Mafia Kings: Roberto: Chapter 39

Iwas at Mei-ling’s apartment. It was mid-afternoon, and I was waiting for her to return from a business errand.

When I saw Niccolo’s name on my cell phone screen, I felt a pang of guilt. I’d been texting him daily with a simple No change in the situation, but I’d been too preoccupied with Mei-ling to call and find out what was going on back home.

I answered immediately. “Hello.”

“Are you alright?” he asked.

I could hear the stress in his voice and immediately grew concerned.

“Yes – what’s wrong?”

“I haven’t heard from you in a week.”

“I texted you every day.” I didn’t feel like now was the best time to bring up Mei-ling, so I simply said, “Nothing’s changed, unfortunately.”

“Well, things have changed here. We still can’t reach Massimo, and now Lars has gone missing.”

“What?!”

Niccolo told me how Lars had gone to London to meet the woman from his past, the one who had tried to kill Dario. Lars had contacted her under a false name, posing as a customer who needed her services as an assassin.

Ever since the night he was supposed to meet her, Lars hadn’t answered any of Niccolo’s calls…

And Massimo hadn’t contacted Niccolo, either.

Dread filled my stomach. “Do you think they’re…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say the word ‘dead.’

“I’m not going down that road until I have to. But the fact remains that two of us are out of commission. Valentino’s in Sicily – ”

“Wait – what?!”

Niccolo sighed. “You remember the Vicaris?”

For those who don’t speak Italian, the name is pronounced vi-CAR-ee.

“Of course,” I replied.

The Vicaris were the most powerful family in Sicily – the island that was the literal birthplace of the Cosa Nostra hundreds of years ago.

Don Vicari was known for being a brutal mafioso and a fearsome leader. Several families had territories on the island, but Vicari served as Sicily’s representative on the Council – the group of Cosa Nostra families that controlled the major cities and regions throughout Italy.

“We arranged for Valentino to marry Don Vicari’s daughter.”

“What?! Why?!”

“Fausto’s trying to turn everyone against us, and he’s more or less succeeded. We need allies. That was the whole point of sending Massimo to Venice – to get the Widow on our side.”

Now I understood.

“And you think this alliance with Don Vicari will help if we can bring Fausto before the Council.”

“I’m sure of it. Don Vicari has already sworn to support us.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“Things have been a little fucking hectic around here,” Niccolo barked. “And YOU don’t do anything besides text me, so – ”

“Alright, alright,” I said guiltily, knowing exactly why I hadn’t called. “Did Valentino already get married?”

“No. The wedding’s in two weeks.”

“And how does Valentino feel about this?”

Niccolo gave a bitter laugh. “How do you think? Dario had to give him a direct order to make him obey.”

“Jesus,” I muttered.

“I had to tell him to quit thinking with his dick and start caring about the family.”

Now I was very glad I hadn’t brought up Mei-ling.

“He’ll come around eventually. I’m not so sure about Alessandra, though.”

“What’s going on with Alessandra?”

“She’s FURIOUS. She’s friends with that servant girl Valentino was banging, and now she’s got it in her head that the two of them are meant for each other. I tried to talk sense into her – that Valentino’s a horndog, and he only cares about a girl until the next one walks by – but Alessandra won’t listen to reason.”

“How bad is it?”

“Remember that night when she argued with Dario and left the house?”

There was no way I could forget.

That was the night the Turk used Alessandra as a hostage to invade our mansion and try to kill us all.

I winced. “That bad?”

“Not yet, but it’s getting there.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say. “How can I help?”

“That’s the reason I called,” Niccolo said darkly. “If you haven’t gotten the money by now, it’s because the Syndicate is working with Fausto.”

“If the Syndicate were working with Fausto, I’d be dead.”

“They may not be following his orders, but I’m convinced he’s influencing their decisions.”

“Does this information come from your mysterious source?” I asked sardonically.

“I’m EXTRAPOLATING from my mysterious source,” he snapped. “But you have to admit, it’s odd that they haven’t given you a solid ‘yes’ or ‘no’ even after all this time.”

I felt guilty all over again. I hadn’t bothered Lau nearly enough the past week. I’d only called him twice, and I cheerfully hung up both times he brushed me off.

“I’ll triple my efforts,” I promised.

“I’ve talked with Dario, and we don’t care about the money anymore. I mean, obviously we care, but we care about YOU more. With Massimo and Lars both… in trouble… we can’t afford to lose you.”

I was touched by the very real concern in Niccolo’s voice – but I couldn’t afford to fail. Especially not after having spent the entire week in Mei-ling’s bed. I would never be able to live with myself if my failure caused us to lose our war with Fausto.

Actually, I wouldn’t have to live with myself. If Fausto won, we would all be dead.

“I’m not leaving without the money, Nic. I’ll get it – I promise.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. Right now, I’m betting the Syndicate is stalling you because they don’t want to kill you. They know that if they do, we’ll come after them. But if Fausto succeeds, the Syndicate won’t have to worry about reprisals. And with two of us potentially… gone…”

“The Syndicate might decide to make it three by taking me out,” I said quietly.

“Yes. Which is why Dario and I want you back home.”

“Let me see if I can find a way to protect myself first.”

“How the fuck are you going to do that?”

“Leave that to me.”

“Roberto – ”

“Don’t make me come home quite yet. Give me a chance to get the money.”

I didn’t add, And save the family.

I didn’t have to. Niccolo knew exactly what was at stake.

He sighed. “Alright… but you HAVE to be careful, little brother.”

“I will,” I promised.

“If there’s ANY sign of danger, GET OUT. That’s a direct order from Dario.”

I froze. I couldn’t defy a direct order from my don.

“But only if there are clear signs of danger… correct?”

“I can already hear you trying to exploit the fine print,” Niccolo said humorously.

“Don’t make me come home unless it’s absolutely necessary. Not until I’ve either succeeded or it’s clear I would fail no matter what I do.”

“…alright. Just as long as you come home in one piece.”