Chapter 22 #2
Dawn finally broke. Gray light filtering through the curtains. I hadn't slept. Hadn't even really rested. Just lay there planning. Preparing. Going over every detail of what needed to happen.
Marco knocked at six. Came in with coffee and a look that said he knew I hadn't slept.
"How's the arm?"
"Functional."
"That's not what I asked."
"It hurts like hell but I can use it. That's all that matters."
"You look terrible. When's the last time you actually slept?"
"Sleep is for people who aren't watching everything fall apart." I took the coffee. Drank it black and too hot. "What time are we seeing Father Benedetto?"
"Eight. He's expecting us. I called ahead, told him it was urgent. That we had evidence of serious violations that required immediate Council attention."
"And he believed you?"
"I may have mentioned it involved murder of a Council Don and conspiracy. That got his attention pretty quick."
I stood. My arm protested but I ignored it. Crossed to where Marco had left clean clothes.
"Help me with the shirt. Can't get my left arm through without tearing stitches."
Marco helped me dress. We'd been friends long enough that the assistance wasn't awkward. He'd seen me in worse shape. Had patched me up after fights. Had covered for me countless times.
"After this is over, assuming we survive, I'm retiring from this life." Marco's voice was light but serious underneath. "Going to buy a beach bar in the Caribbean. Serve drinks to tourists. Never think about mafia politics again."
"Can I come visit?"
"Only if you bring Aria and leave the drama in New York."
"Deal."
We drove to Father Benedetto's residence just after seven. The priest lived in a modest home near his church. Nothing ostentatious. Nothing that screamed power or wealth.
But Father Benedetto had more influence than most people realized. He'd been friends with my mother. Had known both my parents since they were young. Had watched me grow up and, I suspected, knew more about my father's sins than he'd ever admitted publicly.
Marco parked. We walked to the door. I knocked.
Father Benedetto opened it himself. He was in his sixties, hair gone silver, wearing simple black clothes. His face was kind but his eyes were sharp. Missing nothing.
Those eyes took in my bandaged arm. The exhaustion written all over my face. The desperation I was trying to hide.
"Kai. Come in, my son. You look like you've been through hell."
"Feels like it too, Father."
He ushered us into his study. Simple space. Books lining the walls. A desk covered in papers. Crucifix on the wall. Everything neat and organized.
"Sit. Both of you. Tell me what's so urgent that you're here before eight in the morning looking like death."
I sat. Marco stood by the door. I pulled out the recording device.
"I need you to listen to something. It's a conversation between my father and Vincent Romano from the night Antonio Romano was killed. It proves they conspired to murder him so my father could marry Aria."
Father Benedetto's expression went grave. He'd known Antonio. Had respected him.
"That's a serious accusation, Kai. The kind that could start a war if you're wrong."
"I'm not wrong. Just listen."
I played the recording. Watched Father Benedetto's face go from serious to shocked to pale as he heard Vincent panicking. My father giving orders for murder. The confirmation after Antonio was dead.
When it ended, silence filled the room.
Father Benedetto sat back in his chair. Aged ten years in ten minutes.
"Dear God. Salvatore murdered Antonio Romano in cold blood. Helped his own future brother-in-law commit fratricide. All for a girl."
"Not just any girl. My girl." The possessiveness in my voice was obvious. "My father wants her. I love her. And he's forcing a wedding in seven days unless the Council stops him."
"This is serious, Kai. Very serious. Murder of a Council Don violates our most sacred laws. If this recording is authentic..." He trailed off, thinking.
"It's authentic. I can provide the original files. Timestamps. Everything you need to verify."
"And you're certain about what you're asking me to do? Because once I call an emergency Council session over this, there's no taking it back. Your father will know you betrayed him. The consequences..."
"I don't care about consequences. I care about stopping a wedding that should never happen. About saving a girl who deserves better than being my father's third wife to die under suspicious circumstances. About finally making him pay for all the evil he's done in the name of family and power."
Father Benedetto studied me for a long moment. Then nodded slowly.
"Your mother would be proud of the man you've become. She always said you had your own sense of justice. Your own moral code."
"My mother tried to leave him and he killed her for it. Made it look like suicide. I've been gathering evidence against him for twelve years. This is my chance to finally bring him down the right way. With Council support instead of a bullet in the dark."
"The Council needs to hear this." Father Benedetto stood. Moved to his phone. "I'll call an emergency session for this afternoon. Two o'clock. Can you present everything then? All your evidence. Not just this recording."
"I have documentation of unauthorized territory expansion. Proof of treaty violations. Evidence of ordering hits on Council family members. Everything you'd need to remove him from power."
"Then we'll see justice done. One way or another." He paused. "But Kai, you should know. If the Council acts, if they sanction your father or remove him, you'll be next in line. You'll inherit everything. The power, the territory, the responsibility. Are you prepared for that?"
I hadn't thought that far ahead. Hadn't considered what came after.
But looking at Father Benedetto's serious face, I knew the answer.
"If it means Aria is safe and free, I'll take on whatever burden I have to bear. She's worth it. She's worth everything."
"Then go. Prepare your case. Two o'clock. Council chambers. Bring everything you have." He gripped my shoulder gently. "And Kai? May God watch over you. You're going to need all the help you can get."
We left. Got back in Marco's car.
"Well. That went better than expected." Marco pulled into traffic. "He's calling the session. We present evidence this afternoon. This could actually work."
"Could. That's not definite enough."
"It's the best we've got. Now we just have to hope the Council acts fast enough to stop the wedding."
Seven days. We had seven days.
I looked at my phone. Seven missed calls from Lia's number. She must have gotten access to a phone somehow.
I called back. It rang once before she answered.
"Kai! Oh thank God. Are you okay? I heard father shot you and threw you out and I've been so worried..."
"I'm fine. Bullet went through clean. How are you? Are you safe?"
"Locked in my room with guards outside. Father's gone completely paranoid. He moved the wedding up, Kai. Not seven days. Three days. He's marrying Aria in three days and there's nothing I can do to stop it."
The bottom dropped out of my world.
Three days. Not seven.
Three. We had even less time than I thought.