Pablo rapidly interprets the barrage of questions. Vita remains calm as she explains she’s with me and we’re safe. She offers nothing more. Instead, she asks her own questions.
“Papà, what was going on withZiaCosima? What did she have against me?”
“That psychopath was lucky she was burned alive in that fire. Otherwise, I would’ve flown there and tortured her to her last breath.”
“ButPapà, why was she involved? And why take us to Yonkers? It seems so unusual.”
“We don’t know that yet. But I suspect I know some of why she got involved.”
There’s a pause, and I keep expecting Piero to pipe in. However, he remains silent. Just likeTíaElle is a mother and wouldn’t protectTíoEnrique against mymamá’sfury, Piero’s also a father, so he’s not interrupting hisconsigliere. The concern in Vita’s father’s voice reminds me ofPapá. I’m glad to hear how protective the man is of his daughter, despite her job.
“Papà, Enrique spoke to Don Salvatore. From what I can tell, it may not beCosa Nostra. Can you promise me it isn’t?”
The silence stretches before Piero chimes in.
“Before you became a target, I thought it might be the Torettas. But I ruled them out the moment we knew you were a target. However, I can’t say with certainty that it’s not them. I’ll speak to Don Alberto as soon as this call ends. We’ve been allies since his nephew and I were both underbosses. I want to believe he’d tell me the truth, given it means putting me in a position to choose them over myconsigliere. Vittoria, there’s no guarantee he will. I can’t be sure I’d believe what he’d say, but I’ll try. I’ll put extra surveillance on the Camorra and the’Ndrangheta.”
I wait for either man to offer another solution. To even negotiate with my family or me for Vita’s sake. But the line goes quiet. My gaze meets Vita’s, and she shrugs. We have nothingmore to offer. And if they do, they’re unwilling, so the call ends there.
“I’ll call Friedrich and see what he knows.”
“Who?”
Apparently, my dossier didn’t extend to my cousin’s soon-to-be in-laws. It’s obvious Vita doesn’t recognize Jorge’s fiancée’s brother-in-law. It came out during threats on Anneliese’s family that her sister’s then-boyfriend, now-husband, was a Camorra member. The man did what he could to leave syndicate life behind. However, there’s never really a way to get out completely.
When Jorge’s soon-to-be father-in-law was held hostage, it forced Friedrich to get involved all over again. His family offered Anneliese’s protection in his hometown of Essen in Germany. As far as I last heard, he hadn’t returned to an active status with them as a Made Man. However, it’s not impossible that he has. At the very least, he might be aware of what’s happening in this proxy war, or he can gain that information.
While Jorge speaks fluent German, the call’s in English, which is good since nobody could interpret for the rest of us.
“Jorge, is everyone all right?”
“No, Friedrich, and I believe you know that already. We’re getting sucked into your family’s business again.”
There’s a pause before Friedrich responds. I’m certain he’s weighing his options.
“Really?”
“Yes. Whatever’s still going on with your war against theCosa NostraandMala del Brenta,the’Ndranghetatargeted my cousin and his girlfriend. I need to know what’s going on.”
“Which cousin?”
“Alejandro.”
“And the man has a girlfriend?”
There’s mocking skepticism in his voice. Does he believe I’m incapable of having a relationship? Does he doubt it would be with a woman?
“Yes. They’re a lot like Liesel and me.”
Friends and family call Jorge’s wife Anne. Only he calls her Liesel. It’s definitely a family thing for us. We all find unique nicknames for the women we love.PapácallsMamáCaty. No one else would ever dare. Sometimes she goes by Lina, but seldomly these days.
“So, you mean he’s basically engaged?”
Jorge smirks at me. I shoot him a defiant glower, warning him of retribution if he embarrasses me in front of Vita.
“You could say that.” Jorge’s attention returns to the call.
“I can understand then why your cousin would be particularly sensitive to any threat toward this woman.”
