Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
ENZO
"Welcome, welcome." Edoardo opens the door himself to his brownstone in Manhattan.
It looks from the street like any one of the beautiful and wealthy brownstones, but when we step inside, I can appreciate the man's splashy wealth.
Drugs and trafficking must really pay off. Still, he has other sources of income, and the trafficking is just a rumor.
Still, I hold rumors in this world as gospel until proven otherwise.
The place is dripping with money and is tasteful, too.
The wow factor is a double-height great room with a glass back wall opening to a courtyard that gives off backyard vibes. I doubt anything illegal happens out there.
But I'm not here for real estate.
I want my sister and my girl.
And of course, Squish. But he comes with the girl. A two-for-one.
"Come, come." Costa leads us further into his home, past the great room and through to an extravagant area where the wall of glass opens onto the patio for the courtyard. It isn't open now, but the table is covered with cakes, pastries, wine, and sandwiches.
What the fuck is he playing at? Some kind of housewife?
I shoot my father an irritated look, but he narrows his eyes and shakes his head a little, so I shut up.
I'm not about to do a thing to compromise Lola and Lyndall's safety.
And if that takes an afternoon fucking tea party, then I'll take part. I might have to kill Costa later, but...
In my head, the clock counts down. A relentless ticking that grows louder with every second that passes.
Costa snaps his fingers, and a dark-haired beauty wiggles in.
She's wearing a tight red dress and high heels. She kisses him and pours the wine.
She picks up a tray. "Cake?"
Are these fucking cupcakes?
Dad steps on my foot.
"Uh...thanks..." I take one.
I don't want cakes or wine. This isn't a social visit, and I want to explode. I want to pull my gun.
But Dad's ease as he sits down vanishes every time he glances at me.
I don't need to hear him speak. His unspoken words are loud enough in my head.
Sit the fuck down. Shut up. Smile. Play the game.
I shove a bite of cake into my mouth to help and chew slowly, trying to ignore the warning bells ringing.
We shouldn't be here.
This is a waste of time.
Every minute away is a minute closer to losing Lola and Lyndall.
And not one fucking message from my team.
Because as Edoardo sits back, seemingly more concerned with being a consummate host instead of dealing with the issue at hand, the urgent one, I can't help but wonder if he's trying to stall.
It's like fire ants are roaming over me.
Dad, though, settles in.
And the two of them start shooting the shit about old times and crimes. They laugh over clashes they've had and when they've joined forces.
When Costa calls Red Dress over to refill their cups and makes her sit on his lap, something she does willingly, the thread I'm clinging to dangerously frays.
"Mami, this is my good friend, Mario. Tell him the news."
"We are getting married." She kisses Edoardo.
The thread snaps.
I look at her and find a smile because I know Dad. I offer a brief placation with social niceties. "Congratulations, I'm pleased for you." Then the smile vanishes. "But we have business. Dad? Edoardo?"
"Enzo," Dad warns as Costa places a hand on her curvy ass.
I can't keep the irritation from my voice. "No. Lyndall and Lola might be getting tortured while you two eat cake and fucking cucumber sandwiches."
"This is not how we do things."
"It may not be how you do things, Dad, but my woman, my sister, your daughter, are on the line." I stare him down, waiting for him to contradict me, to fight me on this.
We may not be blood to Lyndall, but we are family.
And the fact he's fucking here gives me some kind of hope that he cares.
"I am aware, Enzo. But there are ways..."
"It's all right, Mario." Costa sighs and nods, then whispers into his fiancée's ear.
I really don't care that we didn't get a name. I'm not expecting an invitation, let alone a formal request to be the man's best man.
What I do want is to get down to the business that got us here.
So, I wait, holding onto the fragments of my patience.
She wiggles out, and the man's expression turns to one of hard business as she disappears completely.
He clasps his hands together, leaning back in his chair.
Now would be the time to move to a more professional setting, crack out hard liquor, smoke a cigarette or cigar. Show it's time for negotiations, that the niceties are done.
He doesn't, just studies me.
When he's done, he spreads his hands. His gaze doesn't leave me. "Let's get down to it, then. I am guessing you are not overly thrilled I helped Dominic, are you?"
"Enzo is aware you didn't mean to upset my family in such a way. I take it Rebecci didn't mention my daughter?"
"He did mention a second female, just not who she was." He glances at Dad, then back at me. "So, you are not thrilled by this."
"That's the understatement of the fucking century. Of course, I'm not fucking thrilled."
Edoardo shrugs. "Do you plan to kill me? Shoot me? Slit my throat?"
I wait a beat, and I'm slightly mollified Dad doesn't interject.
I stare him down. "No. I just want Rebecci and the girls."
He picks out a delicate cake and eats it. "It wasn't anything personal, you understand. I'm a businessman, first and foremost."
"I bought the startup, not fucking Louie's issues."
Edoardo shrugs again. "But... you bought it."
"The business. To help sort it, to protect Lourdes. I should never have inherited his fuck-up. That's not how it works."
"Some might beg to differ." Costa continues to study me as Dad pours a little wine.
I try to keep my face hard but neutral. I know how these games are played, and the startup is a real business.
This isn't a mafia thing. Or it shouldn't be.
I righted certain wrongs, and payment should have been made to those deserving in the deal with Louie.
Sure, I get Louie fucking dabbled in things he shouldn't have. Made dodgy deals and screwed with the people he shouldn't have.
But if I'd been some rich fuck businessman, I doubt Costa would have done this.
There are other fucking ways.
Any other businessman would've liquidated. And he should have gone for Louie.
So, I tell Costa that. "Some might have. And if this had been a mafia business purchase, perhaps I'd understand."
Dad holds back, but the back of my neck sweats.
"Maybe it was."
"Louie's family is rich. Old money. His daddy is no doubt sick of paying for him, but the building belongs to them."
"And while they'll have no idea of his whereabouts, they are used to bailing him out, no questions. Rather, their team of lawyers is. You could have gone that route, Costa. But you didn't."
He sips his drink and almost smiles. "Your boy is smart, Mario."
Dad snorts.
"But maybe because my name is Marino, you thought I was low-hanging fruit. Well, I'm not."
"You could be wiggling out of things, the way people like Louie do."
Dad laughs.
I do too.
I hook a thumb at my father. "You think he bails me out? Or that I ask?"
"You're here, Enzo."
"Yes, to fix the mess you helped create. And there's no bailing. Dad's daughter? My sister? It's called vested interest."
"And yet, I'm the one screwed over."
I look him in the eye. "How is that my problem?"
He cuts his eyes from Dad to me. "How isn't it?"
"There wasn't a word in the exchange of money for the business about him owing any of the big or small families. And his regular monetary debts to do with the startup were taken care of in the purchase. So, the business was in my hands with a clean slate."
"And his problems came with it." The man stares me down.
I stare him down right back.
He is pushing to see if I crack or crumble. But there is only one weakness I have. Family. Lyndall, Lola. And yeah, even Dad.
I'm right, this man is wrong. And he knows it.
"If you can't find Louie to make him pay, that's on you, not me."
"Really? If this was a business debt?"
My father mutters my name under his breath.
I hear the warning, but I don't heed it. We do business differently. And yes, mafia and organized crime have certain rules. But so does business.
"If it really was about a business debt, then you should've come to me and given me the chance to fix Louie's mess. Those debts I'll deal with fairly. I'll make him pay me. But you didn't come to me. This tells me his double-crossing and screwing you over is between you two. Not me."
I pause.
Then I think of something. "And the answer to that fucking you over is not to take an innocent man's family or, in this case, help someone else do it. Lyndall is not even sixteen. And you know Dad."
He doesn't speak for a long time. "I agree I may have misread the situation."
"It happens," Dad says, but the warning in his voice isn't aimed at me this time.
Eduardo glances between us. "You know, I might have misunderstood the situation, partly thanks to Dominic for making it appear like you were more involved than you actually are. He claimed you were in partnership with Louie on a deeper level."
"And you didn't want to kill me?"
"There are different levels, Enzo. Dominic made it sound like you were...involved somewhat, but a little dim. However, guilty is still guilty. You understand how I might take Dominic's word at face value. And perhaps I shouldn't have."
I stare at him, making sure my mouth isn't hanging open.
Honestly, I'm shocked at how reasonable Eduardo is turning out to be.
I expected him to see he was wrong and double down anyway.
This makes my head spin.
And his next words make it spin even harder.
"How about this? I'll help you get the girls back, for you and my friend, Mario, here."
"Alive?"
He smiles. "Safe and sound."
"And I should trust you because?"
"I am reasonable. Isn't that so, Mario?"
"You can be, yes."
But something crawls up my back, making me try to work out the man's angle here. "And the catch?"
Eduardo stands. "No hidden catch. I don't appreciate being misled. And you have your father's strength and fire. This is your battle, but I will help. Besides, I know you'll make Dom pay."
"With the fucker's life," I snarl.
And Eduardo beams. "As a gesture of goodwill, I'll even take care of Vincent for you."
My father shakes his head, his eyes darting to me, then back to the man standing in front of us. "I warned him about that."
"Youth." Costa exchanges a look with Dad, and they're both pissing me off.
But I'm also aware the help, if I can trust it, will be good. Perhaps needed.
Costa's eyes land on me again. "You riled him up, Enzo. And now he's making his intentions to ruin you clear to anyone who will listen."
Dad nods at Eduardo. "Should we retire to your study and plan this?"
Costa leads the way. "I know where they are, but you'll need a lot of men. The property in Jersey is gated, has an alarm system, the works."
I nod. "I can deal with the alarm system."
I text Cade to stand by. As soon as I get the address, I forward it to Cade, who I know will get started on remotely dismantling whatever he can.
Then I text Silas to get some info on the property.
After that, we plot out a plan to ambush the estate.
Dad's very involved this time.
Edoardo says, "I'll supply some of the manpower. And, as a gift to you, Enzo, I'll act as an initial distraction to draw the attention of Dom's guards."
Dad sends me a triumphant look, and I admit, silently, I can see myself and Costa forming some semblance of a friendship.
He's the type of man the Syndicate can find useful, and we can find him useful too.
Later, as we finalize the attack plan, I get a message from Silas.
Silas
I've got a ton of dirt on Costa.
I hesitate.
Me
Hold on to it, but I don't think I need it. Anything on the plans?
Silas
I have blueprints. Can email or drop them off.
Even if the dirt spells out that the man's going to double-cross me, I'll deal with it down the track because right now, I need him. Dad and Gino have enough people, add a few Syndicate bodies, and we might have the numbers, but...
But I haven't got the type of favors needed for this operation.
Costa has the name, clout, and numbers.
I need him.
Risk or not, trust or not, I need him.
Me
Great. Meet us here.
I give him the address. He can ride with us.
Then I text Cade.
Me
Any problems?
He gets how it encompasses everything, including his brother, whom the irrational part of me still wants to throttle.
I'm not about to. That irrational part also wants to take down everyone else, Cade included for sending Jack, and Dad for not caring until it was too fucking late. Yep, I also want to beat myself up most of all.
I caused all this when you come right down to it.
Me.
No one else.
Ah, fuck. This is my closest friend.
Me
Jack?
Cade
Fine and still feeling like fucking shit. Can we get back to business?
Thank you, BTW.
Me
Not at all welcome.
I half-smile in the middle of my internal crisis.
Me
Any issues with the system?
Cade
It's complicated, but I think I can do it remotely.
Me
Wait until I get there. I want it down, but those inside not to notice.
Cade
So, almost impossible?
Me
You can't do it?
Cade
Didn't say that, asshole. Just tell me when.
Me
Will do.
Then I tuck my phone away.
This is going to fucking work.
I'm going to make sure Dom has zero chance of escaping.
And if he has hurt Lola or Lyndall, or done something to harm Squish...
I'll rip him limb from limb with my bare hands.