminded him, "I stuck by my father, and I'm going to stand by you."
Admiration and irritation crossed his face. "I wish you would not be so fucking difficult."
"If I wasn't so fucking difficult, life would've kicked my ass a thousand times over by now."
Alessandro lifted his hand to palm her face, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "I cannot argue with you there."
She grumbled, “Because you know I’m right."
"You, Dr. Elyse Vitale, may be the most difficult woman I have ever met," his voice caught with emotion, faltering for a moment before he could continue, "but you are also the most precious part of me. You chase away the dark, and I would do anything to keep you from harm’s way.”
"Then let me protect what’s most precious to me as well,” she returned in a whisper, giving him a poignant look. “ You ."
The side of his mouth quipped. "My hero."
Elyse laughed softly. "Let's hope I won't need to come to your rescue."
Alessandro dropped a kiss on her forehead, "You have already saved me, cuore mio . In more ways than you will ever know.”