Just before takeoff, I called Benedetta.
She’d asked to stay to catch up with her mother’s family. She would be safe with the Maltas during those twenty-four hours, so I didn’t see the harm in it.
I wouldn’t have been good company anyway.
“Get me the fucking names, numbers, and addresses, Benedetta. Do it right now. Include all Capaldo lieutenants. Send everything directly to Tony.”
Once she agreed, I didn’t bother with saying goodbye. I tossed my phone onto the seat beside me, then gulped down the old-fashioned set before me by the flight attendant.
The woman swooped in for my glass with a nod to let me know she’d be back with another.
I raked my hair back.
Moscatelli refused to return my girl to me, and it didn’t matter what the fuck I offered him. A vindictive asshole for the sheer pleasure of it. And he was scared.
It had shown in his eyes. The next generation frightened him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he kept a wary eye on Marco.
Others had reported how Moscatelli excelled at maintaining control of his emotions, which might have been true, but even veiled emotions dictated actions. If he were truly indifferent, he would have taken my offer. My terms were better than anything the Russians could give him, and the son of a bitch knew it.
I picked up my phone and texted Tony.
On flight back
Get V and C men to the estate at noon
BC has C info
…
Consider it done boss
Calling BC now
That gave me enough time to wash off the failure, maybe take a power nap, and down a lot of coffee while coming up with a proper plan. At that moment, I knew only two things. I was going back for Valentina, and it would get very messy.
Find blueprint of M estate and set up private flight to C
As many seats as possible
Unless driving is faster
Tony would understand immediately and get everything moving. He knew how to maneuver without creating links back to me for the FBI could gather too easily.
When I got Val back, and I would, I wanted time to marry her and enjoy my wife before a judge sentenced me to prison. My wife. Mine.
…
I got you boss
Everything done right away
Good man. Tony had always had my back since we were boys. And now he had to cover my son’s back as well. Tony would never lead the Vignali empire, but his job—keeping me and my heir safe and moving forward—proved to be just as important.
TWO HOURS LATER
Back in New York, I dragged my exhausted ass through the frontdoor of my house.
Enzo waited in the foyer, his foot tapping on the marble.