Page 12 of Running
“Don....what are you thinking?” I have a feeling I’m not going to like what’s coming next.
CHAPTER SIX
Luca
“ELENA...” I START, hoping it will prompt Bosco to say what is on his mind.
“Yes. Elena, we are all thinking about that she-devil.” Growls Ricco.
“That's my goddamn daughter! You treat her with respect!”
“How can you be so sure?”
Bosco turns the computer monitor that he’s been staring at around. On the screen are four photos. One of the Don and Violet at what I can now assume is their wedding in Vegas. The two of them are dressed nice, but casual. There isn’t much in the details to signal they just wed. There is an Elvis impersonator, but those are on every street corner in Vegas. I’ve seen the photo before. It didn’t mean anything to me at the time. He keeps a framed copy in his desk drawer. He pulls it out and flips it around for all of us to see.
Next photo is of a Violet in a hospital bed, a newborn with dark tufts of hair and blue eyes. Another of Violet that appears to be ten years later. Beside her is a little girl. With brown hair and blue eyes. Looking an awful lot like Elena. The final photo was at what appears to be a graduation ceremony with Violet and Elena standing under a congratulations banner. In every photo there is no denying they are Violet and Elena.
Bosco goes over to his bookshelf and pulls open a photo album. The picture on the right is the one he is looking at. It is of a little boy, about ten years old. Aside from the long hair, it looks just like the girl from the second photo. “She looks just like me.”
I can’t help but to whisper “only prettier”. Guess my whisper wasn’t so quiet. The room breaks out into laughter.
“Thank god for that.” Ricco seems to be on the same wavelength as Bosco. “We would need a DNA test to confirm.”
“It appears she already thought of that.” I say motioning to the partially eaten sandwich and glass of empty milk. Her DNA will be on both.
Bosco grabs a glass from his bar cart and pours a glass of whiskey. Chugs it back then gives both glasses to Ricco. “Take these to the boys in the lab. Have them put a rush on it.”
“Yes boss.”
“And call in Valentino on your way.” Ricco leaves and Valentino, or better known as Val, enters. The family has been looking into improving its systems and upgrading firewalls in recent years and Val has taken it as his personal mission to lead the charge. That’s where Val’s skills are best suited. He’s not built to be all muscle. He’s on the leaner side. He never would have made a good enforcer like Dad wanted. That’s why I have Massimo. He’s ruthless like me all the time, while Val is ruthless when necessary. I trust him. He won’t ever deceive me or the family like Santo.
After today, Val is going to need to double his efforts to upgrade our systems. If Elena could infiltrate the compound without breaking a sweat, it means someone else could too. Val is going to be very busy.
Moving quickly, not looking at anyone, Val takes his usual spot in the corner. His fingers never stopping from flying across the keyboard of his laptop that he has open and held with one hand. “Already got the system back up. No idea how the hell she got past my firewall. Apologies Don. I'll fix it.” Of course he is already on it. Val hates failure. It eats away at him. More than the blood on his hands.
“Wonderful. In addition to that, we need you to find that girl and her mother. Violet Bianco and the daughter is Elena.”
“On it boss.”
A minute later and he says he found her. “Already?” I question. It couldn’t have been that easy.
“Yes, why? Doubt me?” Val looked disappointed. He is a smart guy. Shy as hell and not entirely confident in himself. Not yet anyway. By the time I take over he will be the man I need him to be to help me lead.
“No, but she's been in hiding for twenty years. I find it strange that she covered her tracks all those years, and not now.”
“Huh that is interesting. She definitely isn’t hiding anymore.” Val flips his laptop around so we can see. Looks like I’m looking at an inpatient form. “Her name is clearly registered at the hospital. Our hospital.”
The hospital was an investment I brought to the table years ago. We needed a way to wash more money while cementing our presence in another corner of the city. As it was a private hospital, it also meant we would have full control of the staffing. More than half of them are in the family. The rest are paid generously to look the other way when needed.
Having the hospital also means we can send our injured men in through the basement to be treated when we would otherwise need to resort to shady back rooms.
Hospitals are required to report bullet wounds to the police. Except in our hospital, when it is one of our men. They are given the best treatment possible and a safe room to recover without law enforcement coming to ask questions.
Fuck. Elena must have been telling us the truth about Violet.
“What is she there for?” I sense a hint of panic in Bosco’s voice.
“Dialysis. She needs a Kidney. They have her on the wait-list.”