Page 15 of The Sting of Love
“We were just near there,” I state, straightening up.
“These fuckers were doing business right under our noses and in the hotel,” Alex adds.
“Yeah. Looks like they got a good setup, but the van had no plates, and we weren’t able to track where the girls went. Them and Xiou are gone.” Gibbs gives me a defeated look.
I always give this guy credit. He works mostly for us, and I wouldn’t call us the good guys. We don’t get involved with shit like this, though, and I can tell he wants to do something about it. I want to do something about it too. Those girls are probably no older than sixteen. Who knows what the fuck’s going to happen to them and where they went.
“This is shit,” I sigh.
“Guys…” Gibbs steels his spine and looks from me to Alex. “I know these men have been in your business alliance for a long time. I’ve seen what they bring to the table, but I’m gonna be clear right the hell now that if you’re thinking of continuing business with them, my job with you all is done. I’m not into kidnapping young girls for the sex market.”
He looks serious as fuck, as he should be. He’s not a mobster. He might do jobs for us but he’s not from our world. He’s ex-navy and has his own handle on things. I wouldn’t give a fuck what Amadeo brings to the table. Losing Gibbs would put us in the shit. He’s worth his weight in gold and what you call a priceless asset.
I look to Alex and already know what he’s going to say.
“Gibbs, relax, man. We don’t get down like that,” Alex tells him. “We’re not into doing anything like this and we’re going to put a stop to it no matter who we piss off.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I didn’t want to be wrong about you guys after so many years. Just wanted to be clear and upfront,” Gibbs answers.
“No worries. I would do the same,” Alex replies then looks to me. “Donny, what do we do here?”
I smirk, liking how he passed the torch to me. “Terminate certain business contracts, of course.”
“Can you handle it? There’s worse shit happening in Calabria. It’s drugs. I gotta call in the boys.”
My brows rise. “What the hell’s happening?”
“Drug ring, looks like cartel guys.”
My jaw drops. “Are you shitting me?”
“Man, I wish I was.” He shows me more pictures of some guys. I don’t recognize them, but they’re outside the other branch of the hotel located in Calabria.
“Fucking hell.”
“Yes, I agree,” Gibbs says. “These can’t be random acts, and these men aren’t opportunists. Men like these don’t just pop up uninvited.”
I might have this jovial personality, but fuck, I’m not stupid. “No, they certainly do not,” I say. “Men like that don’t just sneak in when an opportunity arises.” The opportunity being Palo’s absence for the last nine months. They don’t look like they’re sneaking around. They seem too comfortable, like guests.Invited.
“And not when they have their own feature on the world’s most wanted list. They clearly had help.” Alex chimes in and gives me a knowing look.
“Mario,” I breathe, and they both nod.
That son of a fucking bitch. This, all of it has to be him. That fucker didn’t think we’d find out, and we wouldn’t have if not for Gibbs and his off-the-records experience on getting his hands on covert shit.
“Looks to me like he’s set up these side businesses,” Alex says.
“The pocket between Sicily and Calabria is perfect for these traffickers. They can get a boat and head toward Spain or Greece, or fuck, right into Albania. We don’t know,” Gibbs sighs.
“They seem to be focusing on the Caterina and Bel Posto,” Alex surmises.
“Well, it ends here,” I jump in. I can’t have this shit going on. What a way for me to start my duties. This is big stuff we don’t usually encounter on the regular and dirt we definitely can’t allow to continue.
“This could all get sticky, Donny. The Triad don’t just pop up, and Mario can’t be the schmuck we think he is if he’s got friends like that. Not to mention that it has to be him rubbing shoulders with the cartel too.”
Jesus. I already know not to underestimate anybody. The one thing I can trust about mafia guys is that they always want more. There’s always something they want, something to be selfish over. Some shit to get in trouble over.
“Don’t worry. I got it covered,” I tell him. I was the ambitious bastard who wanted more responsibility, this is my chance.
