“I know.”
12
WOLFE
By the time I made it to Francesca, it was almost midnight.
But she was awake, sitting on the couch, when I walked in the door. I’d texted her before I left Palermo to tell her I was alright.
She got to her feet to greet me by the door. “Everyone okay?”
“Yeah.” I circled her lower back with my arm and gave her a quick kiss. “He wasn’t there. Knew we were coming.” I helped myself to the kitchen because I was starving. There was a plate sitting on the top shelf of the fridge covered in plastic film. I assumed that was for me, so I grabbed it and put it in the microwave.
Francesca had followed me into the kitchen, wearing one of my t-shirts and long socks. “How did he know?”
“Because we have a fucking snitch.” I leaned against the counter across from her and crossed my arms over my chest.
Her eyes shifted back and forth between mine.
“And I have no idea who the fuck it is.”
“You’re certain?”
“There’s always room for doubt, but this is the second time something like this has happened. My contact confirmed Warren was in residence when he gave me the information. This was after the wedding. That means he vacated the property after I was informed of his whereabouts. Could be a coincidence, but I highly doubt it. I think someone tipped him off after I told the don we were coming for him.”
“Who did you tell exactly?”
“All the guys,” I said. “And then Don could have told his other guys. It’s hard to narrow it down.”
“Then who has the most to gain from betraying my father?”
“That answer isn’t obvious either,” I said. “Pay anyone a couple million, and they’ll do whatever you ask.”
“Not my father’s men. None of them would betray him like this.”
“Well, someone has. And I’m the most obvious suspect.” The microwave beeped when the food was ready, but I let it sit there.
Francesca didn’t react to the timer either. “My father doesn’t think that…does he?”
“No.”
“It’s not me, you, or Leo. That’s all I know.”
“That leaves about twenty suspects. Maybe even more.”
“Maybe Elio?” she asked. “He’s a little rough around the edges, but I can’t see him doing that.”
“I don’t care for him either, but I agree.”
“Andre…Salvatore…Hugo…”
“Not Salvatore. He doesn’t have it in him.”
“I’m not sure how you’re going to figure this out, Wolfe.” She shook her head slightly. “Not unless you tail each one of them.”
I straightened and grabbed the food out of the microwave and a fork from the drawer and carried the plate to the dining table. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. But Don Mancini is too good a man to have a snitch like this.” I took a seat and leaned over the piece of lasagna she’d made. I sliced my fork through the layers of sauce, meat, and cheese and felt my stomach growl at the first bite.
She sat across from me. “It’s nice that you care about him so much.”
