Page 19 of Valentino

“How can I?” He sighs, leaning back on his chair. “This month alone we’ve lost two yachts filled with blow, our top brothel in Sicily burned to the ground and two girls are missing.” He sips his scotch and sloshes it around in his mouth. “Where’s it going to end? How much is Lombardi going to take from us?”

I drag my hand through my hair. “You have every right to be concerned but I have to believe we’re going to get through this. This is just a setback and we’ll come back better than ever. Some new staff.” I shrug as I try to think of the right thing to say. “It will be okay, man.”

He swings on his chair. “I’m going to offer Carlo a job.”

“What?” I frown. “Since when?”

“We need him.”

“We talked about this.”

“Yeah, we talked about how fearless he is and how he gives no fucks about consequences. That’s exactly what we need in Sicily, we need men like him to lead the ship.”

My eyes hold his as I let his words sink in.

“Think about it.” He pleads his case. “What do we need in Sicily?

“Power.”

“Exactly.” He begins to count on his fingers. “Carlo is unhinged, he doesn’t give a fuck, he’s single and can go anywhere, and he’s batshit fucking crazy. If we send him down to Sicily, he’s going to do whatever it takes to get our ground back.”

“I don’t know….” I run my fingers through my stubble as I think it over. “He’s just….”

“You don’t trust him?” He frowns.

“With my life,” I reply. “It’s not that, but I worry about him entrenched in this lifestyle and its temptations, he’s not like us, Giuliano.”

“You mean he’s dumb.”

“No, not at all. Carlo loves drugs, he loves wild women, he loves to fight, and to take chances.”

“Exactly my point.”

“This wouldn’t be just a job for him, it would be a lifestyle choice. It would become his whole identity.”

“You honestly believe that Ferrara isn’t our whole identity.”

“You know what I mean.” I sigh.

“Look, I don’t see a problem with it, I mean, the things that were holding you back from hiring him are the exact traits we need.”

“I don’t want him to go to jail, Giuliano. Or even worse…. End up dead.”

“We could all end up dead, Val.”

“We won’t.” I drain my scotch. “Not on my watch.”

“You worry that if something happens to him….”

“It will be my fault.” I cut him off.

He nods. “I had the same concerns when I asked you to work for us.”

“Why?” I frown. “I was never a risk.”

“No, but I offered you a job knowing that you were a good guy. I turned you into something that you wouldn’t have….” His voice trails off.

“I wouldn’t change a thing; I love what we’ve built and I’m proud of who we are.”