Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

T en days later

Nico

A box.

One single box that changed everything.

After the fire, it had taken me two days to head to the attic. It wasn’t every day that a bubble about someone could be burst. My psyche didn’t want that to happen, even though I’d known it was necessary.

I’d found what I was looking for, the information cleverly located in a stylized false bottom of the box. Greg had known at some point I’d need to find the information, but he’d been smart enough to realize someone else could also get their hands on it.

What stymied me after all this time had passed was that he’d had no indication I would take the one box. Other than it had memorabilia he knew I’d likely want. I honestly didn’t think he’d believed he was going to be killed on the day of the christening.

But I would never know the bottom-line truth.

I’d spent hours trying to sort through his intentions, wishing I could make sense of why. What I did learn was information had fallen into his hands. That much he’d written about in a small diary he’d kept, which was dangerous in and of itself.

Some informant he used for the case had made an offer as payment. Where the man had gotten it would never be known, but it was like having the key to the city. Curiosity in this case had killed the cat. Plus Greg’s desire to succeed.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the window.

America.

Land of the free and home of the brave.

It was a saying my father had loved. He adored Sicily and would never have allowed his family to move from their home and culture, but he’d fallen in love with the United States on his first trip. I’d yet to spend any real quality time in any city. Every time I’d been here, it had been all about business.

That would change in the future. Eventually, Alexandra would want to return home. For how long or if forever, I wasn’t certain. We’d yet to discuss the future. That would come in time.

Yet the man inside of me I hadn’t known existed had hope that she would stay. Was it selfish of me? Maybe. But I didn’t give a shit. I was now more interested in family than business. Maybe too little too late.

“Nice and easy,” I told the driver. He immediately slowed as we neared the port. Both Luca and Enzo pulled out their weapons, checking the amount of ammunition.

“Remember, the goal isn’t to make this a bloodbath,” I told them.

“Yeah, well, I don’t trust the Americans,” Enzo stated.

No, he didn’t.

Was there reason to be somewhat concerned about the plan being altered without my control? Yes, but I also wasn’t a stupid man. I’d not only protected the businesses I’d been operating within the States, I’d also ensured my safe return to Palermo.

Was it part of the original requirement made? Nope. But I was that kind of man.

Protective.

It was time to live my life.

“No bloodbath, boss. What if the bastard starts something?” Luca asked.

I took a deep breath as the brigade of soldiers I’d brought with me shifted to various locations. We were covering every route of escape. If the information supplied to me was wrong, I would go ballistic. I had no intention of being in the country but for so long.

“Then we’ll see.” The SUVs were slowed, kept as far out of sight as possible. Adonis was brazen enough that the shipment was being hijacked in the middle of the day. No one knew of my arrival. It had been a carefully kept secret, but the audacity of the man was off the charts.

He truly had begun to believe he was the master of the world and that no one could touch him.

Mattia had been an active business partner. In our effort to clean house at Mattia’s operation, we’d discovered more evidence than I hoped I’d find. My rather ridiculous thought about the attempted takeover of two major territories in two countries had been an actual plan.

The other remaining crime syndicate families within Italy had been mortified, the Russo regime blacklisted. Not that there were too many of the family members left.

Once stopped, Luca was out first, keeping the door open for me. This was about the element of surprise, but so much more as well.

I buttoned my jacket, keeping my gun close. The perks of using a private jet were many, but being able to provide my own weaponry was everything.

The intake of my shipment had been changed on purpose, the port it had arrived at far removed from most of the commercial ports. I’d found a good enough excuse. I suspected Adonis’ greed would keep him from suspecting anything.

As my group of men fanned out as discussed, I headed straight for the belly of the beast.

My patience level was all but nonexistent at this point.

But I also wasn’t interested in dying. I shifted to the corner of one of the buildings after hearing voices, carefully studying the ongoing operations.

As suspected, Adonis’ men had boarded my ship, undoubtedly attempting to pry open the crates. They certainly wouldn’t find what they were looking for.

No, I wasn’t a stupid man in any way, shape, or form.

Grinning, I gave a nod to Luca and his men carefully moving toward the ship, taking out one soldier after another. They would wake with an intense headache and nothing more. But they would be watched by my men with loaded weapons as an incentive to remain fast asleep.

I snickered as I finally walked up the plank behind several of my men, heading just inside. The shock and awe was clear, evident, and quick.

With the number of soldiers I’d brought with me and those Domino had secured from the States, the enemy soldiers were outnumbered.

Shouts were made, Adonis called.

Chaos almost ensued, some assholes attempting to reclaim the ship. They learned a valuable lesson, many slapped down with the butt of a weapon. Yes, I knew my men were eager to tear them apart, but that wasn’t going to happen.

Not unless it was necessary.

I stood in the center of where the main part of the cargo needing climate control was located. At least a hundred bottles of olive oil and several dozen cases of wine had been tossed to the floor in the search for the cocaine.

I was disgusted by the sight, but had known this would be one of the outcomes. If my family could regroup from a fire, this would mean nothing in the scheme of business.

Seconds later, the shouting died down, footsteps from someone approaching echoing. I stood with my weapon down, my arms crossed.

And a smile on my face.

“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” Adonis said by way of greeting. He was with four armed guards, scanning the room and no doubt counting how many soldiers had accompanied me on this glorious little trip.

“Yes, well, I do care about my shipments and I heard there might be trouble from a low-level player. I couldn’t allow that to occur.”

He laughed and there was no sign he was anxious in any way.

“You are outnumbered in the United States, my friend. I suggest you go back to Italy where you belong.”

“Oh, I plan on returning very soon, but as I said, I don’t like anyone fucking with my product.” I glanced down at the destruction he’d created. “Looking for something?”

“I don’t allow any product from anyone outside of this country to enter my domain without being inspected.”

“Your domain?” I laughed and I sensed two of his men were about to make a bad decision. A single nod was all my men needed. They pointed their weapons at everyone, including Adonis. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

I could tell I’d angered him to some degree.

I grinned in response to his smirk as I walked closer. “Now, it would seem you truly believe you can get away with murder. High-profile murders. In addition to hijacking an international shipment of fine goods.”

“You mean cocaine.”

“I don’t think you’ll find any illegal contraband within my cargo hold. I am a legitimate businessman in Sicily. I can’t say the same thing about you.”

Now I’d really angered him. He realized a plan had been put into place long before this moment.

He huffed and puffed, cursing in Greek. I didn’t bother paying attention because I simply didn’t care.

What I did care about was for him to understand the hot water he was going to be in. “You also threatened someone who was very important to me, someone I’ve cared for since your father had her father killed. Do you remember Gregory Christian? I’m certain you do.”

Adonis tried to act like he didn’t know what I was talking about. “You see, Greg, before his untimely death, had managed to collect some pretty damaging information that he’d expanded on over the years. At first, it was information your father paid a pretty penny for, including making promises to endorse Greg for an upcoming Senate run. However, it would seem he turned against everyone, including your family. Isn’t that right?”

Greg had discovered damning information on dozens on people. The pipeline project had been in the works for almost three decades, but at the time, it had literally been a pipe dream. In order to bring people on board with the project, important people, hands had been greased, the Dimitriou mob used as muscle to ensure people complied.

Greg had made the mistake of bragging at some point. That was all I’d been able to determine. Or he’d used his findings as a threat. That had led to his untimely death.

Over the years, with Greg’s death, it had been assumed the secrets had died with him. But Adonis hadn’t wanted to let it go.

The moment he’d realized who Alexandra was, he’d become convinced she’d been spying on him and was in charge of the list, which could ruin him. No one in the group who’d signed onto the project had believed it would take almost thirty years.

Less than ten had been predicted and the group would be considered some of the wealthiest people in the world. Greed was powerful. Extortion and blackmail were as well.

Adonis looked at me coolly. “You can’t prove anything and I work closely with the harbor patrol. When I hear contraband is being brought in, I lend a hand. Nothing more.”

“Nice thought, but you and I know better.”

“And I haven’t murdered anyone. That’s beneath me.”

I pulled out my phone, taking my time to pull up the videotaped deposition Alexandra had provided while in Italy. She’d been tough, getting through the vast number of questions like a pro. She’d never wavered, easily identifying Adonis as the one using the machete.

The FBI already had it in their possession as they did the vast pages of information and clear details about Adonis’ involvement in various other crimes.

I showed the video to him, studying his reaction.

As expected, he was such a violent man that he reacted exactly as I believed he would. His order in Greek was clear.

Kill all of us.

What he didn’t realize were two important things. One was that I not only knew what he was saying, but had anticipated what he would immediately do and two, that we weren’t the only players crowding onto the big boat.

Adonis weighed the odds of getting away with murdering me with guns blazing and calculating how many other people he could kill.

“Drop your weapons!”

The use of the megaphone was overkill, but that’s the way the police liked to work sometimes. Grandstanding.

Working with them would never be my first choice, but it was the right one so that Alexandra could live out her life. And in truth, so my legitimate business wouldn’t be questioned. Perhaps it was a win for everyone.

Of course, the drugs had been removed long before the ship had pulled into the port.

As the FBI rushed forward, the agents already making arrests, I pulled my men away. I wasn’t the kind of man to gloat, so once Adonis was safely secured, I headed off the ship, my men following.

I finally put my weapon away, taking a quick glance at the bright sun.

“You’re a slick man, Mr. Marciano,” a deep male voice said from behind me.

“Meaning?” I turned around to face the man in charge of the Philadelphia FBI office, someone I’d had more than a couple of conversations with.

“Meaning there were drugs on that cargo ship. Weren’t there?”

“Now, Mr. Canyon, you’ve already checked me out. My family hasn’t handled anything illegal in decades. I don’t plan on starting now.” I grinned and took out my sunglasses. “Plus, you should be happy for my help.”

“Where’s the rest of it?”

“The rest of what?”

“The information you promised to provide,” he barked, obviously already frustrated with my clipped answers.

“You were provided with everything you need to arrest Mr. Dimitriou. That was all I offered.”

He got in my face. “You were supposed to supply us with the little black book.”

I laughed and donned my sunglasses. “There is no such thing, Mr. Canyon. Greg had a limited amount of information, becoming fearful of the Greeks. Nothing more. He was right to be afraid. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a plane to catch.” I moved past him and he snorted.

“I should arrest you for bringing illegal weapons into this country.”

I immediately got in his face this time. There was always benefit to being much taller than another man. All I did was smile, not even bothering to take off my shades. “I don’t think you really want to do that. Do you? Imagine the bad press.” I waited to see if he’d make a move and when he didn’t, I simply walked away.

As I’d told him, I had a plane to catch.