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“Franco, wait! She didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, I did!” Bruna sneered. “Franco, you love lording it over Roberto. We’re not going to put up with it anymore.”
Franco jumped up, pointing out the door. “Go see to the children! I need to talk business with Roberto!”
Franco’s wife, Elvira, was already in motion, hurrying from the dining room.
“No!” Bruna remained seated, folding her arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Bruna, go, please.” Roberto rose and hoisted her to her feet.
“No!” Bruna wrenched her arm away.
“Gonow!” Roberto ordered, and Bruna left the dining room, cursing under her breath.
Franco turned to Roberto, angry. “Robo, I’veneverheld you back, not for one minute. I’ve taken you with me every step of the way.”
“Franco, I run the toughest, most violent men in Palermo. You didn’t give me authority over them, I earned it. You must credit me for that.”
“I do.”
“No, you don’t. You just said I can’t be a boss, but Iama boss.Theirboss.”
“I meant the boss of the family. You can’t succeed at the top.”
“Stop it!” Roberto scowled. “I have the same blood and brain as you. If you can be a boss,Ican be a boss.”
Franco threw up his hands. “Robo, this is because of Bruna, isn’t it? She sweeps in and changes everything?”
“We’ve been married almost fifteen years,” Roberto said, incredulous. “When will you accept her?”
“She disrespects me. You heard how she addressed me.”
“You used to appreciate a woman with a mind of her own.”
Franco knew he meant Violetta. It still hurt, amazingly. “Is this why you go to Mussomeli so much?”
“We visit her family. What of it?”
“And that father of hers, he owns a sulfur mine, doesn’t he?”
“You mean Don Bruno? Yes, there are a handful of families who own mines, but his is the biggest. He employs the most people, but he’s not disciplined.” Roberto touched his arm. “Remember how I used to tease you, that you cared about the details? Well, I see the benefit now. Don Bruno doesn’t have that, even Pino knows it.”
“Who’s Pino?” Franco hated hearing about these strangers, whom Roberto liked so much.
“Pino works for Don Bruno. They give us entrée in Mussomeli. We can take over mining there and someday, throughout Caltanissetta.”
“Since when are you so close to your father-in-law? You found a new Papa?”
Roberto sighed, wearily. “Franco, you can’t always be king of the mountain. Nobody wants to be second-in-command forever.”
“You make the same money, remember? Why can’t you be content?”
“Wasn’t that your point, so long ago? Who’s the one with the crazy dreams now?”
Franco remembered, his temper brewing.
“Franco, I might as well tell you, I want to move to Mussomeli. Right away.”
