When he’s lifeless Micro says, “One down, more to go.”
“Let’s go,” I signal the door. We want to get in and out before anyone else shows up.
Someone might check the cameras that are offline and come to check things out. There are men on every street corner and who knows what side they are on. We still have danger ahead as we creep back to the van and pull out of the alley waiting until we get to the road to turn the headlights on.
The streets are crowded with people watching the smoke in the air and the wail of sirens from fire trucks.
29
Valentina
Iam sitting in an old fishing shack on the docks where the ships come in with fresh fish. It’s one of the family's front to pay men to work that just go out and get what they can, and we make sure they stay in business. That I do know as I like being by the water and I have seen funny business down here from time to time.
The shack stinks of fish guts even though it’s been hosed off and I’m tied to a chair. The rope they used is the one for boats and it scratches my skin and feels like it’s a wire brush.
I’m wondering how far out they thought these plans through. Sure, I loved Laura like a sister, and it hurts that her fiancé is in with the bad guys, and I assume her father is probably behind this too. It’s fitting that all the rats in this nest are closely tied by familiar ties.
Since I’ve been here most of the day after I woke up, I’ve had time to think, and once I saw the Russian with the neck tattoo, who I didn’t know was Russian as I never spoke to him at the gala. But, just the same, he’s big-time mafia, and now I think the Russians are behind this takeover as much as my father’s traitors.
The tell for me was that Laura, Samira and Massimo are the only ones outside of Micro and Savio who knew I was at the hospital this morning. I can’t believe Ridolfo served us my entire life and turned on us.
I hope Giovi and Mama are okay. I’m stiff from sitting, the fast food he gave me hurt my stomach and I’m the daughter of the Goddamn don and I’m pissed off that this was so easy for them.
But mostly I just want to see Massimo and make sure things are okay with us. I grew up today. Now, I want to get the hell out of here and get on with the next chapter of my life.
“I have to pee,” I say.
“You can wait,” he mumbles.
Even though Laura loves Marco, I never knew him well. I just wanted to be loved and happy with a man like he was with Laura. Now that the veil has been removed and I see him for himself I wonder if Laura was in on this. She was a last minute addition to the gala and it’s not like her to be mooning over a man if she really loved Marco. I think she purposely pretended to be distracted that night.
I’m trying to remember what Papa said in this situation. I’m supposed to make friends with Marco and make it harder for him to kill me. I hate to give him the satisfaction of sucking up to him. I don’t think he has the stones for it, but I don’t want to find out. If it comes right down to it, I’ll delay him by offering him a blowjob. He seems to think with his dick anyway.
I’m cut off from the world, the shack is old, and the night’s cold wind blows through it. I’m glad I wore pants today. I don’t know how I’m going to stay awake, but I have to look for an opportunity to get out.
Something exploded thirty minutes ago. Marco taunted me with the news. Papa’s first self-made restaurant burned to the ground. It seems this was like a kickoff event for the evening. It seemed to be significant to Marco, but who knows?
Dolts.
It’s dark, there is only an old light bulb hanging from the ceiling and it looks like it could fall off the electrical cord at any minute. I can’t believe men work in these conditions. Maybe the men under Papa were pissed at him.
My body is stiff as a corpse. I’ve seen one of those now. I don’t want to be the next one. No. Gambino and Gabriella need to go. There’s no doubt in my mind she and her dad were in this together. Why did she leave all those years ago and suddenly return and this master plan unfolds?
What are the odds of that? I’ve had time to contemplate that as well.
Our dog hates her, they are good judges of character. She was at both events where the murders took place and no one else I’ve been in contact with has shown me any other evidence. Well, sure the Micheli family were at their own wedding, and their family was there as well.
Even if they wanted Argon dead, we didn’t know them. We have no beef with them, we have our own pipelines to move anything we want. Papa never met Massimo before the gala, he dealt with his grandfather, but we were the ones in debt. And Papa was old school and didn’t like debt so that makes no sense. Plus, selling me cleared the slate. I hope it’s not Massimo’s grandfather.
All this time in my room on the island, I’ve had time to put together the ‘family’ Papa had, and from my window I could see the drugs being brought in here with the fish. I’m sure every joint the family owns launders money and no one on the island can say a peep or they disappear.
I’m not sure who does that part, I don’t want to know. I just hope I get out of here soon as I’m nauseous from the smell and want a shower. I know Massimo will find a way to find me. He has to. He’s done it before; he can do it again. He has enough money to buy all the help he needs.
Then it dawns on me. Maybe these guys want money from him for me.
Fuck, I didn’t even consider that.
If that’s the case, the sky’s the limit. I hope they don’t know how wealthy my fiancé is.