“Installment? Wait?—”
“You think I’m giving you that much money and access without a sign of good faith on your part? How have you lived this long?”
Pasquale intervenes before this deteriorates, and I go ham on their asses. We have time to blow up more shit down here while we wait for our men to arrive.
“We’ll accept what you send and look forward to doing business with you. We’ll keep our end of the agreement and not contest the boundaries between our territories and theMala del BrentaandCosa Nostra. We’ll cooperate the next time you make us an offer we can’t refuse. Thank you, Alejandro.”
I didn’t expect the’Ndranghetato be the reasonable ones, but I’m happy it only took them losing about six million each in property damage and lost goods. I don’t want to be here any longer than we have to. I’ve barely hung up with the two leaders when my phone rings with a number I don’t recognize.
“Hello.”
“SignoreDiaz, this is Don Alberto Toretta. You’ve had a busy night.”
“I have, but you already knew I would. Have you spoken to Piero?”
“Yes, and Salvatore. Save yourself the trip. We’ll agree.”
My brow furrows as I look at my cousins. That’swaytoo easy.
“Are you accepting because Piero made a sound argument, because Salvatore’s insisting, because you don’t want your properties blown up, or because my girlfriend is best friends with your granddaughter?”
“Yes. All of the above,SignoreDiaz. It wouldn’t be good for business or my family to refuse.”
He attempts to muffle a hacking cough. It’s one of a man who doesn’t just have a cold or the flu. It’s a man who smoked way too much in his life. His voice is reedy compared to what I’ve heard on phone taps and recordings. I suspect his nephew, Francesco, will be don before the end of the year. I almost feel badly for Sylvia and Serafina. Sylvia will lose her father, and Serafina her grandfather.
I don’t, but almost.
“Tying up loose ends?”
There’s a pause before the older man answers. “You could say that.”
“Should Vittoria call you or go for a visit with Serafina?”
I learned during our dinner with Serafina and Carmine that Vittoria used to go to Sicily on vacation with Serafina, Serafina’s parents and sister, so she knows Alberto. She was as close to the older man as she could be without being family. She’d been fond of him as a child, so I won’t deny her the chance to say her goodbyes.
“Not yet, but soon…Thank you.”
He tacks on his gratitude at the end, and I barely hear him. This time, it isn’t because his voice’s weak. He just doesn’t want to admit his appreciation.
“The first installment will be available tomorrow.”
“And you won’t interfere any further as long as Vittoria is safe.Capisce.” You understand.
“Capisco.” I understand.
I guess I do know some Italian that isn’t profanity. I’ve heard Salvatore bark the word to his nephews many times, and I’ve heard their response.
I’m happy to stay out of all of the European Italians’ business for the rest of my life, but that won’t stop me from being ameddlesome fuck for the Italian Americans. Salvatore isn’t off the hook for life just because he helped negotiate this truce among his family.
Alberto says his goodbyes just as I do, and the call ends. By the time we’re done, the jet’s landing. It’s only a thirty- or forty-minute flight from Naples to Reggio Calabria.
“Primos, vamos a casa a ver a nuestras mamás.” Cousins, let’s go home and see our mamas.
God only knows what our women have blown up by now.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Vita
