Park Avenue (Book Six in the Fifth Avenue Series) (53 page)

“So are you.”

“I understand the power I
have, but he has a network available to him that trumps mine.
 
He’s the Mob.
 
I want to take him out.
 
I want to put an end to this so I can
protect Leana and my family, but if I do, his people will know.
 
The Family will organize, and they will
take action.”

“You’re not the only
person who would like to see Antonio De Cicco dead, Mr. Fondaras.
 
At this point in his life, I’d imagine
there are dozens who would like to see him in the ground.
 
I also doubt that you’re the only person
he’s threatening right now.
 
There
are ways around this.
 
It doesn’t
have to be this way.”

“I can’t risk my family.”

“You don’t have to.”

“How can you promise me
that?”

“I have a plan.
 
It isn’t just Pepper Redman I’ve had my
team follow, but also Antonio De Cicco.”

Alarmed, Anastassios
said, “Why would you do that?
 
If
anyone is sensitive to being followed, it’s De Cicco.
 
He’s no fool, Sean.
 
He knows the Feds are on his ass all the
time.
 
He expects to be
followed.
 
He looks for it, as do
those around him.”

“Neither he nor his men
have been aware of us.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’d know.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I know you’re worried
about your family.
 
I get it.”

“That, and I’m sick to my
stomach over Leana.”

“Then let me help.
 
There are ways.
 
I told you, we already have a plan.”

“What’s the plan?”

Sean told him.

“That literally could
backfire in your face.”

“But it won’t.”

“It’s too risky.”

“Everything comes with a
risk.
 
I’m not going to remain in
your employ if you continue to go forward with this.
 
I will not be part of Leana Redman’s
death.
 
It’s this, or I’m out.
 
And if I’m out, I’ll take care of De
Cicco myself.
 
Same goes for Gordon
Elling.
 
I’m not going to let her
die.”

“Where is Leana now?”

“She’s here today.
 
For some reason, she didn’t come in
yesterday.
 
She directed us from
home.
 
When I picked her up this morning,
she was different with me.
 
Wary.
 
She asked me again if
her father hired one of my men.
 
And
again I lied to her, which makes
me
sick.”
 
He paused.
 
“You know I ruined her relationship with
her father, don’t you?
 
I killed
that for her.
 
He did call and hire
one of my men to watch over her.
 
I’m responsible for not coming clean with that information, but I’m not
going to be responsible for anymore of this.
 
I’m out.”

“Is Sam with her now?”

“He is.”

“Will she be safe with
him for the next couple of hours?”

“Sam is one of my best
men.
 
She’ll be fine with him.
 
Why?”

“Because I want you to
come here.
 
I need you to map out
this plan of yours for me.
 
I need
to hear in detail how it will go down, and why you think it will work.”

“I can do that.”

“I’ve let De Cicco get to
me through my daughter.
 
He rattled
me with his threats—I admit it.
 
But fuck him.
 
I agree with
you.
 
We need to collaborate on this
while I consider other avenues on my own.”

“What other avenues?”

“I have an idea I’m
working with.
 
It’s
complicated.
 
When I figure out if I
can make it happen, you’ll know.
 
Either way, we can try to kill Antonio De Cicco, and hopefully other
core members of the Family, but we need to be ready for the repercussions if we
fail.
 
I could lose everyone who
matters to me if we do, including Leana.”

“That won’t happen.”

“How can you be sure?”

“There was a time when I
was in a real war, Mr. Fondaras.”

“I know you were.
 
Afghanistan.”

“Then what you need to
know is that I’ve done this before.
 
I didn’t fail then, and I don’t intend to fail now.”

CHAPTER
SEVENTY-FOUR

James Cullen hung up the
phone from a conversation with Detective Mike Hines, and called Spocatti.

“The police are coming to
question me,” he said.

“What happened?” Spocatti
asked.

“I think Marty Spellman
went to them.
 
He obviously has his
share of suspicions.
 
The detective
who is coming here didn’t tell me why he’s coming, just that he’d like to have
a chat.
 
In their world, a chat is
an interrogation.
 
We both know what
this is about.”

“You sound calm enough.”

“I am calm, because
you’re right—nobody can pin this on me.
 
Ryan put his beneficiaries in his will,
not me.
 
He’s the one who gave them
five million each, not me.
 
He
simply made me the executor of his estate, which was a surprise since my friendship
with Louis had waned over the years.
 
Friends of mine can and will confirm that.
 
Since Louis directed me privately to
take out those people with the help of an overseas account, there is no paper
trail linking me to any of this.
 
You noted that.
 
Unless I’m
missing something here, which is why I’m calling you, I don’t think I have any reason
to be concerned.”

“Your story is
solid.
 
But when he arrives, you
need to deliver a performance.
 
He
can’t get a whiff that you might somehow be involved.”

“He won’t.
 
From me, he’ll hear that I’m afraid for
my own life, but that I haven’t reached out to anyone because I don’t know
whether I’m being monitored.
 
I’m
terrified that I might be next, which is something I shared with Spellman, who
will confirm my concerns.
 
I have no
idea what’s going on, but I can’t ignore that my own death is at hand.
 
It’s why I have security, which I do.”

“You have security?”

“Of course, I do,
Vincent.
 
They’re always with me.”

“Where?”

“It doesn’t matter
where.
 
But when anyone comes to see
me, my security team is watching.
 
Just as you watched me when Spellman had his little chat with me.
 
They’re always with me, ready to
act.
 
They’ve watched you each time
you’ve been in this building, even when you killed poor Jason.
 
One has to protect themselves,
especially when one is doing what I’m doing.”

“Do you have what happened
to Jason on tape?”

“I do.”

“I need that destroyed.”

“When the last person is
dead, I will destroy it in front of you.”

“I need it destroyed
now.”

“That’s not going to
happen, Vincent.
 
You should have
known better.
 
But I give you my
word that when you and Carmen are finished here, I will burn it in front of
you.
 
Look,” he said.
 
“The detective will be here
shortly.
 
I wanted you to know about
it.
 
I’m not worried.
 
I can throw him off—he’ll be putty
in my hands—and then we continue to move forward.
 
Are you and Carmen ready for tomorrow
night?”

“We’re ready.”

“Well, that’s good,”
Cullen said.
 
“When you take aim at
their heads, please make sure you don’t miss, or the additional funds won’t be
added to your accounts.”

“We’re not using guns,
James.
 
Given the security that will
be on hand, we’d never get inside with them.”

“Then how are you doing
this?”

“We have our ways.”

“I’m counting on
them.
 
So is Louis.
 
Talk soon,” he said.
 
“Give my regards to Carmen.
 
Now I need to have a martini and prepare
for my interrogation.
 
I need to
relax and think good thoughts.”
 

He severed the
connection.

CHAPTER
SEVENTY-FIVE

With Mario and Zack
Anderson at her side, Leana walked across the hotel lobby, which at last was
finished, and just in time.
 
Despite
a difficult past few days, her heart was full.
 
She’d done it.
 
Her investors had just left, and they
were pleased.
 
Near the end of the
tour, one asked what she had in mind for her next project.
 
She stilled her surprise, and said that
she’d be coming to them soon with an idea.
 
Though she had no idea now what that idea would be.

But I was asked
, she thought at the
time.
 
They’re interested in
other projects.
 
I’m on my way.

Tomorrow night was the
party.
 
Her eyepatch had been
removed that morning, and her vision was fully restored.
 
The first thing she saw was the
concerned look on Mario’s face, which she immediately reached out for and
pulled toward her so she could kiss him full on the lips.
 
Then she kissed her doctor on her cheek.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome,
Leana.
 
I’m happy for you.”

Now, with the
construction team gone and the room fully cleared and cleaned, her staff was
crisscrossing everywhere in front of her and behind her, busy setting up the
cavernous space with tables set for twelve.
 
An area was being reserved for the
eighteen-piece orchestra that Anastassios had rented for her as a gift, a
parquet dance floor was being installed over the restored marble floor to
protect it, and a massive bar was being set up to her right.
 

Tomorrow morning,
towering sprays of flowers would arrive and the catering company would use the
hotel’s restaurant, On the Park, to set up for service, and overnight, a
lighting crew would work to create a mood for the room that was warm, exciting
and inviting.

Michael called an hour
ago.
 
“I think you’re going to be
pleased tomorrow night.”

“Why won’t you tell me
who’s coming?”

“Because I want you to be
surprised.”

“Did I give you enough
invitations?”

“That’s one of the
reasons I’m calling.
 
I could use a
few more.”

“But I gave you a
hundred.”

“As I said, I could use a
few more.”

“How many do you need?”

“Another fifty would be
good.”

“Holy shit.
 
I’ll have them delivered to you
today.
 
I can’t thank you enough.”

“There’s no need.
 
People are in town.
 
Some are flying in.
 
Everyone is excited to come.
 
Don’t take this the wrong way, but they
know they’ll receive press there, and that’s a draw for them.”

“I couldn’t care less why
they come.
 
I just want them
here.
 
I want my hotel to get more
press than our father’s.
 
This will
do it.
 
Has everything been going
well?”

“Let’s just say I feel a
hell of a lot safer with your security guy.
 
He’s great.
 
I could hang with him.”

“No one touches my
brother.”

“Get back to work.
 
I know you’re busy.
 
I was cheated out of teasing you when we
were kids so I just wanted to tease you with the information I know you want,
but which I refuse to give.”