“Irina is not true Bratva,” Salvatore snarls. “If she was, she would know that I had nothing to do with them. They wanted to operate in my territory. They were willing to pay tribute, so I allowed it. When they overstepped the bounds of propriety, I took the appropriate action. It was simply a business decision.”
“Do you need my help, Salvatore? You only have to ask, and you’ll have it.”
“It’s not that easy for me, and you know it, Maximo. But I have to be rational, in all things. If I agree to help her, against you, it’ll be war. I stand to lose everything I’ve worked for my entire life. But if I don’t help her, I stand to lose my Gregory, and that’s also intolerable. You say that she made a move against your Constance, as well? I presume you’re already taking steps to counter the threat she poses?”
“I am.”
“Then I did the right thing, coming here to ask you for your help.” With a sigh, Salvatore stiffly rises to his feet, then walks past my desk to look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows behind me. “Look at all this.” He sighs. “You have become pezzonovante; even a man like me must bend his knee.”
I stand and walk over to the window beside him, when he surprises me by turning and taking my hand, then bowing downto kiss the back of it. With his head still held low, he says, “Please help me, Don Luciani. I come to you not as a fellow Don, but as a grieving father. If it’s in your power, please help me save my son. Do me this service, and I will do anything you ask.”
I lay my other hand on top of his, and then gently pull him to stand straight and face me. “I’ll do this for you, Don Bianchi, and gladly,” I reply formally.
“Help me bring my son home, and you’ll have more than the friendship of my family. You’ll have our loyalty,” he swears to me.
“Let’s make a plan.” I invite him to sit back down with a sweep of my arm towards the chairs by my desk. “Did you contact the police? Are they investigating your son’s disappearance?”
“Irina forbade it.” Salvatore shakes his head in negation. “She warned me the consequences would be dire for my Gregory if I brought the police into our business. I take it since your Constance escaped, she’s made no demands of you?”
“I haven’t heard from her directly at all,” I confirm. “Constance killed the men who tried to abduct her. She did it openly, at a gas station. The police, of course, are actively involved given how public the situation has become.”
“I would expect her to try again, then,” Salvatore mutters with a sigh. “I hope you have made preparations for your woman’s protection.”
Is he fishing for information on where Constance might be? Is he working for Irina right now, trying to play me with a false promise of fealty? I can’t stop the wave of suspicions that wash over me, and I know Salvatore can see it in my glare.
“Don’t tell me anything about your woman, Maximo. I’m not here to scout you for openings for that unscrupulous bitch. I meant what I said,” he adds and I relax slightly.
“I’m glad you understand my position, and why I’m so concerned,” I concede.
“I absolutely do. Knowing who to trust is almost impossible in our business. I want you to believe me when I tell you my only concern is for Gregory. When Irina contacts me again to negotiate for my son, I’ll let you know. Together, I hope we can find a way to secure his release.”
“I’ve already set some things in motion.” I choose my words carefully, still not trusting him enough to tip my hand. “I should know more by tomorrow. You have my number; if Irina contacts you again to try and lay traps for Constance or myself, just call me. We can turn her scheming against her.”
“You and I both know how slow and inefficient the police can be in these situations. They may be helpful in identifying who tried to kidnap your woman, but I don’t think they’ll be able to move quickly enough to help my son. I realize you can’t tell me your plans but just knowing that you’re taking action brings me some solace. Please, just remember my Gregory, and keep him in mind. Until I hear from you, I’ll have all my crews scouring every nook and cranny of Jersey looking for where she’s hiding. If I find out anything, or when I next hear from Irina, I’ll call you immediately.”
“If I haven’t heard from you by tomorrow, I’ll reach out to update you on what I’ve found,” I reassure him as we both stand and start walking towards the doors to my office.
“Thank you, Maximo. Again. I hope that my people are able to track down the remaining Volkov loyalists and save my son, but I feel better having your help as well.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to rid us of this woman, and recover your son,” I reassure him as I open the double doors of my office. We walk back to the elevators in silence, where Salvatore turns to me and shakes my hand.
“I look forward to hearing from you, Maximo.”
“And I you, Salvatore. Call me as soon as you hear anything. Don’t give in to her.”
“I won’t, Maximo. Take care of your Constance and keep her close. Don’t make the mistake of thinking yourself untouchable as I have.”
I nod to him as the elevator dings open and I turn back to my office. Salvatore’s parting words have put a chill in me, and I need another drink. I also need to contact Trenton, and make sure my men are being vigilant.
“I shouldn’t have let her go without me,” I mumble to myself as I walk down the hall.
I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight.
10
“You don’t have to solve tomorrow today. Just make it through this one.”
— ROBERT MONROE
