The Don glared at Cheung. “Why are you here?”
Cheung had to evoke the name of a contact back in China to be granted this meeting. “I apologize for the intrusion Don Bonaduce but I’ve been told you can help me.”
The Don pulled out a hand rolled cigar and fired it up, walking around to the large recliner in his study. “Help you?” he said dragging on it before blowing out rings of smoke.
Cheung nodded, “I need to meet with Angelo Calderone.”
The Don cut his sons a look, and then his narrowed gaze returned to him. “Angelo Calderone is dead. His villa burned to the ground last night.”
The news struck Cheung as unpleasant for them all. The Don wore a tight congested grimace on his wrinkled face. He gestured toward the chair in front of the old Don. “May I?”
The Don nodded. Cheung sat. “I believe we can be of some use to one another. We have a common enemy.”
Bonaduce flashed Cheung an amused smile. “Forgive me Signore?”
“Bojing.”
“Ah yes Signore Bojing. Forgive me, but I am a busy man. Why don’t you just say what you came here to say. Neither Giovanni Battaglia nor I need you to settle our differences.”
Cheung smiled slyly. “Maybe not, but I can keep the Cammora and Ndrangheta from a war. With your blessing and a bit of assistance of course. That is something neither you nor Giovanni Battaglia can afford.”
Bonaduce let go a deep laugh. He leaned forward, his hard eyes sharp as a dagger. “Go on?”
****
Franco hadn’t returned. He never came to bed last night. Catalina summoned Carmine to see if his car was still parked in the garages. She called the factory to see if he decided to sleep there. Nothing.
Footsteps entered the hall. Catalina stood. She held her breath and waited. Dominic walked into his office. At first he didn’t see her. She was to the left near his sofa. His line of vision was singular. He headed for his desk. Catalina cleared her throat, and he looked over. “I was so worried about you. Why didn’t you call me?”
The question was ignored. He sat behind the desk and reached in the side bottom drawer and drew out a bottle of scotch and a small glass.
“Domi?”
“Get out.”
“What?”
“Get out!” Dominic shouted at her.
Catalina opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t. She turned and walked out before her tears made her stay. She was in such a hurry she didn’t see Mira until it was too late. They collided.
“Catalina? What is it?”
“Move, let me by,” she said trying to escape. Mira however refused. She grabbed Catalina’s wrist and pulled her up the hall.
“What are you doing?” Catalina shrieked.
Mira pushed her roughly into the parlor causing Catalina to stumble back. “Giovanni is showering, but Carmine came to our door and said you were looking for Franco. He told Giovanni that Franco didn’t come home last night.”
“He did what?” Catalina said.
“Tell me you didn’t,” Mira said. “For the love of all that’s holy tell me you didn’t go to Domi about Franco.”
“I had no choice.”
“Are you that dense that you would put the man you love in harm’s way? Do you understand what you’ve set in motion?”
Catalina dropped her head openly crying. “I had to. I had no choice. Franco was a perversion and could have destroyed me either way.”
Mira rolled her eyes and threw her hands up.
“Help me.”
Mira whirled on a sniveling Catalina. “Now you want my help? Now?”
“You can tell Giovanni about him striking me. We will say Domi wanted to confront Franco, and Franco attacked him. Domi had no choice.”
“That’s your plan? That’s as much as you thought it through? Giovanni will never buy it, Catalina. He hates lies. I won’t lie to him. You forced my hand. Now we just have to deal with the fall out.”