I’ll never tell him. It would only complicate things at the worst possible time. But once this is over, I’ll be having a big talk with him, see where we go from here.
If we survive. We’ll know by tomorrow night. Until then, I’m going to enjoy my last few moments of peace with him. Then we’ll see if he’s right.
Will my plan work?
I’ve no idea things are about to go as wrong as they possibly can. I’m about to end up thrown into an unmarked grave while Enzo, my only hope of survival, will be nowhere to be found.
PART THREE
33
ENZO
* * *
I’m sitting at the table in Marco’s Bistro. The coke has gone. The cash has gone. Even the body in the back has gone. There’s just me, Marco, and the TV screen from last time.
The Don is visible on the screen. He’s not looking anywhere near as happy as last time but if I play this right, I’m about to make him happy. Play this wrong and I’ll be dead before I can get out of the room.
I can feel Marco itching to shoot me. Even if I get the gun off him before he gets a chance, there are three more armed men in the next room. I’ve worked with them all before but like they said last time I was here. Got to obey the Don.
The man we all work for leans forward in his chair, stroking his chin. “Are you telling me there’s another box?”
I reach into my jacket pocket. I hear Marco shift in place so I make it a slow movement. I bring out the sealed box and the necklace, setting them both down on the table.
“The negatives are in here, still got your seal wrapped around it from when it was buried. Necklace safe and sound like I promised.”
“I told you to bring me her head.”
“She fell off a ravine trying to escape me. Don’t worry, I saw her spine snap in two when she bounced off a rock into the river. She won’t be a problem.”
“What if her body turns up?”
“So what? She goes hiking. She fell. Who’s to know anything different?”
“Anything to tie you to her?”
“Not a thing.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“I’ve got a lot to lose if I fuck this up. It’s just pussy, right?”
He leans closer, a horrible smile forming on his lips. “Good pussy?”
I force myself to smile back. “The best.”
He smacks his hands together and roars with laughter. “Won’t be so good by the time they fish her out of the river, right?” He laughs again. “Imelda will be outside the Bistro when you leave.”
“That’s it?”
“A deal’s a deal. It was just business, nothing personal. You understand that, right?”
“Of course. You wanted to ensure I kept my head in the game. I’m hoping I’ve reassured you that you will always have my loyalty.”
“I know that, Enzo. If you were going to fuck with me, you’d have done it a long time ago. Would have been a reasonable thing to attempt after what happened to your foster mother.”
“As you said, it’s business, nothing personal.”