I blinked. “Yes. I do.”
“Okay.” She started to pace again. “There is something that will buy you some time. Maybe even save your life.” She stopped again. Her deadly serious gaze met mine. “Marry her.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“Yes.” She sat down and took out her notebook. “If you’re not sure, that’s fine. It’s still the best thing for you to do at this point. I’ll write it up with a very strong prenup, so you’ll be protected in case you change your mind later.” She met my gaze. “Are you sleeping with her?”
“Well… not at the moment, but—”
“That’s fine. If it’s consummated and witnessed then it’ll be a legal marriage recognized throughout the country.”
“But how does getting married help us?”
Isobel finally relaxed. “A lot of reasons… all of them for your benefit. Spousal privilege in legal proceedings. More confidential communications, you’d be harder to tap. With shared assets it’s harder for the feds to take everything—not that it’ll come to that—but it’s like an insurance policy. Speaking of insurance, I can set you up with a big whole life policy on her. It has tax advantages and—you know—” Isobel slid her index finger across her throat “—if it ever comes to having to get out of your marriage without a divorce, there’s a nice payoff.”
“I’d never.” The reason I paid top dollar for a slightly crooked lawyer—yes that’s redundant—was because in my business it paid to know all the options. Even those you’dneveruse.
“Never say never, Mr. Vanetti.” Her crooked smile reminded me of a house cat who’d just eaten the canary.
“Crap.” I shrugged. “This is a hell of a lot.”
“It doesn’t end there. Julia would be able to act as proxy or decoy, you’d give her POA and inside control, shared ownership, this is all predicated on your trusting her or at least knowing she has some fear of the repercussions if she screws you.”
“She’s not like that.”
“Well, as you know, I started out as a divorce attorney. More terrible than being a public defender, in my opinion. You see the absolute worst in people. I once watched a couple spend a combined quarter million dollars in legal fees to fight over an estate barely worth two hundred grand. They simply couldn’t agree not to cut off their own noses. You know?”
“I get it.” She was right. I’d seen it happen. But in organized crime families, it was different. “How do you think this will go over with the Russos?”
“Let’s say you have a real wedding. Get a big cake, a band, and photographers. It’ll work in your favor. You know how these old school Italian families are about marriage. You get married—even if you know it’s a show—in a big Catholic Church, complete with all the bells and whistles, and you’re going to be untouchable as far as the Russos are concerned.”
“If they buy it.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” Isobel shrugged. “Up to you, but my pros versus cons weigh in favor of having a wedding. Besides keeping you alive, you’ve got a better public image. You get leverage on her. It’s a symbol of power as well. Julia is beautiful and smart. Having her on your arm makes you a more powerful man. You look smarter and people—especially your enemies—will think you’re better behaved and more manageable. Look, if you need to end it later—just be more careful than—”
“I’m not going to whack my wife.”
“I’d never suggest such a thing. I’m just saying there’s options besides divorce. Let me know. I’ll write up an ironclad prenup and put together a package of contracts, agreements, insurance policies—we’ll sit down with Julia and make a deal.”
“Let me think about it.”
“Of course.”
“Then there’s that other thing.”
“You mean with pulling those records for you?”
“Yeah. I can have Forrest send you everything he’s got.”
She nodded. “I’ll get started on it today. See what I can dig up. But Quentin… sometimes proof doesn’t matter to the Family. Marriage is your best option.”
I trusted Isobel.
The way she explained it, marriage made total sense.
But how was I going to convince Julia?
How would she feel about a fake wedding?
