Chapter 38
Tommaso
Gilly’s—the neutral territory for criminals in San Francisco—is full.
Even though it’s the middle of the day, there’s several people in the bar.
Most come and go, using this as their meeting space; some are here just for a drink or food.
There are surveillance cameras in case anything happens, but they don’t record audio.
The owner-operator of Gilly’s and his staff take this place and their role extremely seriously; they’re dedicated to playing a non-biased, neutral role to ultimately reduce bloodshed on the streets.
Law enforcement tends to leave this place alone solely because it helps reduce collateral damage to the people of the city.
Vincenzo sits across from me, scanning the bar before turning back to me.
His security entourage is here; and I call it that because everything Vincenzo does is over-the-top. He travels like he’s royalty; I’m lucky I wasn’t forced to clear the bar and a three-block perimeter just to get him to meet me here.
The fact that I didn’t tells me a lot. It’s not that he’s turning humble; no, it’s because he desperately wants or needs this meeting with me. He’s grossly outnumbered, and he knows it. Yet he still came. I’m on edge about why, but I keep my mask in place.
Just like him.
He smiles at me, looking like he’s my best friend, but I know he’s a shark. And with what Gina told me about what her father said about him, I don’t fucking trust him, even if I can’t imagine him doing what he’s accused of.
There is no ‘innocent until proven guilty’ in our world; you wait too long, you’re dead.
Most hot-headed, impulsive leaders—and there are many in our world, hence why there’s so much power-grabbing and warring—would be here to retaliate.
And I will retaliate if needed, but I’m not letting my emotions rule my actions or decisions so I can find out more about what is going on.
If Vincenzo is a threat to Gina, though, I will take him out. Not because of an impulsive, hot-headed decision, but because I’ve already decided his fate.
The weight of the bullet in my pocket reminds me that there are ripple effects to any life you take, and you must be ready to face the consequences. Pay for your sin. And I’m ready to pay whatever price to keep Gina and our child safe.
Gus, a former pro boxer, who recently started as the manager here, approaches our table with our drinks. He nods to me and asks, “Anything else I can get you gentlemen, Tommaso?”
His voice is raspy and hoarse from a throat injury in the ring. And he addressed his question to me, subtly recognizing that this is my territory and the man with me is my guest.
“We’re good, thanks, Gus.”
Vincenzo watches him walk away before regarding me as he sips his wine. “You’re not usually a wine drinker.”
I lift mine in salute. “Variety is the spice of life.”
He scans the barroom again, his eyes stopping on the table of the four Chamber leaders who are my collective allies now. The agreement is fresh and untested, but the fact that they’re here is a message in itself.
“I’ve heard of the power structure you recently created here with them.” He inclines his chin toward their table. “Very impressive that you were able to negotiate and secure that. Stefano underestimates your strength and your worth.”
I remain silent. I agree, but I’m not airing my family’s dirty laundry with him. I’ll always remain loyal to my family because family is everything to me.
However, I do tell him, “It was because of Gina.”
I say it for two reasons. One, because I’ll always give credit where credit is due. And two, because I want to taunt him to rile him up, because I’m an asshole.
He doesn’t emotionally respond to the bait, though, and arches an eyebrow. “How so?”
“At the dinner at Caruso’s house, when she asked, ‘Wouldn’t peace be more profitable?’ and what it would take to bring a ceasefire and peace.”
He had condescendingly dismissed her comments, telling her she was na?ve. Many in our world view women as pawns to the powers-that-be by merging families through marriage, or as pretty ornaments to be looked at, not heard.
But I can see he’s impressed, either by Gina herself or because I acted on the idea. Likely the latter, as Vincenzo tends to be as misogynistic as they come.
But I’ve brought up the elephant in the room: Gina.
My wife.
He eyes me over the rim of his glass. “So, tell me more about how you lied to me about having no idea where Gina was.”
“I lied.” I shrug as if that’s an explanation enough.
The finger wearing his family’s Don ring twitches. “Why?”
“She’s my wife.”
His eyes fall to my wedding band before lifting back to mine. “A ploy—”
“Not a ploy, Vincenzo. It’s legal. And binding,” I add, letting a threat leak into my tone.
“Why would you marry her and break the contract with the Altera family?”
“Why do you care?” I counter, testing him.
“Because…”
Guilt flashes over his face, and it has me instantly seeing red. Is what Caruso told Gina true? Does Vincenzo want her? To be his whore; his to loan out to others?
Every instinct is telling me he’s not that kind of man, but my emotions are starting to rule.
Before I can pull out my gun and shoot him between the eyes right here, he says, “Because she’s not safe.”
I know that, but what does he mean, or what does he know?
“Are you working with Caruso?” I ask, no longer beating around the damn bush.
“Arturo said Gina has amnesia,” he says instead of answering.
My jaw ticks as my rage grows. “Are you working with Caruso?” I repeat.
“No.” He sets his wineglass down on the table. “But my father was.”
“Where is Caruso and Leandro?”
“My estate in Catanzaro.”
It’s a feat that I’m not over the table, ripping his throat out with my bare hands.
Marco catches my eye from a table positioned close enough if things go to shit.
He sits with Silvio, who came from LA to attend this meeting along with Salvo, who I promoted to my head of security, and Vincenzo’s inner circle.
The noise in the bar drowns out our conversation, and no other tables are close enough to overhear. Gilly’s version of social distancing for privacy.
“If you aren’t working with Caruso, then why the fuck is he at your estate?” I snarl.
“He and Leandro think they’re my guests.”
I relax, marginally. “Think?”
He smiles, and I see the shark underneath with rows of razor-sharp teeth. “They’re not allowed to leave; not that they tried, of course, because they’re scared shitless of you.”
“Do they know I have Gina?”
“No, but they suspect it. When he returned home after disposing of Guila and Davide’s bodies, and he found her gone and couldn’t find her, he assumed she had run to you. Your interest and reaction to her that first evening didn’t go unnoticed by any of us.”
I ask the question I desperately need to know. “Did Gina watch Caruso kill her mother?”
His face softens slightly with regret. “Yes. Caruso told me Gina needed additional convincing to be more amenable to his plan. He snapped Guila’s neck while Gina watched.
” He looks down, shaking his head. “What fucking bastard fathers will do to their children…” Lifting his head, he asks, “But how did Gina get amnesia? Was it the trauma of watching her mother be killed, and her mind is blocking it?”
I don’t trust him, not yet, but I give him some truth.
“I suspect that’s partially it. But when I found Gina, her face was bruised, swollen, and bloody, and she had a wound on the back of her head.
The neurologist said it was conducive to being caused by her head hitting something sharp and solid, something like the corner of a desk.
She had a subdural hematoma and would’ve died if I hadn’t found her and gotten her to the hospital in time. ”
He leans forward, fisting his hands on the tabletop. “Caruso conveniently left that part of the story out.”
“Are you surprised?” I hike my brows. “He’s nothing like the man Gina remembers as a young girl.”
“So she has those memories?”
“Some.”
He drags a hand over his face. “What a goddamn mess.”
“She did have another memory return.” I eye him and go with my gut instinct to tell him what Caruso had told her that Vincenzo wanted to do.
He’s pale and looks sick after I’m finished. “Tommaso… I would never fucking do that.”
“But you wanted her. You want her,” I amend.
“Of course,” he freely admits. “She’s beautiful. Feisty, which is a refreshing change from the women my father always tried to match me with. But I never would’ve treated her like that; I was willing to marry her.”
My teeth grind at that, but focus on the problem at hand. “You said your father was working with Caruso.”
He sighs and shakes his head, but he doesn’t answer; only looks around the bar again.
“It’s safe to talk here,” I assure him.
He pulls his chair closer to mine, leaning in.
I get the hint and do the same. He’s close enough that he could slide a knife between my ribs, and I can sense the tension escalate in Marco, Silvio, and Salvo, but Vincenzo keeps his hands clearly visible on top of the table.
“Caruso won a business in a gambling game,” he says into my ear. “Years ago, and he’s been growing it ever since.” That explains the wealth; yes, he has risen in the ranks, but not enough to justify the cash he’s been throwing around the past few years. “It’s human trafficking.”
“Which is a banned source of income with the ‘Ndrangheta,” I grind out. “Why the fuck would your father—”
“I’m getting to that,” he cuts me off. “Caruso has been working with Arturo, and he approached my father as well.”
But if the ‘Ndrangheta is against this, why the hell would Caruso go to the head of the syndicate?
“Apparently, Arturo and my father have been considering how to bring this to the Dons for a vote to formally endorse trafficking as one of our key sources of revenue,” he answers my unspoken question.
My stomach twists, but I remain silent.
“When we visited San Francisco, a formal deal was struck between Caruso and my father, and I knew I needed to act, so I told them I wanted Gina. Told them exactly what Caruso claimed because I needed them to think I was on board with this. But I would’ve protected her and even married her to do so. ”
I think about my father aligning with Arturo, but my mind and body instantly reject the thought that he would condone this, let alone be involved.
“Arturo has something over your father, but I don’t know what, Tommaso. That’s why the marriage and—”
“They want to bring it to a vote at the Don’s meeting,” I connect the dots.
With Arturo, my father, plus Vincenzo’s vote, which is weighted double, they could push it through if they had another Don who voted yes.
“Gina needs to be protected, Tommaso. I can keep her in Catanzaro until this is figured out.”
I damn near levitate with rage. “You’re not fucking getting anywhere near her.”
“Tommaso”—he doesn’t back down, even though he can see the multiple ways I’m plotting to kill him—“you don’t know Stefano’s role in this, or his intention.
Arturo has something over him; that much is obvious.
And you’re not Don here; you have no power to protect her, especially not if your father decides against you. ”
“She’s my wife,” I say through clenched teeth. “She’s carrying my child. My heir.”
He nods. “And our laws will protect her; you have my word as Don of the founding family. But this is all happening behind closed doors, Tommaso. Arturo desperately wants this source of income; not just for the wealth, but because he’s in serious arrears with the cartel.
He and his co-conspirators will stop at nothing to make sure this happens, including ensuring that your marriage to Rosa happens.
Gina and your unborn child aren’t safe, and you can’t protect them the way you think you can. ”
My stomach drops as that brutal reality slams into me. “I don’t fucking trust you, Vincenzo. Not with my wife and child’s lives.”
He levels me with a serious look. “I’m your only option. But to convince you that you can trust me, I’ll give you something you can use against me. Something no one else knows…something that would mean my death if it came out.”
He leans in again to speak into my ear, so only I can hear. “My father’s heart problems… They’re because I’ve been poisoning him ever since I found out his intention to try to allow human trafficking in our syndicate. I killed my father to stop this, Tommaso.”
I lean back, stunned.
Patricide is the ultimate sin in our world. Instant death of the accused. Because it stops the next generation from becoming too impatient or greedy to speed up their succession into power.
Vincenzo just gave me the weapon I could use to kill him without lifting a finger. The ultimate sin confessed to build ultimate trust.
As I stare at him, and as much as I hate this reality, I know that he is my wife and child’s best hope.
I promised I’d do anything and everything to protect her...
I just had no idea it would be ultimately out of my hands.