“Bring it on,” Danny said, and Enzo knew he meant it.
“Okay, give me a few scenarios to get Kathleen and me out of here. I have to make some calls. We’ll regroup in an hour.”
Danny nodded and left the office.
Enzo slouched in his chair, stretching his legs out under the desk. This was a nightmare. The whole thing. He picked up his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. A soft voice answered. “Buongiorno, Enzo. Come stai?”
“Buongiorno, Angelina,” Enzo responded, “io sto bene e tu?”
“I am well, Enzo. It is good to hear your voice. It’s been a while.” Angelina’s voice had a slight reproving tone.
“Si, it has.” He didn’t bother to explain or comment on why he hadn’t been for a visit. He and the old man had decided that when he left, it was better if he didn’t stay in close contact for a while. No one had voiced it, but they all knew that Rocco would be closely monitoring the situation, and the old man didn’t want to make Rocco any more jealous or unsettled than he already was.
“Is he around?”
“Si,” she hesitated, “but Enzo, this is a bad business. He is upset. It’s not good for him. Please calm him down. He trusts you.”
“I’ll do my best.” It wasn’t a lie, but Enzo guessed chances were good that the old man wasn’t going to be happy with this call.
“Bene,” she said, and then there were a bunch of muffled sounds.
“Enzo,era ora che chaiamassi?” the old man roared as soon as he came on the line.
Enzo couldn’t help but grin. “Nice to hear your voice, too. I’m well, thanks for asking.”
The old man swore. Then called Enzo a donkey. “You should have called as soon as you knew,” he reiterated in English.
“You are right, I should have. I am sorry. I…had a few things going on.”
“Bah! I hear about your goings on. What is this mess?” Massimo demanded. “What have you gotten Bianca into?”
“I haven’t gotten Bianca into anything. I haven’t spoken to her since before I retired.”
“Nevertheless, this is on you,” Massimo snarled back.
Enzo let out a long breath. This was how things usually went. He would let Massimo vent, and then, once he’d calmed down, Enzo would explain. But Enzo didn’t have the time today to go through their normal dance.
“Massimo, this had nothing to do with me. Vitale grabbed Bianca in an effort to get me to do something for him. By rights, you know I should refuse. Doing what he wants only signifies weakness. You taught me that,” he pointed out.
“Stronzo!”
“Calling me an asshole isn’t helping your case,” Enzo growled. He was trying to be patient, but this was wearing thin. “I didn’t put Vitale up to this, and I have no idea if Bianca is involved, voluntarily or not.” He thought back to her voice on the phone. She’d sounded scared, but Bianca was an Academy Award-winning level actress. She’s sucked him in too many times to count.
“I was not calling you an asshole,” Massimo clarified, then sighed. “I spoke to her. She sounded frightened. She begged me to come get her.” The old man’s voice broke.
Regret and sadness washed over Enzo like a wave. The old man had been good to him. “I’m going to do my best to get her back, but it’s not an easy situation.”
“No,” Massimo sighed, “it’s not. Rocco is negotiating with Vitale. He says he will bring his sister home.”
Enzo knew Massimo had doubts, but he wasn’t about to voice them. He had to tread carefully for this next bit. “I heard that. I also heard that he’s blaming me for everything. He’s making mepersona non gratawithLa Famiglia.”
“Si, that’s true.”
Enzo remained silent.
“There’s nothing I can do to help with that. I am just an old man. If he asks my opinion, I will voice my displeasure, but there’s nothing I can do.”
There it was. When it came down to it, blood was thicker than water. Massimo would support Rocco even though he knew Rocco was making the wrong choice. It was not the first time this had happened, nor would it be the last.
