Page 36 of Forbidden Pregnancy

My father.

But how could he have found out about her? Fuck this. My phone rings.

“Hello? Myra?”

You fool. Why would you use her name?

I hear a laugh on the other end of the line. I almost recognize the voice. It’s not Myra’s but the laugh is both distinct and male.

“Who are you? What have you done with her?”

“You disobeyed a direct order. I’m sorry, the woman is dead.”

The phone call ends, but I have something I can use.

I recognize the voice.

Renzo Taviani.

I thought I was going to call Luigi, but after identifying his brother as my next target, that won’t be necessary. I can handle that delusional Italian shit head without any assistance… and I’ll do my best to keep it all a secret.

The voice. I have to be sure about the voice, but the only way I know how to do that is by contacting Renzo’s twin brother. It’s uncanny how they’ve changed over the years, but even more unnerving is the ways they’ve stayed the same. In terms of their personalities, Gino has always been the friendlier of the two, although I suppose I shouldn’t compare them.

I call Gino Taviani, not because I want anything from him, but because I want to be sure. We’re hours away from Buffalo with dozens of small towns between here and there. Not just that, I have no idea who gave Renzo this order or what their intentions might be. I have some guesses.

Gino picks up after two rings and my blood runs cold at the sound of his voice.

“Mikey, ciao. Wassup?”

“Where’s your brother?”

He’s silent for a beat too long.

“Why do you ask?”

“I need a favor.”

“Can’t. I’m not in Buffalo right now…”

My heart skips. Am I risking too much by talking to Gino? If he knew what Renzo was up to right now, he wouldn’t have answered the phone. That flimsy thread of logic holds my voice steady as I focus on the task at hand — getting Gino on my side and getting Myra back in my custody as soon as possible.

Renzo’s voice haunts me.The woman is dead.

The woman. Purposefully distancing himself from her tells me that he means to do it and for all I know, Myra could be dead. If he did kill her, my job would be simple — a life for a life.

“Where are you?”

“Nowhere you know.”

“Try me.”

“What’s going on, Michael? You don’t call unless your other gym buddies cancel on you.”

Gino and Renzo have never been gym rats, preferring calisthenics and running to pumping iron.

“Answer my question first.”

It pays to use the seniority card sometimes.