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“No problem,” he says, “I’ve got the airport pickup and drop-off down to a science, as you can see. Now, if you folks will follow me this way to the car.” He motions sagely to the exit, pretending to be a travel guide or something.
“Sorry about all the airport shit,” I whisper to him, pulling my suitcase through the parking lot. “It’s because I trust you. And also, Ava likes you. I’ll have better work for you soon.”
He shrugs. “Happy to do it. Nothing says ‘career boost’ like getting in some face time with the boss.”
I chuckle. “Let’s stop at Sal’s club on the way home. I’ll have him catch me up on anything important I missed while I was away.”
***
“Don Alessandro!” Sal blows out a cloud of cigar smoke as I go into his office in the back of the strip club, Ava andDominic following. He looks up from the football highlights he’s watching on his computer. “Did you and your lovely wife have a good trip?”
“Yeah, it was great. How did it go mopping up after the thing with the Maroney crew?”
“Oh, it was no problem. They’re running around like chickens with their heads cut off. We’ve taken back all the disputed territory in South Bover, and they’re not going to do shit about it. Not after you took out Colin and Declan.” He glances at Ava guiltily, and then at me. “Sorry, wasn’t considering my audience. Should we talk privately?”
“No. Anything you can say to me, you can say in front of Ava.”
He looks surprised, but shrugs. “Whatever you say, boss. Anyway, things are all good here.”
“What about Tony Gagliardi? Any issues with him? Anyone on the street still taking his orders?”
“Tony? Haven’t heard a peep from him since he got arrested, to be honest. I don’t think any of his old captains want to make waves. You handled the Maroney problem and you aren’t fucking with their incomes. Why would they mess with a good situation?”
“Just a hunch. Gagliardi called us from jail the other night. He was drunk, but it sounded like maybe he had something brewing. Tell your guys to be on the lookout, okay?”
“Will do. But I have to say, I don’t think it’s likely.”
“Still, can never be too cautious. Thanks, Sal. I slept easy knowing you were in charge while I was away. I think Ava and I are going to head home now.” I start to turn, then stop myself, remembering. “Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you something. Did you know Ava’s uncle Jackie back in the day? I know he was around during your time.”
Sal freezes. “Jackie? I don’t know, was he part of the life?”
“Pretty sure he was,” says Ava. “Jackie Carbone, my mom’s brother. He died maybe 20 years ago. I’ve been trying to get more information about him.”
“Have you asked your mother?”
“That’s next, I guess.”
My capo looks uncomfortable. He throws me a look. “Maybe it would be better if we discussed this with just the two of us? Sensitive topics and all.”
I shake my head. “No. It’s okay.”
Sal glances at Ava, and I get the impression that hereallydoesn’t want to say this in front of her. “Sorry in advance, kid.” He extinguishes his cigar, then turns back to me. “Okay, boss, here it goes. Yeah, I knew Jackie. He had beef with your dad.”
I blink. “My dad? What kind of beef?”
“Your dad’s kid cousin was doing business with Jackie. Don’t remember the details now, but Jackie thought the cousin ripped him off. He beat him up pretty bad. Your dad was furious. I’d never seen Anthony mad like that.”
Even after all these years, I have to push down the emotions that surface at the mention of my father. Will the wound ever stop being raw?
“Anyway, Jackie came into one of our bars and was running his mouth about things. Anthony and I decided to…” Sal’s eyes flit to Ava. “Well, we straightened things out.”
“You straightened things out?”
He draws a finger across his throat. “Yeah. You know, we handled it. Actually, you were there, come to think of it. It was your 10th birthday. Always felt a little bad about that one.”
A wave of nausea comes over me, and I have to swallow. I remember that birthday. The broken glass, the smell of blood, the taste of vomit. The awful sound of the cleaver.
“You murdered someone on Alessandro’s 10th birthday?” My wife clutches my arm, looking horrified.
