Page 75 of Marcello

He almost sounded alarmed.

“What?” I asked nervously.

“You’ve PERSONALLY dealt with Cesare Caproni?”

“Yes – why?!” I asked, my anxiety ramping up to full-blown panic.

“You have my sincere admiration, then,” Fausto said. All his smug bullshit was gone. “You’ve thrown your lot in with a true up-and-comer. His father, Aristide Caproni, is second-in-command in a small clan, but they’re slowly increasing in power. A significant portion of that progress is due to Cesare recently becoming their Enforcer. Do you know what an Enforcer does?”

“No.”

“The Enforcer maintains discipline and obedience in the clan, mostly through fear. He also carries out the most dangerous missions, which usually involve ‘disposing of’ people. Rivals, witnesses – whatever the clan needs. Cesare supposedly killed over a dozen men before he turned 22, which is how he got the job.”

So all that ‘Anybody who knows the score in Naples is scared shitless of me’ stuff wasn’t just bullshit.

My guts twisted inside my belly.

“My advice to you is to tread very, very carefully. From what I’ve heard, Cesare Caproni is incredibly dangerous. His temper is like nitroglycerin: volatile, explosive, and deadly.”

Great.

Just…

fuckin’…

great.

“But Cesare’s up high enough, right?” I asked. “Any information I get from him will be enough for you to leave my family alone – right?”

“He’s placed highly enough, yes – but it has to be very GOOD information. Something I can use to my advantage.”

“Like what?”

“I’ll know it when I hear it. Is there anything else?”

“Yeah – my mother, sister, and brother are safe, right?”

“Of course. And you’ve made excellent headway so far. If you continue at this rate, you’ll secure their safety – and your own freedom – in no time at all.”

For the first time since the beginning of the conversation, my heart lifted.

“Anything else?”

“No.”

“Then I bid you good night – and good luck. It would appear you’ll need it.”

The line went dead in my ear.

25

As I trudged up the stairs to Federica’s apartment, both Fausto’s and Cesare’s words were still swimming in my brain.

Tread very, very carefully.

If they’re in the Camorra and you want to watch ‘em piss their pants, just say you work for Cesare Caproni.

He supposedly killed over a dozen men before he turned 22, which is how he got the job.