“Thanks,” I said, looking back at Santo. “That woman was divorced just three months ago. She’s going to eat him alive.”
“I’m sure he’ll love every minute of it,” Dante said, smirking.
With that, I made my way out, heading back down to Navesink Bank to see if I could catch Luca at Lucky’s place.
“So, out of curiosity,” Luca said an hour or so after I got there and explained the situation, “exactly what is your motivation here? Just seeing a woman in need? Guilt? Worry about this Colin fuck expanding and getting more power?”
“Honestly,” I said, exhaling hard, giving him the truth because I owed it to him, “all three. But more so the first two.”
“Alright,” Luca said, nodding. “I didn’t even see the woman, but I feel a little guilt about her situation too. But I am more concerned about Colin getting power if he is as twisted as you say. It sounds like he has already cornered the market in the area.
“I imagine someone like him will be looking to keep expanding. It wouldn’t be long until he started either fucking with our business directly, or making connections that would be a threat.”
“So am I hearing that you want me to have a talk with Colin?” I asked.
“I want you to get that girl and her brothers safe,” he clarified. “Sounds like they’ve suffered enough because of us. Once that is handled, though, yeah. You know what to do.”
“Okay, thanks, Luca. I appreciate it.”
“You’re going to want to drag at least one of your brothers with you in case you need it.”
“I can do that,” I agreed. I didn’t like the idea of trying to pull off an extraction of any sort without backup.
“Nino, for experience. And August. Because, quite frankly, he’s pissing everyone off,” Luca said, smirking.
“Not gonna lie, I’m looking forward to being his boss.”
“Humble his ass,” Lucky said, getting up and making his way out of the room.
“Keep me updated. Are you planning on staying over there, or driving home each night?”
“Depends on how complicated shit is looking. But I have to be back this weekend for Valley’s birthday.”
“That works. We can talk about any issues you guys might be seeing.”
“I am going to head down myself today. Depending on their schedules, Nino and August will likely head out today or tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. Keep me in the loop,” Luca said, rapping a hand on my shoulder as he moved out of the office in front of me.
With that, I had to drop in on both my brothers, finding August at his place, but Nino at Matteo and Josie’s place, in the driveway… detailing her car. Because he took that “If you need anything, call me” thing seriously when he said them to Josie after she’d saved my life.
He took her car in for its twice-yearly maintenance. He drove her to the dentist when she was going to get sweet air for a procedure.
If he got wind of it, he was helping her handle it.
“Alright. Yeah. I will hit the road as soon as I finish here,” he said, waving out to the mats he had spread on the driveway next to his pressure washer.
“Didn’t you detail her car in the fall?”
“Snow means there is salt all over inside. Just figured I’d give it a refresher,” Nino said in that deep, gravelly voice of his.
“Can’t help but wonder what is going to happen when you end up feeling like you owe another woman for doing one of us a solid.”
“Well, if you assholes don’t go and get yourselves shot again, I won’t have to worry about it,” he said, hooking up the hose to the power washer.
“Text me when you’re in the area,” I said.
“Will do,” he agreed, then turned on the washer, making any more conversation impossible.
Not that I had anymore.
I was anxious to get on the road, to go get a closer look at the organization.
If I were being honest, I was more interested in getting another look at Cammie.
But that shit was too fucked up to admit even to myself.
So I went ahead and didn’t do that.