Page 106 of Mafia Darling

I made a very quick decision. “Stay.”

She glanced at Marco then back at me. “But I thought you needed to discuss the other businesses?”

“You may stay. There is only our life, remember?”

I’d been thinking a lot about these words, about merging our lives completely. She was my wife, clever and brave, and she’d already seen me at my worst. There was no reason to hide from her any longer. We would be stronger together.

“Really? I can stay?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” I lifted a brow at her, giving her the stern expression I knew she loved.

“No,” she drawled and lowered herself back into the chair. “I’d like to stay.”

Marco began reporting. “Some guns came in two days ago and Carlo took them all to the safe house. We have buyers lined up coming from Serbia next week.”

“The rebels?”

“Yes. We’ll charge them double what we paid.”

“Good. What else?”

Marco kept at it, his memory sharp, even for details. The shipments in, the purchases out, the status of our construction projects . . . he gave me all of it. I sorted and stored the information in my mind. “Good. Anyone get ideas while I was in the hospital?”

“A few of the suppliers mouthed off and some of our supply houses were raided. It was taken care of. Things should calm down now that you’re back.”

It was to be expected, but I didn’t like it. “You’ll give me the names of those suppliers. I’ll deal with them personally. What about Vic?”

Marco cleared his throat and cast a nervous glance toward Francesca. This was new, discussing murder and disposal in front of her. I waved my hand, telling him to hurry up. “She can take it.”

“We did as you ordered,” he said. “Small pieces were delivered to the appropriate people first thing this morning.”

“Enzo?”

“We sent the head to the last known address we could find for D’Agostino.”

My lips curled. I would’ve loved to see Enzo’s face when he opened that box. Even if he wasn’t home, Enzo would hear of it. News of the delivery would travel fast amongst the ’Ndrangheta, serving as a warning to others who considered betraying me. “Let’s call him and see if he picks up.”

“Right now?”

I nodded. “I want him to know that I’ve recovered, that he hasn’t beaten me.”

Marco pulled out his phone and began scrolling. “If you’re intent on calling him, then you should try to determine where he’s staying, who he’s with. Any information we can get to help us take him out. Do not lose your temper.”

“Yes, baby,” Francesca said. “Please, do not lose your temper.”

I wanted to lash out at them both, but deep down I knew they were right. I stared at my wife’s beautiful face, letting the tranquility she instilled in me settle into my bones. Then I pointed at the phone. When it started ringing, Marco put it on speaker and set it on the desk.

“Pronto,” a voice said, weaker than usual but stronger than it should have been.

“Enzo, come stai? How are you feeling?”

“Never better, Fausto. But enough about me. I hear you’ve been unwell.”

“I’m fine. Stronger than a bull. It’s too bad you couldn’t stay longer.”

“Yes, well. Thank you for your generous hospitality. I will have to see how I can repay you.”

“There’s no need for that,” I said. “It was truly my pleasure.”

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