Page 158 of The Enforcer's Revenge
“He raped my sister,” Canner confessed in a rush as he shoved the money back in his pocket with shaking hands. “It’s a deep secret in my family. We don’t tell people. My mother doesn’t want it known. She’s ashamed for my sister. She’s ashamed of us too, for allowing it. Aristov just took her, and we didn’t get her back for three days. He took her like she was part of the thirty-five percent. He said it just like that, and we couldn’t fight him. They would’ve killed all of us if we stopped him, maybe they would’ve killed her too. They said they would, and I believe them. They’re soulless.”
“I see,” Tino said in understanding, not remotely surprised since Aristov’s crew had tried to do the same thing to Alaine and nearly left Chuito to deal with the same guilt Canner could barely say out loud. “I’m sorry that happened. I’m sorry for your sister, and I’m sorry for you too.”
“Are you them? The ones who help with problems like that?” Canner asked curiously. “’Cause I heard one was—” He looked to Tony, and held his hand out as though measuring something. “Very tall.”
Tony grunted behind him.
Tino shook his head. “I can’t take you anywhere.”
“What the fuck do you want me to do about it?” Tony growled, and then tilted his head at Canner. “Hey, what’d you hear about the other guys?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Tino cut in. “You don’t even know if he’s talking about us. There are lotsa of Italians in this city who solve problems. Tall ones, too.” He looked at Canner and told him, “My brother’s six-six. No joke, he’s taller than this guy. So, I don’t know who you’re talking about, but we do happen to be Italians who solve problems. Usually just our own, but it doesn’treally matter as long as the problem gets solved. Unless you want him to know it’s for your sister. You want him to die knowing it? Is that what you’re asking?”
“I failed her. I have to live with that. My brother has to live with that. My mother’s heartbroken. Thank God my father died before it happened, and my poor sister. She’s not the same,” Canner went on as though he was spilling poison now that the secret is out. “She used to be happy. He stole that from her. He stole it from all of us. We sent her away. She lives with my aunt in Rhode Island, but he could take someone else. She’s not the only one he’s taken from our neighborhood. My brother worries for his wife. I want him to die for taking that from her. Please.”
“Okay,” Tino decided easily. “So, he’ll die for messing with your family instead of mine. That works for me.”
Canner sucked in a sharp breath. “You believe me?”
“I do,” Tino assured him, because a crew usually reflected the power that controlled them, and what happened in Miami told him all he needed to know. “I’ve heard things about Aristov. It seems to be his style.”
“He is very powerful, Mr. Moretti,” Canner said fearfully. “That’s the reason he can do these things.”
“Well, guess what? So, am I,” Tino said confidently.
“I know,” Canner said solemnly. “I really do. I wouldn’t risk this if I didn’t know how powerful your family is and the rumors I’ve heard about the Italians who solve these sorts of problems. For the first time in my life, I feel very fortunate that my restaurant is across the street from his store.”
“Okay, so here’s the deal.” Tino stepped closer to him and lowered his voice even though Tony had already scanned the apartment and patted down the crew boss for bugs. Canner leaned in to listen as Tino explained, “You’re going to have your people watch Aristov and his crew starting today. You are going to become obsessed with knowing their every move.Be aggressive about it without getting yourself hurt. Make sure your people know you’re angry and you’re planning something. Use whoever you trust to have your back, but don’t mention us to anyone. Ever,” he warned him seriously. “When Aristov and the others are found dead, the rumors will start that you took them out. You need to feed those rumors. Your crew needs to believe you did it. Your own brother needs to believe it. Fear is power, Canner. You kill Aristov, viciously, in a way that earns you enough respect to make the right connections with the most powerful Sicilian family in this city after you do it, and you’ll be invincible. The heat works for us. The Feds work for us too. I promise, the law will be on your side. Don’t admit to the murders, but don’t deny it either. You agree to do that, and I promise they will die in a way that terrifies everyone into respecting you, your family, and your crew for the rest of your life. How does that sound?”
“Sounds amazing.” Canner put a hand to his chest as he stepped back again. “On behalf of my sister. Thank you.”
“Don’t get too grateful. You’re going to work for it too,” Tino reminded him. “You’re going to be the eyes, ears, and rumor mill of this project, but you don’t say shit on the phone. You don’t write shit down. Don’t let your guys do it either. If you’re the boss of this neighborhood, fucking act like it. Be smart. Always assume the heat is watching and listening to everything you do. We’ll protect you, but don’t be stupid, and don’t get cocky.” He turned to Tony and said, “Give him your card.”
Tony reached for his wallet that he kept in an inside pocket of his leather jacket, and flipped it open. He pulled out one of his business cards and handed it to him.
Canner looked at it. “Are you really a business consultant?”
Tony tilted his head and asked, “What do you think we’re doing right now? We’re consulting your business and helping you make it more profitable as long as you don’t fuck it up.”
“Call Tony when you have new information, and he’ll tell you where to meet him,” Tino explained. “He should get a call from you in the next week. This situation is going to get solved very quickly.”
“I’ll have eyes on him all the time.” Canner nodded quickly. “I’ll learn his whole schedule. I’ll have a list of all the guys who have hurt women. Not just my sister. Like I said, there have been others.” He glanced back at the card in his hand. “I’ll make sure you have everything you need, Mr. De Luca.”
“Just call me Tony,” Tony said more as a demand than a request. “I’ll never be Mr. De Luca.”
“Okay, Tony.” Canner nodded, clearly getting the message. “I’ll call you as soon as I have what you need.”
“Perfect.” Tino stepped closer, lowered his voice once more, and glared in warning. “And needless to say, if you stab us in the back, if you go to the heat, if you do anything at all to betray us, the Russians will be the least of your problems. I wasn’t lying. We have eyes everywhere in the government, and I like you, Canner. You’re a hard worker and a good brother. I respect that. I don’t want you to be the next problem I have to solve, okay?”
Canner nodded, dark eyes wide.
“You can handle this, right? You have what it takes?” Tino asked seriously, because taking on a neighborhood like this took a certain amount of balls, even with the backing. “You can’t be a pussy if you’re gonna be a boss. You gotta be able to deal with some heat. Anything happens, just call us, we’ll solve it, but don’t ever think of flipping. It’ll be the worst mistake you ever make.”
“I have what it takes,” Canner said quickly. “You’ll see.”
“And shit rolls downhill,” Tony added. “That goes for your guys, too. Anyone turns their back on us and you’ll be the one to pay for it. Don’t risk it. Make sure no one knows who you’re doing it for.”
“No one will know.” Canner put a hand over his heart again. “I won’t betray you, and I won’t tell anyone, but even if the others did know, none of us would betray either of you. We all want him gone. I wasn’t lying. My sister’s not the only one they’ve taken. They target us especially, and I’ll do anything to help my people. I’ll be a good partner. Anything you want and it’s yours. I’ll work hard for you.”
