39. Sani’s Sanctuary #2
“That caterer activated the bomb and was the one who used the burner phone to detonate it once he was well away. We just need to prove it,” Max growled. He closed the feeds and pulled up the cell tower data for the city. “Fuck, look at that.”
He pointed out the blue-marked area of the burner phone that had been used when the explosion detonated. It covered half of the roof, the side where Callum and the caterer were standing, but not where Santino was.
I smiled, my eyes wide. “Is it enough?”
“It’s enough to cause doubt and possibly get him released on bail. But we need more.”
“And here it fucking is,” Nero chuckled at his laptop screen, causing us all to pause.
“I’ve just pulled up Boss’ construction company procurement records, and an order was placed for pickup at midnight the night before by a subcontracted firm linked to one of D'Ardenzi’s manufacturing allies.
The load was signed out of the warehouse using a temporary VPN tunnel named ‘consultant access’ but was deleted hours after the explosion.
Our port manager didn’t sign it out. Callum did. Or at least someone working for him.”
“Print that off,” Max ordered. “Raya? Anything on the detectives?”
She pulled out a few pictures of Detective Morelli at a club snorting cocaine off a stripper’s stomach and threw them on the table.
“Anything else?”
Raya smirked and slid a falsified police report towards us.
“Perfecto.”
“Can you do face recognition on the caterer?” I asked, and Max’s eyes lit up. He zoomed in on the clearest shot and ran it through Sani’s system of known criminals.
It matched a man called ‘Rigorati Netalli’. Nero began to frantically investigate his background. “Born in Venice. Was a low-ranking Leone soldier back in the day.”
Max dragged his hand down his face. “Sani was right.”
“So what do we do now? Do we take all of this to the police? Use one of our corrupt officers to get it to the detectives?” Cami asked, and Max sighed.
“We gather evidence that raises questions, yes. But we can’t incriminate Callum. Sani will want to handle him himself, and he’ll be pissed off if we get D'Ardenzi arrested.”
“Even if it gets him out?” I argued, placing my hands on my hips.
“Especially if it gets him out. He’ll want D'Ardenzi’s blood.”
I exhaled the tension from my body because, in truth, I agreed. After what Callum had tried to do to my papí, Sani, and me with Damiano, he didn’t deserve to rot in a cell. He deserved whatever my husband had planned for him.
“I’m going to the station,” I announced, making them all look my way. “Don’t try to stop me. The police will want my statement and to question me anyway.”
“Not arguing. I’ll inform our lawyers so someone can meet you there. But are you certain you want to do this? Bribing a law enforcer is a crime,” Max said, gathering all the printed evidence into a file.
“Do you doubt my abilities or my lack of morals?” I raised my eyebrow with sass, and Max scoffed.
“Already one of us, I see.”
I opened the door to the sound of men groaning and whimpering in agony.
I froze, taking in the scene before me. Three men were tied to the chairs, blood pouring out of various wounds on their bodies and faces as Buccini soldiers took it in turns to beat the shit out of them.
Giovanni was standing in front of them with his arms folded over his chest and a bored look on his face.
He turned when he heard us all filtering out of the room.
“When did you get here?” Max asked.
“Landed an hour ago after meeting with Alessio for damage control. This bloody mess has caused bigger problems for everyone. Four of our international deals have been withdrawn. They won’t do business with us while we are seen as so ‘problematic’.
And that’s just Sani’s contacts. Six other mafia families have lost important deals in the last twenty-four hours, and they’re furious.
Word spread quickly overseas about our troubles.
Luckily, we’ve had Atlas to smooth things over with New York, but most have preferred to take their business elsewhere. ”
“With who? Russians? Irish?”
“Probably. The sooner we get Sani out, the better,” Gio said, turning his gaze to me for the first time. His voice was sharp as he stated, “These are the men we found at the hospital, guarding your papi, Aria.”
“Oh,” is all I could utter as I looked at their contorted faces.
I recognised one of them immediately. He’d nearly always been following my father.
My stomach clenched with a sensation that resembled guilt.
Were they innocent? Or were they all corrupt and working for Callum?
I suppose that was what Giovanni intended to find out.
“I’m taking Aria to the station. We’ve found enough that should at least allow him to be released on bail,” Max told Gio, strolling past him and patting his shoulder. “He should be out before the end of the day. Did you find those men who broke into Piero’s house?”
“No. But I’m sure their friends here will tell me where they are.” Gio smirked, glaring at the three men in front of him. “And where Callum is.”
Raya approached a collection of weapons and pressed her lips together before selecting a large blade and a chainsaw. She handed them to Giovanni with an innocent smile.
“You reckon this will do the trick, Sorrellina?” He chuckled. “One body part at a time, eh?”
She nodded and pulled up a chair to sit and watch.
“Come on, let’s go.” Max nudged me, forcing my feet forward.
I moved swiftly before the real torture started, climbing up the stairs and out into the daylight with Belio, Max, and Cami. There was knowing... and then there was watching. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that yet.