My phone rings. Alessandro Rossi.
Jesus Christ!
So now the bastard finally calls. After everything has gone to hell.
I answer. "Alessandro."
"Renato." His voice is calm, almost pleasant. "I understand our mutual problem has been handled."
Every instinct I have goes on high alert. "What problem?"
"The situation we've both been dealing with. I'm told it resolved itself quite dramatically this evening." He sounds almost cheerful. "Don't worry. This will make things easier on everyone. I'll transfer the original two million I owe you, plus an extra half million for interest and inconvenience. After tonight, consider our business arrangement concluded."
The dinner party ended less than thirty minutes ago. Torretti is still on the road. How the fuck does Alessandro know?
"How did you hear about tonight?" I keep my voice calm.
"Torretti has been keeping me informed. He works a lot of angles. The important thing is that the problem has been resolved in a way that works for everyone."
"And what problem was that, exactly?" I need him to say it. Need to confirm what I'm thinking.
"Camilla. No longer a complication to the families." He pauses. "Tragic, really. But these things happen in your line of work."
I force myself to stay cold. Can't let him know how much this matters. Can't show weakness.
"And you're satisfied with this outcome?"
"Very satisfied. It's better not to leave loose ends hanging. My family's reputation is protected, the original debt gets paid, everyone moves forward." His tone sharpens slightly. "I trust you'll accept this resolution as well?"
He's testing me. Wants to know if I'm going to be a problem.
"The merchandise was worth more than two and a half million." I keep my tone purely transactional. "This arrangement leaves me with a significant loss."
"Consider it the cost of doing business with my family." There's steel underneath the pleasant tone now. "The alternative would be considerably more expensive for both of us."
A threat.
He wants me to walk away, take the money, forget about her.
"I'll have the transfer completed within the hour,” he says. “A pleasure doing business with you, Renato."
"Alessandro." I stop him before he can hang up. "One question."
"Yes?"
"If the situation hadn't resolved itself tonight, would you have paid the full six million?"
A long pause. "That's hypothetical now, isn't it?"
"Humor me."
"No. The girl was never worth six million to my family. If tonight hadn't happened, we would have found another more permanent solution."
Meaning getting rid of her, one way or another.
"Good to know where we stand." I keep my voice empty of emotion. "Transfer the money. We're done here."
"Excellent. And Renato? I trust this truly is the end of our business regarding this matter. No complications, no loose ends, no one coming back to cause problems."
