Page 23 of Reign of Commotion

“Did they call her Linny?”Nero asks.

“No.They called her by her real name.This guy was mad.He was yelling so loud, I could hear him.When they hung up, they left.The short guy said to call Tom Leary and Jasper Steely to arrange a meeting.Then they left, but I couldn’t get up,” Barry finishes.

I see Alessio and Nero look at each other.They recognize the names.I recall Jasper’s name from earlier.Barry looks over at me.“I didn’t earn my money.I couldn’t keep her place safe.I had it in my pockets, but they took my clothes when the doctor came.”

“Must have been when the doc was working on him,” Nero suggested.He nods to Alessio, and the two stand and exit.

“I don’t care about the money,” I say.“You did the best you could.It wasn’t a fair fight, bud.Believe me, you earned that money.I’ve got to go and talk to my friends.Stay here with Linny.I’ll be back for both of you.”

Milana comes to her feet and grabs my arm.“Was that enough?They won’t hurt him, will they?”she asks pleadingly.

“Trust me.”I kiss her softly and walk out.

* * *

Alessio and Nero are waiting at the base of the steps of the plane.Their heads are together while Nero holds a phone between them.I don’t want to interrupt, but I want Alessio to know that I’m here if he needs me.I move across to Sebastian, who is standing a few feet away.

Sebastian pats me on the back.“That’s good work.He must really care for Milana, because from what I know, they’ve been trying to get him to string two sentences together without any luck, and all he kept screaming for was his Linny.”

“He’s not stupid,” I say.“He’s broken.His wife and daughter are dead, and he hasn’t been the same since.But when Milana was out there alone, he’s the one who took care of her.”I glance over at the two capos.“I’m hoping Alessio will allow him to stay.I want to set him up as a gardener or handyman.”

Sebastian shrugs.“Why would Alessio care?”

“I don’t know that he would, but under the circumstances, I want his approval.”

“Smart,” he mumbles.“He looks fit to be tied.Nero doesn’t look very pleased either.”

Alessio lifts his head, turning it in my direction.Immediately, I move toward him, Sebastian coming along.

“We think this Anton is Anton Stanovic.He would be the cousin of the dearly departed Boris.That is if our information is correct.Jasper and Tom are union leaders.Marco has his men looking for Tom.Our men are out hunting for Jasper.No luck yet on either side.Dante’s analyzing the prints you found,” he says to Sebastian.“We need to rule out Milana’s and Barry’s so we can see if we can match the others more easily.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Sebastian offers, then goes off to do so.

“I’ve got to get back to New York,” Nero says.“Sebastian’s going to refuel, and we’ll be off.What do we do with Barry?”

“He’s harmless,” I put in.

“Leave him with Julian.Apparently, we’re taking in all sorts of strays lately,” Alessio comments.“Keep him out of the way.”

“You won’t know he exists,” I say.

“I need a fucking drink,” Nero huffs.He looks like he hasn’t slept in days.

“That I can accommodate,” Alessio says with a sly grin.He turns and calls for Jack to get him two glasses of scotch.Seconds later, Jack emerges with two crystal glasses with a smooth amber liquid, which I’m sure is the finest scotch money can buy.

“I’m going to call Fausto to come and get Milana and Barry,” I say.

“No need.There’s plenty of room in our car,” Alessio says.“What are you going to do with him?”

“I’m hoping he’ll be open to working on the gardens at our new house.Milana says he’s a good handyman.I think he’ll do fine if he’s close to Milana.”

“He’s got nothing to go back to,” Nero says with a shrug.“Why not?He seems to really care for his Linny, as he calls her.”He chuckles.

“He has a wife and daughter buried in New York.He visits them every day.It’s part of his routine.I’m not sure how he’s going to handle not having that every day,” I confess.

Alessio doesn’t respond, but is listening.

“Shit!That’s a tough break,” Nero says.

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