“My adopted brother, Mario Valentini.Apologies.I never got a chance to meet my latehalf-brother.”
There.If they hadn’t gotten the memo, it was just served with all the grace of a bomb detonating.Which was how it was received.The farthest two looked highly uncomfortable.The nearest two schooled their expressions, but were fighting their instincts to wage war.
“Listen, I’m new to my role in the Conti Family.And because of that, I’m not going to use it as an anvil over your heads.What I really want to know is how do you think you’re going to stay in business losing a minimum of 400k a year?”
“Profits have been down since the pandemic,” Alfonzo argued.
“The tariffs have been eating into our margins,” another added.
A number of excuses were tossed out.But none were the ones I wanted to hear.I stared at Alfonzo.“You’re related to both the Conti family, and two other ratherlargefamilies here, correct?”
He nodded.
“And you’re in a unique position, as I am, to hear the rumors of the family’s demise, no?”
If the temperature of the room was cold before, it was downright icy now.If I wasn’t as accomplished of an assassin, and wasn’t at the peak of my skills, I’d be nervous.But I knew I could take these four, both waiters, the five busboys, and the restaurant manager out before breaking a sweat.
Okay, I might sweat.But it would be a small thing.
“Rumors are rumors for a reason.”
Ah.Not a denial, and definitely not an endorsement.
“I’ll bite.I heard another rumor.That the daughter was here last month, and she arranged for her brother’s death.”I paused and snapped my fingers as if in afterthought.“Wait, that wasn’t a rumor, I was with Don Conti when he found this out.What I want to know from your mouths, isonething.Did my half-sister speak with any of you?”
There was a threat under my tone.One that came naturally.Until about a week or more ago, I never knew that it sounded just like my biological father’s voice.Now that I did, a part of me rallied against it.That emotion wasn’t welcome here.I needed to channel Don Conti as quickly and as ruthlessly as possible to avoid losing control.One wrong move and I’d be a target.If I wasn’t one already.
“She avoided most of us.”
Most.Not all.Alfonzo’s shadow spilled secrets too easily.
I let him continue selling his companions’ souls to the Devil.
He indicated the mouthpiece.“Of course, Alfonzo here was not included.If word got out to the other families that Dianora wasn’t loyal, they’d send in their vultures to pick the bones.She talked to me, but as the eldest of the family, not as someone disloyal.”
He looked at the others before continuing.“Listen, I’m progressive, right?But if Don Conti wanted his daughter running the show, he’d’ve made that happen, tradition or not.He knew she was a loose cannon.She couldn’t be trusted.”
The rest nodded.
I picked out the most hesitant one in the back.“You, what did she say to you?”
“She had problems with how Adelmo coddled his employees.”
So did I, but I wouldn’t use the word, coddle.I’d use the word waste.
“And you?”I asked the other.His name was Vincent Grasso, or Vincenzo as Don Manca referred to him.He wasn’t a Conti by name, but he was the next closest relation here.He was also connected to the D’Antonio faction through his sister’s marriage.The leader of that group clawed his way to the top of the game just a few years back.The Left Hand had vested interest in their business, which meant I’d need to watch this one carefully.
He shifted in place.“She didn’t talk to me directly.I’ve got crews, you know?”
No, I didn’t.But knowing that he did raised my estimation of his business acumen.
“And one of them raised a flag to me.”
I glanced at the others to see if that was news to them.It likely wasn’t by their stoic expressions.
“Dianora was planning the hit.”But not going through proper channels.
Everyone knew this, after the fact.But Vincent dug his grave by admitting it out loud.
