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My mobile rang just as Benito shut off the engine. I hated to take a call right now, but it could be the contact we were meeting here. I glanced at my phone.
Fausto. And he’d sent a text, as well.
Call me right the fuck now.
Sighing, I answered. “Pronto.”
“We have a problem.”
“Can this wait?” I said into the phone.
Benito’s eyes went huge. No one asked Fausto to wait.
“No, it can’t fucking wait,” my father said. “Come home so we can discuss it.”
Fausto didn’t like to use the phone for ’Ndrangheta business, so this meant it was something related to illegal activities.
“I’m busy at the moment. As soon as I’m done here, I’ll come back.”
“Now, figlio. Where you are might not be safe.”
Ah. I checked around. It was quiet. “I’ll ring you back,” I said and hung up. Fausto wouldn’t like that. But if this was about to turn to shit, I needed all my attention on my surroundings. “Guns,” I told Benito, opening the glove box. “Be prepared.”
Headlights appeared at the other end of the warehouse. The car slowly came closer to our SUV.
“Should we be worried?” Benito asked. “What did your father say?”
“This might not be safe. Stay inside the car and let me handle it.”
“Giulio—”
I held up my hand. I heard his concern, but I was capable of doing this. And I wouldn’t willingly put him in danger. “Don’t worry. Stay in the car and you’ll be fine.” The SUV had bulletproof glass. “If it goes to shit, then get out of here.”
“And leave you?”
My contacts were getting out of their car, so I opened my door. “Yes, Bennie. If I’m dead, then it doesn’t matter.”
“Your father—”
I shut the door before he could finish that sentence.
I walked over and shook hands with the two men from Izmir. We hadn’t met before, but they sold military-grade weapons stolen from Syria, Armenia and Georgia. It went off smoothly. They explained what they had, I turned over a duffle full of Euros, and then I loaded the weapons into the trunk of the SUV.
Within ten minutes we were done and driving toward the storage unit I was using to keep my supplies. Benito helped me stow the weapons and then we headed back toward the estate. I lit another cigarette and stared out the window, feeling nothing. No relief that Fausto’s warning proved unnecessary. No pleasure in the successful transaction. No anticipation of starting an empire of my own.
Nothing.
I was numb, focusing on the small tasks to get me through each day.
My father was waiting for me in the entryway at the castello when I walked inside. Frankie was there, too, standing close to him, her fingers threading lovingly through his hair. They both turned at the sound of the door. Frankie visibly relaxed when she saw me. “See, baby?” she whispered to my father. “I told you he’d be okay.”
He kissed her forehead, then focused on me. His expression was cold and angry. “My office. Now.” Without waiting for my response, he strode off into the castello.
Frankie came over and gave me a hug. “He worries about you. And he’s paranoid. Go easy on him.”
“I’ll try, matrigna.” I kissed her cheeks. When I started to walk away, she grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“I’m also worried about you.”
