By the time he walked out of the museum, it was well past 3 p.m. The trap was now fully set. All that was left was to spring it.
The drive back home was interrupted by a stop at his favorite restaurant for a late lunch. It was during the meal that he talked with Paulo about how he'd first told his parents about Mary and brought her home for dinner with them before asking for their approval.
“It may seem like an outdated practice to you,” he told Paulo, “But my parents were definitely more experienced in matters like that, and they knew more than I did.”
Paulo was silent with a thoughtful frown on his face.
Luigi continued: “Besides, my father knew more about the kind of woman who could be trusted to keep our family business in the family.”
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the engagement first,” Paulo said.
Luigi shrugged. “You didn't, and now I have to vet her after you put a ring on her finger.”
“But I already vetted her, dad,” Paulo protested. “And I know she loves me. She'll do anything I tell her to.”
And Camille won't.
“Well, I'll find out on Friday,” Luigi decided.
Paulo's frown deepened. “What's happening on Friday?”
“I'm throwing a party to celebrate your engagement. Your fiancée's family has been invited. Now I'm telling you about it.”
Paulo thought about it for a bit and nodded. “I'm sure you'll like them,” he finally said.
“We shall see,” Luigi declared.
The truth was that he already liked one member of the family, just not in the way his son would expect.
CHAPTER 6
Luciaoutdid herself for the party.
She had an interior designer set up stunning balloon and ribbon decorations in Luigi's ballroom. The chairs and tables set out for the occasion were folded over in ivory and gold swathes.
Behind the house on the lawn by the swimming pool, the lighting was improved with the installation of intricately designed lamp posts around more sitting areas.
Caterers were on hand to serve champagne and bite-sized edibles to guests on demand. A jazz band provided music for those who wanted to dance.
It was supposed to be a small, intimate affair. However, it looked lavish, something to suit a large crowd. The guests were awed as they stepped in. Donald Silva was the first to arrive and was instructed by Luigi to send up his lieutenants as they got there.
Luigi waited in his study for them, serving them drinks as they walked in and making small talk. When Donald finally came in with the last one, he sent for Paulo. Paulo came in moments later, looking flush and bright eyed.
“The man of the moment,” Luigi hailed him and gestured at the spot next to himself. “Come, stand here.”
They were in the lounge area of his study. Paulo stood to the right of his armchair. To Luigi’s left, his consigliere sat in the only other armchair. Manzano, the underboss, sat across from them in one of the twin sofas. Next to him was Alesandro Aldo, the capo in charge of distribution. He sat with his hands clasped together between his legs, a classic sign that he was ill at ease.
On the next sofa, Julio Amerigo, son of IgnacioIron-fistAmerigo, sat still, sipping his Bacardi and Scotch on the rocks.
Julio’s father’s mafia empire had been among the most powerful in Harlem until the police found a tattler among his lieutenants. All of his men, including Luigi’s father, Antonio, had been hauled off to prison.
Fortunately for Luigi, his father was the only one among them to escape a life sentence. After ten years, he had been released on parole. Despite the risk of getting caught and going back to prison, his first task had been to find the man who betrayed his boss and make him pay.
Iron-fist Amerigo had two off-shore accounts that had escaped the long reach of the law. His son provided funds to Antonio from them. That way, the assignment was completed in less than a year.
However, after sending the turncoat to his grave, Antonio stepped away from the ruins of the Amerigo empire to begin his ownbusinessconcern. His son Luigi was among his first caporegimes, despite being a gangly youth at the time.
Little Julio only came around after his own attempts to recruit and set up a fearsome crew sent him to prison. By the time he joined the Frazetta family, Luigi was his father’s underboss and not just because he was the Don’s only son but because the caporegimes looked up to him.
