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I shake my head.Of course I can.Neo would never fucking betray me like that.
ChapterFive
One day earlier
I’m at the docks, where Noah Kelly said the shipment would be. My plan was to just watch the bastards unload, then tail them. Thatwasthe plan, until I saw the contents of the shipment.
I call the number saved as B1 in my phone. I expect Hal to answer—he’s the head of the Gambino family. At least I’m hoping it’s him. Out of the three, he’s the most tolerable. It’s not him though. It’s Leo Lambourne instead. “T, what you got?” he answers.
“I’m down at the docks. Leo, this is fucked up. These girls can’t be older than eight.”
“Okay. But you know what you have to do:follow ‘em and wait for backup. Do not go in alone.”
“This is bigger than we thought, Leo. These girls, they’re all Italian. I’m sending you a picture now—the guy’s walking around here like his shit don’t stink. I don’t know who the fuck he is. I’ve never seen him before.”
“Got it. Fuck me. T, don’t fucking do anything. Get the fuck out of there.Now. Go to the meet-up place. We’ll see you there.”
“No, we need to know where they’re taking these girls.”
“No, you need to do as you’re told, kid. That bastard in the photo, that’s Big Harry. We need to reevaluate this plan.”
“The plan stays. I don’t care who the fuck this Big Harry thinks he is.” I hang up. I’ve heard rumors about the fucker—he’s some drug lord over in Italy. I’ve just never really cared enough to learn anything else about him. I guess I probably should have. I fire off a text to Neo.
Me: Who and what is Big Harry?
Neo calls instead of messaging back. “Where are you?”
“At the docks. Who’s this Big Harry bastard?” I’m starting to get impatient. I want some fucking answers.
“He’s a fucking psychotic loose cannon. I’ve heard he eats his kills.Hannibal Lector style, T. Whatever you do, stay the fuck away from him.”
“Why is everyone so scared of this guy?” I ask. I don’t get it.
“Actually, I don’t know. But I sure as fuck want this whole shit to end sooner rather than later, because your wife needs you to come fucking home.”
“How’s she doing?” I prompt.
“How do you think she’s doing? She thinks the love of her life just got blown to pieces. She’s a fucking mess, man. I can’t get her to eat. She barely sleeps. And when she does, she wakes up screaming.”
“Did you get her sister here?” I don’t know how to help her. I wish I could just tell her the truth… that I’m okay. But I need this shit to be believable. I need a grieving widow.
“Yeah, she should be arriving tomorrow.”
“Good. I gotta go. Just try to make sure she eats something.” My gut is wrenching. I feel like absolute fucking shit for having to do this to her. I’ve almost caved over and over again the last two days, wanting to send her a message, or reach out via text.Something.Anything to let her know not to give up on us.
She has to know there’s still anus. Our story is far from done.
* * *
Pulling out my phone, I snap a photo of the building and take note of the address. I followed the trucks here—the trucks full of fucking young Italian girls. This is fucked up. I want to go in there on a killing spree. I’d love to watch their blood spill, put an end to each one of those sick bastards.
I try to think of what my father would have done. I can’t believe he’d have known about this. There is no way he would stand by and allow this to happen to a bunch of kids. Not after what happened to Lola, my cousin and Neo’s younger sister. She disappeared when she was nine. The family never even found so much as a trace of her whereabouts. It makes me sick to my stomach to think thatthiscould have been her fate. I shake the thoughts from my head. I can’t lose focus now.
I drive over to the meeting place. The others are already there by the time I pull up. “Where the fuck have you been? You do realize I’ve got other shit to deal with?” Leo grunts.
“Yeah, so the fuck do I, asshole. At least all of you fuckers get to go home to your wives tonight,” I reply. They drop their eyes, unable to meet mine. Bastards. “What aren’t you fucking telling me?”
“We need you to go to Italy,” Hal says. “Big Harry is involved, which means this is bigger than we thought. It’s bigger than just the New York families. We want this ring shut down. I’ve spoken to Al Donatello. He’s on board. Whatever you need over there—whatever you can’t source yourself—he’ll help you get.”
