Page 31 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don
I maintain my composure, taking a sip of my mocha to give me a moment to consider how I should play this. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't you?" His smile is the epitome of a Cheshire cat. "We've been monitoring his systematic infiltration of your family's operations for months. Your father's judgment… is impaired."
My fingers tighten around my mug. He knows too much.
"Marco's planning to absorb the Monti territory completely. We have evidence, Ms. Monti. Financial trails. Witness statements."
"And you're sharing this with me, why? You must know I have little to no power?"
I can’t decide how I feel that he’s the only other person in the world who believes Marco is staging a takeover.
I have to remember the FBI would be just as willing to bring my father down as Marco.
"I'm offering protection. For you and your father. In exchange for information that helps us build our case against Calabresi."
I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t have a moment imagining Marco in an orange jumpsuit rotting behind bars.
But working with the FBI would make me a rat, the worst thing possible in our world.
Still, if Blackwood is telling the truth about Marco…
"What kind of information?" I decide to test the waters.
"Access to meetings. Documentation of illegal activities. Names. Dates. The kind of evidence that puts him away for good."
I study Blackwood's face, searching for deception. He seems confident, prepared.
"Why do you need me if you already have evidence?”
He shrugs in an “ah, shucks” sort of way. “You know how it is. Marco is a smart man. We’ll need everything we can get to put him away.”
“Why him? He’s not the only businessman?—”
He laughs. “Businessman, right. The Calabresi family is my case.”
“I see.” It makes me wonder if someone is handling my father. Does the FBI have someone on every member of La Corona? Probably.
“I can make it so that your family is safe. Your father won’t go to jail… or your brother, should he return.”
The idea of getting my family immunity is appealing. “What evidence do you have on the Calabresi family?”
Blackwood slides a manila folder across the table. Inside are photos.
Marco's men at our warehouse, documents with timestamps, transcripts of conversations.
Nothing I haven't already documented myself. And nothing that would lead a judge to sign an arrest warrant.
"This is it? This proves nothing beyond business associates meeting." I close the folder, pushing it back toward him. "You approached a Don's daughter in public to show me this?” I wonder if I’m being set up.
His confidence doesn't waver. "We have more sensitive materials, but at this point, I can’t afford to share them. Not unless I have your cooperation.”
“Like what?”
He gives me that smarmy smile again. “Ah, I’d like to tell you, show you even, but that’s not possible unless we come to an agreement.”
"And you expect me to what… wear a wire? Steal documents? Betray not just Marco but potentially my own father?" I lean forward. "You understand how dangerous that is, don’t you, Agent Blackwood?"
"Your father built an empire that Calabresi intends to steal while Don Monti’s mind fails him. You're the only one who sees it happening."
