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“Everyone. Once he gets involved, there are never any survivors. You only have to look at him the wrong way and you’re dead. I was in Afghanistan and Iraq twenty years ago and I saw some shit that’d turn your hair gray. But Enzo? That man is the only one to ever scare the ever-loving shit out of me. I’ve heard so many stories about him, you wouldn’t believe half of them.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t want to say. He might find out.”
“I won’t tell him, don’t worry.”
“He’s the reason there are only four mafia families in Chicago now, instead of five. Took out a Don and all his Capos with his bare hands, one by one. Didn’t even use a gun. Killed his own father, so they say. Ran him down for no good reason at all.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Word gets around.”
“Come on. You’re in the middle of nowhere. How do you even know who he is?”
“You can get as much contraband in the country as you can in the city if you know who to deal with.” He taps the side of his nose. “The one person no one messes with is Enzo. He’ll kill you soon as look at you. He was at this breakfast once when this guy looking to make a name for himself brought out a gun. Enzo stabbed him in the eye with his knife, and didn’t even stop chewing his food. Fork in one hand, bacon wedged on it. Knife in the guy’s eye. Then he carries on eating while his men carry the body out.”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t know what you’re doing with him, Miss Bennett, but if you want my advice, you’ll end it as soon as you can. You seem like a nice girl and there’s no way anything involving him can turn out well. I heard that one time he blew up a hospital like he was the Joker or something. Killed everyone inside.”
“Come on, you don’t believe that, do you?”
“I don’t know. Rumors swirl around him like smoke. Who knows what’s true and what isn’t? What I do know is he’s killed a lot more people than I ever managed and I was given a gun and told to go nuts with the enemy in two separate countries during my tours.”
There’s the beep of a horn outside. “That’ll be your cab,” he says. “Please, take my advice. Get the fuck away from Enzo Lauria before it’s too late for you.”
23
ENZO
* * *
Ileave my car at the airport and get the first flight I can back to Chicago. Driving would take too long. I need to get this meeting out of the way and get back to Chloe.
Once I’m on the plane, I close my eyes and fall asleep. I need to be well rested for what’s coming.
It’s one of those meetings. The message made it clear. Come to the Bistro. Now.
Not a message you ignore. I have to motor.
At the end of this, I’ll either be promoted or executed.
So I sleep until the seatbelt lights ping on above my head. By now it’s coming up to five in the afternoon. Chloe’s hopefully made it to my sister’s. I ring Imelda’s place when I wake up but there’s no answer. I’ll try again once I’m in the car.
I have cars in the long term lots of every major airport in the US. The same type of vehicle, just different plates. Makes my life a lot easier than hiring cars. Only I don’t get a chance to get to this one.
The minute I’m through security, there are three of the Don’s personal bodyguards approaching me. I get an insane idea that I should run but I’m not a coward. I’ll face whatever is coming head-on, like a man.
“Marco, Pierro, Tommy,” I say, nodding to each of them in turn. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“The Don wanted us to welcome you back to the city,” Marco says, straightening his tie. I know exactly what he’s not saying. They’ve been sent to make sure I don’t try any tricks. I feel myself relaxing. If the Don is suspicious of me, he’ll get nervous. That means he’ll make mistakes.
I look at the three men facing me. They’re no threat to me. They’re in suits like mine but that’s where the resemblance ends.
There’s Marco with his acne scars and a broken nose. He’s the width of the other two combined.
Pierro with his graying hair and wire-rimmed spectacles covering eyes that have seen more dismemberments than the county coroner.
