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The other moving parts of the situation have made it difficult to strategize. The Tucos are involved, as is Don Vito and others like Consigliere Anthony.

I had to figure out how to battle Tuco, satisfy Don Vito,andkeep my actions hidden from Portia. All while she actively pursued answers about the drug war between the Belluccis and our nemesis mafia family.

Needless to say, it wasn’t fucking easy. But I devised a last-minute plan that’ll work flawlessly.

“Keep a close eye on her,” I say, my desk phone pressed into my ear.

Gavino is on the other end. He’s dressed discreetly in an outfit that’ll blend in at U4EA, where he’ll be tailing her the entire night, ensuring she doesn’t get in too much trouble.

“We could have her turned away at the door,” he says.

“No… I’ve already told the bouncers to let her in if she drops my name. It’s best we let her get this out of her system now. She’ll go inside and probably figure out what Sergio is up to. Knowing her, she’ll want to follow. Then the rest of the plan can take place.”

I can hear Gavino grinning on the other end. “You are a genius, Diavolo.”

“Non baciarmi il culo. Non ti farà guadagnare alcun favore. Fai il tuo lavoro e non rovinarlo.”

I hang up on him in time to glance up and notice Maurizio has entered my office. My lead enforcer is a couple inches taller than me—and heads above most people—but we have similar enough builds. Both wide in the shoulder and chest areas with a leaner waist. We wear almost the same suit size and have dark hair and thick beards.

He’s as close to a doppelgänger as it’ll get so short notice.

“You needed to speak with me?” he asks in his deep monotone, anchored by his Italian accent.

“Yes, you are going to be me tonight.”

I’m reclined at my desk, fingers steepled, devil mask concealing my face. Maurizio’s rarely one to be expressive, but even he can’t resist in this moment. His brow creases in confusion as he tries to make sense of what I’ve said.

“We are going to kill two birds with one stone,” I go on to explain. “Titus Tuco and his band ofleccaculosclearly know who I am. They know of Rafael Calderone’s secret identity. Or at least they believe they do.”

“Because of the yacht,” Maurizio says.

“And much more than that. They shot up the charity dinner. They’ve suspected for a while. We’re going to throw them off Rafael Calderone’s trail. Nectar will be sold at U4EA tonight. Sergio will show up to confront Milos for betraying him. Milos will betray us too.”

Maurizio’s head slants to the side, still confused. “But Adagio brought him by the warehouse earlier to give him a tour of the product.”

I grin from behind my devil mask. “Yes, he did. Because I asked him to. Milos needs to know the warehouse for our drug operation… or what was once our warehouse. We’ll be moving to a new location after tonight.”

“I’m not following.”

“You don’t need to. You only need to do your part. Which is to dawn my mask, sit on my throne, and be Il Diavolo for the night.”

“Sì, diavolo. Lo farò,” says Maurizio, giving a dutiful nod like the soldier he is. He leaves me alone again in my office.

I rise up out of my chair and turn toward the window that overlooks Newport’s financial district.

It’s all hustle and bustle. Tall buildings and congested streets. Pocket-sized pedestrians in suits, carrying briefcases, rushing off to their next meeting or engagement. I can practically smell the money in the air.

The success. The victory.

That’s what tonight will be.

My drug will be on the market. The dough will be rolling in. Don Vito and Anthony will have no choice but to back off. Sergio and the Tucos will be powerless to stop it then be thrown off Rafael Calderone’s trail.

Portia will be just the same. She’ll realize Il Diavolo and Rafael Calderone couldn’t be more different. As far as she’ll be concerned, they won’t even be the same man.

26

RAFAEL