Chapter Twenty-Two
“If you wanted to see me,” Antonio complained as he entered my trailer on set, “you didn’t need to send the goons to drag me here.”
It was early evening and the movie set was almost a complete ghost town.
“I wanted to make sure you got here safely,” Sonny sarcastically responded.
“Sonny.” Antonio sounded surprised, his tone not as sharp. “They told me Elizabeth wanted to see me. I didn’t realize you would be here too.”
Tony and Vince didn’t answer, they simply stood, expressionless, on either side of the door with their hands folded in front of them.
Billy and I sat on the couch, Sonny and Benny sat on chairs, and we all faced Antonio, who stood in front of the blocked door.
“Antonio, we need your assistance,” Billy began. “We need you to set up a meeting with Elena and Cal for us.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Did that sound like a request?” I fiercely asked. “He wasn’t asking.”
“Why should I help you?” Antonio immediately changed his question.
“If you don’t,” Billy answered back bitterly, “my friends here will start breaking each one of your fingers until you agree to help us.”
“Violence, nice.” Antonio turned to me. “I thought you were an advocate against violence, and yet strangely enough, you hang out with this crew.”
“I’m not the one that’s going to be breaking your fingers,” I retorted matter-of-fact.
“Enough,” Sonny cut in. “Are you going to make the call? Or is Tony here going to start cracking some bones?”
“You guys are serious?” Antonio asked, his voice cracking. “You handcuff me to a chair in a hotel room when I’m not on set, you take my phone away from me, and now you’re threatening to break my bones if I don’t set up a meeting?”
“That’s correct, and I’m done waiting for an answer.” Sonny nodded to Tony.
Tony casually took hold of Antonio’s right hand and began to bend his fingers backwards as Antonio’s face wrinkled into a pained expression.
“Jesus, Tony,” I complained from where I sat. “You’re going to break his wrist that way, not his fingers.”
Antonio shot me a surprised look as Tony shrugged his shoulders and began twisting one of Antonio’s fingers.
“Okay, Okay,” Antonio yelled before any damage could be done. “I’ll help you.”
“Good.” Billy sounded pleased as Tony backed off. “This is what you’re going to do, you’re going to call Elena, wherever she and Cal are, and you’re going to tell her that you need to meet with her at her studio office in Los Angeles.”
“She will never go there,” Antonio protested. “She thinks you have it staked out.”
“She’s not wrong,” Benny added.
“You’re going to tell her,” Billy continued, “that we have the security cameras and guards compromised and she has to meet you on Sunday when there will be minimal people around. Tell her if she is smart, she will turn off the alarm and camera systems and give the security team the day off.”
“She won’t go for it,” Antonio complained.
“She will,” Sonny chimed in, “when you tell her that someone on her security team is an informant for us. You will say that you desperately need to meet with her because you have overheard that we are getting very close to finding out where she and Cal are hiding.”
Antonio was silent. He seemed to be contemplating what to do.
“What if she doesn’t agree? What do I say then?” he asked.
“We will worry about that if it happens,” Billy answered him.
Sonny threw Antonio’s cell phone at Antonio. “Make the call.”
“Now?” Antonio asked incredulously.
“Now,” Sonny demanded. When Sonny said to do something you did it.
Antonio picked up the cell and began dialing. He made no reservations about knowing where to locate the missing duo.
“Elena, it’s me,” he said into the phone. “No, listen we need to meet. Yes, they’re on to us.” He paused, listening to the other side of the conversation. “Meet me at your office in L.A. on Sunday.” Antonio then went on to repeat what Billy said to her that the Micheletti crew had her security team at the studio infiltrated with their own men.
“I don’t want anyone to know we are there so make sure security is not there and all alarms and cameras are off,” Antonio continued while the rest of us waited patiently, listening.
Elena seemed to protest, but he expertly convinced her to meet him in L.A in three days. She then seemed to have asked about what was happening on the movie set, presumably about Billy and me, because Antonio suddenly turned and stared at us.
“I’ll tell you all about it on Sunday,” he coolly told her. “What time?” Antonio turned in panic and gave Sonny a questioning look. Sonny motioned with his hands.
“Ten o’clock in the morning,” Antonio relayed to Elena. “Okay, see you then.” He clicked off the phone.
“Good job.” Sonny stood, removed the phone from Antonio’s hands, and powered it down once again. “Did she have any suspicions?”
“None,” Antonio replied, looking defeated.
“Perfect.” Billy clapped his hands together. “Thank you for your help, we will take it from here.”
Tony and Vince each grabbed Antonio by an arm and began to lead him out of the trailer.
“Come on,” Antonio protested. “You can’t keep me handcuffed in that room.”
“Why not?” Sonny asked. “It’s a beautiful room, much nicer than that shithole hotel you were staying in before.”
“Sonny.” I spoke up, feeling bad for Antonio. “How is he supposed to go to the bathroom or sleep?”
“There’s a chain long enough for him to get around and Tony or Vince are there in case he needs help or gets stuck.” Sonny was matter-of-fact in the explaining of his forcible confinement.
I gave Sonny a stern look.
“Hey,” Sonny continued. “Could be worse, he could be stuck in a coffin.”
“I’m okay where I am,” Antonio quickly piped in. “The room is very nice. I’m good with my current accommodations.” Obviously, he didn’t prefer the alternative.
“Good,” Sonny spoke. “I don’t want to hear any more complaining about it. Have a good night.” He then dismissed them and the two body guards walked Antonio out.
“Now,” Sonny turned to Billy and me, once they had left. “We need to figure out a plan for Sunday’s meeting.”
“What are you thinking we should do?” Billy asked.
“I’m thinking,” Sonny replied, coldly. “They may not survive the meeting since I’m not sure I’ll be able to control my anger once I see them.”
“I completely agree with you,” I echoed.