Page 69 of The Bonventi Secret
For a moment, I allow myself to imagine a different life. One where I'm not plotting revenge at the start of my day, where I can wake up next to Livia without the weight of an empire on my shoulders.
But that's not the hand I've been dealt. This is my life, the Bonventi legacy, and I'll be damned if I let anyone threaten it.
"Enzo?" Gio's voice pulls me back to reality. "You hear what I said?"
I blink, refocusing on the task at hand. "No, sorry, just thinking through the logistics. We need to move fast on this. The longer we wait, the more vulnerable we become."
"Agreed," Marco says. "I can have everything in place within 48 hours."
"Make it 24," I say. "I want this done before the Rossis even know what hit them."
My brothers nod, understanding the urgency. We spend the next few hours hammering out the details, ensuring every possible angle is covered.
"Alright," I say, standing. "You both know what needs to be done. Let's make this count."
As Gio and Marco leave my office, I pour myself a glass of whiskey, downing it in one burning gulp. The familiar heat spreads through my chest.
I look at my watch. It's barely past noon, and already the day feels endless. I think of Livia again, wondering what she's doing, if she's thinking of me too.
With a sigh, I push the thought away. There's work to be done, a message to be sent.
A few hours later, I finish the last of my tasks and, while I wait for something to come up—because it always does—I decide to check out flights to Sicily. I haven't been back this year, so it'll be nice to see everyone. I've also never brought a woman with me, so that will be interesting. At least everyone will stop trying to set me up with the local women.
Ah, I can show her my grandfather's home. I'm sure Tony would let us stay there for a few days, seeing as I gave it to him when his exporting business went bankrupt.
I get the itch to smoke a cigar and walk over to my small humidor box and open it. As I look over my Cubans, there's a knock at the door.
"Come in," I say without turning around.
I hear the door open, and then there's a brief moment of silence before they speak.
"Sir," they say, and I turn to see Alex. "Livia is in the library and she asked for you to go and see her when you can."
I nod. "Okay, I will go now. Thank you."
As I am about to walk out of my office, Marcella appears holding a phone.
"Sir, I have Little Nicky's mom on the phone."
Dammit, I had forgotten I'd told Marcella to reach out to her. After the hit, I'd sent her flowers and a bank note letting her know her house was paid off. I also sent her a check for $50,000. It wouldn't bring her son back, but I wanted her to know I care. The family cared.
"Hello, Ms. Angelo. This is Lorenzo Bonventi. How are you doing today, ma'am?"
There's a slight pause and then she speaks. "As you can imagine, I've been better. I wanted to tell you that I got the flowers and the money. You didn't have to do all that. I knew what could happen. I tried to warn him. I did, I just…"
"Listen, I can't bring Little Nicky back, but I can do whatever I can to make it right. I will make sure that I do. If there's anything you ever need, you just call this number, okay?"
"That won't be necessary. I don't need anything else from you, besides maybe just one more thing."
"You name it, Ms. Angelo."
"Get the bastards who did that to my poor boy," she says before her voice cracks.
Of course, I want to tell her I plan on burying every last fucking one of the men responsible, but I can't say that over the phone.
"Okay, Ms. Angelo. You take care now," I say, hoping she knows I'll fulfill her request.
I hand Marcella the phone, and she places it in her pocket.
