293

Samuel and Peter looked horrible. Dark shadows were spreading before their eyes. Pietro had started smoking again. A habit he had abandoned for Ines.
I joined Pietro outside on the patio. He stared at the sky, blowing out smoke. “When you first told me about Falcone’s request, I would have agreed without hesitation.
I’m still not convinced that I would say no if I were face to face with him.”
“He won’t give it back to us even if we promise him Minneapolis. He knows it can’t work. A territory cannot be given away. It has to be conquered with pure brutality. He would have to kill every Made Man in your city to really own it. Remo is someone who wants to conquer. He would never accept a territory he has not bled for. That’s his game, Pietro.”
Pietro took another deep drag from the cigarette, then threw it to the ground and walked on it. “I swore to Ines that I would never start smoking again. She didn’t even comment when I did. To see Ines in pain — fuck, that’s torture.”
When I talked to Remo the next time, my suspicions were confirmed. Despite his feigned disappointment at my refusal to respond to his request, enthusiasm resonated in his voice. He had planned more. He loved the reaction of his audience more than the match itself. Perhaps he would have lost interest in his game and in Serafina if we had not played by his rules, if we had behaved judiciously.
At that point we didn’t have many other options.
Samuel approached me a couple of days after the call and I could tell from his expression that he had not accepted my decision as Danilo and Pietro had done. “Can we talk?”
he asked, in a clipped tone of voice.
“Sure,” I said and followed him toward my makeshift office in a former guest room. Now that I had to do most of my business in Minneapolis and not in Chicago, I needed an office. I had only been back to Chicago twice since Serafina’s kidnapping. Val had also stayed mainly in Minneapolis with the children to support Ines.
I closed the door and turned to Samuel.
His blond hair had grown, grazing his ears, and he had not shaved in a couple of days, so a shaggy dark blond beard covered his chin and cheeks. Despite the lack of sleep and refusal to rest, the gunshot wound had healed surprisingly well.
“We have to attack Las Vegas. Every day Serafina is with that asshole, he destroys another part of her. We can’t just sit back and wait.” His tone set my teeth on edge, but I gave him pause.
“Between Las Vegas and us are hundreds of Remo’s loyal followers, men willing to die for him. They are between us and Serafina, and even if we reach Las Vegas without any of them finding out, which is unlikely considering we need an army to enter Las Vegas, we will be in Remo’s territory. He knows Las Vegas, and our informants tell us that it is almost impossible to get past the security measures of the Falcone mansion. That is, if Serafina is still there. Dozens would die.”
“I don’t give a shit. They can all die as long as I bring Fina back,” Samuel growled.
“But I can’t send my men on a doomed death mission. They have a family. They trust me to make wise choices and not act out of emotion.”
Samuel brought his face closer to mine, his eyes burning with anger. “I bet you’d be the first to go to Las Vegas with a fucking army if Anna was there and you wouldn’t give a shit if all the men died.”
I cared about Serafina and Ines, Pietro and Samuel, but I had to admit that my love for my children and Val was on another level, and I couldn’t deny that my reaction to Anna’s kidnapping would have been less restrained. If he had saved her? I doubted it.
Samuel nodded as if I had answered his question, then turned and strode away.
“Fuck!” I growled, my control was failing. I wanted to go into Vegas, rip Remo’s balls off and feed them to him. I wanted to show him that I could do any atrocity he committed, even if I usually chose less conspicuous forms of torture.
The Outfit was becoming more divided by the day, among the people who supported my cautious approach, wary of a war on another front; after all, we were surrounded by enemies. But there were also the others, many of them of the younger generation screaming for blood, wanting to enter Las Vegas with guns in their hands.
Samuel was one of them, Danilo too, although he did not say so openly.
“When can we go back to Chicago?” asked Leonas as we sat at the breakfast table a couple of days later.
Val gave him an understanding smile.
I had thought about sending Val and our children back to Chicago and staying in Minneapolis alone. After all, their presence was not required, but I wanted them close. I needed to know they were safe. “I don’t know,” I said. “But I hope soon.”
Leonas pushed the food onto the plate. “I miss my friends.”
“How about we play basketball?”
There was a basketball hoop in the driveway.
Sometimes Leonas played with Rocco and Riccardo at home, and I had played there for a while when I was a teenager.
Leonas’ eyes grew wide with impatience and he nodded.
Anna frowned, then lowered her gaze to her plate. After breakfast, I took her aside. “Why don’t we take a look at the Met’s new online gallery?”
Anna smiled. She had wanted to visit the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art for some time, but since they were both in New York, that was not an option.
Fortunately, both museums had a good online presence. Anna hugged my belly and I touched her head. “Thank you, Dad.”
Val kissed me on the cheek. “I know you are busy, but I am so happy that you are trying to make time for them. This is a difficult time for them, too.”
“I know,” I said softly. I wished my children did not have to witness such brutality of mob life.
Pietro called me around noon. I had already played with Leonas, showered, and sat with Anna for an hour. She was still pressed to my side, staring at her laptop when my phone rang.
“Pietro, any news?” I had told him we were meeting with him, Samuel and Danilo in the evening.
“Samuel and some of our soldiers left for Las Vegas to rescue Fina,” he said.
Tension ran through my body. “What?”
The fury in my voice made Anna look up.
I gave her a tugged smile and gently released myself from her before standing up.
“I didn’t know. One of the soldiers,” she asked, “just informed me. I can’t reach him or any of the men with him.”
“Bloody hell, Peter. It’s a suicide mission! They won’t come back alive, let alone with Serafina. Remus will be furious at this new violation of his territory!”
Pietro said nothing for almost a minute, and I tried to keep my growing anger and worry in check. If Samuel had been killed in an attempt to save Fina and if she had been killed by Remo to repay us…. Ines would not have survived.
“Fuck!” I growled, realizing too late how close Anna was.
I tried not to curse in front of her, but I had failed repeatedly over the past few weeks. I lowered the phone slightly. “Go find your mother. Tell her I have to go to your uncle and aunt’s.”
“Okay,” Anna said hesitantly but did not move. I touched her cheek and gave her a tugged smile.
Finally, she turned and walked out of the living room in search of Val.
“Ines doesn’t know yet,” Peter said softly. “I haven’t told anyone but you now.”
“Good. I will inform Danilo. He needs to come as soon as possible.”
Danilo had left for Indianapolis only yesterday, but this new development required his presence.
“I’m coming now. We have to evaluate what to do.”
Pietro made a small noise of confirmation. I hung up and closed my eyes. My God, Samuel. Remo would have torn him apart piece by piece and recorded it for all of us to see. Maybe he would have even done it on a live video and forced us all to watch or killed Serafina too.
We heard nothing from Samuel or his comrades and could not contact them, until the next day, when a beaten but alive Samuel and a severely tortured and dead Outfit soldier were delivered to our outpost near Camorra territory. I called Pietro the moment I received the news, then headed to their villa. Danilo was already there when I arrived. He had not bothered to put on a suit as he usually did when he met me. This time he was wearing casual chino pants and a white shirt.
It looked like Peter that they had not slept at all. I had been in the safe house until past midnight and had barely slept two hours, so I knew I didn’t look any better. Pietro sneaked up on me the moment I entered the hall. “Is he alive?” “Yes, and he is not seriously injured. They beat him up. He broke his wrist and a few ribs, but other than that he’s fine.”
Ines and Sofia hovered at the living room door . Relief was painted on my sister’s face and she leaned against the doorframe as if her legs could not hold her much longer. “What about Fina?” I shook my head. “We don’t know anything. I haven’t talked to Samuel yet. He’s flying in a private jet now. He should be here soon.” Sofia hugged Ines tightly, crying softly. Pietro let out a deep breath. “I’m surprised Remo let him live,” Danilo said with a frown. “I think we can all agree that it’s not an act of mercy. The bastard doesn’t show mercy.” I had to agree. Samuel should have shared the same fate as the other Outfit soldiers. The fact that he hadn’t could only mean that Remo had something worse in mind. Something that would hit us hard, or even harder, in the end. I did not express my thoughts because I feared Serafina would suffer. Danilo’s eyes conveyed the same thing. He approached me, his voice low and insistent. “Remo will be furious because the Outfit violated his territory. He will make us pay through Serafina. We have to do something.” “Another attack will not save her. Now he is alerted, even more than before. If we try to free her, we sign her death warrant.” “Maybe Samuel already has,” growled Danilo. Peter’s face was earthy as he listened. At least, Ines and Sofia were too far away to hear what Danilo had said. “Let’s go to my office,” Pietro suggested. Ines stepped forward and touched my chest, her eyes filled with concern. “What are you going to do about my son?” It took me a moment to follow her train of thought, then it hit me. Samuel had acted against my explicit order, had led many of my men to their deaths. That was treason. Rocco was locked in our cell for that very reason, because he was worth more alive than dead, now more than ever. But Samuel had no value to me. At least not strategic value. For the kind of treachery he had committed there was only one punishment: death. Danilo cast me an oblique and curious glance. As one of my Underbosses, he had to trust me that I did not favor certain Made Men because of their status. I risked the distrust of all my men if I favored the family. Yet, Danilo was practically family, too. Could I trust him to keep the details of Samuel’s behavior to himself?
Or had he perhaps already told them to others? Ines’s hands trembled against my chest and her eyes begged me for mercy.
I had killed for her, a man who was to become my Counselor. I would do it again. I had never regretted my decision because Ines’ happiness was at stake, even her life. And today I was faced with a similar choice. Only now I had to decide not to kill a soldier who deserved death for his betrayal. “Dante…” began Peter, but I raised my palm to stop him . I respected him, but it was not between him and me. I lowered my head and said softly, “For you, Ines. Just for you.” I briefly covered her hands and she let out a shuddering breath. She nodded and I took a step back. Pietro touched her back briefly as we walked toward the ‘office. Danilo’s face was perfectly neutral. It was hard to read. “I’m going to talk to Samuel. I will make sure he never misbehaves again,” Pietro said as we settled into the plush chairs in his office. I tilted my head. “I appreciate that. But first he will have to answer my questions. I will make my point very clear to him.” Peter peered into my eyes, then nodded.
He knew I had to make sure Samuel obeyed my orders in the future. I did not want to be faced with another choice like today’s again. I cared a lot about Samuel and I wasn’t sure I could kill him. And giving a kill order to Arturo or Santino was out of the question . If anyone had done it, it would have been me. I hoped it would never come to that. We discussed possible reasons for Samuel’s release, but in the end it remained only speculation until Samuel shed some light on the situation. A little later, I received a call informing me that Samuel had almost arrived at the villa. Pietro hurried to tell Ines, but I stayed and talked to Danilo. “You carefully kept your thoughts about my decision about Samuel’s punishment hidden.” Danilo shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “You are Chief. Your word is law.” “It is, yet I would like to know your thoughts on the matter. You are Sub-Chief and practically family.” I put the ’emphasis on the last word. Danilo lowered his face. “Sometimes I’m not sure it will still come down to a bond between our families. Do you really think we will bring Serafina back alive?” He looked up, his eyes tortured and angry. “Yes. I think Remo’s plan is to send her back. If he wanted to torture and kill her, he could have done it right away . This is a mind game and I think in the end it will end up with him sending her back to us in exchange for something.” I realized that he had avoided answering my question once again. I approached him and squeezed his shoulder. “You will be family. This incident is a family affair, and I expect it won’t make the rounds.” Understanding flashed in Danilo’s dark eyes. “Don’t worry. I can keep a secret if necessary.” Rocco had told me something similar many years ago. I hoped that things with Danilo would not end in a similar way. I let Pietro, Sofia and Ines have a few minutes for their family reunion after Samuel arrived. Bruises bloomed on his face and his eyes were bloodshot. His right arm was in a cast and his movements suggested that his ribs made movement painful. Danilo apologized. He would be back for another meeting tomorrow morning. Then we would learn the details of Samuel’s release. I looked at the clock. Val and the children were coming to dinner, but I wanted to finish my conversation with Samuel by then. Samuel met my gaze and resignation filled his blue eyes. Ines’s eyes. My eyes. I doubted I could kill him, ever. Peter patted him lightly on the shoulder, then Samuel headed for the office and I followed him, knowing that everyone was watching, waiting…. I was furious with him. Furious at his rash actions, but seeing him and the broken expression in his eyes, I realized that Samuel was already experiencing his own personal torture . I closed the office door to get some privacy. Samuel sank into one of the chairs and buried his face in his palms, letting out a shuddering breath. I walked over and looked at him for a moment. My nephew looked up. “You went to Las Vegas behind my back.” Samuel’s mouth twitched. “For nothing. Everything was for nothing.” Trembling, he closed his eyes. “I know I betrayed the Outfit, betrayed you by going behind your back. You should punish me for that.” Yes, I should. I remembered when she had taken her first steps.
Carla and I had visited Ines at that time. Samuel was the first of the twins to discover the villa on his own two feet, but Serafina soon followed, always determined to stay close to him. I sank down on the sofa. “What happened?” My voice was firm but devoid of anger, and I realized it was because I surprisingly heard almost none. I was going to try to save Ines, too. Samuel was young.
He would learn from his mistakes. It was painful but necessary. Samuel swallowed. “We were overwhelmed. The Falcone family, they are a unit. Nino and Remo…” His mouth contracted into a grimace. “They cannot be beaten in their own territory…” I gritted my teeth. It was something I had told him before. “That’s why I didn’t agree to an attack. I knew it would fail.” Samuel’s gaze grew distant. “Yes … but I thought I could save you.” He emitted a tormented laugh. “Remo tortured Fina because of me. I heard her screaming.
Every time I close my eyes, I imagine what she went through … I … fuck, this is the worst.” Her anguish was palpable.
I remembered my turmoil when Ines was supposed to marry Jacopo, my concern for her well-being. I had risked everything to protect her; I had killed another Made Man, my appointed Counselor. Samuel had transgressed my order, true, but his transgression was small compared to mine in the past. I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. His blue eyes were full of misery when he met my gaze. Samuel and Serafina were twins; they had always been together. What Samuel must feel now, knowing that she is in the hands of our enemy, let alone one as cruel and twisted as Remo Falcone, would have driven most men to rash actions. “I’m sorry, Dante. I accept whatever punishment you have in mind for me. I deserve torture…
I deserve to die for it.” He shuddered under my hand. “But please let me live until Fina is safe. I need to know she is safe before I pay for my betrayal. That is all I ask.” I shook my head and Samuel’s eyes lowered with resignation . “I will not kill you, Sam. Not now and not even when Fina comes home.” “Because of Mother.” “Because of your mother and because I care about you. But don’t go against my orders again.” “I won’t,” he said fiercely, but I knew such a promise was easily broken. “Nor will I torture you. I think you are already experiencing the worst kind of torture.” “Yes…
To know that Fina is suffering because of my stupidity.” He fell silent. I withdrew my hand and leaned against the back of the chair, feeling exhausted. “Remo is playing with us. He wants to break us.” “He’s succeeding, isn’t he?” Samuel croaked. “I feel fucking crushed.
Leaving Fina in his clutches is like leaving my heart behind. I wish she had traded me for her.” “She knows she can break us better by keeping her.” “Fuck, I don’t care about his fucking plans. I just want to save Fina, Dante. We have to save her. You didn’t hear her screams. You don’t understand. Imagine if he had Anna-” I couldn’t. The very idea that someone could harm my daughter made any logical thought impossible, and I needed to keep my mind clear in this situation. “Attack Las Vegas, Uncle. Get help from every Sub-Chief, Captain and every fucking soldier and crush that shithole to the ground.” “We wouldn’t be able to. Remo would know about our attack before we got to Vegas and would be prepared. He would hide Fina somewhere else or kill her to punish us.” Samuel shook his head. “We can’t just wait for him to return her to us. By then he will have destroyed her.” “I will contact him and try to come to an agreement. And while I’m doing that, I’ll see if we have any chance of getting our hands on someone we can trade for Fina.” “Remo doesn’t care about anyone as much as we care about Fina. I doubt he even cares about his damn brothers. They are united because they know they are stronger together. Like a pack. Those psychopaths are incapable of human emotion.” I feared Samuel might be right, but Remo had his own demons. Remo had one thing he wanted more than anything else. “There is still a chance to exchange Fina for Luca’s new Executor. Rumor has it that Remus wants nothing more than to kill him.” “Luca will not turn him over to us.” “No, he won’t. But if all fails, we can risk an attack on Luca’s territory and try to get our hands on the man.” Samuel thought about it and seemed placated by this option. It was a last resort. I preferred a solution with Remo that would not force me to take the war with the Family to another level. Remo had been in hiding for some time and that made me suspicious. It made everyone suspicious. “He’s up to something,” Danilo said. He had not yet returned to Indianapolis. A sense of urgency had taken hold of all of us. Samuel nodded, but he had been quiet and subdued the last few days.