Page 5

Arguments had a way of taking on entirely new meanings in the Lupini family.

Correction. In the Lupini crime syndicate family.

* * *

Alejandro

The room remained quiet while Don Santorelli absorbed the news, the only sound the ticking of his massive and beautifully ornate ancient grandfather clock. It was the first piece of furniture I’d concentrated on studying the day I’d first been brought into his office.

That had been day five after my hire into the organization.

He’d sat me down, offered me a glass of his finest scotch, a Cuban cigar, and had proceeded to ask me a few personal questions. Then he’d leaned over his massive desk and offered a piece of advice.

He’d told me that not only did he like me, he believed he could trust me. However, if I failed that trust in any way, he’d be the one to take me apart limb by limb.

After that, he’d mentioned that I’d beg him to kill me with a dull spoon if necessary.

I’d never forgotten the advice or the education on loyalty.

Don Santorelli was a formidable man even at his age. With only some gray at his temples, he could easily pass for someone in his late forties. He was fair but brutal, highly respected by his soldiers.

He’d even garnered the respect of powerful men outside the business such as the mayor, leaders of the port authority, and several celebrities. The man enjoyed celebrating his good fortune and wealth by attending soirees and throwing huge parties. It was something I’d warned him about as his lieutenant.

He’d laughed and told me life wasn’t worth living if you did it in a cage.

He was right about that.

His exhale was deep as he glanced toward Dion, tilting his head. When he shifted it to me before Gio then Bronco, the other two of three Capos, he was highlighting the pecking order once again. None of the crews had been asked to the meeting, the soldiers doing nothing more than preparing for their marching orders.

I had my hands behind my back, standing as a military man would do while waiting his orders. I assumed he would initiate a strike against Lupini and his organization. That was the way of crime syndicates. If your foe was alive after an attack, you would be bludgeoned to death in return.

“Relax, Banderas,” the Don said, using my last name as he always did in tense situations.

“Should I ready the soldiers?” Dion asked.

The Don took a puff of his cigar while swirling the same brand of scotch I’d been offered two years before. “We’re going to do things differently this time out.”

“How so, if you don’t mind me asking, sir.”

The Don took a sip of his drink, staring into the liquid before tossing the remainder into his throat. It was the only indication the night’s activities had troubled him to any degree.

He’d schooled me on the varieties of decent scotch after realizing how much I’d enjoyed his first selection. I’d learned that contrary to some popular views, the aged liquor was meant to be savored, not shot like tequila.

“Diplomatically,” he said after swallowing.

I glanced toward Dion who lifted his eyebrows. There had been a few times Don Santorelli had come up with some crazy ideas. I think we both felt as if this could be one of those times.

The Don didn’t bother to enlighten us before picking up his secure cell phone. I had to give the man and his intelligence credit. He had the most secure communications equipment of anyone I’d ever met, military included.

It was impossible to break into the system or obtain access to the estate. If you didn’t belong here, you were tossed in the East River with cement shoes.

He sat back as if he didn’t have a care in the world while the call connected. I knew the moment it did by the change in the Don’s eyes. They’d gone from the lighter blue shade to something much darker, more ominous.

He was preparing to play a game of Russian roulette.

“Yes, Don Lupini. It’s your good friend, Don Santorelli.”

I heard Gio whistle under his breath and shot him a warning look. Luis Santorelli didn’t like to be questioned or challenged about anything that came out of his mouth. We were alike that way.