Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 724(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 724(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“Tonio lost some of the men he considers screwups,” Marzio continued his report. “He didn’t much care about them. And he was very happy that Benito’s men were killed and couldn’t tattle to big brother. He’s handpicked the contingency he’s sending to aid Benito. They’re all men he doesn’t trust. He figures they’re all in Benito’s pocket and have been paid to spy on him.”
“Is he paranoid?” Stefano asked.
“I think he’s a smart man in a lot of ways,” Severino said. “And seriously, he may be onto something with this nonsense about a reality show. I can have our people reach out to him, Stefano, if you think it will distract him at the right time. He’s running drugs and guns so he has a lot to lose if he doesn’t juggle everything just right, because he could incriminate himself with cameras running all the time. I don’t think he knows what reality television is.”
“I hate to put him in a position of furthering his goals of meeting silly women who might do exactly what he wants them to do. That could turn out badly.”
“I agree,” Severino said, “but if we keep an eye on them, we could stop them before they get too far.”
Stefano drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Something this big, Severino, we usually talk about and put to a vote. What do your brothers and Velia think?”
“We just gathered the information and came to you.”
“How soon can we expect the Demons in LA to make their move?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Giovanni is there with Maximino, Remigio, and Vico. They’ll handle them, no problem,” Severino said with confidence.
Taviano knew his other three cousins fairly well. Maximino was lightning fast when it came to handling any kind of weapon or working with his hands or feet. Taviano had trained with him often, both benefiting and improving their speeds.
Remigio was direct and to the point, all business when it came to work. He was quiet, had a soft touch and was in and out before anyone knew he was close by. He had trained in France with the Archambault family, just as Stefano and Severino had, and it showed in his direct, lethal style of fighting. He was very proficient with weapons but excelled with any kind of stick or cane.
Vico, like Ricco, had trained in Japan, and he was a mixture of both Ricco and Remigio. He had a grace and smoothness about him when he moved or worked. Taviano liked all of his cousins, but more, he respected them.
Severino’s voice held absolute confidence when he said they would be able to handle those coming toward Chicago, and Taviano had that same confidence in his cousins and Giovanni. It didn’t matter how many men Tonio had chosen to send after Nicoletta, they would be disposed of in the same manner as the other Ferraros had taken care of the Demons coming to their territory to aid Benito in taking her from Taviano.
“How’s Francesca doing?” Velia asked. “Giovanni told me she wants to have another baby. That would be wonderful, Stefano.”
Taviano kept his face expressionless but couldn’t help the glance he threw at his brother. No way in hell had Giovanni disclosed that information. Velia had to have inquired in such a way that his brother had no choice but to answer her. Francesca did want another child, but she’d had trouble before, during and after she’d had Crispino.
Stefano’s expression was pure stone. “Francesca had three miscarriages prior to carrying Crispino. During her pregnancy she was quite ill, and when she had him, she lost a great deal of blood.”
“Does the doctor think she can successfully carry again?” Velia persisted.
Taviano had been there the night Francesca had gone into labor. They all had. Stefano had been with her right up until the time she’d begun to hemorrhage, and she’d had a seizure. He’d been ordered from the room while they did emergency surgery. Taviano would never forget the look on his brother’s face. So lost. Completely and utterly lost.
There was a small silence. Taviano glanced warily at his brother. Nicoletta tightened her fingers in his. They both knew this was an ongoing argument between Stefano and Francesca. She wanted to try again. Stefano wasn’t certain he wanted to try. The losses had been hard on both of them. The ordeal of Crispino’s birth had been very traumatic on Stefano. He had faced losing Francesca and didn’t want to go there again no matter what the doctors told them.
“He does, yes. She carried Crispino, so yes,” Stefano admitted finally after another small silence. “But she did have complications giving birth.”
Velia pulled back, genuinely upset. “I’m so sorry, Stefano. I didn’t know. Francesca never said a word. I thought all was fine.”
“It is. She’s very healthy and fit these days,” Stefano assured.