Chapter 90
Don Rosolini held up a finger to signal Niccolo. One moment.
The consigliere nodded and held the phone up to his ear as he turned away. “One moment, Don Severino. Yes… yes, I know…”
Don Rosolini turned to his wife. “I’d like you to go upstairs and rest.”
“Why?” Alessandra asked accusingly. “Because you don’t want me to hear what Don Severino has to say?”
“Because this excitement isn’t good for you or the baby,” Don Rosolini said firmly. “Bianca, Caterina, Lucia… would you please escort Alessandra to our bedroom?”
“I’d like to stay,” Lucia said.
“Babe,” Massimo said sharply.
She looked over at Massimo in irritation. “My grandmother needs to know about this.”
“Lucia may stay so she can inform Donna Fioretti,” Don Rosolini said. “Bianca and Caterina, if you will?”
Bianca nodded, and she and Caterina helped Alessandra to her feet.
“After the call, I want to know what Don Severino has to say,” Alessandra said darkly.
“Of course,” Don Rosolini agreed.
Alessandra gave him one last discontented look, then allowed herself to be led out of the parlor.
Don Rosolini gestured to Niccolo, who nodded and walked over. “I’m putting you on speakerphone.”
“Don Rosolini,” Severino’s baritone voice said from the phone.
“Don Severino. Thank you for speaking with me.”
Severino sounded amused, like he was enjoying having the upper hand. “Considering what you pulled in Rome, I was surprised to hear from you.”
Don Rosolini looked up sourly at Niccolo, who just shrugged.
“I appreciate your willingness to answer our call.”
Severino dropped the impish tone and became serious. “I understand one of your sisters-in-law has a shop that was firebombed by the Camorra.”
“Yes.”
“Mm. That’s a serious enough breach that it merits reopening the lines of communication. Niccolo also tells me that you captured one of their men, who says the Caproni siblings killed Don Amato three nights ago.”
“Correct.”
“You believe him?”
“That’s why I’m contacting you – in case Don Amato is avoiding our calls.”
“My consigliere is reaching out to him as we speak.”
“Thank you.”
“Niccolo says he thinks this is retaliation for your killing Aristide Caproni in San Vittore.”
“That’s what our prisoner says.”
“Four years is a long time to wait for revenge.”
“It is. Which worries me a great deal.”
“Indeed. It indicates a level of planning, restraint, and surprising cold-bloodedness. Are you formally requesting the rest of the Cosa Nostra’s help in this matter?”
“Not yet,” Don Rosolini said, then added, “Unless that help is offered freely.”
Severino chuckled.
“No… there would be a serious price to pay after what you did during the Council.”
He meant Fausto’s death. And probably the fake shootout on the Palatine Hill.
“Then information is all I ask for at the moment.”
“I see. Hold on.” There was a murmur on the other end, and then Severino came back. His voice sounded grim. “My consigliere has attempted to contact the Amatos’ consigliere, Don Amato, and everyone else in their household for whom we have numbers. No one is responding.”
“I see,” Don Rosolini said as he and Niccolo exchanged a dark look.
“How capable do you think Aristide Caproni’s children are?”
“If they could take out Don Amato’s entire operation in one fell swoop… disturbingly capable.”
“Hm.” Severino paused. “I will alert the other families about the threat. I HOPE this doesn’t portend a war between the Cosa Nostra and the Camorra… but if Amato is dead, someone will have to answer for it.”
“Agreed.”
“Consider your options carefully, Don Rosolini,” Severino said. “You can face this alone… or you can have the entire Cosa Nostra backing you up.”
“Either way, there’s a price to pay.”
“MY price is far less than what the Camorra will exact, I assure you. Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will. Thank you, Don Severino.”
“Good luck.”
And then he hung up.