“What the hell just happened?” Caleb frowns as he stares down at the dead man. “Those injuries should not have killed him.”
“Heart attack if I had to guess.” He didn’t lead a healthy lifestyle, and it’s not completely unusual for a man in his fifties to die from a coronary.
“What now?” Caleb purses his lips.
“We can’t go to the board when we’ve got jack shit, but we can’t leave the fat fuck here either. His son will get suspicious if he doesn’t return home, and I don’t want Vitto asking questions either.” My brain churns as I try to spin this in a way that’ll buy me time to get the evidence I need to go to Massimo.
“Why not dump him back on his doorstep with no explanation. Let everyone draw their own conclusions?”
“They’ll think it was the cartel.”
“Exactly.”
“We don’t need a war with the cartel in Florida, Caleb. That’s the last thing we want to set in motion.”
Caleb shrugs. He’s always so bloodthirsty. I thought it might have changed now he’s a family man, but it appears not.
I sit back down and think. Caleb watches me without interrupting, typing messages on his phone while he waits for me to figure a way out of this mess.
I tap out a message to Zumo, asking if he’s still around to come meet us.
He shows up ten minutes later, his eyes almost bugging out of his head when he sees Ferraro.
“What the fuck happened?”
“We didn’t even get to interrogate him before he had a fucking coronary and died,” Caleb says, kicking Dominic’s stiff body.
“Well shit.”
“Yeah.” I stand. “I think I have a plan that might work.”
“We’re listening,” my brother says.
“We do what Caleb suggested. Dump his body on his front door and let everyone conclude it was the cartel. When the board calls a meeting, I’ll lay out a plan for neutralizing the situation. I’ll warn Vitto not to retaliate until we’ve gleaned evidence. I’ll tell him about Ferraro’s involvement with the cartel and how he was buying his men’s loyalty. It’ll force him to keep thesoldatiand Cesco in line. He’ll obey because he knows how bad this looks for him.
“We’ll send more men to join our crew on the ground in Miami to keep watch over everything until I return. I’ll set up a meeting with the cartel, pay them what they’re owed plus interest, and smooth things over while feeling them out. I’ll say we don’t want a war and find out if they’re agreeable to a deal that would suit both parties. In the meantime, I’ll work to dig up all the dirt there is to be found on Dominic, and when everything is settled, I’ll tell the board the full truth.”
Both men have been listening carefully. “It’s not a bad plan,” Caleb says. “The board won’t take any permanent sanctions against us, but this will damage your reputation with the others, Fiero.”
“It’ll damage yours too,” Zumo says.
“I don’t give a fuck.” Caleb thrusts his hands into his pockets. “I have zero desire to be the future president. I’ll leave that to my twin, but you do.” He jabs his finger in my direction. “This will harm your chances. Massimo’s term ends in four years, and I know the plan is for you to take over.”
“How’d you know that?” Massimo and I have never disclosed the plans we made in our twenties to anyone except Catarina.
“It’s the obvious next move,” Caleb says proving he’s more than just a pretty face. “The only dons capable of stepping up at the next election are you and Agessi. Maybe Mantegna. Volpe is too old. Pagano has medical issues. Ben’s already been there, and the rest of us are still too young. If we do this, I don’t see how it won’t impact the vote. This will discredit you in some of their eyes.”
“As it should,” I truthfully admit. “I’m aware what this means, and honestly, being president is bottom of my list of priorities right now. If this ruins my chances, so be it.” I shrug. “I’ve seen what a burden it is. The responsibility is considerable, and it’s taken a toll on Massimo. I’m not sure I want it anymore. I’ve got Valentina now, and we have plans. I don’t want to be an absent husband or father. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.”
They both stare at me like I’ve just sprouted wings, and I get it. I laugh.“I know. Fuck me.” I rub the back of my neck. “Everything is changing.”
“I’m happy for you, brother, and Mom will be over the moon if you give her a grandchild.” Zumo pulls me into a hug, and we slap one another on the back.
“Okay, are we in agreement?” Caleb asks, and we nod.
“I still think you should talk to Rico,” Zumo says. “He’s completely objective, and he might think of loopholes we haven’t.”
“I don’t want to risk damaging his reputation too. Besides, he’s on vacation in France with Frankie. I’m not disturbing him with this shit.” Myconsigliereis going to be very angry with me when all this comes out. Though I have kept him out of this to protect him, he won’t see it like that.
