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“You’ve got an hour.”
“Then I better get to work and stop yakking with you.”
By the time he rings me back, the news has already broken. Eddie was right. They’re calling it the hold ‘em massacre on the TV. The way they’re presenting it makes it look like gang war’s coming back to the city.
I’m not mentioned by name but they do call it an illegal card game, say it’s a mafia shooting. Doesn’t take a genius to do the math. The peace is wearing thin. Sooner or later Don Colombo isn’t going to be satisfied with my card players. He’s going to come for me.
I intend to get to him first.
You can’t be the first to back out in a game of chicken. Only two options, be the winner or don’t play. I’m already playing so I’m not blinking. I’m going to deal with this situation once and for all.
When Richard calls me back all the pieces start falling into place. “You’re sure?” I ask when he’s finished giving me the intel.
“It’s distant but the family connection is there. You want me to send you the paperwork?”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“You need anything else from me?”
“Not right now.”
“I’m real sorry about your card game.”
“So am I.”
I turn off my phone. I need to think.
Don Colombo’s son hits three members of the Fletcher family on their way to church. Alessandro is drunk and probably high. Gets to walk away. Chief of police is too scared of the mob response to look into it properly. The Fletchers are distantly related to the Colombos. That helps explain why he’s able to get away with this. The parents were willing to sweep it under the rug because they wouldn’t dare take on their own family.
Only then do I move in and bring it into the open. Kelly talks at the funeral when she’s not meant to, openly says it was Alessandro’s fault and he’s got away with killing her sister.
So what does Don Colombo do after that? He thinks I’m going to offer my services to Kelly. Probably thinks I’m now just waiting for the right time to whack Alessandro. I do that and war breaks out. Business gets put on hold while we all get busy killing each other. Costs a lot of lives. More importantly, it costs everyone a lot of money. Cops might even get involved. Only so many deaths you can cover up before someone notices.
So what to do to protect his son? Warn me off, of course. Sends out a few hits, gives the cops a couple of tip offs. Hopes I’ll get the message only I don’t so he goes further. The order of service today. Biggest hint yet that he knows and I should let it go.
I might have let it go before now if it wasn’t for Kelly. I can’t stand the thought of her not getting justice for what happened to her sister.
She’s in danger now as well. If Richard can find her address, I’ve no doubt Don Colombo knows it too. He’s probably watching her, waiting to see if she tries to make any more waves about the crash. Dared not kill her for what she said at the funeral because everyone would know it was him. So he’s waiting to see what happens, trying to keep an eye on both her and me.
What to do?
The solution to all of this is staring me in the face. I smile to myself as I realize it. I get hold of Kelly. I bring her into the famiglia. Marry her. Get her pregnant. Keep her under my protection. I get an heir with blood from both families.
I take out Alessandro for what he’s done. Don Colombo is left without an heir. I get him to agree to give up his stake on the city. I take over both families. I gain control of everything my father didn’t manage to take in his lifetime. Two families with me in charge of both. An heir to take over when I die. Kelly kept safe. Alessandro dead. Don Colombo dead. Everything works out just peachy.
Could it work? It’ll mean dominating Kelly. She’ll have to obey my commands to stay safe. I can’t have her wandering around with Don Colombo on the warpath. She’ll need to stay close to me, do exactly as I say. Which suits me perfectly.
I’ve tried to forget about her these last few weeks, let her go get on with her life, focus on dealing with Alessandro. Now I know she’s in danger, I’ve got to bring her close to me to keep her safe.
A relationship with her is a bad idea. I know that. Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t see her again. I know the damage I’ll do to her, how obsessive I’ll get.
But this isn’t any set of circumstances. This is my chance to get justice for her and take over both families. Succeed and I run the city. Fail and I probably end up the same as the players at the card game this morning.
What’s the point of a game without some risk involved?
I check my email. Richard has sent me Kelly’s address. I know where she lives. Time to pay her a visit. Get her to come back here where I can keep her safe.
There’s a knock on my study door as I get to my feet. It’s the housekeeper. “Lady at the door for you,” she says. “Name of Kelly Fletcher. Says she needs to see you. Says it’s urgent.”
