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I nod. “Don Ettore, two sons. They operate a huge opioid gig in Staten Island. Worth a pretty penny to any family, really.”
“Indeed, well, Don Ettore, for whatever reason he holds personally, wants to essentially sell his family, the business, and the area to another family. He wants to return to Italy, apparently.”
“He’s selling the family?” I ask, confused.
“Basically, everyone who works for him, so that they still have work and positions and no one gets left behind,” Alessandro sets a glass of whiskey, neat, in front of me.
“You can’t sell loyalty,” I comment. “How do we know no one will try to overthrow us?”
“We don’t, but we can easily put any stragglers in their place,” he sipped his whiskey and sat down again. “I want you to bid against the other families and get me everything they have.”
I wait for a moment before asking. “What’s the catch? If it were just straightforward, you’d send Frankie or Miguel?”
He smiles at me. “You know we’ve joined with the Volkov family through marriage? Vittoria married Ivan?”
“I missed the wedding, but I know it happened,” I comment. He knows that the Bratva family is a sore point for me, and I didn’t attend the wedding because of my history with them.
“Well, you may have missed that we share a lot now. Ivan is as giving as we are, and we keep things peaceful. But I want this for us. I want the Sorvino family, not our little coalition, to run Staten Island. Ivan won’t retaliate if we bid against him, but he knows most of the other family members and how they will bid. You’re a mystery to him.”
Maybe to him, but definitely not to his cousin. That’s the first thought that runs through my brain, and it’s almost as though Alessandro reads my mind.
“Ivan is going to send Evgenii to acquire Staten Island. He’s a good businessman who makes good strategic decisions. Are you going to be able to handle that?”
I nod confidently and without hesitation. “I can handle it. We have history, but that’s what it is. History.”
Alessandro looks a little doubtful, and I smile reassuringly. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve always got our family's best interests at heart.”
“Once you acquire Staten, we can call in Pierce and ask him to manage things in the area while you return to the West Coast and head up operations there. This time on your own.”
It’s a promotion or the promise of one. One I’ve hoped for, for a long time, and I fill with pride. “I’ll get this done, don’t worry, Fratello.”
He chuckles and turns as his phone rings. “Give me two seconds,” he stands up and walks away to take the call, and I sit there, pondering my dilemma.
Evgenii, that fucking dickhead! I knew he couldn’t be dead yet, though I had hoped. The traitorous little rat didn’t deserve anything other than pain and death. I wish I could be the one to dish it out.
I grow frustrated and angry as I think about him and what he did to me those years ago. If I see him at Don Ettore’s house, I might accidentally drive over him with the car I’m going to borrow from the family, or maybe I can take out a hit on him. No, the two families are united, and Alessandro would never allow that, despite knowing my history with him. It’s nice to think about though. All the ways I could torture him for hours before finally ending his life.
Alessandro comes back and sits down. “So, are we all sorted? Just let Carmine know if you need anything, and he’ll get it for you.”
I finish my whiskey and smile. “Perfect, I’ll do that. Don’t worry, Alessandro, the Sorvino familywillget Staten Island and all it has to offer.”
Alessandro’s smile is more like an evil smirk. “Oh, I know. It’s why I called you.”
I stand up. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get settled in now so I can see Don Ettore as soon as possible to lay down a foundation for the acquisition.”
“Ever the businesswoman.” Alessandro stands as I stand. Manners are everything to him. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
I leave his office, waving at Carmine as I pass him in the entrance hall and walk upstairs. My room is on the second level, to the right, and my legs ache slightly as I reach the top. Having sat for the flight, the drive, and now the meeting, my legs feel stiff. I should hit the home gym later to stretch out my muscles.
I shut my door behind me and grimace, a slight doubt creeping into my heart now that I’m alone.
I don’t particularly want to deal with Evgenii, but I know he’ll speak to me if I see him. He will enjoy unsettling me, and I can’t let that happen.
Whatever happens, if I see him, I need to remain calm and composed, cold and businesslike. This isn’t a family gathering where we all love each other. This is a deal the likes of which I’ve never heard of. Families never “sell” their territory. Their children or someone high up in the family must inherit it. When I check with Don Ettore Pacheco, I can guarantee that he doesn’t feel confident that anyone can run the family business without running it into the ground.
The numbers are already crunching in my head. Staten Island is notorious for its opioid use. The market is booming day by day. We’ve tried to get in there before, but the Pacheco family runs good substances for a sustaining price. They’re good at business. They know how to keep their customers.
I will bowl over the Pacheco family with my bid, make Evgenii look like a complete idiot, and seal my promotion with Alessandro all in one swoop.
