Revenge (25 page)

He turned off the shower and stepped out,
scrubbing roughly at his skin with a towel. He was finger-combing
his hair when the mobile phone on the bathroom counter vibrated. He
picked it up and was greeted by a frantic voice on the other
end.

Carlo had finally made his move.

As he hurriedly pulled on clothes, the mobile
phone continued to buzz like an agitated bee. First Dom, then
Antonio, then Ruggero, then several other reports came in, all bad.
Carlo’s men had struck three times that evening, in different parts
of Milan, roughing up business owners under Enrico’s protection,
including the elderly and influential Giacomo Parini and his wife
Marietta. Targeting the Parinis meant Carlo was serious; if they
bolted from the Lucchesi family’s protection, many others would
follow their lead.

Dom called again, his voice urgent when
Enrico picked up. “They shot Ottavio Bottura.”

“Will he live?”

“The doctors aren’t sure.”

“Damn it!” Enrico’s mind was churning. “Where
did it happen?”

“Near the others. He was checking on the
Morettis. Carlo’s men were waiting.”

“Have you alerted everyone?”

“I’ve got men on it.” There was a pause, then
Dom said, “You must accept Delfina.”

He was puzzled. “I thought you’d already
arranged it.”

“I have spoken to Dario and Carlo.”

“But?”

“Carlo doesn’t trust you. He says you must
give up the American.”

“I can’t.” He should have guessed. Carlo
wanted her too.

“He says he will not have his granddaughter
insulted by a public mistress.”

The anger he’d been holding at bay exploded.
“Fuck him. Everyone knows he has a mistress. He takes her
everywhere!”

“I’m not arguing with you. It’s not fair, but
it’s what he wants.” There was a long silence, then Dom said, “So,
you’re not changing your mind.”

“Either I have Kate, or no Delfina.”

“Carlo will not accept that.”

“As I said—”

“Yes, yes. Fuck him. That might feel good to
say, but it won’t solve our problem. Carlo is trying to cut us off
at the knees with this business today.”

“I’m aware of that.” Why couldn’t he just do
the right thing? Why couldn’t he just walk away from Kate? Why was
he selfishly holding on to her, keeping her in danger?

“Since you seem to be out of ideas,” Dom
said, “may I recommend hard measures later tonight in each district
Carlo controls around Milan?”

Enrico ignored the jab. “No. We go with a
two-pronged approach starting now. Send a few men out to trash
Andretti’s business clients—frighten the owners, but don’t harm
them. I want them grateful it wasn’t worse. I want everyone else
we’ve got hitting Andretti’s bases throughout the city. Burn them
out if you have to. I want him to hurt.”

“We’ll make him suffer.”

“The families who’ve been affected—you’ve
issued compensation and protection?”

“Yes. Enzo’s at the hospital with the
Parinis, and I’m en route to Ottavio and his wife.”

“I’ll be there shortly.” Enrico flipped the
phone shut and went in search of Kate. He found her working in the
solarium. “I have to go to Milan.”

She closed her laptop. “What’s wrong?”

“Carlo attacked several of my
businesses.”

“Is anyone hurt?”

“Yes. I am going to check on things. Pino and
Ruggero will go with me; Antonio, Santino, and Claudio will stay
with you.” He paused. “Please stay near the house.”

“Do you think they’ll come here?”

He hated the anxiety in her voice. “I do not
think so.”

“He did send Vince though.” Kate took a deep
breath. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”

He nodded. Seeing the terror on her face, he
made a decision. “If you wish to leave, have your bags packed and
ready to go when I return.”

“I don’t have a passport.”

“Do not worry about that.”

“Do you
want
me to go?”

“Of course not. But if you are afraid—”

“I’m staying.”

He couldn’t have been more shocked. Or more
pleased. He grinned at her, his chest going warm with pleasure. “I
do not know how long this will take.”

“I’ll be here.”

He turned to go. “Wait.” Hearing the
desperation in her voice, he spun back to her and found her
suddenly in his arms. Her hands on the back of his head urged him
to her for a tender kiss. The warmth in his chest expanded, grew,
as her lips met his, as she sighed into his mouth. He pulled her
close, crushing her to him for an instant. Then he let her go. He
had to, or he’d never leave. “Come back to me,” she whispered. It
was the first passionate kiss they’d shared since Vincenzo had
attacked them. Joy flooded through him. If he survived this, there
was hope for them.

He stroked a few stray hairs off her cheek,
then kissed her once more, letting his hunger loose for an instant.
“I will return soon.” Then he turned and left, jogging to the cars
out front. He passed Antonio heading up to the house and stopped
him. “Stay with her at all times.” He pinned Antonio with a hard
stare.

“
Sì
,
capo
. I will guard her
with my life.”

He clapped Antonio on the back, then hurried
to the Mercedes, where Pino and Ruggero were waiting with the
engine running. Both were heavily armed. As soon as Enrico slipped
inside, they headed for Milan. Another car with three men followed
them.

Ruggero was sitting in front with Pino. He
pulled a 9mm Glock out of his jacket pocket and handed it to
Enrico. The gun felt heavy and cool in Enrico’s hands. He popped
the clip and checked that it was full, then slapped it back in.
Every gunman made sure of his weapon. It was one of the first rules
his father had taught him.

He put the gun in his pocket and settled back
against the seat. His heart raced. So it was finally upon them. He
was almost glad to have the waiting over. He just wished it weren’t
happening now, not with Kate here. Not now, not while he wasn’t
sure of her. But that kiss…. He smiled to himself.

Ruggero must have been watching him in the
rearview mirror. He half-turned to Enrico. “Feels good to be in the
action again, yes?”

Enrico nodded. It did. Though the action he
was thinking of didn’t involve bullets. He shook off the memory of
Kate’s body pressed against his. He needed his wits about him.

En route, he pulled out his mobile phone and
dialed his godfather. Vittorio answered on the first ring with
“
Ciao
, Enrico, my son,” as if he were expecting the
call.

“
Ciao
,
mio padrino
. You know
why I’m calling?”

“I’ve heard Carlo has stuck a thorn in
you.”

“I’m dealing with it as we speak.”

“I wish you well. I have a meeting with
Benedetto in the morning about this outrage.”

“
Mille grazie
, Don Battista.”

“Thanks are not required. You do us all a
great service, my boy. Carlo is a rabid dog who would tear
everything apart if left unchecked. It is difficult to be his
keeper. Even Benedetto does not like to tangle with his
brother.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Vittorio laughed again, ending with another
rasping cough. “You are so much like your father. So modest. But
without the temper.”

Enrico smiled. “I have the temper. I’m just
not as free with it.”

“Perhaps you would do well to unleash it from
time to time. Carlo needs a reminder of who you are.”

“Wise advice, Don Battista.”

There was a pause, then Vittorio said, “I
wish you to come see me when this has calmed down. There is a
matter we must discuss.”

Enrico felt a little jolt. The old don was
the liaison between La Provincia, the quasi-ruling body of the
‘Ndrangheta, and the individual families. “Am I in trouble?” he
asked, then regretted letting his anxiety show.

“Call it an old man’s intuition.”

Enrico wondered what was on Don Battista’s
mind, but since they were approaching the outskirts of Milan, he
wanted to be on full alert. “I’ll come see you. I’d already been
thinking of it.”

“I look forward to it. And bring this
American of yours. I wish to meet her.”

“Will do.
Ciao
.” He waited for the old
don’s reply, then snapped the phone shut. Why did he want to see
Kate? How had he even heard about her? He thought for a moment.
Dom, of course. So Dom had already been complaining to their
padrino
. An inquiry from La Provincia was the last thing
Enrico needed.

They rolled up to the hospital. Pino put the
car in park and left the engine running. He waited for the guards
from the other car to surround them, then he got out and opened the
door for Enrico. Ruggero joined them, and the four men flanked
Enrico as they entered the hospital.

They were soon outside the ICU. Enrico
checked on Ottavio Bottura and his wife. The man’s condition was
grave, but there was hope he’d recover. He prayed with Ottavio’s
wife, handed her a thick envelope of euros, then left. It was all
he could do for them at the moment.

He headed down the hall to see the Parinis.
Giacomo had been badly beaten; his wife Marietta, while bruised,
was well enough to be sitting by her husband’s bedside when Enrico
walked in. Patches of gauze and tape covered most of Giacomo’s
exposed skin. His left eye was swollen shut and a dark purple
bruise spread over most of the left side of his face.
“
Madonna
,” Enrico murmured under his breath. “
Come
stai
?” he asked when he reached Giacomo’s bedside.

Giacomo rolled his head to look at Enrico out
of his good eye. “Don Enrico,” he said, his voice raspy. “I’ve been
worse.” Before his father had gone into seclusion, Giacomo and
Rinaldo had been close friends. Giacomo refused to call Enrico Don
Lucchesi as long as Rinaldo was still alive. Enrico didn’t mind.
Even after all these years, the title didn’t quite fit. Don
Lucchesi was his father. Not him.

Enrico took Giacomo’s hand. The old man’s
skin felt like crepe paper, the thick veins beneath it creating
hills and valleys on the back of his hand. He glanced at Marietta,
shame burning his cheeks. Two more people he’d failed to protect.
“I apologize deeply for what has happened.”

“When I chose sides, I knew this could happen
one day. But it would have been easier to bear a decade or two
ago.” Giacomo smiled, wincing when his split lower lip tore
open.

“I am grateful for your support, and sorry it
has cost you so much.” Seeing Giacomo like this, feeling how frail
he was, made his chest ache.

“I cannot in good conscience support
Andretti. He’s a snake.”

“I will put two men in your shop at all
times. Send me the bill for any extra help you have to hire while
you’re recovering.” He pulled another envelope thick with euros
from his jacket pocket and handed it to Marietta. “Let me know if
this doesn’t cover your expenses.”

“
Grazie
, Don Lucchesi,” she said.

Giacomo squeezed his hand. “We will remain
loyal to you. You need not fear. However, you must seek peace with
Andretti, you must settle this matter soon. Otherwise, there will
be defections. I cannot long argue in your favor with the other
merchants if they keep suffering.”

“Carlo made an example of you to scare
them.”

“It’s working. My mobile phone has been
ringing all night. Most are terrified right now.”

“I have men on the streets as we speak. Carlo
will suffer for this.”

“Make sure he does.” Giacomo coughed, then
let out a gasp of pain, squeezing Enrico’s hand harder than he
would have thought possible. “My ribs.”

“
Signore
, please don’t worry yourself.
I have it under control.”

“Do you?” Marietta whispered. When he turned
his eyes toward her, she clapped a hand over her mouth and averted
her gaze.

“Carlo will not trouble you further.” His
tone was firm, but he kept his voice soft.

She finally met his eyes. “We are counting on
you, Don Lucchesi.”

“As I am counting on you. I’ll do my utmost
to resolve this matter immediately.” He gave the old man’s hand
another squeeze. Then he made the sign of the cross and said a
quick prayer for Giacomo before he left.

But it was up to him, not God, to make things
right. It was
his
selfishness,
his
stubbornness, that
had gotten them to this point. But he wouldn’t roll over for Carlo;
that would be the worst move he could make. He had to play this
carefully, or soon he wouldn’t be playing at all.

He met Dom in the hallway. Their guards had
split into three groups of two and were posted at the entrances to
the ICU.

“Dom,” Enrico said, inclining his head
stiffly. He was still angry over what he’d heard from Don Battista.
How dare Dom go to La Provincia?

Dom eyed him warily. “How are the
Parinis?”

“Marietta is fine. Giacomo is badly hurt, but
he will survive.”

“We need to talk. Some place more
private.”

They walked outside, heavily flanked by
guards, when a group of men on foot rushed at them from the
shadows, shots blasting from their guns. Adrenaline flooded
Enrico’s body; he struggled to keep his breathing even and his mind
clear as he and the guards raced toward the cars. Ruggero’s gun was
up and firing before Enrico had his in hand. He was about to pull
the trigger when pain seared through his upper left arm. He grabbed
at it with his right hand. His fingers and the gun stock came back
bloody. He’d been hit.

His step slowed.
Keep going
. Crouching
lower, he ran for the car, trying to make himself a smaller target.
Ruggero glanced back at him a couple times, doing his best to keep
his body in front of Enrico’s. Another of the guards kept pace with
them. Dom headed to his own car. He appeared to be unhurt, but it
was hard to tell in the darkness.