Chapter 8: The Man on the Phone
Carmine didn't put it on speaker immediately.
He looked at Russel, who was already reaching for a pen and a notepad.
Then he pressed the speaker button and set the phone on the table between them.
"Go ahead," Carmine said.
"I want to be straightforward with you," Dario said.
"Helena came to me last night.
She's frightened.
She made some poor decisions and now she's trying to manage the consequences.
I understand you're angry."
"I'm not angry," Carmine said.
"I'm filing documents."
A short pause.
"That would be a mistake."
"Tell me why."
"Because I have materials that concern your family's history.
Specifically, the acquisition of your estate in 1987 and certain financial arrangements your father made with people who were not — how do I say this — operating within the law at the time." His voice remained pleasant throughout.
"I have no interest in exposing your family.
I'm a businessman.
I prefer resolution."
"What kind of resolution?"
"Simple.
You withdraw the legal proceedings.
You allow Helena to retain her portion of the marital assets as agreed in your prenuptial arrangement.
In return, the materials about your father remain private.
Everyone moves forward."
Russel was writing steadily.
"And the two million dollars?" Carmine said.
"Consider it a settlement."
"The two million dollars taken from my estate using a forged signature."
"These things are complicated—"
"Dario." Carmine's voice didn't rise.
"I want you to listen carefully.
I already know about Emilio Carra.
I know about the mail forwarding address in Naples.
I know about the six-year relationship between you and Carra and at least three other document fraud operations across Italy and Switzerland." He paused.
"The financial crimes authority in Rome received a file this morning.
It includes everything I just named, plus the account transfers, the forged refinance, and a photograph of you and Helena taken in Milan eight weeks ago."
Silence on the line.
"You've been busy," Dario said finally.
"I have a good attorney."
Russel didn't look up from his notepad, but the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
"The materials about your father—"
"Release them," Carmine said.
"Whatever they are.
I'll deal with what my father did.
I won't deal with what you did to my son."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
"Your son," Dario said slowly.
"Helena mentioned the boy."
"Don't."
The word landed like a door closing.
"I'm simply saying—"
"I know what you're saying.
And I'm telling you that if you come anywhere near Leo — if anyone connected to you comes anywhere near Leo — whatever arrangement you were hoping for disappears entirely and I become considerably less interested in keeping things civil." Carmine picked up the phone.
"We're done talking.
The next conversation happens through lawyers and authorities."
He ended the call.
Russel set down his pen.
He looked at the phone for a moment.
"He'll run," he said.
"I know."
"If he runs before Rome executes the warrant—"
"I know." Carmine stood up.
"How fast can they move?"
"I'll call my contact now." Russel was already reaching for his own phone.
"One more thing.
The safety deposit key Leo mentioned — if Helena has it and she reaches wherever that box is before we locate it, whatever's inside could disappear."
"Can we find out which bank?"
"I've already requested Helena's financial records as part of the asset freeze application.
If there's a safety deposit box registered in her name or Vellara's name, it should appear." He stood up.
"Give me an hour."
He stepped into the hallway to make his calls.
Leo was still at the island, halfway through his toast, watching his father with the quiet attention of a child who has learned to read a room.
"Daddy," he said.
"Was that the man with the scar?"
"Yes."
"Is he going to cause trouble?"
Carmine sat down beside him.
"He's going to try."
Leo considered this.
"Are you scared?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Carmine looked at his son.
"I'm sure."
Leo picked up his toast.
"Okay," he said simply, and finished his breakfast.
From the hallway, Russel's voice rose briefly — sharp, urgent — and then dropped again.
May you like
Carmine looked toward the sound.
Whatever was in that safety deposit box, Helena was already moving toward it.
