He Canceled Our Wedding Ninety-Nine Times, So I Joined His Enemy novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: The Underbosses Kneel
Three Ruggieri underbosses came to the Lombardi gate on Tuesday afternoon, on foot, with their hats in their hands.
I knew them all.
They were the three who had clapped for the whip.
Gabriele's men let them into the long front hall, and Gabriele sat down in the high chair at the end and said nothing.
That was his gift to me.
I stood in front of the fireplace, in a dark suit, with Tullio at my elbow holding a folder.
The east-docks capo with the gold tooth leaned in the doorway with his arms crossed, watching.
"Miss Sartori," said the oldest underboss.
"Underboss Sartori," said Tullio, quietly.
The man's face tightened.
"Underboss," he said. "We've come about the family."
"Which one?"
"Ours."
"Then say what you want."
The second one cleared his throat.
"Paola has moved the trucks," he said. "Eight routes, since Sunday. She calls us in one at a time, and she knows what we owe and who to. The men are afraid."
"Afraid of Massimo?"
"Afraid of her."
"She's twenty-six," Gabriele said from his chair, mildly.
"She's twenty-six and she knows my mortgage," the oldest man said.
Nobody laughed.
"So you came to me," I said.
"You know the routes. You built the books." He wet his lips. "We'd like to put ourselves under the Lombardi table until this is settled. We'd take your terms."
"My terms."
"Whatever they are."
I walked slowly across the floor until I stood in front of him.
He was a big man with a gray crew cut and a gold watch, and a week ago he had clapped.
I remembered the sound.
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