Page 93

“He’s known for a tight lock, Trino,” Mikey comments.

“I—um, might have an idea.” Snaps literally snaps his fingers. “Not many places he could house hostages. He needs a basement, and—uh,um, thick walls. I’m thinking the butcher’s locker on Berkely Avenue.”

“That’s good.” I nod. “We can start with any connections surrounding the butcher’s block.”

“I got some guys around there.” Ace lifts his chin when we all look at him. “What?I like to eat. Fresh beef is the best beef.”

“You get your food from the enemy, you fuck?” Tony cackles.

“Cows don’t discriminate. Besides, it’s good to keep it light with the Lucrazis sometimes,” Ace defends himself.

“So, first thing during business hours, we check our connections,” Castor says.

“No,” I growl.

“No?” Castor flexes.

“Tonight.”

“You want to raise suspicion, Trino? That’s a sure fucking way.” Castor taps the metal table.

“She could be dead by dawn. I’m going tonight, with or without you New York assholes. I won’t lose her.”

Castor grits his teeth and looks at Ace. “How close are you to the guys at the shop?”

“Just barely past acquaintance, Bull. If I wake them up in the middle of the night for some beef tips, they’re going to try and hang me in the locker for waking their kids.”

“We’d need to scope out cameras too, if we head out tonight. Can’t just show up like a bunch of meatballs in ski-masks,” Mikey says.

I bare my teeth. “Frankie Laundry runs three businesses by himself, and he’s Nicky’s closest of the three right-hands. We got ourselves a strong hostage.”

“What you thinking, boss. Leverage?” Snaps asks. “Call his ass direct for a trade?”

“Nicky? Nah. He wouldn’t bend.” I shake my head. “We have a better chance at making this prick in the other room talk.”

“He’d never,” my father says. “Right-hand to a capo ain’t scared of death or pain.”

“They don’t make them like they used to, Uncle,” Castor laughs and pats Ace’s belly. “This guy would sell me out for a beef jerky and a seat at the world series of poker.”

“Damn straight.” Ace winks.

The table lightens up a bit.

I do too. Because at the end of the day, we’re the ones who are going to storm a meat locker at my direction. Some of usmight not make it out. And even if we do, the blowback is going to be insane.

“I have an idea.” Castor gets up and starts pacing. “How about I get the dons in on this. Have the Stallion and Shadow speak to Don Vino on the other side. Make the trade, chalk it up to Sonny invading a house where Stanzo and Trino were already there defending themselves.”

It’s like he read my mind about the blowback. That doesn’t make this a good idea, though. It would never hold.

“They’d want blood. No way we walk away clean. And I ain’t giving up my pop.”

He folds his arms, holding back his protests.

“Suggestions?” Castor says.

I crack my knuckles. “Yeah, let’s pay our prisoner a little visit.”

Chapter 27