Page 105 of Mafia King
“Can it wait until Gia gets in? We’re getting hitched today.”
“I have an appointment.”
He pauses. I don’t break the silence.
“It’s her birthday today, isn’t it?” he finally says. He’s aware of the importance of the day and not afraid to mention it. Now I can either tell him I’ll keep my promise that he can join my business, or I can prove it.
“You want to come to the lawyer’s? See the crown’s pieces again before we reveal them?”
He’d have to put his wedding on hold, and doing so would be a proof of trust. Nothing would change about the plan though.
I’m not surprised by his quick reply.
“Nah. I’ll see it when you get back. Where’s this blessing you got for us?”
I give him the address and he estimates he’ll be at the house in an hour. Probably less.
My phone rings. It’s Vito—a man more trustworthy than his brother Roman, who I am sure told Theresa Rubino that I was engraving numbers inside wedding rings.
“Pronto,” I say.
“The lawyer’s office is secure as I can make it with what we got,” he says. “But…”
“Spit the toad, Vito.”
“We got Carmine on the roof across the street, but we got holes on the other side of Gateway Ave.”
Having to bolt the windows in the River Heights house has stretched my men thin, but this has to be done, and though no one knows where the lawyer is, it has to be secure, and Violetta can’t be left alone.
“How many do you need?” I ask, walking outside.
“Four, but we can make it with three.”
I have five men locking down the basement, but only three work for me. The other two install locks and window bars for a living.
“I’ll call you back.” I cut the call and walk around the house.
Gennaro’s no carpenter, but he’s nailing a window shut before it’s barred. Two more of my guys are clearing the cellar of anything that can be used to tie, break, or cut. I approach a man in a red sweatshirt who’s crouching at the base of the house.
“How long?” I ask him.
He flips up his welding mask and checks his watch. “Fifteen minutes?”
That means twenty or more.
“Ten,” I say, figuring I’ll get fifteen. “And it’s an extra thousand for you.”
He looks as though I’m asking him to jump over Vesuvius for a million, but he really wants the money. “I’ll try,” he says, then flips down his welder’s helmet.
I have one man left. Armando, and he’s at the house with Violetta.
I start to call him, but instead, I call her.
“My beautiful wife,” I say.
“Hey,” she says smoothly, and I think of how much more I want to fuck her than I want to be here playing with the locks and windows.
“Did you call Anette?” I ask.
