“No, he showed up, like you.” Igor tried to smile, but he looked like he’d shit his pants. “Look, Mr. Pecker, I don’t want you to call anyone. I told you what I know, ‘kay?
Luciano glared at Igor. “If you supply him with any more bomb-making materials, you’re a dead man. Capiche?”
Visibly shaking, Igor hugged himself. “Sounds like I’m a dead man either way.”
“Remember what I said.” Luciano opened the door, waited for Simone to exit, then followed with Stuart close behind.
They got in the vehicle, and Stuart drove out of the lot. “That was good, boss,” he said.
“I went easy on him.”
“We need to get this guy off the street,” Simone said. “And pull him in for questioning.”
“I know who The Bomb Maker is,” Luciano said, a sly smile temping his lips upward.
She stared at him for a few seconds. “From that description?”
“My cousin introduced me to someone named Dante who wanted a mil in boodle. I refused him, twice. Time to let Dante know I’m ready to do business.”
“How do you know Dante is The Bomb Maker?”
“He wore a rose gold pinky ring loaded with diamonds,” Luciano said, “and he fiddled with it during our meeting.”
Simone nodded. “Finally, a break.Now, you’re being helpful.”
He and Stuart laughed out loud.
Stuart gained speed on the entrance ramp to the beltway.
After a moment, Simone asked, “Where’d you get the name Malvagio Peccatore?”
“From Sin.” Luciano showed her his FBI badge. “It’s Italian for Wicked Sinner.”
She laughed. “Mygod, that’s perfect.”
Luciano made a call, kept it on speaker.
“Hey, Lulu,” Willie Boy answered. “What’s happenin’, fratello?”
“I need Dante’s number.”
“What for?”
“I changed my mind about doing business with him. You trust him, so I trust him.”
“That’s great! I’ll let him know.”
“Text him now. I’ll wait.”
“He shows up when he needs somethin’.”
“Willie Boy, you run a business,” Luciano bit out. “Why don’t have his number?”
“He’s discreet. I don’t push.”
“Maybe if you did, you’d be a respected boss.”
“Fuck you.”
