“I know. That’s why I prepared a different place.”
The front door comes flying open and Tim walks in, Gabriella jumping away from me.
“You’re awake?”
“Just woke up,” I say, reaching for a pillow and nonchalantly sliding it over my raging need.
“Gabriella fill you in?”
“Just now.”
“Feds are going through all my records. They took statements and all kinds of stuff then told me to go home, that I was in the way. They’re seizing everything. I might not have enough to pay for Gabriella’s tuition.”
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”
“You’ve got that kind of money?”
I nod, and if I didn’t I’d rob a bank to make sure my little girl started her college education on time. As her Daddy, I’m fully invested in anything and everything that moves her life forward.
“I can’t accept,” he says.
“You probably won’t have to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Guys at this level have rewards attached to their capture. If the government uses some of your recordkeeping in court then you’re sure to see a nice payday. It won’t be the whole amount, because you didn’t tip them. The other part of the reward will go to…me, and I’m investing it into Gabriella’s future.”
“You what?”
I turn to Gabriella and then back to Tim. “You know what I like the most about you two?”
“Gio, what the hell are you talking about?” Tim says.
“Your innocence, and naivety.”
“Huh?” Gabriella says, joining her father in absolute bewilderment.
“You think I just called you after all these years because I was down on my luck?” I pause. “Do you think a kid from Italy really comes over here for an exchange program, but when it’s your turn to go to Italy it’s ‘a bad time’ and the plans fall through?”
“What are you saying?”
I take a deep breath in, realizing I’m about to verbalize what has become the climax in my life, in real-time.
“I was an orphan, Tim. The mafia adopted me, I had little choice in the matter by the way, and after the Italian police started cracking down on them they looked for other ways to expand their empire. They sent me, and a lot of kids, to America with fake papers. Remember how I joined all the sports teams and was the outgoing Italian guy who was always meeting new people? That’s not my personality. I was scouting the area to provide information when I got back, to avoid getting into some serious trouble.”
“You’re joking?” he says, clearly not believing me.
“It gets better, mio amico. I’ve been trying to get out from underneath their grasp for years, but in Italy, things are interconnected and it’s not easy. Silvio Berlusconi, the man who served as Italian Prime Minister under four governments, is well known to be connected to mafia activities. Not only that he controls the media, so what am I supposed to do…run to the press? That’s a sure-fire bullet in the face.”
“You came here because…?”
“Because I was able to bring down one human trafficking ring, but the Italian authorities weren’t going to give me a full pardon unless I could pay off a debt they had with the U.S., who was breathing down their necks. They knew I’d come over as a foreign exchange student, and knew there was some nefarious activity in the area. I was supposed to come over here and lay low, get a regular job, and sniff it out and report back. Well, when you took me to see Marroni I recognized some of his jewelry and it was like the Madonna herself was giving me a gift. I called it in right away, and they confirmed he was involved, told me to find out what else he was involved in, which was impossible considering I’d told him I wasn’t interested during our, shall we say interview.”
“If you knew he was connected why wouldn’t you agree to work with him?” a perplexed Tim asks.
“Just like the amazing accountant you are, Tim. Putting the pieces together and making sure they add up, that they balance. The fact that I didn’t accept doesn’t balance unless you knew that I killed a man named Marroni years ago, back home, and he wore a similar coat of arms as a medallion. I knew Marroni would relentlessly research me if I took the job, and I didn’t need that. But it turns out he needed to research me anyway, which is why he addressed me by my last name last night. He already knew which is why I punched a known mob boss right in the mouth and we took off.” I pause. “That’s why his security guard didn’t act against me. They needed my testimony, don’t worry it was a John Doe, to burn this whole thing to the ground and put everyone away. And with the arrests complete, or so it seems from what I read a few minutes ago, we’re both going to get paid and a bunch of human traffickers will never smell freedom again.”
“You put me in danger, Gio. You put my daughter in danger.” Tim’s bottom lip quivers.