Back at Andersonville, everybody sat quietly around the table. This was waiting time. Ashley and Donald were in the back, playing around with Bonita and keeping her away from any unpleasant conversations, while Tony and Robert sat at the table with their parents, and Mick.
“How long are we going to have to stay out here in these boonies before I can get back on the campaign trail?” Robert asked. “I had to cancel all of my guest appearances. That makes me look like somebody who doesn’t have his act together.”
“Your parents’ home was firebombed, Bobby,” Tony said. “I think your constituents will understand.”
“You don’t know Jericho,” Robert said, “if you think that.” Then he exhaled. “But it’s not over, is it Dad?” he asked. “I can see it on your faces.”
“You had to look at their faces to see that?” Tony asked. “How about looking at the security around this place? There are guards literally everywhere. And a helicopter hovering above the place, too?”
Robert smiled and shook his head. He couldn’t believe it, either.
“A helicopter!” Tony said again.
“I said damn when I saw it too,” Robert said. “Uncle Mick don’t be playing!”
“His guards don’t either,” Tony said. “I thought I could go outside and get me some fresh air, you know? Maybe give Sharon a call. Well forget about that. They told me I had to go right back inside.”
“They told you? You’re a grown-ass man,” Robert said.
“That’s right,” Tony agreed. “So I questioned his authority to tell me anything. I said go back inside? Says who? Then the guard says, ‘says Mick Sinatra.’ Enough said. I went back inside.”
Robert laughed. Jenay did too. But Mick and Charles knew what they had done back in Boston. They knew what their actions meant. They didn’t crack so much as a smirk.
And when a cellphone rang, even Mick flinched. It astounded Jenay. What happened in Boston, she wondered.
But it was Charles’s phone that was ringing. Brazzano wouldn’t be calling Charles. Mick relaxed again.
And Charles looked at the Caller ID, and answered the call. “Hey, Brent,” he said.
“Put it on Speaker,” Jenay said.
Charles placed the call on Speaker. “How’s Makayla?” he asked.
“Better. Much better. Say hey, babe,” Brent said to his wife.
“Hey, Big Daddy,” Makayla said, and everybody smiled.
“You sound really strong, Kayla,” Charles said. “Brent said you weren’t feeling so great last night. You’re feeling better?”
“Yes, much. Completely so.”
“We’re so happy to hear it,” Jenay said. “How long did the doctor say you’ll need to stay there?”
“Just a few more days,” Makayla said. “They just want to make sure I heal properly, I guess. But I can’t wait.”
“And you just started that new job. I hope your employer understands.”
“He’d better,” Makayla said, “or I’ll sic Brent on him.”
Brent laughed. Jenay and Charles looked at each other. It was a long time since Brent cut loose like that. They loved it.
“Junior still at the hospital?” Charles asked.
“Oh, yes,” Makayla said. “Brent won’t let him out of our sight. He allowed Junior to have a play date with Bonita, but that was as far as he was willing to go. He says we stay together as a family unit. And with the number of guards Uncle Mick has surrounding our room, it’s enough to keep us feeling very secure.”
“He’s got an army here too,” Robert said. “And a fucking helicopter.”
“A helicopter?” Makayla asked. “Dang!”
“What about Uncle Angelo, Pop?” Brent asked. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s devastated,” Charles said, “as you can imagine. But he left already.”
“He left?”
“His men came from L.A. and picked him up.”
“By men,” Brent asked, “you mean Mafia men?”
“His men,” was all Charles would say about it.
“What about you guys?” Makayla asked. “How are you holding up?”
“Barely,” Robert said.
“Little more than barely,” Tony said, “but barely.”
“We’re fine,” Jenay said. “Don’t mind them. They have cabin fever already.”
“That’s my brothers,” Brent said with a chuckle. “They wouldn’t last a week in a jungle.”
“Neither would your ass!” Robert fired back, and they all laughed.
But when Mick’s cellphone began ringing, it was no longer a laughing matter.
“Let me call you back,” Charles said, and quickly ended the call.
Mick looked at his Caller ID. When he saw that it was Brazzano’s private number, he answered. “Hello, Pete.”
There was a pause. “I got your message,” he said.
“That’s why it was left,” Mick said.
“There were easier ways to get my attention.”
“There were easier ways to get mine, too,” Mick shot back.
There was another pause. “I’m in Jericho,” Brazzano said. “All the way from Jersey. Just to see you.”
Charles looked at Mick. Brazzano already in town?
“Where in Jericho?” Mick asked.
“I am parked in front of what remains of your brother’s estate. Bring me in, so that we can talk.”
Everybody looked at Mick. It sounded dangerous to them, but he was the one who knew the man. It was his call.
“Wait there,” Mick said, and ended the call.
Everybody knew the gravity of what that phone call meant. Although Tony and Robert had no idea who the person was on the other end, they were certain he was Mafia like Uncle Mick. But was he the enemy?
It was Jenay who voiced their concerns. “Is it wise, though,” she said to Charles and Mick, “to let him come here? To Andersonville?”
“If he wanted to kill us,” Mick said, rising to his feet, “he would not have phoned.”
And then Mick headed outside, to instruct his men.
And less than an hour later, Peetie Brazzano, a man ranked third on the top ten list of ruthless mobsters, a list headed by Mick, walked through their front door.