by Kelly Wood
“Have you met Sal and Tony? Antonio always said that instincts couldn’t be taught. He should’ve known. He spent years trying to get those two to just think. Every decision they made benefitted them, and them only. Those two would’ve run the business into the ground and killed each other in the process.”
“But Frank?”
“Frank has natural instincts. He focused himself, got a degree in business and management from the University of Nevada, and became Antonio’s shadow. Antonio’s only stipulation in passing the business to Frank was he take care of Tony and Sal. Keep them on the payroll and give them bogus jobs.”
“Essentially, Frank is a lifetime caregiver for the brothers. Do you think either of them would ever want control of the casino? Would one, or both, try for a coup?” I asked.
“Those two are the laziest men I have ever met. They both avoid hard work, so the answer is no. They are both smart enough to realize the time and energy Frank puts in on their behalf.”
I let her words sink in but decided not to take them at face value. Large sums of money were a huge motivator for anyone. I whispered to Gray that I’d still like to follow up. He squeezed my hand in response.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Gray and I left Gracie shorty after lunch. The drive to his parents’ house was short. I looked up at the monstrosity on the hill and prepared myself to enter. I kept my hand in Gray’s and stayed by his side. At Gracie’s, it was because I just wanted to be close to him. Here, it was out of fear. Gray’s family was starting to give me the creeps.
Gray and I entered through the rear door by the kitchen. A maid nodded at our arrival but didn’t greet us. I assumed she wasn’t allowed to speak unless spoken to first. Probably Mary Francis’s doing.
Gray’s hand held mine, leading me through the house and into his father’s study. The house resembled a well-kept museum. Every piece on display was perfect. I clenched my empty hand into a fist to keep me from trouble. Every vase we passed I wanted to poke with my finger until it toppled to the floor and shattered. This house was as different from Gracie’s as possible. There, I wanted to curl up on the couch and read a good book. Here, I wanted to apologize because my shoes touched the floor while I walked. I didn’t dare sit down on a sofa, let alone tuck my feet under me.
“Father,” Gray greeted Michael. I gave a little wave. This was Gray’s show. My plan was to fade into the background and watch. Gray sat in one of the chairs facing his father’s desk. I strolled over to the windows to look out at the golf course.
“What may I help you with? I’d thought you would be off enjoying your honeymoon,” Michael said.
“We will. There’s something we need to finish up first, though.” Gray hesitated as he broached the subject.
“Out with it, Gray.” Michael’s tone reminded me of a father about to discipline his son for coming home late.
“I’ll get straight to it, then. Are you purposefully sabotaging Uncle Frank’s hotel?”
Michael laughed in response. “Frank and I are friends, Gray. And colleagues.”
“You weren’t always,” Gray pointed out.
“That’s ancient history. We’ve been partners longer than it’s mattered.” Michael’s tone was sweet, helpful.
I didn’t believe a word.
“The timing is awfully convenient,” Gray said.
“Drop it, Gray. You’re searching for something that isn’t there.”
“Really?” Gray sat down in one of the chairs across from his father. “What would be better than two powerful families in Vegas?” Gray held up one finger.
All humor left Michael’s face. “You’ve made your choice, Gray.” His head nodded in my direction. “You’ve made it very clear you don’t want anything to do with our family business. I’ve respected that, but I will humor you for a moment. I have no desire to eliminate Frank and the Bianchis. Times aren’t what they used to be. There is no power play here.”
“What about Sal and Tony? Would they try to hurt Uncle Frank?”
“What would be the purpose?” Michael asked, clearly frustrated that Gray would pursue the conversation.
“More control? More money? Birthright? You want me to go on?” Gray asked.
“No. Here.” Michael picked up a pen and scribbled a note before handing it to Gray. “These are their addresses. Go see for yourself, they have no desire to hurt Frank.”
“Thanks,” Gray said. That saved us the effort of finding out their addresses.
I split my time between watching them and looking out the window. With the house resting on an incline the view was impressive, but one house in particular caught my attention. From my vantage point, I could see Gracie’s house completely. Even though she was blocks away, I had a clear view. Michael would be able to watch her every move. Every visitor would be known to him. I wondered if she ever felt the tickle of fear that she was being watched?
Gracie’s house sat perpendicular to Michael’s. I could see if anyone knocked on her front door or if she was sitting out back enjoying the weather. Michael could’ve been watching us the whole time we drank tea on the veranda. A shiver went through me. I turned my back on Gracie’s and watched the exchange between Gray and Michael again.
“You said sabotage? What’s been happening?” Michael asked.
Gray laid out the last few days of events that we’d been part of, plus the other things that Passion and Frank had mentioned. Michael’s face grew darker as Gray spoke. The light left his eyes leaving behind a cold menace. Michael picked up his phone and made a call, blatantly ignoring both Gray and me. He spoke quietly for a few moments and then replaced the receiver.
“A suite is being prepared for you at our hotel. You’ll be staying there until this is hashed out,” Michael said.
“Until what’s ‘hashed out’?” Gray asked.
“I won’t tolerate your being put in danger. You’ll move so I can keep you protected.”
“No, we won’t. We’re staying. I told you long ago, I don’t want anything to do with the family business. Got it? Nothing. That includes staying in your hotel.” Gray rose as he spoke. His voice deepened and his face hardened.
“Then you’ll both stay here.”
“No.”
“You’ll do as I say.” Michael rose, too, matching Gray in size and strength.
“I’m not a child.” I could see the years of previous arguments starting to bubble up through this one. Michael always trying to exert his will over Gray and Gray was always trying to blaze his own path. I decided to step in before they resorted to blows. I stepped in front of Gray and held my hands up. My right hand laid flat against his chest. My left hand stayed in the air over Michael’s desk.
“Wait. Let’s not go down this road.” I kept contact with Gray but turned to face Michael. “You said you wouldn’t tolerate us being in danger, right?”
“Yes. And, I mean it,” Michael said.
“Why would you think we were in danger? We’ve got nothing to do with the hotel.”
“You could’ve been injured when the pool flooded the workout facility,” Michael suggested.
“We weren’t,” I said. “Plus, no one knew we would be there. It wasn’t a target on us.”
“I won’t stand for taking a chance. It will get you killed. You need to be protected,” Michael said.
“From who? Who do we need to be protected from?” I asked.
“No one.” Michael exhaled quickly, regaining control of his emotions. “Regan, you don’t understand. I tried to warn you.”
“From who?” I asked again. This time more fiercely.
“From everyone. You can’t just walk through this life without making enemies. You must watch your back at all times.”
“We’re not in this life,” I said.
“Oh, you are. You may want to walk away, you may want to be on your own, but you will always be a part of this life.”
“Why? How?” I asked.
Michael laughed. “Because he�
�s my son. I’d always go after anyone who hurt him.” Michael nodded to me. “And now you, too. You both can be used as pawns.”
“Welcome to the family, huh?” Gray said. “After the show tonight, we’re out. I mean it. We’re not coming back.”
I patted Gray’s chest in comfort.
Gray took a deep breath before sitting back down. I took the seat next to him. We kept our hands locked together. The tension in the room subsided as each of us returned to our corners.
“Maybe we are looking at this the wrong way. Who would be against you and Frank?” I asked. “You said it yourself, you’ve been partners forever.”
For less than a second, Michael’s face spasmed. The look was so fleeting I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“No one,” Michael said.
“Really? In your line of work?” Sarcasm dripped from my question. Gray stifled a laugh by coughing into his fist.
“Contrary to popular opinion, Frank and I have worked hard to clean up the image of the families. Together, we weeded out the sadistic influence of the Milano family. Since then, we’ve had peace. No more wars, no more raids. Peace. So, no, there’s not another enemy.”
Michael spoke with passion and conviction. With an American flag hanging behind him, he could’ve been running for office. Even I wanted to believe him. Just a little. About as much as I wanted to believe a real politician.
I was done with the dog and pony show. I wanted out of this house. “Okey dokey, then.” I braced to stand up, but Michael started to speak again.
“Son, do you know why I can be sure it was not my enemy?” The use of the word ‘son’ stopped me in my tracks. Gone was the sleek politician, here was the man behind the image.
Gray hesitated before asking. “Why?”
“Your mother was pregnant with you during Milano’s reign. I made a promise to her that I would make our children’s lives safer. Safe enough she could take you to the park without a bodyguard. Safe enough you could walk down the street without looking over your shoulder. Safe enough you could walk away from this life if you chose. I kept that promise. Frank and I have been partners since then. We’ve worked together. We’ve been allies. This isn’t like before.”
“You changed your tune,” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“Twenty minutes ago, you were ready to keep us under lock and key. Now, you are telling us how safe you’ve made the streets. Which is it?”
“I’m sorry for the confusion. You are safe. Mostly. But even my power is limited. Watch yourselves.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Franky September 1988
Frank watched as Garrett’s hand stroked the newly finished wall. Stroked being the only word that applied. Garrett never once looked at it as his hand idly moved in slow circles. Frank shivered as his blood ran cold.
His hands shook as he remembered the impact of the hammer hitting Guy’s head. To hide the shaking, he kept them in his pockets. He strained to keep his face neutral and show no signs of the fear he felt. Cold sweat trickled down his back.
Since the Labor Day weekend party at Costa’s hotel, Frank had tried to get back down to the construction site. He hadn’t slept. He hadn’t eaten. He’d only thought about hitting Guy and killing his best friend. He had killed before, but always in self-defense. He had never taken a life out of rage. He had never raised his hand to another with the intent of murder. Not even his father. He’d thought about it. He’d wanted it, but even that was in defense of himself and especially his mother.
When Frank had finally managed to sneak past security, back down to the scene of the crime, the surprise had been on him. Guy’s body was gone. The blood had been cleaned up. Construction had continued with the new walls covering the hidden recesses. Frank risked a glance at the wall next to where he had left Guy’s body but quickly brought his gaze back to Costa. Frank should’ve realized Costa’s involvement when every trace of blood was gone. Only Costa could’ve managed to accomplish that feat.
“Do you believe our alliance will work, Frank?”
Frank cleared his throat before daring to speak fearing it would shake. “Yes. It’s strong.”
“Good. I think so, too. Maybe even stronger than last week.” Costa tapped his index finger against his chin, deep in thought. Frank thought the move to be calculated. He was learning every move Costa made was calculated and made with intent. “But, I have one concern.”
“Is that why you brought me down here?”
“We needed some privacy. The security cameras haven’t been installed down here yet. Were you aware?”
Frank ignored the question. The cold sweat pooled at his lower back, his shirt clung to him. “Why do we need to speak without Antonio?”
Garrett stopped moving his hand. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall casually. Frank’s guard went up another notch. “Throughout our alliance, we will need to do favors for one another. We’ll know each other’s secrets. We’ll need to keep each other’s secrets.” Garrett put his index finger against the wall and started making smaller circles. “We’ll have to trust one another. My concern for our alliance is while you will be the liaison between Antonio and me, you would always feel loyalty to him.”
“I’m aware of my position. I want what is best for all of us.” Frank started to explain his appreciation at the chance he was being given, at the value he placed on his education, but held back. Guilty people always talked too much.
“Good, good. Antonio has treated you like a son, though. You’ve looked to him as a father figure since yours has always been, lacking, shall we say?”
Frank nodded in acknowledgment. Coins rattled in his pocket. He closed his hands into fists around them to stop the noise. He cleared his throat again. He was finding it hard to breathe in the tight space.
“I was worried about you favoring Antonio, but I see now that you will be fair and impartial, weighing in only with advice that will benefit both parties.”
“You’re no longer worried?” Frank’s surprise was evident.
Costa pushed himself away from the wall, turning to place his palms flat on it. “I had this finished just recently. Brought in some of my trusted help. Did you know that this wall was going to house a secret compartment? It’s deeper than you would guess.” Costa rapped on the wall with his knuckle. “Stronger, too. Reinforced cement behind it.”
Frank forced himself to speak. “You didn’t need the compartment?”
“Oh, I have plenty. Bodies are rumored to be buried in the cement foundations of many of the hotels here in Vegas. Of course, the families were more brutal back then.”
Frank smirked at the irony of Costa referring to other families as brutal. After watching Costa play with Milano, brutal was an understatement for him.
“I’ve heard that. Times have changed.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Garrett pushed off the wall, rapping his knuckles against it one more time. “Handy way to dispose of something, though. Too bad about Antonio’s son. Guy? Was that his name? I hope he surfaces.” Garrett clapped his hands together, ending the meeting. He turned and walked toward the exit, whistling while he went.
Frank let out the breath he had been holding. Frank’s heart started to beat again, racing faster and faster. Garrett’s message had come through loud and clear. Costa owned Frank now. Frank’s plan to leave down the road faded away. Costa would never allow it. They were forever linked as long as Frank did as Costa wanted. Frank touched the wall and whispered, “I’m sorry,” to his friend and himself.
That one moment of temper and weakness was going to cost him his life. Garrett had an ax over his head; move incorrectly and it would strike. Garrett wouldn’t even have to kill Frank himself, Antonio would gladly do it. Antonio would strangle Frank with his bare hands if he ever found out what Frank had done. Antonio was torn up over Guy’s disappearance. He had already hired a private investigator. Gracie looked like a zombie sitting every day on the lawn of the country club. Just wai
ting.
Frank followed in Garrett’s footsteps back to the stairwell and up. His feet were dragging. His shuffling gait was that of a man on death row, heading to the gallows.
Costa owned him.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“These places aren’t far. Let’s do a drive-by and then we’ll head back for your sister’s show tonight.”
“You’d better check yourself using a phrase like ‘drive-by.’ The way your dad spoke, it was a common thing back then.”
Gray put the car in gear and headed out of the subdivision. I turned up the air conditioner. Even with the milder weather, the sun beating into the car was ferocious.
“I’ve heard stories.”
“Like?” I asked.
“Milano was this old guy still in charge of his family. Brutal, quick to anger, quick to kill. Really into the old-school revenge. Dad was working his way up the Costa family and Frank was Bianchi’s boy. Costa and Bianchi could see the writing on the wall. Times were changing. Either the families needed to adjust or they’d be wiped out in raids and government witch hunts.” Gray checked the address again before signaling a left at the next light.
“Anyway, Dad said Milano jumped him, Costa, Bianchi and Frank one night. Held them all at gunpoint. His mistake was not killing them right away. Frank threw a knife, stabbing Milano in the chest.”
“Lucky for them, I guess.” Fear for Passion swarmed me. Frank was a killer? We needed to figure this out and soon.
“That’s not the point of my story. Dad said it was the scariest moment he’d ever seen in his life. Costa could’ve killed Milano and ended the feud right there, but he didn’t. He tortured Milano. Moving the knife slowly. He drew out the pain. He relished it.”
“Sounds like a sicko,” I offered up.
“You didn’t get to be the head of a crime family back then without some zeal for the bloody parts.”
“If this guy was such a cold-hearted killer, how did your dad take control?”
