Page 280 of Marcello

Dario narrowed his eyes. “I sense a ‘but’ coming.”

“The condition is, I go with you to Naples.”

“Absolutely not.”

Lucia drew herself up to her full 5’1” height. “When my grandmother passes, who do you think is going to take over the Fioretti family’s operations?”

Dario sighed. He knew the line of argument that was coming; we all did.

“You.”

“That’s right. Massimo will be my Enforcer, and our families will always be aligned, but I’m going to run Venice. My grandmother deals with things a certain way; I intend to follow her example. And today, a Camorra piece of shit nearly killed my sister and baby niece.”

“Sister-in-law,” Niccolo corrected.

“SISTER,” Lucia snapped, staring him down. “And if you think my grandmother wouldn’t do something about an infamia like that, you’re dead wrong.”

Dario paused a moment to take Lucia’s measure. Then he said, “This is going to be a dangerous mission.”

“I know that.”

“Do you? There’s a good chance none of us will make it back.”

“If my husband doesn’t make it back,” Lucia said, “then I don’t want to, either.”

Dario shook his head. “Tell your grandmother ‘thank you,’ but if the price of her support is endangering you, then no, thank you.”

Lucia held up her cell phone. “You can tell her yourself. She’s been listening in the entire time.”

91

Both Dario and Niccolo’s eyes widened –

And then both of them glared at Lucia.

“Donna Fioretti?” Dario said as he took the cell.

“Don Rosolini,” replied an old woman’s voice over the speakerphone. “My most heartfelt condolences on what your family has endured.”

“Thank you.”

“My resources are entirely at your disposal.”

“Albeit with strings attached, it sounds like,” Dario said as he gave Lucia an irritated look.

“Yes, well… as much as I do not like what my granddaughter wants to do, she is right about one thing: our family has our own way of dealing with situations like these. After my husband’s death, I did not retain control over Venice by being a shrinking violet. The Camorra must be taught a lesson. If they think they can do this to YOU, it will not be long before they come knocking on MY door – and that I cannot allow.”

“My brothers and I will take care of it.”

“And my twenty men will help.”

“There is absolutely no need for Lucia to accompany us.”

“I believe there is. The Camorra need to see that the Cosa Nostra stand united. What’s the American saying? ‘We must hang together, or we shall surely hang separately.’”

Niccolo snorted. “I doubt Benjamin Franklin ever thought his words would be quoted to justify a mafia vendetta.”

“Ah, Consigliere! I was wondering when I might hear from you,” the Widow said coldly. “Please let the heads of family speak.”