17. Give Him to Marco

SEVENTEEN

Give Him to Marco

JULIAN

N iccolo and Alessio had arranged to have men waiting close to Angelo's home and they were able to trail him in the car, keeping us informed and making it easy to catch up to them. It makes me nervous that we're not sure where we're going to end up. Angelo hasn't given an address and gives his driver directions that seem to be taking them in circles.

It's nearing the time when he's supposed to meet Anton, aka Antonio, when we get a call from Amico, who's trailing them.

"Sir, we just got a text from Loretto, his driver. Four-seventeen Triton Ave. Bridge Race Down, the track in Bratva territory," Amico says.

"He's luring us into his territory. I don't like this," Niccolo says.

"Anton doesn't know we're on our way," Alessio reminds him.

"No, but our men are sitting ducks, and so is Angelo," Niccolo replies.

"It's time for Loretto to get a flat tire. That'll slow him down until we can have reinforcements in place," Alessio commands.

"Consider it done, Capo," Amico responds and rings off to do his bidding.

* * *

I n a short time, Alessio, Niccolo, and I get busy. Niccolo grabs a crew of men and approaches from the left, and I do the same from the opposite direction. Alessio is in a safe location nearby and will be making his appearance when we're ready.

Bratva soldiers are lining the streets. They're expecting trouble, and we plan on giving it to them. But we need answers and need to collect Anton alive. Marco's been updated and is waiting to hear from us once we have Anton in hand.

Angelo is in our sight as his driver parks the car in the back lot of Vizavi's Deli. Loretto steps out of his vehicle and opens the back door of the black Mercedes SUV for Angelo. I watch from the second-floor window of the run-down apartment building next door. There are three of us watching and waiting, and seven others circling around the neighborhood, ready to strike at any given moment, while Niccolo has set up in the alley with several others.

The back entrance swings open, and out steps a man in an impeccably tailored, dark gray suit, his hair, black with gray at the temples, slicked back. If this is Anton, he's younger than what I imagined, maybe in his midforties. Rings bedeck his fingers, and a thick gold chain hangs around his neck.

"Antonio, it's good to see you, but this dirty job was supposed to be finished days ago," Angelo says. "It was Marco's job to see that Milana was removed permanently. I was under the impression that you were in charge of taking care of this nasty business."

"Marco was very upset with me," Anton replies with a frown.

"He should be. I gave you all the information you needed to get rid of the woman. I'm surprised Alessio hasn't hauled my ass in and torn a shred off me. The only thing saving me is that he's supposed to be completely out of the mix," Angelo says. He thinks the orders are coming from Marco and Alessio.

"You saw the papers just as I did. Signed by both capos. Alessio wanted the whole Manille family wiped out. If one is a traitor, they're all traitors. And I've explained this before: Alessio has a deal with Raffaele. Milana took off instead of marrying the man she was promised to. Alessio doesn't want to jeopardize his truce with Ultimo Morte." The lies run from Anton's tongue so easily, but I'm fixed on Angelo's expression, who seems bewildered, like he's trying to make sense of it himself. There's nothing to make sense of. It's all total bullshit. "We're going to have to come up with another plan. Perhaps you can invite the newlyweds over for dinner."

Angelo takes a step back and motions for Loretto to come closer. From this vantage point, I can see and hear it all, and I definitely see that Angelo is becoming more anxious and nervous. "Perhaps it's time I call Alessio, and he can let me know how he wants me to proceed," Angelo suggests.

"You don't want to do that," Anton says with a sinister tone.

I see Anton reach for his gun, and Loretto pushes his underboss into the car, diving in after him. A barrage of bullets flies from every direction. Anton's soldier protects his boss and pushes him into the deli. There's only one other exit to the deli, and that's the front door. I race down the stairs, taking out three Russian soldiers on my way down.

Alessio's car comes to a grinding halt in the middle of the road, the door is pushed open, and Alessio ducks down behind the door. Half a dozen Bratva soldiers come out wielding automatic guns, shooting there way out. Not a thought for anyone and anything in sight as a hail of bullets fly through the air, and people scatter and run. Niccolo and his men return fire, giving Alessio the break he needs to move to cover.

I see my opening when Anton and his men make a run for it. One of Anton's bodyguards goes down, and I chase after Anton , tackling his other guard to the ground, leaving their boss exposed. Anton's asshole bodyguard may have dropped his gun, but he reaches for the knife strapped to his ankle, but I'm faster and punch him repeatedly until he's lying limp. Then I jump to my feet and make a run for it when I see a gun trained on me. A bullet grazes my shoulder, my adrenaline so profound that I don't feel it. The screech of tires grabs my attention. Alessio's too. I take aim and hit the back tire. Alessio has the same idea and hits another. The car starts to spin and crashes into a lamppost. Alessio gets there before me, ripping open the driver's door and yanking Anton Stanovic out from behind the wheel.

Anton's injured, but not nearly as much as he's going to be. He's groggy, but not far enough out of it not to know that Alessio has him by the neck and has pushed him up against the car. Anton probably wishes the crash killed him because he knows his ending is going to be ugly.

"Go ahead, finish me," he grunts, his voice fading as Alessio tightens his grip.

"My man was going to die locked in a freezer. That was very creative. I think I'll take my time exploring other options," Alessio says snidely, the fire of anger burning in his eyes.

Niccolo moves to Alessio and murmurs something in his ear. Alessio steps back, then suddenly launches his fist into Anton's face three or four times before stopping himself. "Take him to the cellar," he commands, then turns to walk away. His fist is bloody and swollen; there's blood on his clothes. I'm sure some of it is Anton's, but I'm wondering if Alessio is hurt as well.

I look around and see bodies on the street. I walk behind Alessio, looking at the dead men, hoping to God there isn't one of our own in the midst.

"Where's Angelo?" Alessio asks. Amico hurries over to us.

"He's with Loretto. He was shaken up. He didn't even know my name. Mr. Corso isn't making any sense. He keeps asking for your father," Amico tells him.

"Jesus!" I swear, then ask, "Any injured?"

"Yeah, but nothing that the doc can't handle." He looks at my shoulder. "You need to see the doc too." His eyes settle on the blood spattered on my skin and shirt.

"I'm all right," I reply.

"Take Angelo to our doc. I want him checked over. I'll be by later to speak with him," Alessio says, then turns to me. "You're with me." He then shouts across to Niccolo, "Get our men out and make the call," he orders. Niccolo's the man who connects with the police in these situations. There are too many bodies to hide. I'm assuming they'll make it look like a gang hit and call it into our contacts.

Niccolo nods and gets to work.

"You need stitches," Alessio says. "And I need to clean up before going home."

"My apartment's not far," I offer.

"Sounds good."

On the way to my place, Alessio makes the call to Marco. Marco is told about Anton using Antonio Saverino's identity and working with Angelo, who we believe is suffering from dementia. On hearing only one side of the conversation, I can tell that they both want to have the pleasure of making Anton pay for the trouble he's caused.

"Anton is in my territory and was openly plotting to kill my man and his wife. We've spent hours tracking this fucker down, and it's my men who were in the middle of gunfire not half an hour ago," Alessio informs him angrily. I'm not sure what Marco said, but Alessio puts the phone on speaker for me to hear.

"Julian, are you there?" I hear Marco's voice. He's as angry as Alessio.

"Yes, sir."

"I've asked Alessio to let me have Anton. He's agreed to let you make that decision since it was your wife who was the target of his plan," Marco says.

"My wife's been living in terror for weeks."

"I understand that. I also believe that you do have the right to inflict as much pain as he's put you through. They left you for dead, and you have every right to ask to be the one to drain the life from his body," he tells me.

"But…" I know there's more.

Marco's voice grows quiet, and I can feel the depth of his emotion in his words. "We know that our lives are filled with good and bad and plenty of upheaval. When we thrive, there's money, our families, good times, anything we want is at our fingertips. We also know that in our Mafia world, death comes and takes away people we love. We pay a heavy price." Marco's talking about my brother.

"Yes, sir, we do," I agree.

"When one of our own dies, we hope that they find peace. The fighting has ended, the pain is gone, and we remember them fondly. Our men have earned our respect and deserve it in death. His name and reputation are their legacy. Anton, he disrespected a dead man. One of mine." Marco pauses for a moment, letting me take in all he's said. "Antonio had a wife who adored him and two little girls and a baby boy at home. He was devoted to them, and he was loyal to me. I wish I had a thousand men like Antonio, and instead, he's gone. Although this in itself is a tragedy, this isn't what really bothers me."

"It isn't?"

"What hurts me the most is that they used Antonio's name to dupe an old man and sully his name. Antonio served La Famiglia, and they have dishonored a dead man. This, to me, is a greater heartbreak. I want Anton to die by my own hand. I want to extinguish the light from his eyes as I tell him this is for Antonio and his family," Marco says. His voice cracks from the passion. "I'm asking that you grant me this request."

I think of my brother. I would lose my mind if I knew his memory could be tainted while he lies six feet underground, unable to defend himself. I glance at Alessio; he jerks his chin, and his expression says it all. It's up to me.

"I want him to suffer," I tell Marco.

"I promise you he will," Marco replies.

I direct my attention to Alessio. "Let Marco have him."

Alessio pats my shoulder; he's good with my decision.

"You heard him, Marco, you can have him. I'll have Anton delivered to you in the morning." Alessio says.

I hear an audible sigh from over the phone. "Thank you, Alessio. And Julian, I'll make sure justice is served for you and Milana as well."