Chapter Nine
L eon sat there a moment then tapped his fingers on the table.
“Ok, this is what I want you to do. Highlight the parts you just told me about and get them ready to send out. I want one copy to go to Marco and another copy to go to the Council. I was waiting until I knew more to call Marco.” He paused, then said, “Well, I know more now and none of it is good.” He shrugged.
“Rowen asked that I not tell her uncle about her giving me the heads up as she thinks he won’t believe it. ”
John snorted. “She might be right. Even after all these years, Marco has no reason to listen to her without proof and even after we send him this stuff, he still might not believe it.”
Leon sat back in his chair and stared at his son-in-law. “Well, if he doesn’t and Gianno somehow gets close to him, he might believe it then.”
John just stared back at him for a moment.
Leon went on to say, “Well, we warn him the same as we will warn the Council but I can’t make him believe it if he doesn’t want to. All I can do is protect me and my family.”
“And does that include Rowen and her brother?” John wanted to know.
Leon nodded. “We can’t ignore them or this situation.
If her family comes gunning after us, we have to stop them anyway we can.
” Shaking his head he added, “I cannot and will not temper my defense or offense because they might get shot and I don’t think she would want me to do that.
There’s more to her story but if she got a gun to protect her and Calli then she had reason to worry.
Her father doesn’t sound like she could count on him to protect them, so she did the next best thing.
She armed herself. That alone tells me what I need to know. ”
John nodded. “And I also got a link in her dad’s email so if there is more communication, I should be able to get that as well.”
“Good, keep an eye on them, Gianno’s time is coming up and we need to know what’s coming.” Leon growled.
“True enough.” John nodded.
“Also have someone watch Stephano. I want to know who comes to visit him in the next three weeks.” Leon nodded. “Now I have to call the Council and Marco. Neither call is going to be welcome but I have to do it anyway.”
John left to go set up the email chats.
Leon reached for a cigar. He felt like he needed the extra boost to make these calls.
He called the Council first. The Council was interested in the information and even more interested in the fact that one of Gianno’s own family came forward with the information.
Leon told them he would forward what they had found to them and the Council would make a decision after they had read everything.
In fact, they said they had already gotten it during this phone meeting and would look it over soon.
Leon assured them he was on top of the situation in Boston and would alert them as soon as something happened.
The Council was very happy that he called and would stand beside him no matter what.
Several of the Council members remembered what happened years ago and why Gianno Caldousce wouldn’t prevail in his mission.
After Leon ended the call, he stood and poured himself a drink to wash away the bitter taste of what he had to do next. He then again sat down and picked up the phone. He slowly tapped the number that would connect him to Marco’s office and waited until the other man picked it up.
“Hello Leon,” Marco answered the call.
“ Marco,” Leon greeted politely. “How are you doing?”
“Things are going good through the transition of my father stepping down and me stepping up.”
“I’m not surprised, your father was a good leader and a good teacher,” Leon told him. “He would have set you up rather well I think.”
“Si, he did. Cosi ora, I have to ask what you are calling me about. There is some bad blood between your family and mine, so why the call?”
“Questo è vero,” Leon agreed, then took a deep breath and exhaled. “You may not want to hear what I have to say but I have to warn you about something. In fact, it is related to the bad blood between us.”
“Ok, but what is left to say between us?” Marco asked. “It's been more than twenty years since it all happened, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, it has been almost that long since your brother Gianno went to jail, but I understand he is due to get out in a couple of weeks.”
“Yeah he is, the prison sent us a letter,” Marco acknowledged.
“Did that letter tell you what his plans were once he got out of prison?” Leon asked.
“Nooo, of course not.” Marco sounded puzzled. “Why? Do you know what his plans are and how the hell did you find out?”
“Gianno had a son Stephano back then,” Leon began. “He was quite young but he’s a grown man now with a family of his own.”
“Si, I know this.” Marco growled. “We may not have been in contact but I kept track of Stephano.”
“Then you know he has a 24 year old daughter and a 14 year old son with autism. His wife walked out on him years ago and his daughter couldn’t leave her brother behind.
Stephano is a weak man and is allowing the drink to take over his life.
Also he has been in regular contact with his father even behind the prison walls. ”
“What are you getting at?” Marco asked impatiently.
“Earlier today, your niece Rowen came to see me with a warning. She wanted me to know that Gianno gets out of prison in three weeks and he’s coming after me.
After he kills me, he has plans to go to New York City and murder you to take over your place in the Family.
Then he has plans to bring down the Council. ”
“Che diavolo?” What the hell?” Marco was shocked. “How the hell does he think he’ll even get close to doing all that? I’m his brother for God’s sake.”
“I know but you also took his place,” Leon told him.
“I think his mind is slipping over the edge of insanity and he figures you did him wrong by taking his place, unless you plan to quietly step off the plate and allow him to take over. But even if you do that, he’ll still have to kill you to make sure you aren’t going to take over. ”
“And how do you know all this is true?” Marco asked. “That’s just pazzo talk.”
“We found a series of email chats between him and Stephano where he lays out his entire plan. He’s been gathering his own small army of ex cons to help him.
A hit team if you will. Assassini pagati.
Paid Killers. These men won’t be bothered to shoot someone to help him gain his seat of power as they expect to sit at the table with him.
I can send you the messages if you like.
I was stunned to find out just how far he would go to get his revenge.
And that includes both me and you. I didn’t do anything wrong that night.
He might have thought I did but the woman he was interested in didn’t want anything to do with him.
Not to mind the fact he had a wife at home and a young child. ”
“Si, that’s what made my father so upset.
Gianno was married; he shouldn't have been looking for a woman anyway. Then when he shot Salvador thinking he was you... Well, that was just wrong any way you fucking slice it. The day Gianno was sentenced was the day my father disowned him. The police proved his intent in court and the fact Gianno never showed any remorse broke the old man's heart. He never forgave him and I couldn’t blame him. My father lost two sons that day and I was the only one left to take over. I was never meant to be in this chair. I had other dreams and other desires to pursue.”
Leon paused at this. He never expected this man to share anything personal with him, considering they never spoke really.
“Well, from what I hear you have done an excellent job, heading that Family faction. Your father would be proud. So, I will be sending you the emails we found. I am his first stop and if I fail to stop him, it will be up to you. The Council knows all of this too and they are preparing for the outfall.”
“I appreciate this warning, but I’m not worried about losing.
His plan is too full of holes it sounds like to me.
If someone wants to take the NY mob down, they’d better have an army.
” He tisked. “Too bad for him. So if we both live through this attempted coup, we should meet, ” Marco told him lightheartedly.
Leon paused at the man’s lack of concern as he answered, “Perhaps we will one day. I’ll make sure to send you the emails so you can read for yourself what’s been said and what your brother’s plans are. What you do with that information is up to you. Addio oer ora.” Goodbye for now.
“Arrivederci, Signore Vincinti,” Marco said goodbye.
Leon slowly placed the phone down and just sat there for a long moment “Idiota,” he muttered. Then he drained his glass and went to his security center to speak to John.