She watched him get on the motorcycle he’d recently purchased just for today. As he sped away, she leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes. The next two hours would pass by excruciatingly slowly, but she had no choice. It was time to play the waiting game.
****
Sergio parked the motorcycle across the church. He didn’t take his helmet offyet, in casesomeone would recognize him. He wasn’t too worried. Sunday mass wasn’t over. Most of Victor’s men would be positioned inside the church, not outside. He checked his watch.
He was five minutes early. He waited patiently until he finally caught sight of Victor’s black Lamborghini. Sergio checked his surroundings again.
He noticed the two suits standing and joking around a black Chrysler. He didn’t recognize them, but they were definitely new lackeys. Sergio took off his helmet and crossed the road.
The lackeys didn’t notice him. Sergio knocked on the glass windows of Lamborghini. The driver rolled the windows down. Why wouldn’t he? Dressed in an impeccable black suit and tie, Sergio looked like a member of the Family. Besides, few people in the city would casually stroll up to Victor Rossi’s car.
The driver was new. That worked in his favor. The driver’s eyes grew wide as Sergio showed him his gun. Sergio shoved his hand through the opened window and unlocked the car.
“Scoot over,” he said.
The driver paled but didn’t argue. Sergio climbed into the driver’s seat. He checked his watch again. Ten more minutes before the morning service was over.
He rolled the windows up. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the driver taking his phone out. With a sigh, Sergio ended him quickly. The driver slumped in his seat. He debated sparing the driver, but there was no helping it. If he called for help, then Sergio’s plan would go right down the drain.
The car door opened and in climbed Victor.
“I don’t need someone babysitting me, Bonino,” came Victor’s irritated voice. The mob voice was speaking to one of his lieutenants hovering in the background. “I’ll see everyone at the meeting.”
With that, Victor slammed the door shut. Sergio started the engine. Victor still hadn’t noticed anything was amiss as he drove out of the street.
“Felix, this isn’t the way to the restaurant.”
“Unfortunately, I had to get rid of Felix,” he said.
Through the rearview mirror, he watched Victor tense up. Keeping one hand on the wheel, he pulled out his gun and raised it, so Victor could see he was armed.
“Sergio,” Victor said softly. Recovering from his initial shock, Victor leaned back against the leather seats. Victor knew how fast he could shoot. He wisely didn’t resort to any drastic measures. “I take it you’re the one responsible for killing my brother?”
“Aldo got in my way. He should know what I do with my enemies.”
“You can’t possibly think you’ll get away with this.”
“I’ve survived worse odds before,” Sergio answered with a shrug.
He noticed the black Chrysler tailing him, but Sergio wasn’t worried. Victor never went anywhere without two guards watching his back. Sergio stepped on the gas. He knew this city like the back of his hand. He swerved and made a few sharp turns that made Victor gasp. Victor fumbled for the seat belt and put it on.
“Are you trying to kill both of us?” Victor demanded.
Sergio checked the mirror again. He’d lost the Chrysler. Right on cue, Victor’s phone began to ring. Sergio entered a dead-end alleyway and stopped the car abruptly. He pointed the gun at Victor.
“Give me your cell phones. Both of them.”
Victor swore softly but surrendered his two phones.
“Next, weapons,” Sergio said. “Yes, even the knife you keep strapped to your calf.”
“I raised you like my own,” Victor said, his voice starting to shake.
The old mafioso didn’t like to be reminded Sergio knew him inside out. Sergio knew Victor regularly attended the 10:00 AM service at St. Patrick’s, and what time his driver came to pick him. He also knew the guns Victor carried and the two phones he carried. One for business and one for his personal life. Victor was like an open book to Sergio, predictable.
“Carlo did that,” he corrected. “He taught me all I needed to know to survive in this cutthroat business. You only gave me targets to kill.”
“And look how far you’ve come. Youthrewall that away for a woman,” Victor said, disgust in his voice. “You could’ve been the next don of the Rossi Family.”