Page 20 of Inherting the Mafia

I grabbed Tony by the arm and pulled him to the far side of the hangar. If there was something about the airplane that I needed to be worried about, protecting Tony was my first priority.

It took about twenty minutes before Mateo came rushing down the steps and then hurried across the hangar toward us.

"Stay here," I told Tony before going to meet the guard.

"Sir," the man said in a low tone, "we found something hidden in the bathroom behind the paper towel rack."

"What?"

"I think it's a bomb, sir."

"A..." My mouth opened and closed several times, but I couldn't seem to form words.

"Sir, what do you want us to do?" Mateo asked.

"Keep everyone off the plane. I need to make a phone call." As I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket, I turned and that's when I spotted Tony watching us.

Instead of making my phone call, I walked over to him. "How did you know?"

Tony frowned at me. "Know what? What did they find?"

"There is a bomb in the bathroom."

Tony paled, turning ashen white.

"How did you know?" I asked again.

Tony shook his head. "I didn't."

He had to have known.

"Tony—"

"Look, I didn't know, okay? I just felt like something was off, but I didn't know what it was. I had no idea you'd find a...a b-b-bomb." Tony suddenly dropped down into a crouch, cradling his head in his hands. "Oh man, someone really is out to kill me."

It certainly looked that way.

I dialed Vinnie Borelli. I certainly wasn't going to call the cops. "Mr. Borelli," I said as soon as he answered. "This is Vito Antonelli. I need your assistance."

"What seems to be the problem?" Vinnie asked.

"We found a bomb on our plane," I replied. "Considering who we are, I wasn't sure calling the police was the right choice. I'm not sure how things are done here in New York City."

"Is the bomb still active?"

"Well, it hasn't gone off yet, but I don't know much more than that. We found it in the bathroom behind the paper towel rack. I decided not to mess with it."

"Good choice," Vinnie stated. "I assume you're at the airport?"

"Yes, the executive hangar."

"All right, I'm sending some men there now. One of them is an expert in explosives. He should be able to disarm it. In the meantime, I'd suggest you get everyone out of there."

"I appreciate this, Mr. Borelli."

"I thought I told you to call me Vinnie."

I smiled. "Yes, sir."

---