What else was new, Mick thought. “He’s still in Rome?”
“That’s his home base. He isn’t going anywhere. But he’s having problems. Serious problems. Lots of turf battles.”
“What’s Toscano doing about it?”
Deuce looked worried. Which worried Mick. “What?”
“Ron Toscano decided to run DNA.”
Mick frowned. “At this late date? I thought they did that shit at the beginning. That’s what I was told.”
“You were told a lie. He didn’t do it or, if he did, he apparently forged the results because everybody knew he was in love with Bella and he wanted it to be what he wanted it to be.”
“So why run it now?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me why. I just know he did it and the results were what everybody figured they were from the beginning.” Deuce exhaled. “Ron Toscano is not Dory’s father, Mick.”
Mick’s heart dropped.
“To make matters worse, Tos checked out.”
Mick frowned. “What do you mean he checked out?”
“He doesn’t want to have anything to do with the kid. When Tos found out what happened to Dory, Bella said he didn’t give a shit. Wouldn’t lift a finger to avenge what happened to him. He’s angry as fuck at Dory and Bella, as if the kid had something to do with it. But he’s mad at both of them. Probably angry with you most of all, although he’s too afraid of your ass to admit it. But none of that negates the fact that Dory’s in trouble.”
Mick leaned back in his executive chair and sighed as he ran his hands over his face. He looked at Deuce. “Is Bella with him?”
“She’s too afraid to go to Rome. With Tos no longer in her corner, she doesn’t know who to trust over there anymore. And from what I’m hearing about the anger Tos has for her ass, she might be right.”
Mick angrily yelled out. “Gotdammit! As if I don’t have enough shit on my plate already!”
“I understand,” said Deuce, “but that still doesn’t negate the fact that Dory’s in trouble.”
Mick understood it too. He leaned his head back.
Deuce stared at him. “Is it Roz?”
“Isn’t it always?”
“If your ass stopped messing up it wouldn’t be.”
Mick gave Deuce another hard look. Their relationship had always been close, but never casual. Retirement changed Deuce. Now he didn’t seem to give a shit. He spoke his mind freely.
Then Mick pressed his intercom button.
“Yes sir?” It was Ignatius.
“Get in touch with my pilot. Tell him I’m flying out to Rome within the hour.”
“Yes sir.”
“Then call Bella Caine. Tell her to meet me at the airfield.”
“Yes sir.”
Mick ended the conversation and leaned back again.
Deuce stared at him. He was Mick’s best friend because he was Mick’s only friend. And he knew it. And he took liberties with Mick that no other man would even attempt to take. “Your wife’s birthday is coming up soon,” he said.
