Page 6 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Ray did, but he tossed Calisto a baleful scowl at thesame time.

Calisto found his favorite chair in the east corner ofthe room beside a mahogany bookshelf filled with classic literature. No matterhow many times he sat in the spot, far away from the view of the windows andfacing the men in the room where no one could hit him from behind, Calistostill felt a little uneasy.

In his life, nothing was promised or safe. Getting ridof the boss’s consigliere might just be the chance one of the Donati Caposneeded to get higher in la familiga. He took note of the five Capossitting around the room in their usual spots.

While the men would chat happily and unconcerned withRay, they wouldn’t do the same with Calisto. They felt he was too close to theboss—that he was Affonso’s eyes when the man wasn’t around.

It amused him to no end.

They didn’t have a clue.

“Ah, everyone is here.”

At Affonso’s voice, each man in the room stood fromtheir respective seats to greet their boss with a nod and a “boss” right on thetips of their tongues. Calisto was no exception, although his greeting was ahell of a lot quieter, and he was the first to sit back down.

“Traffic was hell this morning,” Affonso said,strolling across the room to grab the waiting bottle of vodka. He pouredhimself a drink, leaned against the table, and took a hearty sip. “But that’snothing new for Manhattan. No problems, right?”

“No, boss,” came the collective answer.

Affonso’s routine rarely changed when it came totribute. He asked the same few questions, vaguely hinting at things likeproblems—which usually meant officials following them or issues with otherCapos or families. Then, he’d gesture at Calisto and the tone would change.Envelopes would be brought out from each man’s pocket, all thick and full ofdirty cash.

It was the only part of Calisto’s job as theconsigliere that he liked. Nothing was better than money, making it, having it,or spending it. Dirty money was even better, because the government hadn’tgotten their paws on it to take what they could from it.

Calisto raised his hand, saying, “There is a problem.”

Affonso sighed and eyed his nephew over his shoulder.“What now, Cal?”

“Irish. New Jersey. Same shit.”

“Same empty threats, pushing their luck, and littleelse?”

Calisto nodded. “Sì, Don.”

“Madonn,” Affonso cursed under his breath.Then, he waved a hand high in the air. “As of now, they’re hurting no one.”

“The Marcellos and the Calabrese won’t be as nice, ifthey try selling products on their territories.”

“Right now, they’re edging on ours. Leave it alone,Cal.”

“Whatever you want,” Calisto replied, unbothered.

As much as Calisto despised his uncle as a man, hecouldn’t help but admit that Affonso was a damn good boss where it counted.Affonso didn’t have to be a man of high moral standards, and he didn’t evenhave to be a decent human being to run his Cosa Nostra.

No, Affonso only had to be a boss.

“I have something to do today, so we’ll be cuttingthis short if there’s nothing to discuss,” Affonso said, directing hisstatement to the entire room. “Who has gifts for me?”

Gifts.

Calisto barely held back from scoffing. Still, hestood from his seat, pulled out the envelope from his own pocket, and droppedit on the table behind his uncle. He walked around the room with a hand heldout, collecting payment after payment from each man, until he had another sixmore envelopes to put beside his uncle.

“Grazie, Cal,” Affonso said. “Make sure eachhas paid the required minimum before they leave, yes?”

“No problem,” Calisto replied.

Affonso downed the rest of his drink in one gulp, andpushed the tumbler back onto the table. “Now, as for that business I mentioneddoing today.”

“What about it, boss?” Ray asked.