Page 107 of Mafia Darling

“Perhaps you can come visit me next time. Your wife seemed to like the beach house.”

I closed my eyes and dragged in a deep breath through my nostrils. My wife’s delicate fingers touched my hand, telling me to remain calm, so I said, “Last I heard your beach house was destroyed.”

“Everything can be rebuilt, not to worry. Congratulations on your marriage, by the way.”

“Grazie. No need to send a gift. You already left one behind.” The tip of his finger. “Speaking of gifts, did you receive the one I sent you? It should have arrived this morning.”

“No, I haven’t seen it yet.”

“A special token, just for you. I hope you enjoy it.”

There was a long pause. “I’m sure I will. I’ll be sure to send you something in return.”

I leaned forward and hardened my voice. “If I were you, I would focus on my business and family instead.”

“Then it is fortunate you are not me, no?”

This stronzo never learned, apparently. “How is your wife and children? Your young sister? They must have been happy to see you upon your return.”

Enzo didn’t say anything, likely not wishing to divulge whether he’d seen them or not. In the background, I heard church bells. Not particularly revealing, not in Italia, but it could mean he was in a city, not out in the country.

Marco gave me a sign to finish up, so I said, “I must go, Enzo, but I hope you take care.”

“Yes, you take care, as well, Fausto. Please give your beautiful wife a kiss for me, eh?”

I ground my molars together so hard I thought they might crack. “Please do the same with Mariella. Oh, wait. She left, didn’t she? A shame. I know how attached you were to your mantenuta.”

I hung up the phone, unwilling to let that bastardo have the last word.

The silence stretched. Marco shook his head. “We should have killed him when we had the chance, Rav.”

“I fucking know, Marco.” I didn’t look at my wife. I knew she already felt guilty about this.

“He won’t rest until you’re dead. Our only option is to get to him first.”

I scrubbed a hand across my forehead. “Who do we use, the sniper from Rome?”

“You mean Lesso?”

Alessandro Ricci. The best shot in Europe and always available for the right price. I nodded. “See if you can track him down. Whatever he wants but I need proof. Also, let’s find Mariella.”

“Why?” Marco asked.

“Based on what she told Francesca, I think Mariella knows a lot about Enzo’s operations. More than a regular mantenuta. We should find her, discover exactly what she knows, and how we can use it.”

“She’s with some designer in Milan,” my wife said. “She loves to post pictures of herself on Instagram.”

“Excellent. Call one of our friends up there. Have her questioned.”

“Have them get her drunk on white wine,” Francesca said dryly. “It’s her favorite.”

“One more thing,” I said to Marco. “We need to discuss Crimine.”

“What’s Crimine?” Francesca asked.

“A meeting with all the leaders. It’s where decisions are made and problems are solved. It’s sort of like . . .”

“A mafia boss conference?”

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