But Vincenzo didn’t say anything, and since his back was to me, I didn’t have a clue what his face looked like.
I was sure he was pissed, though.
“Twenty years of friendship destroyed over money. That’s pathetic.” Vincenzo was the one to speak.
“If you were an equal partner, this relationship wouldprogress rather than come to a halt,” Luigi said. “But this is how the world works, Vincenzo. The fittest survive.”
“You brought me all the way here to insult me?” Now, Don Mancini’s voice started to rise because his patience had officially expired.
“I brought you all the way here to make you an offer.”
I glanced at the men who flanked Luigi and glanced up at the gallery again, trying to determine exactly how this would play out when the conversation ended.
“An offer?” Don Mancini mocked. “Not sure what you can offer me at this point.”
“Let us absorb your business, your relationships, and your distribution partnerships, and we’ll let you continue your little winery like civilians.” Luigi wore a beige blazer with large black buttons along the side. An old-fashioned gold watch sat on his wrist, looking like it was several generations older than he was. Wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t even work. “We won’t part as friends, but we won’t part as enemies either.”
“My little winery?” Don Mancini said quietly. “The little winery that’s been in my family for generations? It’s little to you?”
Luigi kept his hands together and didn’t move. “Don’ttake this personally. I wouldn’t make you this generous offer if I didn’t still have affection for you?—”
“You can take your affection and shove it up your ass, Luigi.” He slammed his hand down hard and jumped up out of his chair, pushing it back and making it tip over. “I’m happy to show you just howsoftwe are.”
Elio left his chair and shared a look with Don Mancini, a silent conversation passing between them.
Leo slammed his hand on the table like his father, but he took it a step further by spitting right in Luigi’s face.
I smirked.
One of Luigi’s men lunged across the table and grabbed Leo by the neckline then slammed him down on the wood.
Then guns were drawn, one pressed right to Leo’s temple. All the bodyguards carried pistols, and up above, men with automatic rifles appeared, aiming their barrels down at us like those fish in a barrel.
“How does that saying go?” I said when Don Mancini was close to me. “I told you so.”
Don Mancini looked like he wanted to kill me even more than the asshole who had his son by the shirt, his gun pressed into Leo’s temple. Don Mancini turned back toLuigi. “This is who you are? I’d rather be soft than dishonorable.”
“And I’d rather be alive than dead.”
The guy slammed Leo to the table again and dug the tip of his barrel into his head.
His son was about to get his brains shot out, but Vincenzo managed to keep his calm.
“I’ll give you one more chance,” Luigi said. “Yield—or your son’s brains will stain our clothes.”
“I’d rather fucking die,” Leo said as he remained pinned to the table.
The guy slammed his head down again.
I was starting to like Leo.
Luigi continued to look at Don. “Yield—or your legacy dies with him.”
I didn’t really like Don Mancini at all, but no sane father would let his son be killed over business.
A silent standoff ensued, the two men staring at each other. It seemed like an entire minute later when Don Mancini conceded. “Fine.”
The henchman pulled the gun from Leo’s head.
