Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
F riend’s Request
Uri
I hadn’t expected Don Trovati to have guests when I arrived. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought Michael along with me. However, as we enter the restaurant this meeting is to be held in—after hours—I note the men who I know don’t belong to Trovati.
They are Italian, but I’ve never seen them around Trovati’s crew before. I think quickly, I can’t compromise Michael’s safety. Turning, I place a hand on my brother’s shoulder and halt him before we get to the meeting room.
I lean into his ear so he’s the only one to hear my words. “I don’t know all of these men. I have no idea who Trovati has here with him.
“This was my mistake. Go back the way we came, make a left when you exit the first door. You will find a set of stairs there.
“Wait for me. I will come to get you when I am sure it is safe,” I whisper.
Michael nods and quickly follows my orders. Just as he disappears from sight, Don Alfanzo Locatelli steps from the back room with three young guys surrounding him, only two whom I’ve seen before.
I know of Don Alfanzo and the Locatelli family. If you are Italian and a part of the underworld, you know the name Locatelli very well. However, I’m not expecting him to stop when he sees me.
“Uri,” he croons as he embraces me and then kisses both my cheeks. Then he continues in Italian. “This guy. He looks just like his father. God bless the dead. It’s good to see you.”
“Hello, Don Locatelli.”
“Alfanzo, you can call me Alfanzo. Your father was a good friend of mine. I was glad to hear you have connected with my good friend Alessio.
“He’s a good man. You know my nephews Marco and D’Angelo. However, I don’t think you have met my other nephew.” He pauses and turns to the young men with him.
“LaSalle, come. I want you to meet Uri Donati.”
The one with the gray eyes and dark hair comes forward. I lift a brow as I come face to face with the owner of the name I’ve been hearing more of lately. He doesn’t look much older than Michael.
I probably have him by four or five years. This is the one making all the trouble in the States. His reputation is beginning to make as much noise as mine and he hasn’t seen his first promotion yet.
I can respect how he is choosing to establish himself. It is the smart way to do things. I give him a nod of respect.
“LaSalle, Uri here is a problem solver like you are. You two might find you have some things in common,” Don Alfanzo croons, still speaking in Italian.
“Nice to meet you. Don Trovati speaks very highly of you,” LaSalle says as he looks me in the eyes.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He nods. “If you accept the request and need anything while you’re in the States, you should let me know.”
I narrow my eyes at him, wondering what request he’s speaking of. My interest is piqued. Don Trovati has definitely called me for something big.
I get the feeling he had to ask permission for whatever it is if Don Locatelli is here. I grin and look LaSalle in his eyes. I also get the feeling he’s letting me know his rank or at least trying to establish who he is in the States.
He can relax. I already know everything I need to know about him. Word spreads fast in our world and when you do what I do, there isn’t much that gets by without my knowing.
“Let’s say I do need something, mate. Who do I call for? LaSalle Locatelli or Sam Mairettie?” I say with a grin.
LaSalle’s eyes harden as he seems to realize I’m not going to roll over and bark for anyone. I give respect where respect is earned. It doesn’t matter who you are.
Don Locatelli laughs. “This is how your father and I locked horns when we first met. Angelo and I became the best of friends after. Uri, you keep in touch. I would like to see you in Italy.
“Come to my home. We’ll drink and eat. I would like to know more about you as a man.
“Not just from the things I hear. We all know everything we hear isn’t always the truth,” he croons in a mix of Italian and English.
“I will carve out some time to come and visit, Don Locatelli,” I say, knowing his words aren’t really a request.
This is one of the few men I know it’s not wise for me to ignore. The four men nod and file out, with their men following.
I watch as they go before I go to collect Michael. Curiosity is burning through me as I think of what Don Trovati could need from me.
The States?
Michael
I remain silent as I follow Uri into the back room Don Trovati is waiting in for their meeting. The man is a lot smaller than I thought he would be.
However, he has a stern look about him that lets you know he’s still not to be tried. I sit next to Uri after we greet the don. I don’t miss that he doesn’t take his eyes off me.
“Your father would be proud. You two look just like him. Angelo had a presence about him.
“He demanded respect as he entered a room. I see this in the both of you. I respected Angelo and was very sad when we lost him. Men like Angelo and Alfanzo are far and few between,” Don Trovati says.
“What is it you want from me?” Uri says, getting to the point.
The don finally pulls his gaze from me to look at Uri. His eyes remain soft with affection as he looks at my brother. I doubt that any other man would get away with that tone and continue to live, let alone speak.
The don sighs and sits back in his chair. “I need you to do me a favor. Someone important to me has been taken. She is in the States outside of my reach,” he says.
“If she is in the States, why not have one of the families with roots there handle the favor?” Uri asks.
“This is a delicate matter. I can only ask someone I trust to handle this situation. I trust you more than you know.”
“Tell me who she is, who has taken her, and why,” Uri says.
“It is my granddaughter,” Don Trovati says.
I watch Uri as his face remains expressionless. This is a friend of his, so I wasn’t expecting him to remain so cold. I wonder if Uri has ever met this granddaughter.
“How could they have taken your granddaughter? You’ve told me that your daughter died when she was ten and you never had another child,” Uri says.
“My Emma did drown when she was ten. However, Consuela, my housekeeper who drowned trying to save her, had a daughter as well.
“Carmelita and my Emma had been best friends. Carmelita was left without a mother, as I was left without my child. My wife and I took her in as if she were ours. Carmelita was my daughter in every sense of the word.
“I was heartbroken when she decided she wanted to go live in the States. However, she was an adult, and I couldn’t keep her here. Two years after she settled there, she met up with some guy.
“I didn’t like him. He wouldn’t have been my first choice for her. However, she fell in love and became pregnant. The bastard left her and the child. Carmelita returned to me broken and in tears with a swollen belly.
“Of course, I took care of everything like a papa would. My granddaughter was born, and I couldn’t remember seeing a more beautiful sight. I was the one to name her.
“She became my pride and joy. I watched her grow and enjoyed her laughter until her mother decided to return to America and take her away with her. To this day, I think my wife died of a broken heart.
“It was like she lost three daughters. Carmelita once again got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I was informed she was involved with some lowlife who was into trafficking young girls.
“I was livid. Why take my little nipotina and involve her in that? Three months ago, I got a call in the middle of the night …” He takes a pause as his eyes begin to mist. He swallows hard and clears his throat before he continues.
“Carmelita was killed. They say she overdosed, but she never touched that stuff. For all her bad decisions, she was still a good girl. Besides, she loved her daughter and wouldn’t neglect her for the chase of a high.
“That asshole shot her up with that shit and killed her,” he chokes out with rage lacing his words.
“This is who has your granddaughter?”
“Yes, he has my bella. Name your price. I will give you whatever you want. Please, Uri. I need you to go to the States and bring her back to me.
“If you find her with that bastard, I want you to kill him. Make him one of your examples. I want him to suffer.”
“Done,” Uri says and stands, nodding for me to follow.