Page 61 of Taking Care of the Target

“I know.” Bobby swiped his sweaty forehead and then, much quieter, said, “Believe me, I know.”

Vince nodded, wishing he could believe it would be different this time. While his brotherhadnearly gotten them all killed yesterday, he missed him. He recalled Cassie’s yippee dog comparison, and the happiness that rose up helped take the edge off the shitstorm going on inside his head. “We’ll talk if you’re still here when I get back.

His nerves stretched thin again when he climbed inside the Jeep. He took a deep breath. He’d fucked things up with Carlo, slipping when he knew better. This meeting was going to be a turning point, no doubt about it.

His only option was to assure Carlo his alliances were straight. Otherwise everything would fall apart, and at the end of this playing pretend period with Cassie, he wouldn’t have a life left to get back to.

***

Carlo expected Vince but got Sal instead. He walked him out through the back patio door and crossed his arms against the chill in the air. “What did you find out?”

“Uffizi went to the station,” Sal said. “They’re insisting on holding Dante the max amount of time before officially charging him, just because they can.”

“Dante’s straight, right?”

“He won’t talk, Boss. But Mario got picked up this morning. I know he’s a small fish, but with two of our guys in cuffs, the rest of the boys are getting jumpy.”

Carlo patted his pocket for his lighter and then pulled it out and lit his cigar. “I wasn’t aware of what a bunch of donnas I was working with. We’ve been through this before. We just gotta lie low and cover our tracks.”

Sal kicked at the grass. Cleary the gnat was getting ready to buzz. “I don’t mean no disrespect, but I started thinking about the waitress, wondering if it’s a good idea to risk keeping her alive with the law coming down on us.”

“I’m already taking care of it. You go calm down the boys and tell them to keep their noses clean. Once we find out what they’re charging Dante with, we’ll make our next move.”

The patio door slid open, and Allegra ushered Vince outside. His jaw tightened when his eyes lit on Sal, and the two of them glared at each other.

“Sal, you can go. Watch your back and make sure our facilities are locked up tight.”

He nodded and took the side-gate exit.

Vince stepped up to Carlo and looked out over the backyard. “It’s been a while since I’ve been over. Even longer since I came out here. Makes me think of all the barbeques we used to have when I was kid. Back when my parents were alive and before Bobby was always in trouble.”

Carlo blew a ring of smoke. “Look, I’m sorry about Bobby. But I needed you to see what could happen if I stopped being so tolerant. I need a decision.”

“I told you I was thinking about it. I don’t do good with ultimatums.”

“I don’t do good with nos.”

Vince shook his head, the corner of his mouth curving up. “You don’t say.”

The tension faded, and things felt like they might be okay after all. “So, McCormicks…?”

Vince’s eyebrows drew together “The place where Cassie works? What about it?”

“It’s McCarthy’s.”

He shrugged. “I always call it the wrong thing—all those damn Irish “Mc” names blur together, and then I think of those spices and flub the name. Why? Did you need the address? It’s just downtown, right next to a deli. Good steak, but not nearly as homey as Rossi’s. They take themselves a little too seriously if you ask me.”

Carlo studied his nephew. No hesitation, and he thought the same thing when he ate there. It must’ve truly been a slip. “And New York? How’d that go?”

Vince let out a harsh exhale. “I might’ve pissed off some of the New York boys. I paid off Bobby’s balance and told them he was out. When Big Al refused my terms, I renegotiated… by pulling a gun on him.”

“I heard,” Carlo said.

“I’m assuming you heard I took Cassie, too?”

Good. He hadn’t had to pry it out, although Vince was smart enough to realize he would know, so that didn’t help much. “Thought it was strange.”

“She wants to go to a college there. When I told her I was going, she asked to tag along. I thought it’d be good to see where she’d be, just in case. Plus, the farther away she is from here, the less triggers for possible memories.”

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