“How’s the Fed?”
“He’s learning. Thinks he’s a wolf now, though he’s still a pup.” The rough affection in his voice is unmistakable. “Don’t want to rush you, Boss, but I’ll have to get back to him soon. That detective stalker of yours is trying to put on the hard word.”
“Garcia? She’s all bark. Your wolf pup can probably take her. But you’re right, Angelo. Business first.”
He leans in. “I’m all ears.”
It’s a long story, but he’s heard most of it before. I’ve kept Angelo informed while he’s been out of New York, probably leaned on his wisdom more than I had any right to. “And now Finch wants me to leave the city,” I conclude. “But of course, I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?”
I open my mouth to reply, but I’m so taken aback that words flee my mind. “Of course I can’t leave New York,” I say again. “Give Clemenza exactly what he wants?”
“Don’t make your decisions based on what Lou Clemenza wants or doesn’t want. He’s a ghost, after all. Isn’t he?”
At that, I give a slow smile. “He doesn’t know it yet. But yes. Once I have the pieces in place, I plan to deal with Lou.”
“Excellent. Let me know if I can help in any way.” Louis Clemenza was one of the architects behind Tino Morelli’s death—one of the last surviving architects, in fact. Angelo hates him as much as I do. Maybe more, if that’s possible.
Clemenza’s death has been a long time coming. But it’s coming.
I shift in the bed, expecting pain, but finding it bearable. I don’t like the heavy feeling in my head from the painkillers, though. “Any advice for the other thorns in my side? It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone I could trust to ask.”
Angelo’s smile dies away. “That’s not exactly true, though, Boss. Is it? You have plenty of advisors. Or you did when I left.”
I stare at the knitted blanket stretched out over my legs and wonder why I feel like I’ve disappointed him. “I thought the same, Angelo. And I really thought Fontana was the guy to replace you as Underboss.” He stays silent until I look over at him. “Tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“What you’re thinking. That I’m wrong? That I fucked up?”
He gives a small, grim laugh. “You don’t need me to tell you that. Besides, judging by the ring I saw on Fontana’s finger, you still think he’s your guy.”
I twist my wedding ring around on my own finger. I’m not used to feeling it without the Morelli ring over the top of it. It seems almost defenseless there without that big oval onyx overlapping it like armor.
I’m not sure what to say about Nick Fontana that won’t sound stupid now, after everything that’s happened.He was sneaking around behind my back with his boyfriend.
Jesus. Finch was right when he told me to pull my head out of my ass.
“Fontana’s doing a decent job,” Angelo says. “Despite some pushback. Vollero doesn’t seem to like it.”
I give a smirk at that. “Vollero’s nothing if not predictable.”
“Your brother’s giving Fontana some grief as well. Noticed it myself back there. You’ll want to watch out for that, Boss.”
I give a weary sigh. I love Frank dearly, but he does seem to stir up trouble. “He’ll be back with Cee and the kid soon enough.”
Angelo changes the subject. “Vitali’s blossomed.”
“He has. Of course, he’d benefit even more with someone to guide him.”
Angelo looks down at his own hands then, one thumb massaging the other palm. He says nothing.
“You don’t want to come back.” It’s an observation more than a question, but I’m glad I’m not hooked up to any heart monitors. They’d give away how hard mine just dropped.
Angelo looks up, his face troubled. “Boss—”
“Don’t. You don’t need to explain.” I lie back in the bed, exhausted.
