Page 29 of Savage Redemption

There’s silence from the other end. “Ye drive hard bargain, Mr di Santo. Let me look over the figures again and get back tae ye.”

“I don’t think either of us needs to go over the numbers again. My thirty percent still leaves you with a healthy return, and I’m taking all the risk. You have my final offer, take it or leave it.”

He sighs. “Ah, ye’re a rogue and that’s the truth.”

I remain silent. I’ve said all I need to say, and I won’t be backing down. I know what this deal is worth, how much I can squeeze out of it before it cracks.

“Aye, we have a deal.” The concession has been hard-won, but I got what I wanted.

“Excellent. I shall wire you the funds by the end of the day, subject to the contractual documentation being with my lawyers and all the terms being to their satisfaction.”

“They will be.”

I don’t doubt it. We’ve done business before, and he’s always been as good as his word. As have I.

“Nice doing business with you, Mr Delaney.”

“Likewise, to be sure.” He hangs up.

I lean back in my chair and allow myself a wry grin. I stand to net a cool million and a half euros from this deal, more if certain planning decisions go my way, and I’m assured they will.

Oh yes, business is going well. Exceptionally well. Time to turn my attention to the other little project I have on the go.

The phone is pickedup before the second ring. A good sign, I like those I employ to be on their toes.

“Do you have anything for me?” I demand, without preamble.

“Mr di Santo. I was just about to call you.”

Just aboutdoesn’t impress me. Lorenzo de Podesta came highly recommended, one of the best private investigators in the business. I hired him three months ago to track down Rosie and the baby, and so far, he’s done nothing but jet about Europe and claim exorbitant expenses. I want results. “Well?”

“You were right about Kaminski. He does know where the girl went.”

I could have told him that. “So?”

“So, that yacht of his needed servicing, so I posed as a marine engineer. Got on board and had a good look round. Naturally,my quote for the job was extortionate and he wasn’t interested, but it gave me the opportunity to leave a few calling cards.”

“You bugged his yacht?”

“I did.”

I’m starting to be mildly impressed, but I won’t be getting really excited until I find out what he learned, if anything. And he won’t be getting paid another cent until I have results.

“Go on,” I urge him. “I don’t have all day.”

“Someone has been asking questions.” He pauses, clearly very pleased with himself.

“What questions?” Will I have to drag every fucking detail out of him? “And, who’s asking?”

“Questions about you. Specifically, why you would be a threat to young Rosie Darke and her little one.”

I’m not a threat, but de Podesta doesn’t need to know that. If he’s so clever, let him work out the details for himself.

“Do you know Jed O’Neill?” he continues. “Heads up the Irish Mob.”

“Never met him,” I reply. Not strictly true, I did cross paths with him around three years ago when I was negotiating a deal with the Sorzas in New York. Nothing came of that deal; they were a shambolic firm, and I couldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. There was no way they were parting me from the thick end of two million dollars. But O’Neill attended a dinner party held by Luigi Sorza, the head of the family. As I understand it, O’Neill later killed old Luigi along with his four nephews and put Luigi’s daughter, Maria, in charge. A good choice, she was the only decent business head among them, but for some reason her father was hell-bent on leaving his legacy to one of his idiot nephews. I always assumed O’Neill was fucking Maria, but that’s just speculation. “What does Jed O’Neil have to do with this?”

“He’s married to the sister of another Mafia boss. Ethan Savage…”

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