“Or we’re getting a premium product for a fraction of the price,” Elio countered. “Taking advantage of an argument that doesn’t concern us. Seeing an opportunity and exploiting it. I think we have more to lose by not meeting with him than meeting him. There have been a lot of shake-ups and economic downturns.”
My father set down his fork and stared at Elio.
I pretended not to be in the middle of them and focused on my dinner, trying to be invisible. I wished I’d just taken Thomas’s spot, so my father and Elio could continue this conversation with me on the outskirts.
Then my father shifted his gaze to Leo. “What are your thoughts?”
“If it’s a plan by Cosa Nostra, they already know where we are and what we do. Having him here wouldn’t increase our exposure.” Leo sliced into his fish and placed the lemon-soaked meat in his mouth. “If they wanted to hit us, I don’t think this is how they would do it.”
My father turned to look at me. “Frankie?”
I stopped eating to look at him, my eyebrows raised. “I’m not qualified to have an opinion about this.”
“Yes, you are,” he said firmly. “You’re smart—and you’re a Mancini.”
I turned back to my food, taking a moment to think it over. “Customs is getting harder to manipulate. This is the second time someone’s tried to rob us this month. Some of our customers are being threatened to switch distributors. It seems like everything is going to shit, piece by piece. Having some new blood with priceless intel would be beneficial, assuming his intentions are genuine and not nefarious.”
My father’s eyes lingered on mine for a long time as his thoughts ran in the background of his mind. Then his eyes flicked back to Elio. “I’ll meet him tomorrow.”
Elio nodded in agreement. “I think that’s?—”
“Let’s speak no more of this.” My father suddenly rose from his chair and grabbed his wineglass.
Everyone immediately went silent, all turning to look at him when he commanded the patio just by standing up.
He raised his glass. “To Alfonso and Mattia—we’re glad you’re still here.”
Everyone else raised their glass and took a drink, and then applause and cheers erupted.
4
WOLFE
Salvatore left the main road off the coastline near Palermo and headed inland to the outskirts of Caltanissetta, one of the cities in the center of Sicily. “You should know that Don Mancini had to be talked into this.”
“Thanks for going to bat for me.”
“And he probably won’t like you, no matter what you do or say.”
“No surprise there.”
Salvatore made a few more turns before he left the asphalt roads and the tires hit dirt. We were officially in wine country, Mount Etna miles away on the coast. It wasn’t smoking today, so that was a good sign.
At a high elevation, the sea was visible far into the distance. It was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky, and the hint of summer was on the horizon.
“You aren’t packing, right?”
“Nah. I don’t need a gun.”
Salvatore turned to look at me as he slowed the car over the dirt road. “You know the Mancinis and the rest of the syndicate don’t like Cosa Nostra, right?”
I grinned. “Why do you think I’m here?”
“Well, you were one of them up until a few days ago, so they might shoot you when you walk in.”
“Eh, I’m not worried about it.” I looked out the windshield again.
“Are you ever worried about anything?”
