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“No,” the first woman answered.
“Were thecarabinierihere?”
“I assume so.”
“I don’t!” The second woman shook her head. “I assumenothingwith them. They do nothing!”
The third woman clucked again. “These criminals act with impunity. They’re attacking our children, and no one cares.”
“I do, I care!” Gaetano blurted out, and the women looked over as if he were vaguely crazy. “I mean, I feel bad about it, too.”
The first woman’s smile faded, and Gaetano edged away. Guiltengulfed him. If he had solved the first kidnapping, the second one would never have occurred.
Saint Paul, give me strength.
Gaetano prayed, and his soul calmed.
He knew exactly what to do next.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
The long, hot ride back to the Conca d’Oro intensified Franco’s rage. Everything he believed had been wrong. He had thought Baron Zito’s regard for him was genuine, but it wasn’t. He had thought his loyalty would be rewarded, but he now knew it wouldn’t be. He had believed that he could move up, but he saw now how crazy that was. There would be no going back to the man he used to be.
The moment Franco got home, he jumped off the borrowed mule, handed the animal to Sebastiano, and stormed inside the farmhouse, followed by an astonished Roberto.
“Franco, what’s the matter? Where’s Arabo?”
“I’ll get the Baron for this!” Franco’s head pounded. “He’ll pay every day of his life!”
“What happened? You’re acting crazy.”
“Iamcrazy! I’m mad!” Franco started to pace in the tiny kitchen. “The arrogance! The betrayal! Theinjustice!”
“Calm down and tell me—”
“I got fired! We’re not living here anymore, you and me!”
Roberto’s mouth dropped open. “The Baron fired you? Why? You do a wonderful job and—”
“It’s over! No more! I swear, he will pray for salvation from me! So will the rest of his kind! I have a new plan!”
“Stop.” Roberto grabbed his arm. “Franco, whatever happened, I’m with you. You’re not alone, you never were. I’m always by your side, I always have been. Whatever it is, we’ll fix it together.”
Franco felt his rage subside, touched. “Everything changes now, Robo.”
“Robo?” Roberto smiled sadly. “You haven’t called me that since we were little.”
“Maybe because we’re starting over, right now. You and me. This is a new beginning for us.”
“Okay. Sit down. I’m getting you some wine.”
“Get me water, instead.” Franco eased into his chair and raked his hands through his hair, wet with perspiration. He was angrier at himself than at Baron Zito. “How could I have been so blind? I made a deal with the devil, and I was surprised when the devil reneged.”
“Tell me what you’re talking about.” Roberto set a glass of water in front of him.
“I should’ve known better. I was such a fool. I was wrong about everything.” Franco shuddered to think of what he had done. He had ordered the ruin of an innocent boy and killed a man to hide the crime. He had slain innocence to benefit corruption. He could no longer deny the depth of his depravity, but he could regret it, just as deeply. “I never should’ve done it. I never should’ve done any of it. The devil doesn’t keep his bargains, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t.” Roberto sat down opposite him, and they both knew they were talking about the same thing, their darkest secret. Silence fell between them, and Franco picked up the glass, drank the water, and set the glass down with finality.
