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I’m not really a goodbye type, but I say it to Alessandro before heading toward my car. I’m barely out the front door when I hear Frankie calling me.
“Luigi! Where are you going?”
“Out?” I smile. “Although I feel like that’s about to change.”
“No partying tonight, cous,” Dominic says, lighting a cigarette. “You’re coming with us downstairs so we can discuss the plan for the auction in detail. We cannot miss this opportunity.”
I try not to sigh, but it just escapes my mouth. Frankie raises an eyebrow at me, and I shrug. “I’m just tired.”
Dominic snorts. “Bullshit. You want to go chase tail. You need to find a woman and settle down, then you won’t be so…” he looks at me and exhales. “Tired? Was it?”
I roll my eyes. “Come on, let’s get this over with before you’re both grandfathers.”
We go downstairs to a fitted-out basement office. I sit down at the table. “So it’s tomorrow?”
“We assume it’s tomorrow,” Frankie says, looking at Dominic. “We are waiting for a text to confirm exactly what time and location.”
“It’s going to happen tomorrow,” Dominic says, looking irritated. They must have had an argument about this already.
“All we know is it is going to happen. They are going to text time and location—more than likely tomorrow—and a password to use to gain entry.”
“What if the password is wrong?” I ask, but I know the answer.
“Well, you’re not leaving, so you’ll probably be shot on site.” Dominic sits down opposite me, pulling an ashtray toward himself.
“Who’s hosting?”
“A breakaway branch of the Catalans, one’s who miss their former leader. You will need to come across as a businessman. We’ve chosen you because you’re a well-kept secret, and they won’t know you are related to us. Don’t mention the Sorvino name. They hate us more than anything.”
Frankie puts his briefcase on the table and pulls out a few pages. “These burn tonight, so memorize them.”
He hands them to me, and I go over them. “We don’t know the layout of the place, so how are we going to plan the exit?”
“According to sources,” Frankie explains, sitting next to Dominic, “each buyer is allowed two men, but you can’t just shoot this guy. One of the men who is going to be with you is going to cause a distraction. In the chaos, you will accidentally bump into the politician in the photo. That’s when you slip a knife into his heart without anyone seeing. Simple plan. You got it?”
“Not my favorite way to give parting gifts, but I can work around it.” I memorize the guy's facial features. Every last identifying mark that will let me recognize him.
“Luigi, you only get one shot, and then you have to exit. This is probably the most dangerous thing we’ve asked you to do.” Dominic puts out his cigarette, and his eyes bore into mine.
“We don’t know where it is, but we know the layout of the seating. You’re going to memorize that as well,” he says seriously.
Frankie pushes a printed floor plan toward me. I take it and look at it. “We aren’t leaving until we have this down perfectly.”
“You guys act like I’m not a professional that’s done a hit before,” I mutter.
Dominic snorts, “That’s the problem. We don’t want you to come across as a hitman. You need to come across as a businessman, which you do not.”
We spend what feels like an eternity going over every possible scenario depending on where this guy, this Killian Irvin, is seated. This will influence the direction he heads in for the emergency exit. Eventually, I can’t take it anymore and stand up with a yawn. “Guys, we’ve done this every which way until Sunday. I am exhausted and will be useless if I don’t get any rest before this goes down.”
They glance at each other. I can see dark rings under their eyes as well.
“If I find out you didn’t go straight home and rest, I swear to God you’ll die before the politician tomorrow,” Dominic threatens me.
I know he means it in his own loving way, and I wave him off. “I know. I know. I’ve got everything memorized, and I’m ready. I won’t be stupid and go out tonight. I swear on my mother's grave.”
Frankie snorts and shakes his head. “Off you go, then, Luigi. We’ll let you know the details once they’re sent, so keep your phone charged and nearby.”
I bid my farewells and leave. I am careful not to rev too loudly as I leave the property. I don’t think the boss will be too happy if I wake him, his wife, or his kids.
