Page 42 of No Greater Oblivion

“I’m hosting the son of a very important Italian family in Trieste—last name’s Coppola. Do you know them?” He shakes his head. “He’s a bit of a hot head and his temper got him into trouble back home. My grandfather owed his family a favor so he’s been with us for a little while until things settle down. We lost someone a few weeks ago—Manuel…”

Ferrer notices my hesitancy but doesn’t push.

“Anyway, it’s triggered a bit of rearranging within my inner circle.” He nods, signaling he’s following along. “I’ll make sure it gets out that you’re my right hand man. As close to me as my brother Diego.”

He shakes his head in protest. “It’ll never work. The moment anyone looks into me they’ll find out⁠—”

“Let me worry about that. I’ll take care of cleaning up your background with the SVA. You just worry about what I’m telling you,” I cut him off. “We’re going to stage a hit at El Rey. There’s an old building out here in the countryside, not far-off the main highway, about a hundred years old and several stories high. It was abandoned up until a few years ago. Do you know it?”

“I do.”

“That’s El Rey. We’re going to make it seem like there was a shootout and because of my mishandling of things, it got several of our men killed, and gave you a near fatal injury in the process. Rumors will spread of your discontent. I’m incapable of running the family, I’m slipping,” I gesture vaguely with my hand. “It’ll get back to Sandro. His sister Regina is going to need a new bodyguard soon. He’ll offer you the job and you’re going to flip.”

“Why would she need a new bodyguard?”

“Because I’m getting rid of the other one.” I lean forward. “Everyone knows the real Don of the Sandoval family is Regina. As her bodyguard, you’ll be untouchable, with access to everything you could possibly need.”

Ferrer waits a long while before responding. “I know why I want to see him fall. Why do you?”

“He set fire to my father’s lounge while the woman I love was inside. She almost died in there. I went in and dug her out from under the rubble.”

He regards me with renewed interest, a slight tilt to his head betraying his own curiosity. I know my candor has caught him off guard but I need a man like him to make this plan work. And if it comes at the cost of exposing my vulnerability, then so be it.

Ferrer says, “When do we start?”

When I get home it’s a quarter after seven and the house is quiet.

I head straight upstairs to shower and change but am surprised to see Dahlia standing in the dressing room wearing a cocktail dress with full makeup, as if ready to go out. Her head turns in my direction and upon seeing me, she quickly checks the time on her phone before releasing a sigh of relief.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

Shit. Where did I put that thing?

I tap my pockets and eventually find it tucked into my blazer. Now I remember—it died an hour and a half ago and I couldn’t find the wire in the car to charge it.

“One of these days there’s going to be a real emergency and no one will be able to reach you. Even your grandfather is better with his phone than you are.”

I hate cellphones and the access they give us to other people. No one should be able to reach anyone twenty-four hours a day without limit or restriction. It’s just unnatural.

“Sorry.” I wander inside and watch as she secures a diamond earring in place. “Why are you all dressed up?”

Dahlia whips her head around. “That’s not funny.”

My lack of response draws a sound of distress from her lips.

“Alex. The art show.”

Oh my God.

She’s going to kill me.

“Please don’t tell me you forgot.”

“I didn’t forget,” I lie.

“You did!” she exclaims, suddenly flustered. “Alejandro, you promised!”

All summer there’s been an art exhibition on the other side of the city where a famous French photographer has been showcasing their work; a collection of shots taken all across Europe, in abandoned castles, exclusive palaces, and ancient villages. From my understanding, it’s supposed to be a rare glimpse into the continent’s architectural treasures, as it highlights some of the most exclusive, remote, and unknown destinations. An abbey lost deep in the Romanian countryside, an eight-hundred-year-old church on an oft forgotten Greek island, and a palace in Vienna that hasn’t been open to the public since before the World Wars.