The Mafia Trilogy (44 page)

“I’m so sorry, baby. I had to. You’ll wake to a splitting headache and be mad at me, but we’re married. You have to forgive me. I’m your husband. To save your life, I can do no wrong, right?”

“Right,” Rosina mumbled. Her eyes fluttered. “You are an … asshole sometimes. But I love you, Darwin.”

Chapter 16

Darwin reclined in the office chair of Carson Dodge’s plush office. It had been a week since Gambino’s death. Darwin had spent the first few days of that week giving long, drawn-out statements to the FBI. He talked of the events that occurred and that ultimately led up to Gambino’s death. Whenever he could, or when they’d let him out, he went to the hospital to visit with Greg and his wife.

Rudy Earlton had escaped. Carson had gone into Gambino’s house, called for backup and searched the premises as best he could, but Rudy had disappeared. A SWAT team had been dispatched. For the next twelve hours, they extensively searched every square foot of the Gambino property and surrounding area without turning up anything. On the second day, work crews began digging up graves at the funeral home across from the Gambino residence to begin the arduous task of identifying the bodies. Darwin heard the expected count of over one hundred unmarked graves would be a low estimate.

Two days ago, Rosina had been taken to stay with Greg in a secret location that only Greg and Carson knew about.

It had been seven full days and Darwin was eager to stop coming to the federal building and get back to his wife. His wounds healed fast, the bump on his forehead only a small, purple bruise now.

He still couldn’t believe how he had gotten out of Gambino’s clutches. There was a point when he had no doubt that they would be dead for sure, but somehow, bullshitting Gambino for all of three minutes had worked. Darwin’s reputation had won Gambino over, along with a certain amount of luck.

Carson entered the office, followed by two other men.

“Darwin, I want you to meet Special Agent Mike Keans and Special Agent Victor Ivanovich.”

Darwin stood and shook their hands without saying a word. He took his seat and waited to find out why Carson had brought people to meet him.

Both men were dressed in suits and clean shaven. They looked so good, they could easily have passed as two guys on their way to a wedding. Mike and Victor took a seat on the small sofa to the right of Carson’s desk.

“I asked these men to join us before you leave today. They have information that I think you should hear.”

“What could they possibly have to tell me?” Darwin asked. “Wait. Do I want to hear it?”

“You
need
to hear it. It involves you and Rosina.”

“I gave you everything in the statements. I just want my life back. It’s finally over.”

Carson raised his eyebrows and looked at his colleagues.

“It is over, right?” Darwin asked.

“I’ll let them tell you everything.” Carson laced his hands together behind his head and leaned back in his office chair, placing his feet on the corner of the desk.

They had no charges on Darwin that would hold up in court. Proof was already coming out that Bob Freska was on Gambino’s payroll as well as the two agents, Nick Johnson and Lee Michaels, who had come to the safe house and killed the other three agents guarding Darwin and his wife. Darwin had killed Nick and Lee in self-defense. Other than the theft at the gas station, which under the circumstances the local police had chosen to ignore, Darwin and Rosina were cleared of all wrongdoing. Greg thanked Darwin for saving his life by shooting him in the head. Rosina punched Darwin in the arm half a dozen times for scaring her, but then held him so tight it hurt more than the punch.

It was time to leave federal custody and that was exactly what he wanted to do. He did not want to talk or hear anything anyone else had to say.

It was over.

“Darwin,” Victor said, “I’m the local Russian Mafia expert. A large part of the information coming and going that deals with the Red Mafia channels through me.”

“What’s that got to do with me?” Darwin asked. “Gambino was Italian.”

“New information has come to light.”

“I’ll ask a different way,” Darwin said. “Why are you telling me?” He looked at Carson and got no support.

“Because your name has come up.”

The room grew silent. His stomach dropped and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead and upper lip.

Oh no, not again. Please tell me this nightmare is over.

“I’m listening.”

“Recently we found out that Gambino was moving his interests into arms dealing. The tank and his private planes were converted to war machines with specific modifications. He stored munitions in the back of that warehouse where you found the tank. The kind of stockpiles he had would shame a small country.”

“But he’s dead. That’s all over. I’m not an agent or anything
special
like that, so I’ll ask one more time, why tell me? Isn’t this classified or something?”

“Bear with me.” Victor opened a file that lay on the coffee table in front of him. “Do you recognize this man?” He handed Darwin a black and white five-by-seven photo.

The picture was taken in the street of a busy downtown area like New York or Toronto. The man had stepped from a limousine and turned to the camera. Darwin stared at the face and drew a blank.

“Should I recognize him?” Darwin asked.

“No, but he knows you.”

“And why does that matter? I’m sure my name has traveled the circles of mobsters after what happened in Toronto. Who is this guy?” Darwin asked, handing the photo back.

“This is Arkady Andropov, also known as AA.”

“I know what AKA stands for.”

Victor looked at Carson and then back to Darwin. “What?” he asked.

“You said, ‘also known as.’ I’m just telling you that I know what AKA stands for. You can use your special-agent talk if you want to. I read books and I write thrillers.”

Victor tried to smile. “Okay … um, Arkady has been seen in Jacksonville as recently as three days ago.”

“For fear of sounding retarded and repeating myself several times, what does this have to do with me?” Darwin asked.

“Arkady Andropov is reputed to be the boss of the Russian Bratva in Toronto.”

“What’s Bratva?” Darwin asked.

“It’s Russian, meaning brotherhood.”

Darwin looked at Carson who shrugged and put on a dumb smile.

“Is this special-agent talk that I don’t understand? Okay, egg’s on my face. Tell me what you have to. Let’s get on with this so I can leave.”

“As far as we can tell, Arkady runs the most dangerous Mafia in the world this side of Russia and he does it in Toronto.”

“What do you mean, ’As far as you can tell’?” Darwin asked, crossing his legs to keep them from bouncing. “And who says the Bratva is the most dangerous Mafia in the world? I’ve met the Harvester of Sorrow. I’d say he was pretty dangerous.”

“The U.S. State Department has declared the Red Mafia the most dangerous mobsters in the world. They aren’t like La Cosa Nostra.”

Darwin uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, balancing himself over his knees. “Are we going to keep up the question and answer games or will you guys speak English soon?”

Victor looked at Carson with a blank expression.

This guy seems pretty fucking dumb to be a special anything.

“La Cosa Nostra is just another word for the Italian Mafia,” Carson said. “Gambino and Fuccini were both bosses in La Cosa Nostra.”

“I’m done. I’m walking away. Rosina and I are going to where no one will ever find us. You guys aren’t making sense with your Mafia 101 course.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Mike said. “You can’t leave.”

Darwin looked at the man who had remained quiet so far.

“I’m afraid to ask, but why is that? Why can’t I leave?”

“Because you will be murdered within forty-eight hours if you leave this building.”

“Bullshit.” Darwin looked at Carson who didn’t offer any support. Darwin stood and walked to the office door. No one tried to stop him. “So you’re saying, if I walk out this door and go to my wife, someone will kill me?”

Mike nodded. “It has already been ordered if you don’t do what Arkady is asking of you.”

Darwin grew suspicious. “And you know what Arkady wants with me? Wait, aren’t you the FBI? Can’t you protect us?”

Mike nodded. “We know what he wants.” Then he nodded again.

Holy fuck … bobble-head bastard.

Darwin put his hand on the doorknob. “Do you know how many cops and FBI agents are on the Mafia payroll? Well, I’ve met a few and the fact that you know what a leader in the Russian mob wants with me makes me feel like I can’t trust you.”

He turned the knob and opened the door. No one waited on the other side to stop him.

“Darwin,” Carson said, “Mike Keans has been with the Bureau for twenty-six years. He’s our resident expert on the Russian Mafia after working deep cover for eight of those twenty-six years. He has seen things that would make an average man kill himself to rid the images. Mike is one of the most dedicated soldiers the FBI has. There’s not many men like him.” Carson dropped his feet from the corner of his desk and pulled his chair in. “He has informants all over the country. When he says your name is floating around and there’s been a hit put out on your head, I’d listen to him.”

What he thought was the end of the nightmare was just the beginning. As upset as he was to learn about the hit on his head, it also pissed him off.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do to get these maggots off my shit?”

Carson gestured at the chair Darwin had vacated. “Please, shut the door and come sit. We have an opportunity to help you end this once and for all. Hear us out.”

Darwin pondered his options but knew he had no choice. He closed the door and walked back to the chair, feeling defeated. “I hope what you have to say cheers me up because my life just got gloomier.”

Victor opened another file and pulled out a newspaper folded in half. He flopped it down on the table in front of Darwin.

“Read the headlines. Don’t lose control. Only the people in this room and Greg Stinsen knows what it says. The paper will be released later today.”

Darwin picked up the paper, flipped it open to the front page and almost vomited. His stomach clenched and he bent over like he’d gotten kicked in the abdomen.

The paper had a picture of Rosina from her high school graduation on the front page. Beside the picture was the article on the Gambino house shootings from seven days ago. The report said the shootings claimed another victim. Rosina Kostas (nee Capote) died in the hospital due to the fatal bullet wound caused when her husband, Darwin Kostas, shot her.

Below that, Greg Stinsen was featured as a valued officer with the FBI, also dead by Darwin’s hand. At the time the article was written, Darwin Kostas was still at large in the Jacksonville area. He may be armed and dangerous. Do not approach if you see him. There was an 800 number for people to call and his high school graduation photo featured by the number.

“What is this?” he asked, his teeth clenched. “I left my wife’s side this morning. She’s fine. They were rubber bullets. Carson, you were there. Why is this paper reporting lies?”

“We did it.”

Darwin tossed the paper back at Victor. It fluttered and landed on the floor by the man’s feet. “Why would you guys do that?”

“To save your life.”

“What are you talking about? Details—I need more of those things.”

Mike motioned with his hands for Victor and Carson to stay quiet. He looked at Darwin and said, “We are on the cusp of the biggest Mafia war we’ve ever seen on our soil. Scratch that … the biggest Mafia war the world has ever seen, and you’re at the center of the storm.”

Darwin sat back, his eyes wide. He was sure his face was white. Pins and needles tickled his hands as the blood rushed to his major organs, adrenaline pumped into his stomach, and the first signs of shock settled in on his system. He remained speechless.

“The Russian Mafia are muscling in on Toronto. There are seven known crime families in Toronto, three of which have been disbanded or killed off. You know of the Fuccinis, which was the strongest family. The other four left are scrambling for territory.” He paused and stood. “Darwin, can I get you some water? You don’t look so good.”

Darwin nodded. “Yeah.”

Carson got up and walked out the door. They waited. Mike looked out the office window while Victor rummaged through the manilla folders he had with him.

Carson came back in with two bottles of Evian and handed one to Darwin, the other to Mike. After Darwin had a few sips, Mike raised his eyebrows. “We good?”

“Yeah, go on.”