Page 9 of By Blade, I Love
“But if you stay with Cosa Nostra, she can live in the most beautiful city of Palermo with the protection of the largest organization on the island. Raise a couple kids, have dinner ready for you when you get home. Can’t do that and run a syndicate at the same time.”
I smirked because of the ridiculousness. “You have no idea what she’s capable of.” When I’d pulled over on the side of the road,she was dragging a dead body out of the car, one of the two men she’d slashed to death with her knife. She could handle any weapon and land her shots even when she was terrified. There was nothing my woman couldn’t do, and with me at her side, even the sky wasn’t the limit.
At that moment, Don Russo joined us and took a seat. “Looks like Icarus is trying to interfere with production.”
“How?” I asked.
“Dispatched his men to Colombia.”
I smirked. “He’s in way over his head.”
“Hope so,” Don Russo said. “If not, we can change suppliers. But it’ll cost twice as much.”
“Then we raise the price,” Uncle Marco said. “Problem solved. We’re already the biggest supplier on the island.”
“And then our customers will start buying from the Skull King,” I said. “Which is exactly what he wants.” I tapped my finger against my temple. “Not as dumb as he looks.”
Don Russo stared at me before he shifted his gaze back to Uncle Marco.
A silent conversation seemed to pass between them.
“I tried calling Leo,” I said. “Call doesn’t go through. He either blocked me, or he’s got a new phone.”
“If Warren suspects Leo’s had a change of heart, he’ll keep him on a tight leash,” Don Russo said. “If he was a rat in the first place, he can be a rat again. Despite being helpful to Warren, he also squandered his credibility.”
Don Mancini had been right to call his own son an idiot, and Francesca had been wrong to disagree. “Then I need to get that rat working for me. Problem is, I can’t get a hold of him. I need you to find him for me.”
Don Russo gave a nod. “Consider it done.”
“Are we going to have lunch?” Uncle Marco asked. “I’m starving,” he said as he held his pipe between his fingertips.
“You’re always starving,” Don Russo said as he shook his head slightly. “Even though you eat like a pig.”
“Wolfe, would you like to join us?” Uncle Marco asked. “We would love to have you.”
I should get home and be with Francesca, but something made me want to stay. The old feeling of camaraderie, of friendship…I didn’t know. “Only if I get to pick where we go.”
Uncle Marco grinned. “Done.”
4
WOLFE
We went toEnosteria Sicula, a restaurant only open for dinner except for Cosa Nostra. We had a backroom deal with them, selling them their supplies for a fraction of the price from our network in exchange for being open for us during the day a couple days a week. We had that connection with a lot of the restaurants in Palermo. Cosa Nostra was the best-kept open secret in the city.
We sat on the patio together, drinking wine while we waited for our entrees.
“Francesca won’t be coming?” Uncle Marco asked.
“No,” I said. “Said she’s not hungry.”
Don Russo held his glass by the stem, watching the white wine swirl inside. “I can only imagine the emotional hardship she faces.”
“Yeah, it’s hit her pretty hard,” I said. “She watched it happen.”
“Damn, that’s ruthless,” Uncle Marco said. “And that’s saying a lot coming from me.”
A car pulled up on the street, and a young guy hopped out. “Boss, we’ve got a situation at the yard. Maraschi doesn’t want to pay because the parts are scuffed, and then Tullio didn’t come in today because he’s got the stomach flu, so he left the padlock unlocked…” He ran down a list of all the shit that went wrong. Just another day in the life of Cosa Nostra.
