He nodded. “Still. You’re family to us, Wolfe. Why don’t we do a reception here in Palermo?”
“Don, I’m not coming back?—”
“Yes, I heard you,” he said. “And I accept that answer. I’d still like to celebrate with you.”
I was relieved this matter was finally put to rest. “I’ll talk to Francesca about it. Depends on how things go with her brother.”
“Have you heard anything?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have high hopes, though. He was shot in the chest at such close range…”
“If God wants him to live, he’ll live.”
I hated hearing that kind of stuff. Because if that were true, then why didn’t my mother get to live? Why did she have to be shot in the head and left to die while her son had to witness the whole thing? “Who will you choose instead?”
“I’m not sure. I have a couple options in mind.”
“If you’re too old, Uncle Marco is too old.”
“No, not him. He wouldn’t want it even if I offered.”
“Then who?”
“Ignazio or maybe Alfio…”
“Yeah, not bad choices.” Both loyal and level-headed.
“But I was also thinking of Tommaso. I promoted him to lieutenant after you left, and he’s done a good job. Not authoritative like you, but he’s smart. He really thinks through every decision, no matter how inconsequential it may seem.”
“Yeah, I like Tommaso.”
“I’ll sleep on it.”
There was a pause between us, and I knew I should head to the hospital so I could be there for Francesca, whatever the outcome might be. If Leo died, I knew she would carry that guilt forever. Not just survivor’s guilt, but the fact that she’d treated him so poorly over the last month. I would have to remind her it was warranted. But I had to finish this. “What are we going to do about the Skull King?”
He leaned back into the couch like the mere question exhausted him. “I don’t have a clue, Wolfe.”
“You haven’t heard from him?”
“He may not even know Icarus is dead. We took out all their men. A couple may have gotten away, but they’ll run off.”
“But in time, he’ll piece it together.”
“Yes, in time.”
“And then what?”
“I thought we didn’t play the what-if game?” he said as he cocked his head.
“Maybe we should make the first move and ask for a truce.”
“We?” He sat forward again. “What happened to wanting out?”
“I do, but I want this matter settled. And I don’t want to look over my shoulder either. I killed Icarus, and if he knows that, he might want revenge. No idea how close they are or if they had a relationship at all. But with the way Icarus spoke of him, it seemed like there was affection there.”
“Icarus was a psychopath. You can’t put any stock in what he says.”
“I’d still like it settled.”
