“When I talked to Gloria, Carlo and Emilio still hadn’t been released from Rikers. Because of my prior convictions, I was unable to visit them. Neither have contacted me, but according to Gloria, Carlo got himself in the hole for a while. My only point of contact since this whole mess went down with the lab bust has been Carlo’s consigliere, who is also my uncle Carmine, and Tony. Carmine has been shut out by Rico, Emilio’s younger brother. The stupid fuck is just a capo, but he’s been running around like Tony thinking he owns the streets while he owns nothing. I hate that prick.”
“Just find out what you can. We’re not so desperate that we want anyone in the organization figuring out we’re working together,” Pop says.
“Uncle Emilio has a thing about checking in. He likes to know where his capos are at all times,” Michael says. He’s speaking to Leo, really, but he’s loud enough for the whole room to hear. “I know you know this, man, but better to be reminded than to fuck up. Best thing to tell him about Tony is that he’s trying to run shit and he’s pissing everybody off, including his own capo. Tell Uncle Emilio his boy’s got a big head and, as far as you know, Alex found out about Ruby and company on her own and she’d been in contact with the club for months.”
“Smart. Takes the heat off Princess about the whole ratting thing,” Duke says with a nod and a proud smile to Michael. “Nosy little girl just wanted to meet her aunt. She had no fucking clue what she was stirring up.”
“Yeah, but is Uncle Dick-Sucker going to buy that story?” Ryan asks Duke, totally ignoring Michael.
“What other story is he going to believe? Either we tell the truth and make the target on Princess’s head even brighter, or we play up the raging Mama Bear angle,” Duke says.
“He’ll buy it.” Michael chimes in, nodding his head. “Al’s always sticking her nose in things she shouldn’t. I talked to Aunt Gloria a few days ago. She and Dad have been in a pissing match since we were born over telling us the truth. She thinks it’s unfair that we never knew, and for obvious reasons, he never wanted us to. Once I knew the truth, a lot of shit from childhood started to make sense. Nobody can keep a secret this big forever. Tell him I’m refusing to bring Al home. We’re getting to know our mother and Tony’s just pissed because he sees Forsaken turning the Boss’s house into Swiss cheese as disrespect that can’t be ignored. The Boss and Underboss getting sent away was the perfect time to prove himself and move up the ranks.”
“And if Tony’s told Emilio the truth?” Duke asks.
“I stick to the story. Either way, it buys us some time and gets us some info,” Leo says.
Finally it seems the room doesn’t have any more questions or comments and we can fucking get to the reason we’re here. Diesel gets the call going, and I hold my breath, hoping nobody fucks this up. Leo adjusts the earpiece that’s attached to the mobile and settles in.
“Vescovi.” The prick answers his phone with his last name, like the asshole calling doesn’t know who the hell he’s trying to reach.
“Sir,” Leo says. “Scavo checking in.”
“You calling from a comfortable place?”
“As comfortable as can be,” Leo responds. Each organization or club has their own code words and language they don’t explain to outsiders, but for the most part it’s all the same.
“Good. Then you want to explain what the fuck you’re doing out west with Michael?” Emilio’s voice booms through the speaker. Half the men in the room roll their eyes at Vescovi’s dramatics.
“Things became . . . complicated when Tony was released from the hospital. Most of our friends have remained interested in keeping company policy, but a few co-workers have been . . . less than cooperative.”
“You’re saying Tony’s been, uh, uncooperative?”
“I’m saying that a misunderstanding at home lead to a misunderstanding in the workplace and has since resulted in a disaster on both fronts. Tony’s felt his boss’s absence a little harder than most men in the office. He’s, uh, blazing his own trail so to speak.” Leo’s a smart man, and this conversation proves it. Emilio may be the underboss, but he’s also Tony’s father. Disrespecting the man to his father outright isn’t wise, especially when we need to remain on his good side long enough to find out what he knows.
“What does that have to do with your visit to California?”
“Apparently Alexandra has had an interest in her mother’s family, and when she found out about her aunt Ruby, she hunted her down. Being unaware of the wounds she was opening, Alexandra turned to Ruby for comfort when she was scared. I’m aware of how unfriendly Ruby’s husband was upon his arrival. It’s unfortunate and a disrespect, certainly, but given everything, it’s personal. Tony was unhappy with this and made it a work issue, sending Michael to retrieve his sister. When Michael didn’t return, Tony sent me.”
“How are the twins?”
“Happy to be getting to know the other side of their family. As far as Ruby and her husband are concerned, the debt is paid. There is nothing further to settle. The twins are free to leave when they so wish, but as it stands, neither appears interested in returning to New York.”