Page 92 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

“That isn’t how this works,” he said calmly. “Palermo really is out of touch, eh, Vito?”

D’Agostino’s brother chuckled and I gripped the edges of the desk and squeezed. The pain in my fingertips centered me, calmed me, and I let out a long breath. “Maybe I should call Siderno instead. Maybe your brother-in-law would be more amenable.”

The reminder of Ravazzani worked. D’Agostino’s voice turned hard. “You are the one who called me, Buscetta. I should hang up on your Sicilian ass and let you sort your own shit.”

“I’m calling to ask for a favor. Which would mean I would owe a favor in return. If that means nothing to you . . . .”

“Is it true you once knocked out Clemente Russo?”

The abrupt change in topics caught me off guard, but then this was D’Agostino. He wasn’t known for his stability. “Yes. We fought in Caserta when he was training for the Olympics. Seven rounds.”

“Impressive. I used to go to his bouts. He was very good.”

I was better, but had to stop fighting after my second concussion. And this was a pointless conversation. “So you will help me?”

“Find Virga, you mean?”

My eyes met Zani’s, and I saw my own surprise reflected back at me. How had D’Agostino known? “I never said—”

“You never said it was him,” he cut me off to say. “But there’s only one reason you wouldn’t go through your own people for this. It’s because you can’t.”

“It’s not only that. He’s aboard his yacht, hiding on open water. You have some experience with this, no?” We all knew how he’d eluded Ravazzani all those years.

“And what makes you think I can find him?” D’Agostino asked.

“You have the best resources with satellites and shit. GPS, whatever the fuck. We’ve tried every other way I can think of and it’s not working.”

“Why would I help you?”

Because I’m married to your girlfriend’s twin.

But I couldn’t say that. D’Agostino and Ravazzani would try to take Emma from me, and I couldn’t let that happen. “What do you want in exchange?”

“Not sure what you have, Buscetta. Siderno has taken everything of value from you.”

The Sicilian drug trade. I would soon take it back, but for now it belonged to Ravazzani and the ’Ndrangheta. “Not everything.”

“I have no interest in your guns.”

“A favor to be determined, then?”

“Do I have your word?”

“You do.”

“I’ll think about it.” He hung up.

Zani dropped the phone onto the ground and stepped on it, crushing it under the heel of his boot. “I hope we don’t live to regret that.”

So did I. “No matter what happens with my wife, I’m going to kill Virga as soon as we can find him.”

His lips stretched into a wide grin. “You mean even if you get her pregnant and become a Papà?”

I shot him a dark look as I stood up. “Stop enjoying this, coglione.”

“I can’t help it. And if the roles were reversed, you’d be laughing your ass off at me.”

Possibly, but I wouldn’t let him off the hook by admitting it.

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