“They want to effect change quietly and peaceably,” Dario surmises, and I nod.
“They are afraid of retaliation by the authorities even if we execute our takeover in one smooth fell swoop.”
“We get a lot of heat in New York,” Massimo adds. “It will be a smoother transition if we can get the Irish and the Mexicans on board.”
“It’s just a matter of changing suppliers, and agreeing to new routes, and locating additional storage space,” I say.
“As opposed to taking out the main players and those bit players who would try to assume their turf. If we can reach an agreement, it will mean we only need to take out The Triad. It will avoid a lot of unnecessary bloodshed,” Massimo says, sliding his arm around the back of the couch behind me.
“Provided our supplier is happy with that,” Renzo says, and I level him with a warning look.
Conducting all our meetings here will not be viable because we can’t speak openly in Massimo’s home. It’s why I already tasked Renzo with locating suitable premises we can use to meet on the down low.
“Why wouldn’t your supplier be happy?” Massimo asks, drilling Renzo with a look.
“Because he only likes dealing with Donna Greco,” he replies through gritted teeth.
“He will still be dealing with me.” I step in before something is said that shouldn’t be. “I will smooth things over with the Colombians.” The honest truth is, I don’t know how I am going to smooth this over with Anton. The Russianpakhanhas been blowing up my phone these past couple of days, and I need to find a window to meet with him soon.
“When are you meeting the Irish and the Mexicans?” Dario asks.
“Tomorrow afternoon,” Massimo replies. “I will attend with Catarina.”
Dario’s brows knit together as Renzo clenches his fists.
“One of Don Mazzone’s terms was that Massimo is involved with our entire plan,” I explain. I share my team’s frustration. This is utter bullshit, and it will make everything harder, but there was no choice but to agree.
Tense silence greets my words until Nicolina breaks it. “They don’t trust you.”
“They don’t, but I respect that,” I begrudgingly admit. “I need to earn their trust, and if this is the way it has to be done, so be it.”
“So, the plan we worked out was for nothing,” Renzo says, sulking like a moody teenager, and I really don’t know what the hell has gotten into him lately.
“Not necessarily. If we can’t get the Irish and the Mexicans to play ball, then the original plan stands, and we still need to wipe out The Triad,” I say.
“Don Mazzone really doesn’t want it to come to that, but if we can’t secure an agreement, we have the green light. It’s important we have a plan B in place so we can act ASAP if needed,” Massimo says, standing. “I’d like to look at what you have been working on.”
We spend the next hour going through some ideas before we call it a night. I walk my friends out to their cars while Massimo stays inside to tend to dinner.
“This stinks from the high heavens,” Renzo says, his eyes scanning the outside of Massimo’s home for the cameras I have no doubt are there.
“The Commission is being cautious for a reason, and we will adjust our plans accordingly.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” Dario says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.
“Did everything go okay with Massimo?” Nicolina whispers into my ear.
“Your advice was good,” I reply in a low tone. “He is receptive to it, but I’m still terrified. I’m so out of my comfort zone with him.”
“You won’t fail,” my bestie says. “Keep the faith.”
“He brought Anais and Cruz up, and I found out some interesting things. I’ll explain when we have somewhere safe to talk.”
“Does he know you know about the surveillance?”
I shake my head. “It’s better he doesn’t know we know. We can work around his PI, and he will be none the wiser.”
I’m still annoyed his guy was able to get pictures of me with Anais. It could have been a disaster if we hadn’t concocted a plan or if Massimo had called Salerno, but he didn’t because he doesn’t smell a rat where she is concerned. But I’m guessing he thinks there is something going down with Cruz. I’m pissed my brother-in-law didn’t give me the background story when I informed him who I was marrying, and I intend to find out why.
