Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 724(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 724(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Taviano felt the little shiver that went through Nicoletta’s body. He didn’t want to call attention to her, but he shifted just a little to put his body between her and his cousins.
“Then the news came in about the warehouse,” Marzio continued. “Everyone dead, no Clariss and no explanation of what happened. No Nicoletta to hand over to Benito. The police never found a single body in the hotel where Jorge had claimed the others were killed. Now Jorge was dead in the warehouse as well. Tonio was going to have to tell his brother, and he knew Benito was going to be royally pissed and out for blood.”
Stefano met Taviano’s eyes. They had feared all along that Benito’s brothers would be a problem.
“Tonio seems to be the driving force behind a revolt he and his brothers have planned against Benito,” Marzio went on. “Benito’s leadership has suffered, in their opinion, ever since he got out of prison and then lost Nicoletta. He became obsessed with her, with finding out what happened to her and with getting her back.”
“What exactly is the revolt against Benito?” Nicoletta asked. “He’s a very vindictive man and wouldn’t hesitate for a minute killing his brothers and their families if they have them.”
“They don’t appear to have families at this time,” Severino said. “We checked. None of the brothers have indicated in any way that they are in opposition to Benito. In fact, they all sent men to support him getting you back. It’s just that the men they sent were their fuckups. The ones they have the most trouble with. It was discussed ahead of time which ones they didn’t mind losing. Those they thought would be loyal to Benito no matter what. Those were the ones sent to aid him.”
“What are the brothers planning?” There was apprehension in Nicoletta’s voice.
Taviano wrapped his arm around her and pulled her beneath his shoulder.
“They don’t want anything to do with Nicoletta,” Severino said. His voice was grim. “It seems that Tonio has much grander ideas. He believes that Benito was stupidly wasting his time on a whore with no money. What could she bring to them? Nothing but trouble. Benito was making money the hard way. Tonio, it seems, likes to look at magazines. He sends them to his brothers and circles all the photographs of what he calls the ‘useless’ celebrities. The ones with far too much money and nothing to spend it on but toys.”
Stefano and Taviano exchanged a long, puzzled look. Taviano shook his head. “What does that mean?”
“They watch reality television and the high life of the ‘useless’ celebrities,” Marzio said. “Tonio has convinced his other brothers that they can make a far better living that way rather than running after someone like Nicoletta. You may not know this, Velia, but women with too much money like men from gangs. It’s thrilling to bang men like them. Tonio thinks he’s in the right place to get a deal for a reality show. They can make all kinds of money that way and put him in the path of the right kinds of bitches so they can have the kinds of toys where they can really have power. Not the kind of penny-ante shit Benito is into.”
“He wants a reality show?” Taviano echoed, shocked. Disbelieving.
Severino nodded slowly.
Stefano laughed. “He’d probably get one, too.”
“We could make it happen,” Severino said. “Or at least begin negotiations with him and distract him from what’s happening with his brother.”
“All of his brothers want Benito gone,” Marzio added. “His brother Thiago, president of the New Jersey Demons, is so sick of him insisting they take the fall for him and go to prison so he doesn’t have to when he screws up, which he does more and more because he’s drinking all the time now. Joaquin in Oklahoma City feels the same way. He told Tonio that he’s just about had it with Benito’s drinking, and he’s not taking the fall for him.”
“And there’s Leonardo from St. Louis,” Severino continued. “I think he despises big brother more than any of them. Benito took a couple of the women Leonardo’s crew had, and Leonardo couldn’t stop him without getting into it with his brother, and he wasn’t strong enough at the time to oppose him. That made him look weak in his crew’s eyes. They lost their women, and he lost their respect. He’s since got it back, but that really tainted his view of his brother.”
“Not a lot of love for Benito,” Stefano said.
“There’s a good reason,” Nicoletta agreed. “He’s a horrible man. Those women he took from St. Louis, where they were probably treated halfway decent, he most likely used in his trafficking ring. He didn’t want them for anything but to prove to his brother and everyone else that he could take them. He pours favors on those who help him and utterly wipes out those who resist him. He rules with fear.”