Page 81 of Demon's Angel

“To get revenge on her father,CapoLecce.”

“The man who we suspect as being Vittore Parma is dead,” Roberto puts in. “He died of natural causes eighteen months ago.”

Now the expressions are of confusion.

“Angelino wants revenge on a dead man?”

“Lui è pazzo,” one says, tapping his forehead. Then for my benefit clarifies, “Loco, crazy.”

“Don Lucio,” thecapositting next to Roberto starts, “how has he set you up?”

“Demon’s wife was wearing a tracker. A necklace. He gave it to the woman on my staff who he was having an affair with. It led the Devils here.”

A couple of thecaposare nodding.

One puts it into words. “Angelino thought they would come in all guns blazing and kill you.”

“I am sad and sorry to call you here today,” Lucio rubs at his face tiredly, “to inform you of our underboss’s betrayal. But there are two things on the agenda. One is dealing with Angelino and the second is finding Demon’s woman.”

“The evidence against Angelino is circumstantial,” anothercapoobserves. “The bikers could have planted the tracker themselves. There has been a change at the top spot as we all know, maybe Demon doesn’t want to continue the agreement his club has with ourselves.”

Whoa. That was unexpected.I eye the man suspiciously. Only a supporter of Angel would speak up like that.

Lucio clearly feels the same way as he suddenly snaps, “I’m his father. I’ve been pretending not to see what was happening. Who among us can deny that Angelino wants to lead this family in different ways? Napoliello had it right. He is crazy. I’ve tried to ignore the signs I see day by day that have been warning me my own son wants me dead.” His voice has risen, he allows his last words to ring in the silence before he continues, “Angelino wants blood and violence.”

Blood, violence, drug and gun running and slave trafficking are the bread and butter of the Mafia. But this group are all shaking their heads.

“He’s getting careless,” Napoliello says.

Ah. So that’s it. Not disdain for the business they’re in, but the way they do it.

The don nods. “We are respected. We have built relationships in this town, in this state. If we attract attention to our trade, then we all suffer. Angelino does not understand the necessity of discretion.”

“We have proposals,” Roberto takes over. “I have been Lucio’sconsiglierefor three decades now. I have seen this approaching ever since Angelino was promoted. He is too eager to walk in the don’s shoes.”

“We would need to vote him in.”

“You are right, Ratti.”

“He wouldn’t get my vote.”

There’s a moment of consideration, then a number of them echo the last observation.

“A show of hands. Who wouldn’t vote for Angelino?” Roberto presses.

“One moment,Consigliere,” Thecapocalled Ratti interrupts. “We are not all here. Do I take it there is a reason for that?”

For an answer, Roberto just steadily stares back. A second, passes, then Ratti nods. The reply, silence, was all that he needed.

The man sitting beside theconsiglierereverts to Roberto’s question. “Before today? I would have voted yes to Angelino taking over in the light of your—natural—death, Don Lucio. But under the circumstances, I could no longer support him. I would vote no.”

“Thank you, Padovano,” Lucio nods.

One by one, men stoically raise their hands.

“We are not all here. Of those who aren’t, my view is Ferri and Sanna might support him. I suspect that was what Roberto hadn’t said. They are close to him.”

Thecapocalled Padovano barks a laugh. “I was wondering about their absence. But I’ve also been wondering about their future with thefamiglia. They’ve both been sampling the product a little too often.” He stares straight at the don. “Both cocaine and women.”

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