∞∞∞
Four hours later, I was exhausted.
Carlo had been standing up for me all night. I appreciated that. His voice had started sounding like Papa's when he'd been angry. "Julia has a month."
Carlo Russo had been prematurely thrust into heading our family, but it wasn't like he hadn't been trained for it. Eldest sons started getting lectured on this responsibility around thirteen, if not before. Our papa was no exception—I knew because I used to eavesdrop. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do in a man's world.
"I don't like this." Silvio Marcello Russo didn't want to let go. He sounded angry as well.
You don't want to be around when a large Italian family on the brink of a gangster war starts arguing in the middle of the night. Trust me.
Silvio felt it was his right to avenge his uncle for a variety of reasons. Some reasons were better than others. A few were pure jealousy and pride. "She hasn’t participated in this side of the family business before. How you do know she’s got what it takes for the job?"
He'd spit the last part out with hatred. Truth was, Silvio—known on the street as "Silk"—wasn't well liked by most of the family. He had a temper. More than a few soldiers had ended up in jail, or worse, because of his imprudence.
Silk had a signature kill: he strangled his victims with the plastic bags from dry cleaners. You know the ones—they say, "Warning!!! Don't put over your mouth and nose" in big letters.
I had to tolerate Silvio because he was Filomena's only son.
“That’s the point, Silvio. As Julia Russell my cover is perfect. Vanetti will never see me coming. Besides, it’s not just the hit we’re talking about here. I need to get close. Find out his secrets. You think you could do that?” I was tired of this argument, but I had to continue to defend my position. "I won’t fail. Your own mother taught me everything I know."
"She's right, Silvio." Filomena tried to bridge the gap between the two of us. It seems she'd been trying for years without much success. "The decision is made. If she fails—God forbid—then you're next in line. Carlo cannot be any more clear. Let's move on."
"Fine." Silvio glanced at me, scowled, then turned to our wheelchair-bound grandfather. He was fast asleep. "We’d better discuss plans for him. It could happen any day now."
Carlo stood. "I've arranged everything in advance with Saint Dymphna's for the funeral, as he wished. No surprises there, which presents the problem that all enemies will know what to expect. The plot at Saint John's next to his Rosalia. She's with the angels now. Waiting." He bowed quietly for a moment. Our nonna's death hit Carlo the hardest.
"Nonna kept him happy." My eyes filled with tears, and I wiped them from my face. It wouldn't have been acceptable for Carlo, but this was one area I felt I could play my woman-card and not be seen as weak. "He hasn't been the same since."
"His dying wish is to see that bastard pay." My cousin's face turned red when he spoke. "I should be the assassin."
Filomena held up her hand. "Enough. If Julia drops the ball, son, you'll be in the game."
Carlo shook his head. "I'd like to remind everyone it's not mere revenge we're after. Like Julia said, this family is a business. You all know the stakes. Killing Quentin isn't the end game here. Taking over his territory is just as important. Andthat's why we're giving Julia a month. You have my respect, Silvio, but if you bring this up again tonight…"
Nothing was scarier than an incomplete sentence spoken by a powerful and resourceful don.If you don't sign this contract. If you don't stop dating my sister. If you don't keep your mouth shut…
Silvio glared. But kept his tongue in his mouth.
Carlo wasn't our father, but he'd been groomed and trained to sit at the head of the table. Like a medieval prince. I'd listened closely to enough of their conversations, I knew many of the lessons by heart.
What I didn't hear directly, I got later when I debriefed Carlo after I was able to get him alone. He knew I knew what he knew.
And he knew that I knew he knew, so there were many late-night phone calls during the crisis caused by our father's demise. Our family didn't realize how many decisions had been passed down by me that Carlo took credit for implementing.
But I knew.
And he knew.
That gave me power.
∞∞∞
Dawn broke over Queens, pale light filtering through Vinny's gaudy curtains.
I hadn't slept. Couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Carlo's face. Heard his voice.
"Julia has a month."
