I took another series of deep breaths, finally able to curtail my rage.
“What do you want me to do, boss?” The hitch in Carlo’s voice was thick.
I dialed Grinder’s number before answering his question. “You’re going to do your damn job but Carlo, I will deal with you later.”
Carlo nodded, his face pasty white, and walked back to the hospital room window, retaking his position.
I glared at him as the phone rang. The war had just kicked up another notch. As soon as Grinder answered, I moved to the end of the hall and out of earshot. “Grinder. Pick up Saltori. Bring him to me. Also have someone tailing Vincenzo. I want to know every activity.”
“What’s happened, boss?”
“The fucker just crossed the line. He’s playing a dangerous game. Call me when he’s in your hands.”
“Will do, boss. You know that’s going to start a war.”
“So be it.”
“Found out some other news too. Saltori’s been going behind your father’s back for years. He didn’t limit himself to the great state of California either. The very reason for the cutback in your father’s essentials,” Grinder said cryptically, which meant Saltori had moved in on my father’s turf, taking away potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars. My guess is he kept to the drugs since they were the most profitable aspect of the business. Easy to skim off the top. He was ready to take over as mafia Don the second my father was out of the picture. “I also don’t think they care about the girl’s life.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, word on the street is that she’s expendable. If you know what I mean, boss.”
They had to be something else regarding her net worth that she either didn’t know about or had refused to tell me. Expendable meant contract. None of this was adding up. “By whom?”
“Nobody’s talkin’ but people are already on the street. Maybe they think she knows too much.”
Who was double crossing whom?
The picture was becoming clearer. This was a high stakes game, more like Russian roulette. Sadly, my father had lost his touch, unable to see what was going on right under his nose. What I didn’t say, but I’d been thinking was that Ricardo Cappalini wasn’t that stupid. Someone from the inside of my father’s organization had to be helping. Given I knew little, I couldn’t make any assumptions.
Including with Grinder.
If Francesca was expendable, that meant the entire scheme was much bigger than I’d imagined. What in the hell was really going on?
“Just bring his ass to me,” I said in an aggressive tone. I would get it out of Saltori.
I wasn’t necessarily surprised that Shane and another detective stepped out of the elevator. I had a feeling they would be hanging around the hospital, perhaps hopeful they’d get lucky. Ending the call, I shoved the phone in my pocket before walking closer.
Shane glanced at my jacket, as if he knew I was packing. “Michael. I heard what happened. I’m sorry.”
I lifted my gaze to the security officer who stood in the background, a smug look on his face. “You got here fast.”
“We were in the neighborhood.”
I just bet you were. “The killer was here making another attempt on my father. Appears to be the same one from the photograph.”
Shane tipped his head, eyeing the group of hospital personnel. “And?”
“Too early to tell.”
He looked uncomfortable as he glanced back at the window then toward Carlo. “I’m going to put a protection detail on your father.”
I took a deep breath, contemplating the reason why. Using taxpayer’s money to protect a notorious crime boss meant there was someone high ranking from the department on my father’s payroll. “All right. I also need a copy of the picture you showed me.”
Shane narrowed his eyes. “Now, you wouldn’t be considering handling a bit of retaliation on your own, would you?”
“Just need to have my guys keep an eye out.” The little game.
He rubbed his jaw before reaching into his jacket pocket. “You’ll have to deal with a photocopy.”
I yanked it from his hand, studying the black and white. “All I need.” At least I could use it for verification with Saltori.
Shane kept his hand on it. “Don’t do anything stupid, Michael.”
I laughed. “You know exactly the kind of man you’re dealing with.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said, lifting a single eyebrow. “Now, tell me what happened.”
I gave him the standard play by play, constantly watching what the doctors were doing.
“Not much but I’ll put out the info. Sadly, there’s little to go on all the way around. Not a single informant is talking. I think they’re scared shitless.” Shane kept his voice low. “We’re going to have a tough time keeping a lid on this one.”
“Yeah, I figured.” This wasn’t going to end well. The bastards should be frightened.
“Call me if you think of anything else.” Shane had no conviction in his tone of voice. He knew I wasn’t going to call him for assistance. When I said nothing, he sighed. “Like I said, don’t do anything stupid. I’ll get two uniforms up here. Someone will be with your father every minute of the day.”
That is, until he was stable enough to move to a safer facility. The assassin would keep on until the deed was done. That’s how they worked.