Enrico nods. “That’s two million each. Works for me.”
“Have we decided on a date and time for the auction yet?” Roberto asks.
“We could wait a few days, give the remaining families who haven’t yet responded time to register,” Stefano replies.
I shake my head. “No point in delaying. Representatives for all the families would have seen the message by now. Those who are interested would have already registered. Let them know the online auction will be held tomorrow at six. Bidding starts at three million.”
“I’ll get the message out as soon as this call is over,” Stefano says.
“Any other issues we need to be aware of?” Roberto asks. His question is meant for all of us.
But I’m the only one who speaks. “A cop came snooping around earlier tonight.”
“A cop,at the villa?” Roberta says incredulously.
“Unfortunately, yes,” I continue. “I bribed him off for now, but we’re going to have to move our captive. The cop won’t be able to keep our location safe for much longer, not with the spies the Amatos have in the police department.”
“Why did the cop suspect you in the first place?” Roberto asks suspiciously.
“Apparently some tourists were still around when we hit the hidden cove,” I say. “I don’t know where they were, probably camping somewhere in the bushes, but they witnessed two masked men escorting a woman with a bag over her head. They also saw the white Fiat, which the cop recognized from doing business with me.”
“Stefano…” Robert growls. “We trusted you to secure that beach.”
“It’s not my fault,” Stefano says, lifting his hands defensively. “There are a lot of places to hide on that beach. I did tell you to switch cars after leaving the cove, but would you listen to me?”
“I’m the one who argued against it,” Enrico chimes in. “So don’t be blaming Massimo here. Do you remember what I said then? ‘It doesn’t matter if the Amatos track us down. Giovanni won’t come in here guns blazing, not if there’s a chance he’ll hurt his precious daughter. He’ll want to negotiate first, and do the killing later after he gets her back.’ Something to that effect. And it still holds.”
“Even so, I plan on moving Ang… the captive, later tonight,” I tell my brothers. “To a new Incognito.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Stefano agrees. “I can meet you at the Incognito, take over her supervision if you want.”
“No,” I say. “The less contact she has with the rest of you, the better.”
Stefano shrugs. “We’re all incriminated anyway. Guilty by association. You know how these families work. One person sins, they wipe out not just that person but the entire family.”
“I’ll handle it,” I growl. I already know what his idea of supervision is… I remember quite well how he used to look at Angela back in the day. The thought of him alone with her fills me with a rage I can’t quite describe… it’s not jealousy of course. Never that. No, it’s just I don’t want him touching what’s mine.
But isn’t that the very definition of jealousy?
No, no.
“Fine,” Stefano says. “Try to get her to eat something, though, would you?”
“I’m working on it,” I tell him between gritted teeth.
“The rest of us should switch to backup villas as well,” Roberto says. “I’ve been using my location to conduct business, but I think it’s finally time to move my operation underground. I know, Enrico, you don’t think it matters if the Amatos find us, but personally I’d rather not take the chance.”
Enrico shrugs. “I’m already off the grid anyway.”
“I’m not, but I will be by this time tomorrow,” Stefano chimes in.
After a few moments of silence, Enrico asks: “Well is that everything? My lady friend awaits.”
“That’s it for now,” I tell them. “We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
“Good times,” Roberto says. “See ya, you beautiful bastards.”
He and the others disconnect.
