Page 61
“Toss everything into the river,” Enrico snapped, adjusting his waistband over his bulging gut.
They left without a word.
Fifteen minutes later, on a dark, quiet road outside town, the car rumbled to a stop near the familiar stretch of riverbank.Everyone in the organization knew where bodies were dumped.But tonight, neither man moved from where they sat, the silence inside the vehicle heavy.
“This is bullshit,” one of them muttered, staring out at the dark water.
“Yeah,” the other said.His voice was low, grim.“Bianchi’s out of control.Did you hear what happened to DiAngelo a year ago?Bianchi pulled the poor bastard in front of him like a shield.The poor bastard took five bullets meant for Enrico.”
The first man’s jaw tightened.“So what do we do now?We dump Matteo and pretend our boss didn’t just shoot Caruso for no apparent reason?”
The other man glanced back at the trunk.His voice was cold.“Why bother with the bridge?Gun’s still in the rug with the carpet.He didn’t wear gloves.”
A long pause followed those words.Then the first man grinned.“Fingerprints all over it.”
They got out together, opened the trunk, and dumped Matteo’s carpet-wrapped body on the gravel.One of them murmured, almost respectfully, “Never liked the guy.But dumping him in the river ain’t right.”
The other just grunted.“Agreed.”
They drove away, but minutes later, the car pulled into a gas station.One man bought a burner phone, snapping it together in the lot.The service to the phone was good for five minutes.He needed thirty seconds.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“There’s a body wrapped in a rug about four miles outside town,” he said flatly.He rattled off the location, then added, “He was shot by Enrico Bianchi.Gun’s right there with his fingerprints on it.”
He snapped the phone shut, wiped it clean, and tossed it into a trash can.
By the time their car merged back onto the highway, both men were silent, staring ahead.Whatever happened next wasn’t their problem.
Back in his office, Enrico puffed on a cigar, blissfully unaware that he’d just pulled the trigger on the beginning of his own end.
Chapter 36
“He’sdead?”Catarinarepeated,her brows knitting as if she couldn’t quite believe the words.“Matteo Caruso?”
“Yes.”Sal came around his desk, closing the distance.He took her hands in his much larger ones, his dark eyes searching hers.“Are you okay?”
She blinked up at him, her heart squeezing at the concern in his voice.“Of course I’m okay,” she whispered.“I never had feelings for Matteo.He was just my father’s right-hand man.”
Before Sal could respond, Tony stepped into the office.Both turned toward him.
“Your father has been arrested,” Tony said bluntly.
Catarina tilted her head, her expression thoughtful rather than shocked.“Did my father have anything to do with Matteo’s death?”
“Yeah,” Tony confirmed.“The gun used in the shooting was found hidden next to the body with his fingerprints on it.Police also found gunshot residue on your father’s hands.And blood spatter on his shirt as well as the walls of his office…the works.”
“Huh.”Catarina exhaled slowly, then looked back at Sal, catching the way he was still watching her like she might break.“I know I should feel more, but…he was a horrible man.I feel sad for the people he hurt, but not for him.”She straightened, chin lifting.“I don’t care.”
She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to Sal’s lips.“I have something to do.Is there anything else?”
He moved with her.“If you’re heading down to that back building to see your dog family…don’t you think it’s time to bring them inside?Into the house?It’d be safer.And I’d feel better knowing they, and you, were closer.”
She was startled for a moment, but then her whole demeanor changed.Her entire face lit up like dawn breaking.“You’d really be okay with that?With my dogs in the house?”
“Of course.”His mouth curved in a rare, teasing smile.“Especially since you’ve already been sneaking them in for baths and warmth during the cold nights.”
Her mouth dropped open.“How did you—?”
