Chapter Six- Buddha
I rubbed my eyes as I listened to my father, on the phone, put things in place for the private jet to take Snow and me to Italy.
Snow sat next to me, his head laid on the back of the chair, as he tried to rest. I looked down at my hands and just stared at them.
My knuckles were red and bruised. These hands had done so much, killed so many people who rightfully deserved it.
These hands have also brought pleasure to my wife, touching every part of her beautiful body that I’ve come to know every inch of. However, once again, these hands were about to kill again before the night was out.
“You’re all set; the jet leaves in the next six hours.
” My father interrupted my thoughts. I tapped Snow awake so he could hear what was being said.
“When you land in Italy, there will be men waiting for you outside the airport. They’ll have the guns you both will need.
Before you both leave for your flight, I’ll have the exact location where Francesco and Luca are hiding.
I have someone researching as we speak,” I nodded my head as I got ready to stand to leave.
“Wait,” Tomasso said, just as I was about to get up. I paused and looked at him from across the desk. In his hand was a small green stress ball; he squeezed it as he looked at me. The ball was part of his therapy, an effort to try to get his body to be stronger after his stroke.
“The black diamonds Francesco stole are important…yeah. I would love nothing more than to get those diamonds back. However, you miei figli (my sons) are worth much more. I need you both to come back home in one piece, or your mother will never forgive me,” Tomasso said, reaching over the table with his strong hand.
I grabbed it, and Snow reached over and covered both of our hands with his.
This was our way of expressing our love to each other.
“You’re not about to get rid of us so easily, Tomasso; we’ll be back. Just take care of yourself; I have a birthday coming up, and we’re about to celebrate.” I smiled, getting to my feet.
“Are you going to handle Matteo before you leave?” My father asked as Snow also got up. My brother and I looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.
“Do you need help to go to the living room?” Snow stopped, looking back at our father.
“Nah, ask Victoria to come see me,” I nodded my head at his request before Snow, and I disappeared out of his office door.
We walked side by side, heading toward the living room. “Where’s Matteo stationed?” Snow asked, slowing his steps.
“The front gate where he’s usually at,” I replied, taking my phone out of my pants pocket. I dialed a number and waited for the call to connect.
“Yes, Mr. Phillipe,” Matteo answered; just the sound of his voice was enough to make my skin crawl.
“We got a situation we need your help with; can you come to the main house?”
“Of course, sir, right away,” he answered before disconnecting the call. I turned to Snow, and we looked at each other.
“How we gonna do this? The dark room?” Snow asked. I thought about his question and then shook my head.
“Nah, that mothafucka has no clue we’re on to him. Let’s act the same way,” I told him as we walked into the living room. Our mother and sister were in a heated discussion but fell silent as Snow and I entered the room.
“Mamma, Tomasso wants you in his office,” I said, stopping in front of both women. My mother looked me up and down with a serious expression. I knew when she wanted to say something, so I waited patiently for her to get it off her chest.
“Is everything all set? Tomasso told me that you two will be going to Italy,” she asked, folding her arms, waiting for an answer.
“Yeah, we leave in the next few hours. What’s up?” I asked.
“Nothing, I’m glad Francesco and Luca will finally be gone.
Is there anything else I should know about?
Is there anybody else who’s a part of this?
I don’t want any surprises,” my mother narrowed her eyes at me a little.
I wasn’t about to tell her a fucking thing about Catalina.
Tomasso would be more than happy to fill her in.
“Nope, that’s it, nothing else to report,” I said, looking her straight in the eyes. She smiled at me; I knew she could tell I was on some bull-shit.
“Ok, you and your brother be safe and just know that I expect you two back here, in one piece. I love you both,” she said before kissing Snow and then me before she walked away to find Tomasso.
I turned my attention to Sofia, who had her index finger in her mouth as she nibbled on the nail nervously.
“Where’s Rocki?” I asked her. She looked up at me and frowned.
“Umm, upstairs asleep,” she answered. I nodded my head before I turned to walk away. “Buddha…” Sofia called out to me, reaching for my wrist as she stood up.
“What?”
“Umm, so you’re going after Francesco and Luca?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Nothing, I just hope you get them both. Make sure they’re really dead and gone before you come back home.
Don’t give them a chance to return and harm you all again.
Get rid of those stronzo (assholes).” Sofia said with a look of determination.
It was kind of strange hearing her talk like this; she always kept her thoughts and feelings to herself.
“Don’t worry, we got this,” Snow said, reassuring her. She gave a weak smile before she walked away, heading to the stairs to go check on Rocki.
Exhaling loudly, Snow and I walked to the front door and opened it.
I smiled when I saw Matteo hopping out of his car and making his way toward us.
Snow closed the door, and we stood waiting for this snake mothafucka to get closer.
Matteo was in his late forties; he was a burly mothafucka who probably weighed a solid 250lbs.
He wasn’t very tall; he was under 6ft. He worked with us for well over seven years.
“Hey, what can I help you both with?” Matteo asked, standing before us. He had a look on his face that said he was a little concerned about why I wanted to see him.
“I needed assistance with something on the pig farm. Snow and I wanted another pair of hands,” I told him.
He frowned for a quick second because nobody ever ventured into the pig farm.
I was the only person who frequented there; none of the men who worked for us knew what the pig farm was really used for.
Except Lorenzo, and I could be sure he never told a soul.
“Sure, I can be your extra pair of hands, Mr. Ricci,” Matteo said with a bright smile.
“Cool, let’s go; we’re taking the SUV,” Snow said, pointing at the vehicle parked out front. I looked at my brother, who looked at me before we both looked at Matteo, and the three of us made our way toward the parked vehicle.
Snow drove, and I sat in the back with Matteo. My 9mm bumping my waist every so often, reminding me it was there.
“What exactly do you need help with? I thought pigs were cool animals; once they’re fed, they’re happy,” Matteo said, which made me turn to him.
“Do you know a lot about pigs?” I asked him as we got closer to our destination.
“I mean, I know a little. My grandmother had a couple she used to rear when I was growing up,” Matteo replied as he took in his surroundings. It would be the first time he ever visited this part of the compound.
“Don’t worry, I’m about to teach you a little more about pigs.
Let’s go,” I said once Snow parked the SUV.
Opening our doors, we all got out one by one.
I led the way inside the pigpen, Matteo behind me and Snow behind him.
All of the pigs were up, walking their fat asses around as they grunted, sniffing the mud. I stopped and looked at Matteo.
“How many weapons do you have on you?” I asked him, scanning him as I did my own mental search.
“Two.”
“Ok, give them to me. We won’t want anything to get in the way of what I’m about to show you; you’re about to get real fucking dirty,” I said, holding my hand to him so he could hand over his weapons.
Matteo looked very confused, hesitated a little, then lifted his shirt, took out a Glock, and handed it to me.
I immediately handed it to Snow, who was standing behind Matteo.
Next, he bent, lifted the leg of his pants, and took out a 9mm he had strapped to his ankle; then he gave that to me also. Matteo stood upright and looked at me, waiting for what I was about to say next.
“Any other weapon?” I asked, holding the gun he just gave me, pointing it to the ground.
“Nah, that’s it,” he answered with a shake of his head. Just to be certain, I signaled to Snow, who stepped forward and patted him down. Satisfied that Matteo no longer had any weapons on him, I sighed softly and looked at my pigs.
“You know, Matteo, Lorenzo was in here with me before he died,” I began talking, taking a step back. Matteo’s eyebrows shot up at what I said before he tried to play it cool.
“Really? I didn’t know that. It’s really sad about what happened to him. Do you all have any idea who could have done such a thing to him?” Matteo asked, shifting his weight from one foot to another.
“Nah, we have no fucking clue. Do you?” Snow chimed in, reaching up and slapping a hand on Matteo’s right shoulder as he waited for him to answer.
“If I did, you both would be the first to know. I wouldn’t keep information like that to myself,” Matteo replied, using his index finger to flick the tip of his nose. I’m sure he thought that mothafucka was about to start growing by all the fucking lies he was telling.
“What do you know about pigs and what they eat?” I asked, pointing at the animals. I always asked the same question when I was about to cut up a mothafucka and feed them to these fat fucks.
“Well, I know they eat just about anything; they’re some greedy fuckers,” Matteo answered with a nervous laugh.
“Oh shit, do you know you’re the first person I asked that question and actually got it correct? Bravo to you, Matteo,” I said, clapping my hands while still holding his weapon.