Chapter 10 Dante
DANTE
Ican’t stop thinking about her.
Fragments of yesterday play in my head on loop. It almost feels like she’s the only memory I have in this lifetime.
A knock on my office door interrupts my thoughts of her.
"Come in," I say.
Enzo, my consigliere, walks inside, holding a cup of coffee.
"Has he called yet?" he asks, looking at my cell phone on the table.
I accept the coffee from him. I know I'm going to need it to think straight.
"Not yet," I say.
"What are you going to tell him?" he asks.
I take a sip and glance out of the window. It's a beautiful summer morning. Birds are chirping in the trees, and the sun is already bright in the sky.
"He's going to know about the girl," Enzo says. "He's going to ask questions."
"Don't you think I know that?" I snap.
"He's also going to ask why you disobeyed a direct order," he continues, unfazed by my demeanor.
Enzo has always been my confidant. He's always the first to know about my plans. He's also the only one who has the guts to call me out on my shit.
"Well, you’d better think of something, and think of it fast," he says. "It's almost time."
The Don always calls at eight o'clock in the morning. And when he does, I'm expected to pick up right away.
"But really, what were you even thinking?" Enzo says. "You spent two hundred thousand euros on the girl. That's not like you."
"I know it's not," I say.
"This could get messy," he says.
"Things have been peaceful for far too long," I say. "We could do with some excitement every once in a while."
He sighs. "Be careful what you wish for, man."
I take another long sip of coffee.
Things are uncertain right now, but I know one thing. The girl belongs to me now.
My phone starts ringing.
Enzo stands and starts pacing the room anxiously.
"I can't watch this," he says. "I just can't."
"Then leave," I suggest.
"There's no reason to be rude. I brought you coffee," he huffs, crossing his arms as he turns to face me.
I accept the call.
"Salve, Don Savastano," I say.
"Tell me, Dante," he says softly. "When I put you in charge of my business, what were the exact words I said to you?”
"I can explain," I say.
"Careful, boy," he says. "You're starting to make a habit of being a poor listener. Answer my question first."
"You said that you would find a way to contact me," I say, reliving the conversation we had five years ago.
"And?"
"And that I would have to follow every one of your orders," I say.
"That's right," he says. "Now explain to me why you stayed at that auction when I specifically told you to leave."
I look up at Enzo. A solution appears out of thin air.
"I heard someone insulting us," I lie.
"Pardon?"
"Right after I spoke with you yesterday, I overheard the Sicilians talking," I say. "They said something unforgivable."
"What did they say?" he asks, falling for my bait.
"I don't wish to repeat it," I say. "But they insulted your family."
“Did they, now?” His voice is as lethal as a knife's edge.
There's a reason he put me in charge.
Don Savastano has no living blood relatives.
Despite being married multiple times, he doesn’t have any children either.
He had parents and siblings, but they were all lost in a tragic incident.
It's cruel to use that against him, but telling him the truth isn't an option. He's not the type to sympathize.
"I couldn't walk away after that," I say. “I didn’t get a chance to speak to them at the art auction, so I was going to confront them at the second auction. I was going to leave before the raid began.”
He's quiet for a long moment.
I just lied to my boss.
He's a smart man. He didn't get to the top by being gullible. He's ruthless and cunning, all the qualities needed to run a successful criminal empire.
A part of me is convinced he's going to call my bluff.
"And the girl?" he asks.
I slump in my chair, careful not to let my relief show in my voice.
"It...was a moment of weakness," I say. This time, I'm telling the truth.
"I've known you a long time, Dante," he says. "You have millions under your name, but I've never seen you splurge on anything before. You haven't even bought your first car yet, even though you have the means to buy top-of-the-range Ferraris."
"Cars don't interest me," I say. "And besides, my Vespa is better for these streets anyway."
"So you say," he hums.
He's quiet for a moment.
“What you did was reckless,” he says. “You could have gotten caught. Most did.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” I say. “But I have a plan of action against the Sicilians.”
“Dimmi,” he says in Italian. Tell me.
"They have a shipment coming in next week," I say. "Four million euros worth of fentanyl-laced pills. We can make the whole ship disappear."
We've been at war with the Sicilians since the beginning of time. The two crime families have never gotten along, and it's only getting worse with every passing year.
“That’s a good place to start, but I want you to dream bigger, Dante,” Don Savastano says. “We’ll brainstorm more tomorrow.”
"Certainly, Don."
"There's something else," he says. "I won't allow you to keep a whore inside your home. It's bad for the image."
I grit my teeth. "She's not a—"
"Make an honest woman out of her," he says.
It's my turn to become speechless.
"You finally found someone you like," he says. "Marry her."
"Are you serious?" I ask.
“We already talked about this,” he says. “The rumors circulating about you will ruin your reputation. And besides, this isn’t up for discussion. You selected a girl. I’m only asking you to keep her in your life.”
I can't see my boss right now, but I know exactly what's happening here.
This is a loyalty test.
I messed up, and now he wants me to blindly follow one of his commands.
The only problem is that I don't see it as a problem. Grace is going to hate me for it, but I can't wait to put my ring on her finger.
I can't wait to make her my wife.