His face pales and then turns a shade of red I’m not sure is medically possible.
“Do you want to cut to the chase and let me tell you why I have you here?”
“You plan to kill me, right? Exact your own revenge,” he says matter-of-factly.
I laugh loudly. “Gisto, your father wouldn’t give a shit if I killed you. We both know that.”
It’s sad to watch his reaction. No child should know their parent sees them as nothing more than a burden.
“Then why?”
“Because as much as I dislike you, I think I can help you out.”
He scoffs. “Why bother? I know you well enough, Allegra. You’ll burn us to the ground for his actions.”
I tip my head and smile. “You do know me well. However, I’m going to need your help to do it, and in return, I’ll let you walk away with some dignity. Your father will have to answer to the Mafiosi for his actions. I can make it so you, your wife, and your children are left out of it.”
“And my brother?” Ah, here he is, Giani’s son. He’s got a nasty streak just like his father. “What about him? What if I don’t want him saved?”
“Then he won’t be. I know you’ve never been trusted with your father’s secrets. But I also know you’re a slippery son of a bitch, and I’ll bet my Ferrari you’ve made it your business to know certain things—like the combination to his floor safe.”
He gets a glint in his eyes. “I’ll make a deal,” he begins. “I’ll give you the combination if you leave me with the house I’m in and enough money to live on.”
I rub my chin. “What will you do for business? There will be no work here, and I plan to blacklist your family name. That’s not up for negotiation.”
He shrugs. “Allegra, believe it or not, I couldn’t give a flying fuck about this goddamn life. All it’s ever brought is pain. I want enough money for my kids to grow up in a secure home. I’ll find legitimate work if I have to.”
I contemplate his request for a few seconds. More than anything, I’m surprised to hear how unhappy he is. Of course, Giani made his life hell, but I never thought he disliked “The Life” itself.
“Deal. Now—the safe code.”
Gisto calls it out as I tap it into the keypad. The satisfying click makes me smile. I have Giani’s entire life in my hands. Flicking through, I find the deed to Gisto’s house and hand it over.
“Once I have control of the Arello accounts, I’ll have your money transferred. Fair?”
“Fair. I hope this is the last time we have to do business, Allegra.”
“Same. Now let’s put on a show. I need the man at the gate to think I’m pissed off at being stood up. Sadly, Gisto, you need to go back the way you came and into the trunk.”
“As long as you get me home, I’ll do whatever you want.”
I couldn’t have foreseen how successful my plan would be. I’m a little shocked, to be honest. Then again, I am Allegra Malgeri. I strive for perfection.
Handing the paperwork to Toni, I instruct him to get it to my money man. Reggio will have all of Giani’s assets transferred to me within a day. And then it’s game over for the Arello family.
In the meantime, it’s time to visit the man of the hour. I hope he’s ready for me.
29
Bonnie
Wow,Gianireallylikesto talk once he gets going. And he really knows how to hold a grudge. No complaints here, though. While he’s bitching about Lorenzo, he isn’t thinking about hurting me. I throw in an “absolutely” and an “I hate him so much” now and then, which has kept him happy so far.
The guy who was standing guard at the door, and is built like a semi-detached house, has sat down and is thumbing through something on his phone. Giani has opened another bottle of wine and I’m sitting here praying I can keep him distracted long enough for Allegra to find me.
I’ve listened to him bitch about Lorenzo, Allegra, my mother, his sons, and his wife. How the hell anyone can stand to be around him is astonishing. He’s delighted in retelling stories of times he punished his kids and wife. He’s a narcissist and also a sociopath. It reminds me of how dangerous life here is.
Being cooped up in the villa made me forget—or at least blinded me to—the reality of Allegra and Lorenzo’s life in Sicily. All because I haven’t witnessed the seedy underbelly, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I know Allegra went to the docks several times. What happened there? Did she have todealwith someone? Is there a version of Allegra where she becomes someone closer to Giani? I can’t imagine it. Yet again, I could never imagine meeting real mobsters.
