“How many scars do you have?” Dante asks, still toying with her weapon. “As many as me? Perhaps you need a few more…”
In the end, Violet answers all my questions without gaining a new scar, filling in more gaps and leaving me feeling magnanimous.
“Congratulations, you get to see the new yearifyou take my advice – Leave my city. Today. I don’t care where you walk the streets as long as it’s not Chicago. But if you decide you want to reach out to the men we’re looking for to warn them, no one will ever find what’s left of you.”
“You should’ve just ended her,” Dante grumbles once she’s fled.
“I don’t want to kill a woman, certainly not one who’s lived the better part of her life as a victim.”
He rolls his eyes. Dante doesn’t draw as clear of a distinction between killing women versus men like I do. He’ll kill whoever he decides needs to die. “Care to explain all this to me? You mentioned a girl who sounded remarkably like my new sister-in-law during your questioning.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. I’d rather not betray what Matilde shared with me in confidence, but I want my brother’s help, so he needs to know.
After I fill him in, he shakes his head. “Fucking pieces of shit. How does Giacomo fit into this?”
“I’m not positive, but the grooming behavior with Maddalena, the so-called modeling party happening tonight, and the fact he was arguing against my changes to our sex work operations makes me believe it's connected."
"He's a greedy, disgusting pig, but he's notthatbold. Giacomo wouldn't wipe his own ass without Antonio's okay."
"I know. Come on. We’re going to the brothel.”
“Are you really wanting a whore after interrogating that when you’ve got a beauty like Matilde at home?” Dante snorts, more baffled by that prospect than at the thought of killing the pitiful Violet.
I roll my eyes this time. “No. What Iwantis a shower. What I’lldois get more answers.”
***
The madam, Cheryl, was as forthcoming as Violet once Dante and I had her cornered in her little office. It helps that she’s not Giacomo’s biggest fan, and she told me everything I needed to act. The traffickers have been loitering in the area for almost a year. They’re backed by the Bratva, but the younger Barzetti is getting his slice of the pie by helping them find young girls for their richest clientele.
“In my city,” I mutter.
“In what was our father’s city,” Dante adds.
We exchange a loaded look.
I send Dante after one of Antonio’s men with orders to get whatever information he can while I visit our father next. He’s withering away before our eyes, but that doesn’t curb my desire to smother him with a pillow today.
“I always left those operations in Barzetti’s hands. He has an eye for beauty and the right sort of dirt under his fingernails for doing what needs to be done. Not to mention his brother was my Consigliere. Antonio never handed me a light envelope. His boy, Giacomo is coming along. Good, loyal men.”
Useful men who kept him rich while he looked the other way.
“The Bratva are our enemy, and the Trio’s Code-”
“Fuck, codes. That code didn’t put new jewelry and fur coats in your mother’s closet.”
“In your mistresses’ closets, you mean. I can’t believe I ever looked up to you. You dishonor our family name.”
“You and your honor, you think you’re better? You think you’re above me, Nico? It’s why you won’t last long as a Capo.”
“You’re the one who thought he was better than everyone else. My hands will never be clean, but I know what I am, I know how I’ll run things, and I know I’ll last longer than you.”
I leave him gasping for breath, struggling to control my fury when Mother intercepts me. She begs me to arrange for Caterina to come visit our dying father.
She’s better off not seeing him, but because I love my sister, I will give her that choice. In accordance with our ways though, I’m forced to call her husband to discuss the matter.
“Nico… Are you calling to share seasonal tidings of joy?” Alessio drawls when he answers at last.
“My mother would like for my sister to come visit.”
