"That's... asking a lot. The Bellandis are connected."
"So am I. And you owe me for the election fraud case I made disappear."
Another pause. "I'll see what I can find."
"You have forty-eight hours."
I hang up before he can negotiate.
The third thing—and the most dangerous—is the sit-down with the Bellandi intermediary.
We meet at a restaurant in Little Italy. Neutral ground. Public enough to avoid violence, private enough to speak freely.
The intermediary is a man named Carlo Ferretti. Mid-fifties, silver hair, expensive suit. He's been negotiating for the Bellandis for twenty years, and his reputation is solid. Smart. Careful. The kind of man who knows when to push and when to retreat.
He orders espresso. I order nothing.
"Mr. Vitale." He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Thank you for agreeing to meet."
"Let's skip the pleasantries, Carlo. You know why I'm here."
"Caterina."
"Yes." I lean back in my chair, letting the silence stretch. Making him work for it.
He sighs, sets down his cup. "I want to be clear: what Caterina is doing, she's doing on her own. The Bellandi family has not sanctioned her actions. Don Massimo is unaware of her... campaign against your relationship."
"Personal or not, continued interference will be treated as hostile."
"Mr. Vitale?—"
"No." I lean forward. "I don't care if she's acting alone. I don't care if her father doesn't know. She's threatening my woman, my position, and my reputation. If she continues, I will respond. And when I respond, I won't distinguish between personal vendetta and family action."
Carlo's smile vanishes. "That sounds like a threat."
"Oh, does it?” I stand. "Tell Massimo to control his daughter. Or I will."
I leave without shaking his hand.
That evening, Giulio calls.
I let it go to voicemail.
He calls again. And again.
On the fourth call, I answer. "What."
"Dante." His voice is tight. "We need to talk."
"No, we don't."
"This situation with Bianca?—"
"Is none of your concern."
"She's going to destroy you! Don't you see that? Caterina has evidence. She'll release it, and everything we've built will crumble."
"Everything you built already crumbled, Father. Years ago. Need I remind you when you took bribes and disgraced our name? I've spent the last decade rebuilding what you destroyed. Don't fucking lecture me about protecting the family."
