32. Nico
Nico
“Am I getting my cocked sucked for Christmas?” Dante asks, unamused when we pull up outside The Gentleman’s Post. “Because I can arrange that without your help.”
“I’m aware,” I reply, killing the engine. I draw in a calming breath. My wrath has done enough damage in the past. This time, it must be aimed with more cunning.
The guard on duty outside had texted me the mystery black van’s plate number just yesterday. We’ll find it soon. Today, he subtly points to the worn-out street prostitute with badly-dyed purple hair loitering down the block. Violet.
Sensing tension, Dante follows when I climb out of the car, prowling toward her. She set up Matilde. This may very well be her last December.
A jaded junkie, past her prime if she ever even had one, but she’s not stupid. The second she recognizes me, she runs. Just not very fast.
“What did you think that would accomplish?” I ask, trying not to touch more of her than absolutely necessary when I catch her and drag her into the alley.
“Nice knife,” Dante says, confiscating her hidden weapon. “Since she showed us hers, why don’t you show her yours, Nico?”
With a dark smile, I pull my favorite knife. “I don’t know anything!” she screeches.
“I haven’t asked you anything… yet.”
“How many scars do you have?” Dante asks, still toying with her weapon. “As many as me? Perhaps you need a few more…”
In the end, Violet answers all my questions without gaining a new scar, filling in more gaps and leaving me feeling magnanimous.
“Congratulations, you get to see the new year if you take my advice – Leave my city. Today. I don’t care where you walk the streets as long as it’s not Chicago. But if you decide you want to reach out to the men we’re looking for to warn them, no one will ever find what’s left of you.”
“You should’ve just ended her,” Dante grumbles once she’s fled.
“I don’t want to kill a woman, certainly not one who’s lived the better part of her life as a victim.”
He rolls his eyes. Dante doesn’t draw as clear of a distinction between killing women versus men like I do. He’ll kill whoever he decides needs to die. “Care to explain all this to me? You mentioned a girl who sounded remarkably like my new sister-in-law during your questioning.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. I’d rather not betray what Matilde shared with me in confidence, but I want my brother’s help, so he needs to know.
After I fill him in, he shakes his head. “Fucking pieces of shit. How does Giacomo fit into this?”
“I’m not positive, but the grooming behavior with Maddalena, the so-called modeling party happening tonight, and the fact he was arguing against my changes to our sex work operations makes me believe it's connected."
"He's a greedy, disgusting pig, but he's not that bold. Giacomo wouldn't wipe his own ass without Antonio's okay."
"I know. Come on. We’re going to the brothel.”
“Are you really wanting a whore after interrogating that when you’ve got a beauty like Matilde at home?” Dante snorts, more baffled by that prospect than at the thought of killing the pitiful Violet.
I roll my eyes this time. “No. What I want is a shower. What I’ll do is get more answers.”
***
The madam, Cheryl, was as forthcoming as Violet once Dante and I had her cornered in her little office.
It helps that she’s not Giacomo’s biggest fan, and she told me everything I needed to act.
The traffickers have been loitering in the area for almost a year.
They’re backed by the Bratva, but the younger Barzetti is getting his slice of the pie by helping them find young girls for their richest clientele.
“In my city,” I mutter.
“In what was our father’s city,” Dante adds.
We exchange a loaded look.
I send Dante after one of Antonio’s men with orders to get whatever information he can while I visit our father next. He’s withering away before our eyes, but that doesn’t curb my desire to smother him with a pillow today.
“I always left those operations in Barzetti’s hands.
He has an eye for beauty and the right sort of dirt under his fingernails for doing what needs to be done.
Not to mention his brother was my Consigliere.
Antonio never handed me a light envelope.
His boy, Giacomo is coming along. Good, loyal men. ”
Useful men who kept him rich while he looked the other way.
“The Bratva are our enemy, and the Trio’s Code-”
“Fuck, codes. That code didn’t put new jewelry and fur coats in your mother’s closet.”
“In your mistresses’ closets, you mean. I can’t believe I ever looked up to you. You dishonor our family name.”
“You and your honor, you think you’re better? You think you’re above me, Nico? It’s why you won’t last long as a Capo.”
“You’re the one who thought he was better than everyone else. My hands will never be clean, but I know what I am, I know how I’ll run things, and I know I’ll last longer than you.”
I leave him gasping for breath, struggling to control my fury when Mother intercepts me. She begs me to arrange for Caterina to come visit our dying father.
She’s better off not seeing him, but because I love my sister, I will give her that choice. In accordance with our ways though, I’m forced to call her husband to discuss the matter.
“Nico… Are you calling to share seasonal tidings of joy?” Alessio drawls when he answers at last.
“My mother would like for my sister to come visit.”
“No.”
One word, zero hesitation. I can’t blame him. We’re at war, though it’s been fairly tame so far. Dante said Sofia wouldn’t say anything. I suppose she hasn’t if Alessio hasn’t gone apeshit by now, but I have a feeling it won’t last.
“I would agree to a temporary truce or send a hostage to your territory if necessary to-”
“Would you send your little wifey to visit us while mine visits you, Nico?”
“No fucking way.”
“That’s good to hear because the answer would still be no.”
“I’d like to hear Caterina’s answer.”
“No.”
This fucker.
Ending the pointless call, I leave my mother disappointed. Father’s not dead yet so maybe we can work something out before then.
***
Primo and I pick up Maddalena next. My wife skewers me with the questions in her eyes, but I think Primo’s presence helps reassure her when I say I need her sister’s help with some last-minute shopping.
“Am I in big trouble?” Maddalena asks once we’re in the car.
Primo jumps in to answer before I can. “No! No one is going to hurt you, Maddalena. I swear it.” No sooner than the words are out of his mouth, he realizes he’s overstepped his position, and they both turn to me.
“No, you’re not in trouble, and Primo is correct, but I need your help with a couple of things today.”
***
My war with the West is all thanks to treason in my midst. Merry fucking Christmas.
Dante’s methods for extracting information are undeniably effective.
Antonio’s man spills lots of useful details, including Antonio’s role in his brother’s death and his plan to undermine me and take over the Midwest Trio while I’m busy fighting Alessio.
He’s been plotting for a while now, since before my father’s illness was known, but I can still outmaneuver him.
In Giacomo’s greed to work with the traffickers, he unwittingly led me to all the snakes in my garden.
A few hours later, I hold a meeting with the men in Chicago whose loyalty I felt sure of long before I officially became Capo – our cousin Eros, three of my Captains, Primo and a dozen other Made Men.
It’s not as many as I'd like, but I don't want to wait for men from other cities to arrive. I chose only those without any family or strong business ties to the Barzetti Family until I’m certain who all was working with them.
“Thank you for coming. I would not ordinarily call you away from your families today, but there’s a sex trafficking ring operating in my territory specializing in teenage girls,” I announce once we’re gathered.
Their reactions indicate what I’d hoped – shock and disgust – and cements my faith in them.
“Before the new year begins, that ring will be eliminated along with a handful of traitors.”
“Where will we find this scum?” Eros asks on behalf of the others.
“The top men are having a little party tonight. We’re going to crash it.”
My sinister scowl and Dante’s unhinged smile infect the others. A very bloody Christmas is coming.