Page 44 of Stolen Dove
The ladies walk toward the kitchen, and I tell him, “Let’s go to my office.”
He nods but doesn’t take his eyes off of his wife until they’re out of sight. “Lead the way.” Once we’re inside, I offer a chair. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you.” He adjusts his coat and sits down. “I’m ready to get this talk started.”
“Good.” I take a seat behind my desk. “So what are you thinking?”
“I want his head on a motherfucking salver. My wife suffered at the hands of my brother and his father because of Avanti. There are no words for the revenge I want to exact on them, but I’m not a mobster. I never set out to be one.”
“That’s fine, but how come you haven’t had one of your buddies do the deed? I hear you have connections with the Russians and with the new Irish mob.”
“Yeah. They would easily take out the trash, but Avanti has so many people in power around him. I thought he had you backing him, but my guy working the valet told me you might be the right person to speak with.”
“He was right. Not only did he tell her she’d be dead if she didn’t cooperate, Avanti’s the one her father owed the money to. I paid five hundred thousand for my wife, and the bastard only needed fifty thousand. It’s not that the money was spent for my wife—I would have given up everything I have for her—but not to that piece of shit.”
“I want him to be destroyed, but I’d prefer if I was out of the country when it happened. I know you don’t owe me anything, but I wanted to speak with you first about it.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“So we won’t be taking too much of your time, my wife and I are scheduled to travel to my company’s manufacturing facilities in Africa.”
“Where? We have several from South Africa, Morocco, and Djibouti.”
“We’ll be busy, but I will say this. I’d wait before you strike on Avanti. I’ve heard some rumors, and there are other heads about to roll soon. I’d wait until next month. It’s a short window to strike, but it’s the best way to get to him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean someone else is going to meet their fate, and you might catch yourself as a suspect if you head in too soon.”
“Understood.” We might be getting along, and I see we could be good friends, but trust takes more than one or two conversations. What happens from now until Avanti’s body is ice cold can determine our relationship. A minute later, I get a picture on my phone with Dove and a dollop of cream on her finger.
“They’re having a good time.”
“I’m glad. So instead of barging in on them, tell me about your vineyard. I heard it’s expansive.”
We spend the next hour shooting the shit about everything from the vineyard and his lumber exports while our women are building a bond filling the house with giggles. I have a feeling they’re going out to the enclosed patio, which is just past my office. Their bond will solidify ours because neither of us want our wives upset, so we’ll automatically play nice. Besides, Santino seems like a good guy.
15
Dove
“Oh my goodness. I love this kitchen.”
“Giada, this is my chef, Geraldo. Geraldo, this is Mrs. Benedetti.”
“Hello, ma’am. Are you ladies interested in some homemade whipped cream?”
I turn my head and look at him like he’s crazy. “That’s a stupid question.” I swipe a large spoon and scoop out a bunch for Giada and then one for me.
“Oh, hell, this is so good. It’s much better than the can.”
“Thank you. Although I’m partial to the can. Do you want some strawberry tarts or apple pie?”
“Can we have both?” I ask while Giada rubs her hands together. She pulls out her phone and takes a picture of herself with the cream. “I want to tease the hubby.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I agree, taking my phone out of my back pocket.
“Here, let me take it. I think since I met Santino, I fell in love with taking photos.” She snaps a couple of shots of me licking whipped cream off my finger and I love most of them, but I send him the one that’s the cutest and veiled in intent.