“See, the circle of violence always ends in resolution.” Stefano looked around the silent room. “I’d rather strike a deal before we both lose manpower and weapons. We all abide by the same system. What is the point of more bloodshed? In the end, what’s the Camorra really about? Loyalty, alliances, power, and blood.”
My father and Luca nodded. Enzo and I exchanged skeptical glares.
“Well, thank yousomuch for the uplifting speech.” Enzo clapped his hands together, his enchanting smile on full display.“And I’m eager to proceed to the kumbaya portion of this evening, but if you’re here to make a deal, you better wow our pants off.”
“First order of business: I think we should work together.” Stefano’s impudent smile made me want to carve his mouth off. “How do you feel about selling me some of your coke? You have the best in the city.”
That’s because we sourced it ourselves. Visited our coca farms in an undisclosed location quarterly to supervise the process.
“We’re open to it,” Luca chimed in. “For the right percentage.”
“Understandable. I’m sure we can find a number that works for all of us.”
“Before we get into the numbers, our men in Naples are telling me you’ve been treading into some parts of Chiaia and Forcella.” My father scowled. “Double-charging protection money and selling weed.”
Stefano feigned confusion. “Who said that?”
“Cut the crap, Sangue Blu. I have eyes and ears everywhere,” my father hissed out. “This is our territory.”
“I mean no disrespect, Don Vello,” Coppola cooed, “but it’s a busy area. Lots of human traffic. Your people don’t seem to keep up with the demand.”
“Our supply is none of your concern.”
“That’s true, but if your customers want to buy more drugs, why shouldn’t I sell to them?”
“You know exactly why. Retreat to your borders.”
“Or what?” he drawled, kicking back in his seat. “The Ferrante clan rarely visits Naples. You’re out of touch. Powerful, yes, but if you want to keep ground, you need a strong alliance with us. I’m willing to pay for your drugs and guard yourterritory for you. But you need to offer me something to make it worth my while.”
“You wantusto make concessions?” Luca asked.
“Peace isn’t free.” Sangue Blu shrugged. “I’m willing to pay you for drugs. What are you willing to do for me?”
“Not kill you,” Enzo offered charitably. Coppola laughed.
“What do you want?” my father grumbled.
“I’ll pay you ten percent commission for the coke we sell, no more than that,” Sangue Blu said, bargaining. “And I want to buy it below market price. Three thousand euros per kilogram.”
“That’s less than half of what we charge our affiliates.” Luca’s eyebrows slammed together.
“I’m not your other affiliates. I’m the rising king of Naples, with an army twice your size. And as much as I want peace, I won’t shy away from war.” He pushed a cigarette between his lips, grabbing a Clipper from the table and lighting it.
“Thirty-five hundred euros per kilogram,” my father said decisively. He wasn’t wearing his oxygen mask, and for a moment, I saw the man he once was: The great Machiavelli Ferrante I lived to impress. “And you pay in advance. Final offer.”
Shit agreement, but I’d deal with it later, when I had the throne.
Sangue Blu nodded. “I also want my incoming shipments in the port untouched. You’ve been raiding our goods for years.”
“We’ll see to that, but if we catch your men on our turf again, selling drugs or touching kids, we make an example of them,” Luca said laconically.
“My soldiers will keep their drugs and hands to themselves,” Coppola reassured us. “I want a guarantee you’ll do the same.”
“Don’t worry,” I snapped. “We don’t recruit pedophiles.”
“And the redhead I saw outside the church that day, while I was overlooking the operation.” Sangue Blu slouched back,drawling slyly with his gaze locked on mine, one leg folded over the other. “I want her, too.”
I stiffened, my entire body revolting and convulsing from the inside at the blasphemy that fell out of his mouth. The only thing keeping me from gouging out his Adam’s apple with my fingers was the knowledge he deserved a slower, more painful death than that for this request.
