PART FOUR
Dante
“The photos haven’t appeared anywhere yet,” Rocco said as a way of greeting as he entered my office the next afternoon.
“Luca must have managed to keep them under taps. But he has seen them, I have no doubt.”
Rocco nodded thoughtfully as he sank down in the armchair across from me. “My contacts to the press beyond our borders are very limited. I’m hoping some rag will have the balls to post an article. It’s a scandal none of them should pass up on.”
“Indeed,” I said. I had to admit I wasn’t entirely unhappy with the fact that the photos hadn’t made headline. The possible rumors had worried Val more than I’d anticipated, maybe because of her pregnancy but I didn’t want to stress her out more than absolutely necessary. “I’m sure Luca will send me some kind of message soon.”
“I’d guess a bloody one. I doubt he’ll give you a call.”
I smiled grimly. Luca would definitely send a bloody warning of what was to come. He would retribute, no doubt.
“I could tell Fabiano to call Liliana or Gianna under the pretense of wanting to talk to them. That way we might be able to get intel on what’s going on in the Vitiello household. Luca must have confronted Aria by now.”
I nodded slowly. Gianna and Liliana might reveal something to their brother. He had started his initiation process, so he needed to learn to do even the difficult task, like laying a trap to his sisters. I ran a hand through my hair. When I’d been a young man, I’d dreamed of being a better man, a better Capo. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be both.
“Have you told Giovanni yet?”
I shook my head. “I’m meeting him later. He and Livia are coming over for dinner to see Anna and check on Val.”
“Only two more weeks?” Rocco said.
I nodded. I’d been worried that Leonas would come early like Anna, but so far Val’s second pregnancy had been free of complications.
Rocco shook his head, then a look of pride crossed his face. “I’m becoming a father too. It’s still very early so we haven’t announced it yet, but if things go well, my newborn son and your Leonas can become friends.”
“Congrats,” I said. Rocco hadn’t been a good father to his children so far. I hoped he’d do a better job with this child.
I led Rocco toward the front door. Val lingered on the staircase and gave Rocco her official smile, but something in her face told me she was in pain. The moment Rocco was out of the door, I stalked toward her. “Val, what’s wrong?”
She smiled. “Labor. I think Leonas doesn’t want to wait anymore.”
“Now?”
She laughed then winced. “Well, this is my first natural birth, at least I hope it’ll be… so I don’t know how long this’ll take but we probably have time to call my parents so they take Anna and grab my hospital bag.”
“Is this because of me again?” Last time Val’s pregnancy had been horrible because I’d made her life so difficult. Was her labor linked to our conversation yesterday?
She rolled her eyes. “Not everything is about you, Dante. This baby is big already. I’m glad he wants to get out a bit sooner. Now get my bag and Anna. I’ll call my parents.”
I nodded and hurried up the stairs.
Fifteen minutes later, we were in the car on our way to Val’s parents to drop Anna off.
“Are you sure we can make this detour?” I asked again. Labor was something I couldn’t control and it was driving me crazy.
Val gave me a look, clutching her belly. “I’m sure. I called my midwife and she said I still have a few hours.”
I wondered how the woman knew. Sometimes these things sped up unexpectedly. Giovanni and Livia waited on the front steps when we pulled up. Anna began crying when Livia tried to pry her off Val’s legs.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Livia crooned. “Your mommy will be fine.”
Anna’s fearful cries tore at me and usually I would have comforted her but I needed to get Val to hospital.
Only when we finally arrived in hospital did I become a bit calmer. Like Val had said, the labor took six more hours and it was late evening when Leonas released his first cry.
He was much bigger than Anna had been. A few weeks made such a difference. The midwife put him into Val’s arms at once and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. He looked like the photos I’d seen of myself as a baby.
“He’s you,” Val said with a laugh.
“Maybe he’ll get your eyes.”
“We’ll see,” she whispered and stroked his back gently. It was strange to think that one of the happiest moments of my life followed so closely after an act of war. Maybe it was a reminder that I needed to focus on the good in my life, even if evil would always be my closest companion.
* * *
Father’s congrats came swiftly after he’d heard of Leonas’ birth. While he hadn’t showed the slightest interest in meeting Anna, he couldn’t wait to meet my son, the heir to our bloodline how he never stopped emphasizing. I didn’t mention it to Val, even though she was very aware of my parents’ views.
Val was allowed to leave the hospital the next day. I wanted her home as quickly as possible, considering the escalating conflict with the Famiglia.
“I can’t wait for Anna to meet her little brother. I hope her excitement won’t disappear once she realizes he isn’t really a toy,” Val said as we stepped into our mansion. Giovanni and Livia would bring Anna over later and stay for lunch.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s good for her to share our attention.”
“I know,” Val said, smiling down at Leonas who was fast asleep in his carrier. I stroked her back. I hadn’t left her side since she’d given birth. My protectiveness was at an all-time high and it was difficult to suppress the feeling.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and Rocco’s name flashed on the screen. I had a feeling this was an update on the photo situation. I wasn’t sure I wanted it right now, but business couldn’t wait.
“It’s okay. Take the call,” Val said. “I’ll go ahead into the kitchen and show Leonas to Gabby and Zita. They’re probably busy cooking lunch. I smell roast chicken.”
I kissed her, then pressed the phone against my ear. “What is it, Rocco?”
“Congrats on your son,” he said but I could tell from the sound of his voice that it wasn’t the reason for his call. Something had happened.
“What’s going on?” I asked in a low voice, heading into my office so Valentina wouldn’t overhear anything. She didn’t need to worry.
“The photographer disappeared.”
“What do you mean he disappeared?”
“I tried calling him but he didn’t pick up. Then I called in his agency and they said they can’t reach him. I sent someone over to his apartment to check on him but he wasn’t there. His car parked in its usual place.”
“You think someone from the Famiglia kidnapped him?” It was the logical explanation, almost too logical for Luca after seeing photos of Aria with me.
“Yes. Or it could be the mole.”
My mouth tightened. We’d suspected a spy in our ranks for a while but we didn’t have any clues as to who it could be. “Considering that the photos haven’t made headline yet, it could be Luca’s intention to make sure it stays that way.”
“We can leak the photos directly to several social media platforms. Once they are online, even Luca can’t stop them from spreading.”
“No, Luca is already out of control. He’ll make mistakes. That’s what we wanted. Look at what he did to those bikers. He’s unpredictable. The photos hit him where they were supposed to.” The bloodbath in Jersey had been discussed enthusiastically in several online forums in the darknet, with many speculations pointing toward Luca. I had no doubt it was him.
“All right. What are we supposed to do about the photographer?”
“He’ll be dead by now, or wish he was. Our focus needs to be on finding the possible spy in our ranks.”
“Luca’s started weeding out the Famiglia from what I hear.”
Of course, he had. He’d vent his anger on anyone who’d ever opposed him and kill as many of his opponents as possible.
I’d begun removing soldiers who weren’t loyal to me long before I’d become Capo. Luca had a lot of catching up to do. “Attack his borders and try to strike up a cooperation with the MCs in his territory.”
“They don’t cooperate well. They follow their own rules. We can never know if we can trust them.”
“I have absolutely no intention to trust any of them. I want them to carry out attacks on Famiglia clubs and storage facilities. We’ll provide them with drugs and guns in return.”
“I’ll try my luck. Right now, I don’t have any close contacts but I’ll try to build them.”
The bell rang. “I need to hang up now. Keep me updated.”
I stepped back out of my office just when Gabby opened the front door. Anna spotted me immediately and stormed toward me, the skirt of her plaid dress fluttering around her short legs. I picked her up and kissed her cheek. Livia had styled her hair with French braids again, Anna’s favorite hairdo. “Where is he?” she asked excitedly.
I smiled, nodding toward the kitchen door where Val just walked out with Leonas on her arm. Anna’s eyes widened. “He’s white!”
I chuckled. “He’s pale blond, but his hair will probably darken a bit over the years like mine did.”
Anna peered up at me. “Your hair was white when you were a baby?”
“Like Leonas’ hair, yes.”
“And I have Mommy’s hair?”
Val smiled as she stopped beside us. “Almost.”
Giovanni and Livia joined us, smiling proudly.
“Did everything go well?” Val asked her parents then kissed Anna’s forehead.
“Everything went well,” Giovanni said, but his eyes darted to me and tightened. Since he’d found out about the staged photos, he’d kept his distance to me. I assumed because he worried otherwise he’d show his anger. Being my father-in-law as well as Underboss proved tricky.
Livia crooned over Leonas but he didn’t wake.
“Daddy?” Anna peered up at me. “Why’s he asleep?”
“He’s tired.”
“But I wanna meet him.”
I stroked her hair. “Soon, Anna.” She regarded him, her head tilted to the side as if he was a toy she didn’t understand. Val gave me a small smile, looking exhausted and happy. No matter how difficult things in the Outfit were, this sight always gave me hope for our future.
We all headed toward the dining area. I set Anna down so she could follow Val and ask her questions about Leonas.
“Can I have a quick word with you?” Giovanni asked when the women settled at the dining table.
“Of course,” I said and led him a few steps away. “I know you don’t approve of my plan.”
Giovanni shook his head. “There should have been another way to handle the situation, Dante. I don’t like how this could reflect on Val.”
“Nobody knows anything.”
“Yet. To be honest, I’m glad Luca managed to keep the photos from making headlines.”
I didn’t say anything, not willing to admit that I was too. The plan was working its cause anyway and so I was determined to file it as a success, at least for outward appearances. “This plan affirmed my suspicion that we have a spy in our ranks. The photographer was kidnapped, and I doubt Luca could have sent someone from his Famiglia over so quickly. They would have to ask around for the address, and that would have attracted plenty of attention. The job must have been done by someone from our men who knew where to find him.”
“The man has been on our payroll for years. Many people know about him. The list of possible spies would be very long.”
“I know. We need to write every possible name down and go over them. If we can narrow it down to certain people who might have reason to be dissatisfied with their position in the Outfit, we’ll take them aside and talk to them. If they act suspicious, we’ll intensify our efforts.”
Giovanni frowned. “I don’t like the idea of a spy among our men. Do you really think it’s the case?”
“I hope not, but I think we need to accept the possibility. Do you have any apparent suspects?”
Giovanni looked away with a distant expression. Something about his face made me believe there was someone he had in mind but was still reluctant to name. “Giovanni?”
He quickly shook his head. “I’ll put down names for you today and email them to you. I think we should join our wives, they are waiting for us.”
He was right. Val and Livia were looking our way. The plates were already filled with food. I inclined my head, but my suspicion remained. If Giovanni hesitated to reveal a name, it must be someone he was close to, so either one of his closest soldiers or family. “Is Orazio still in Chicago? He’s been working with the Famiglia closely and might have clues about possible suspects.”
Giovanni’s expression darkened. “We got in an argument yesterday. I haven’t talked to him since then. He’s supposed to help me with our new drug lab until next week.”
I hadn’t seen Orazio in a couple of months. Since the war with the Famiglia had broken out again, he’d mostly worked for Pietro in Minneapolis and only occasionally when Giovanni insisted in Chicago as had been the case the last two weeks, but we hadn’t crossed paths. It had been a constant conflict between the two that he refused to finally return to Chicago and work with his father. After all, Orazio was supposed to take over as Underboss at some point. I knew Giovanni was dangling the position over his head under the condition that Orazio settled down and married a woman his parents chose for him. I hadn’t gotten involved so far, neither as Orazio’s brother-in-law nor as Capo. Forcing him into a bond he was reluctant about wasn’t part of my duties. But eventually, Orazio would have to take over from Giovanni, so one of them would have to back down.
Val gave me a questioning look. I smoothed my expression. I didn’t want to give her reason to worry. She should only focus on our newborn son, not the problems between her father and brother.
After lunch, I headed into the office and tried to call Orazio but the voicemail answered. Instead, I called Pietro, wondering if Orazio had returned to Minneapolis without telling his father. I’d have preferred to spend the day with Val and the kids, but as Capo, I couldn’t let problems get out of control. Maybe I needed to have a word with Orazio. The conflict between Giovanni and him affected their work and Val, both of which were unacceptable.
“Dante, good to hear from you,” Pietro said. “Are Leonas and Val home?”
It was easy to understand why Ines was so happy with him. He was one of the most easy-going Made Men I knew, but it didn’t make him any less effective. He’d mastered the art of channeling his dark side. One of the reasons why I admired him.
“Yes, just this morning. I prefer to have them in the mansion right now.”
“Understandable. I’ve been thinking about additional protection for Ines and the kids. Ines isn’t too happy about the prospect of more guards in and around the house though.”
“I doubt Luca will target them, yet caution is certainly advisable.”
“I assume you didn’t call to tell me about Leonas and Val. Are there any new developments with the photos?”
“Giovanni, Rocco and I are going to make a list with possible spies.”
Pietro was quiet for a moment. “And you want names from me? Or am I one of the suspects?”
It was said in jest but I wondered if Pietro worried about my trust in him. I’d never explicitly told him how much I appreciated his loyalty. He was one of the very last men I’d ever suspect, not only because the consequences would be devastating, if it were the case. It was a choice I’d never want to face. “I trust you, Pietro. Ines trusts you.” It was all I’d say.
Pietro cleared his throat. “Then you want names? You think one of my men might be among the traitors?”
“I hope it’s only one rat. And I don’t have any of your men in particular in mind. Orazio has been in contact with many soldiers who worked closely with the Famiglia over the years. I’d like a word with him.”
“I’m sure he can give you a list of people who got along too well with Famiglia soldiers. But…” He hesitated. “…why are you calling me? Orazio has been in Chicago for two weeks and so far he hasn’t returned to Minneapolis. Giovanni told me he’d have to help with the lab for another week. Don’t you think Orazio is going to visit Leonas and Val?”
“Giovanni had a fight with him, so I assumed he returned without a word.”
“Oh, well, he hasn’t called me yet. I’ll let you know if he shows up here. Maybe he just needed some time to calm down. Doesn’t he know Leonas was born?”
My suspicious nature reared its head, but I pushed it down. “Val sent him a text message. He congratulated her but hasn’t called or showed up. Maybe he wants to avoid Giovanni and plans a surprise visit later today or tomorrow.”
“Maybe,” Pietro said. “Giovanni gave him a hard time because of that girl of his. But he broke it off so many years ago I thought he’d have made peace with him by now.”
“They tolerate each other at best,” I said. I hadn’t gotten involved in their family matters. Giovanni had wanted to keep the thing hush-hush, I hadn’t told anyone but Pietro because I valued his input. Valentina and I hadn’t even been married yet when things between Orazio and the girl happened, and I’d been in mourning then.
Pietro sighed. “You don’t think…?”
He didn’t voice what I didn’t want to consider. “He’s a good soldier and family. Orazio would never betray the Outfit.” It was a fact I had to trust in because the alternative was absolutely unacceptable.
“He is.”
But he’d also worked very closely with the Famiglia during his time in Cleveland, and he’d talked a long time with Matteo at Val’s and my wedding. I shoved the thought aside.
“He’s family, and family sometimes fights. He’ll come around. Giovanni can be difficult.”
I stared at the photo frame on my desk with a photo of Val, Anna, and me during a day at the Great Lakes last summer. Val had the same photo on her desk in her office upstairs as well as a photo of our wider family, including Orazio. She’d tried to intensify their contact and they had talked on the phone at least once a month. Since Anna’s birth, Orazio had even visited every other month. Val loved her brother even if they weren’t as close as she wanted.
If Orazio was the traitor…
My chest tightened considering what I’d have to do. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. I would question him personally. It would be cowardly not to do so, and even if I didn’t do it with my own hands, Val would be devastated all the same. Could she live with it? Could she forgive me if I killed her brother? And what about Livia?
“I’m sure he’ll surprise you in the afternoon.”
“Let’s hope so.” My voice was steel but my insides were an all-consuming inferno.