Page 94 of Angelo

Technology was introduced to ensure their operations ran with more efficiency and transparency. An international army of elite lawyers and accountants was assembled. A cut of their earnings were set aside for new investments.

Recently, it was becoming apparent that some members of their clan were resistant to the shifting winds. It troubled Elyse. The next day, she managed to catch her husband for a few minutes before heading out to a meeting. Elyse grabbed Alessandro’s hand and shoved him into the study. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have in front of the music box.

“What is wrong,cuore mio? You looked troubled.”

“Iamtroubled.”

“About what?”

“Antonino and Nitto. It’s always one step forward and two steps back with them. They’re dead set on sabotaging us.”

"I am aware," he grunted. "Those fuckers are growing bold."

"What should we do about them?"

“I have been thinking about following in my mother’s footsteps.”

“How?”

“By stealing a page from your grandfather’s playbook.”

“I’m listening.”

“Marcello is very good at hacking into shit. It would be a shame to let his talents go to waste. I have asked him to compile some documents and recordingsthat, I believe, will serve us well in the long run…”

Dozens of names were soon added to the chopping block. Each one linked to the importation, purchase, or possession of heavy drugs that could put offenders behind bars anywhere from eight to twenty years.

Antonino Buscetta had been elected as Vincenzo'sconsiglierefor almost a decade running. Back then, he oversaw much of the shipments theircoscaredistributed across Europe.

Nitto Messina served as the main broker between theircoscaand the Beltrán cartel in all matters relating to their cocaine supplies.

Gilberto Garcia and César Castillo were their main points of contact with the Beltrán cartel.

Carlo Moretti appeared on the list, too, even though he had nothing to do with the cartel or cocaine.

When she saw Carlo’s name, Elyse couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you add him?”

“The fucker shouldn’t have fucked with Father Boselli.”

“Fair enough.”

As the days went by, more names piled on.

Each of these men had been chosen for the same reason. They were respected but replaceable. With the exception of Antonino and Carlo, the rest were mid-level associates, important enough to raise alarm if authorities nabbed their asses. Not important enough, however, to cripple thecoscawith their absence.

On Friday, Alessandro informed Elyse over dinner, "I worked out a new agreement with the authorities.”

She took a small bite. "I assume my grandfather had a hand in it as well?"

After a sip of his wine, Alessandro gave a nod. "Benedetto was the one who helped broker the deal with the police."

Elyse listened carefully as her husband outlined his plans. In the weeks to come, Alessandro intended to deliver the incriminating documents and recordings they’d been collecting to the police chief, Boris Demasi. Boris agreed toonlygo after the names on their shit list. He’d look the other way when it came to their allies. It was a risky move. Alessandro was turning his back againstOmertà. The other clans would skin him alive if they failed to pin these leaks on Gaspare.

“What does Boris get out of this arrangement?”

“Some men suffer from hero complexes. Boris happens to be one of them. He will get the credit for putting a sizable dent in European and South Americandrug trafficking.”

Was corruption still corrupt if it ended up making the world a better place? She remarked, “Men like Boris tend to be walking contradictions."

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