We pulled up in front of the Don’s three-story mini-mansion to find a guy taking out the bird bath with a dolly. I arched a brow at this sight, and turned back to Guido.
“How come they’re taking that fancy bird bath out? I thought that was a birthday present for the Don’s wife.”
“Homeowner’s association,” grumbled Nunzio.
“It violated the rules,” Guido added.
I let out a bark of laughter as we traversed the sidewalk toward the front door.
“Are you serious? The Don’s spooked by a bunch of Stepford wives with Karen haircuts?”
“You ever mess with an HOA before?” Guido asked. “No? Didn’t think so. Otherwise you wouldn’t be spouting off such ignorant ass shit.”
“The Don’s got to maintain his respectable image,” Nunzio added. “Sure, we could lean on the HOA but they’re not smart enough to know any better anyway. So the Don plays by the rules.”
“Besides, the Don hated that ugly ass thing, am I right?”
Guido and Nunzio gave me a courtesy chuckle as they rapped on the door. The Don appeared in the doorway a moment later, dressed in a casual button-up shirt and gray slacks. His dark eyes bored into me as he stood to the side so we could enter.
“Come with me.” Don Maloik didn’t have to specify he wanted me, and me alone, to follow him. We headed up the carpeted staircase to his second floor, where he kept his study. The door closed behind us and he pointed at a chair. “Sit.”
I sat. Maloik settled behind his desk and folded his gnarled hands, those black eyes promising nothing but pain and death if I pissed him off.
“Something tells me you know why I brought you here today, Indro.”
I couldn’t help but notice my big bro Flavio was conspicuous by his absence. Nobody was going to bat for me this time. I was on my own.
“I figure it has something to do with me crashing the poker game at the Loggia place the other day.”
“You figured right.” Maloik’s eyes narrowed to slits. “We’ve got a delicate balance with the other families. They pay us tribute, but in turn we respect their territory and don’t muscle in. We especially don’t burst into their card games like a common street thug and start trashing the place.”
“I’m aware of that, Don.”
“Apparently not. Apparently you’re getting dumber by the day, Indro. Why you didn’t just fly to South America and leave all this rigamarole behind, I’ll never know.”
“Because I can beat the rap, I know I can.”
Maloik’s glare intensified. “Your little trial is shining a spotlight on the family business. You know what the lead piece of the WBBN was? Us. Brad Edward’s smug little face telling everybody about your stupidity. I was already at the end of my patience with you, Indro, before you went and got the Loggia family riled up.”
“Give me a chance to explain why I riled them up, and you’ll be glad I did.”
Maloik sat up straighter, his glower turning into a puzzled frown. “Start talking.”
“Enzio Loggia is not only the one who took a shot at me, he also kidnapped my lawyer the other day and told her to drop the case.”
Maloik arched his eyebrow high on his forehead. “You’re sure it was Enzio?”
“Yeah, pretty damn sure. You know that scorpion tat he’s got on his hand, right? He was wearing a mask but wasn’t smart enough to cover it up with a glove.”
Don Maloik stroked his chin and considered me for a long moment. “Don Loggia is pissed. He wants me to make an example out of you.”
I repressed a shudder and kept my face neutral. “What did you say to that?”
“I told him I would take it under consideration.”
“Don, the Loggias are messing with us, big time. I’ve got a gut feeling they’ve got something to do with the Diego situation, too.”
“You saw Enzio that night?”
“No.”
Don Maloik snorted. “I need a lot more than vague insights and a scorpion tattoo to go on, Indro.”
“Then give me a chance to dig up some more.”
“And in the meantime, start a family feud?”
“The Loggias are already cooking one up. I can feel it.”
Don Maloik folded his hands and fixed me with a frank stare. “I’ve got half a mind to do what Don Loggia wants me to. But the other half is screaming you might be right.”
I tried to keep the relief off of my face. “So, you’re going to give me a chance to prove it?”
“You could say that.” Maloik stood up and adjusted his shirt. He gestured toward the door. As I moved toward it, I tried to remind myself I wasn’t out of the woods just yet. He wasn’t going to off me in his own domicile.
I preceded him back down the stairs, where Guido and Nunzio awaited us.
“Here’s the deal, Indro. We’re going to set a little trap to get the Loggias to show their hand.” He patted me on the shoulder and grinned. “And guess what? You’re the bait.”
I felt a lot more relieved than I probably should have at that statement.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sophie
After my encounter in St. Patrick’s rectory, I headed back out into the cold, reflexively stuffing the .38 in my purse. I didn’t even think about it until I was almost back at my apartment, where I dug for my keys and felt the ice-cold metal barrel.
This entire case had grown complicated, and not in a fun way. I’d avoided dealing with organized crime or taking mobsters on as clients for exactly these reasons. I don’t mind getting a guilty man off, so long as I get paid. I figure karma will take care of them further down the road in any event.
I drew the line at my own life being imperiled, however. That trip out to the junkyard where they showed me my grave had been intended to put the scare in me. It had worked, too.
