I need them for other purposes.
Chapter Twenty-Five
LUCA
Nick Fontana looks as nervous as I suppose should be expected, given the way we left things just before I got filled with lead. He stands at the foot of my bed, his hands clasped behind his back, and bows his head.
“Don Morelli,” he greets me, standing at the foot of my bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Like hot shit, but don’t tell Finch.” That raises only the faintest of smiles, but at least he looks me in the eye. “Get over here. Let me see my ring, make sure you haven’t scratched it.”
He sits in the chair that Finch pulled up to the side of the bed and holds out his hand so I can see it. I rub my thumb over the stone and sniff. “Doesn’t suit you.”
“That’s for sure.”
“But I’ll need you to wear it a while longer. I’m sorry.” He gives a slow nod. He really doesn’t want it. “Thank you,” I add. “I know what a burden it is.”
“That’s putting it lightly. But of course I’ll do it.”
“Good. Now give it back to me. I’ll need it for the meeting tonight. God knows I suspect some of them are only cowed by the sight of it on my finger.” Nick, raising his eyebrows a little, pulls it off with alacrity and drops it in my palm.
We sit there for a moment, each of us in our own thoughts, until I say, “Sorry about that whole…thing.”
“Trying to kill me and Carlo?”
I clear my throat. “Yes,” I say. “For trying to kill you and Carlo.”
Nick gives a sudden, relieved laugh. “I’m sorry I gave you cause to consider it.”
There’s a lot we could both say, but neither of us are big talkers, and we have business to discuss. “Let’s move on,” I say. “Clean slate?”
“Sure.”
“Carlucci gave me your message about the IFF.”
“Sorry we couldn’t nail them for you.” His hands clench by his sides. He really did want to avenge me.
“We’ll pay them back,” I tell him. “Apart from them, what’s the general situation? With the Family, I mean—and beyond.”
“Not great.”
Nick runs down the state of the other Families: the Rossis are shoring us up, but the Alessis, as always, are trying to stay on the fence. The Giulianos are watching closely what the Clemenzas are doing, and what the Clemenzas are doing is taking advantage of my absence.
“And that’s not all,” Nick continues grimly, and then I hear all about Frank and Vollero making trouble together.
“Frank gets an idea in his head and he has trouble letting it go,” I agree. “But this ismymess to clear up. You’re my man, Nick. You’re Underboss, and I should have made it official a long time ago. I’ll do it tonight, and that’ll pull Vollero into line. As for Frankie, he’s not a member of this Family anymore. I’ll give him a reminder myself.”
“Okay,” he says, nodding at the bedspread. “Good to know.”
“Back to the other Families. What exactly are the Clemenzas up to?”
“Moving in on our territory.”
“That’s to be expected.” When Nick stays quiet, I prompt, “What is it? Ask what you want to ask.”
“Okay, then. Why is Lou Clemenza still breathing? After what he tried with Carlo at that wedding, and planting a source in the law firm, I thought you were going to put him in the ground.”
It’s a blunt question, and I admire that about Nick. Besides, he has a right to know. Clemenzaalmostgot away with a hit on Carlo Bianchi, and his machinations with our law firm could have been much more detrimental to the Family than they were. Apart from all that, Clemenza is an old enemy—of mineandTino’s.
