The meetings to discuss the formation of the Chamber have been tense, but they’re progressing well. The fact that Kai Xhang and the Triads are fully onboard has helped convince the other crime factions that we’re serious about this, since the warringbetween the Triads and the Santoros has been the worst among us.
Guilt pushes in that I’m still keeping Gina so isolated, but it can’t be helped, not until the threat to her has been completely neutralized.
My phone rings as I walk into my office, and I consider letting it go to voicemail so I don’t have to delay my phone call to Johnathon. However, I answer as I sit behind my desk.
“Tommaso,” Vincenzo greets me, and I grit my teeth.
“It’s late, Vincenzo.”
He chuckles. “Sorry, it’s early morning here.”
“What can I do for you?” I ask, even though I know what he’s calling about, even if I don’t knowwhy.
“I’m wondering what you’ve been able to find out about Gina.”
My teeth grind, but when I answer, there’s no emotion. “There was a possible sighting of her in Pennsylvania.” The lie rolls smoothly and easily off my tongue.
“Pennsylvania? Why would she be there?”
“No idea. When I find out more, you’ll be the first to know.” No, he won’t. “Any intel on your end of where Franco Caruso might be?”
I suspect we’re playing a predator’s game of hunting for the prey that neither of us want the other to find.
“No sign of him. None of the guards at his home had any idea? Aren’t they all your men?”
There’s a challenge, a taunt in his words. He’s trying to bait me into anger, make me lose control and, hopefully, reveal something to him.
“And I understand that one of your men is unaccounted for,” he adds. “Leandro went missing at the same time as Franco.”
Vincenzo might think he’s subtly insulting me, along with trying to taunt me; however, he just revealed something in the process. Something that supports my suspicions that he knowsmore than he’s letting on, because it’s not common knowledge that Leandro is missing.
But before I can respond, he continues, “I also wanted to let you know, I’m calling a Don’s meeting. You’ll need to be in Catanzaro in two weeks.”
“I’m not formally a Don,” I say through clenched teeth.
He chuckles as if he forgot. “My apologies. But Stefano mentioned he wanted you there. Have you not spoken with him?”
Another dig, trying to get me to lose control. But this smug bastard isn’t getting under my skin.
I relax back in my chair. “Neither my father nor I will be there.”
“These meetings are mandatory,” he flares.
“Yes, well, I’m getting married close to that time. I don’t imagine Arturo will be there, either.”
“Ah, yes, your upcoming nuptials to the beautiful Rosa. Tell me again why your two families are binding together since we’re all already allied.”
“To gain what we all want more of: power,” I say, knowing this will inflame him more, and knowing Vincenzo as I do, it will push him.
He doesn’t disappoint.
“Is that a threat?” he snarls.
“Why would it be?”
I know he has doubts about leading. Emanuele had kept him out of the fold, rather than having his successor involved in the leadership of their family, as well as the ‘Ndrangheta as a whole. Instead, he undermined him and sidelined him every chance he got.
There’s no doubt that Vincenzo could be a strong leader—he bleeds ‘Ndrangheta through and through—but he’s never beengiven the opportunity, nor has he had the role-modeling to confidently step into the role.
