Chapter Fifty One
Camilla POV
"Do you?" I ask. "Know what you're doing, I mean."
"Yes. I will have a lot of men with me. They are already on a flight from Vegas. They land in Chicago tonight. I will have a small army with me."
"I have men there now," Nicholas says. "I can send them to you once you arrive."
"That's a great idea," Michael says. "They probably have eyes on the Cain's anyway."
"They do," Nicholas says. "And they have one of his men." I look up at Nicholas, about to ask a question and then think better of it. I don't really want to know, even though it nags at my mind.
"Okay, so we agree." This time it's Nonna who speaks. She sounds confident, like a woman who is used to having control of situations. I envy her for that, even though I know it came at a very steep price.
"We are," Nicholas replies. "I think we should make our preparations but don't make it too obvious. You have someone who can close up your house here, secure it?"
"I do. But I can do a lot of it before we leave. Enzo will help and all your men can help as well," Nonna says. "We have to bolt gates and doors on outbuildings need locked up tight. I need to make sure my security cameras can't have the power cut to them. I have a man who can come tend to the gardens and the lawn and check on things. He's loyal."
"Old man Crowder?" I ask. I can remember the man who used to come help my Nonna with the yard. He was older, never smiled, looked like he'd lived a rough life. He was always respectful, but I felt like he could see my soul.
Nonna laughs. "He's not that old. He was our gardener back in Chicago. He's very good with a gun if need be." Then I understood. He was more than our gardener, and I never paid any attention. So many truths coming out that it's unnerving.
"You should pack," Michael says, squeezing my shoulder.
"There are things at my apartment in New York that I need," I say.
"I can take you," Nicholas offers. "After we land in New York, I will need to make sure it's secure and then we can go get whatever you need."
"Okay. What about Natalia?"
The room goes quiet. "Please tell me you have made arrangements for her to return to our apartment, where she can go on with her life?" I can feel the heat rising in my face along with my anger.
"I will take care of it," Nicholas says. "We can give her a bodyguard if you want."
I narrow my eyes at him, "I thought she was dating your accountant? Is that what you mean?"
"No," he shakes his head. "He doesn't count, actually. In addition to him spending time with her and in addition to the fact that he lives in the apartment below you, I will send others if need be. She will be taken care of."
"And if she doesn't want your people spying on her every move?" I ask.
"We aren't spying for Christ's sake!" Nicholas's voice is rising. "We'd be keeping her safe, just as you asked."
"You don't use the Lord's name in vain," Nonna hisses at Nicholas.
Nicholas looks startled, as he swings his gaze to Nonna. Then he looks embarrassed and then he laughs. "You're fucking kidding me?"
"I am not," Nonna says emphatically. "Curse all you want, but do not use the Lord's name or any variation of it, in any negative connotation." I watch as she stares at him, several seconds ticking by. "Clear?"
Nicholas shakes his head in disbelief, "Yes ma'am, clear." It's almost comical, this entire exchange, a mafia boss brought to heel by my grandmother.
"Call her, your friend," Nonna tells me. "Do it now so we can get this settled." I nod in response and turn to get my cell phone, which I had left upstairs.
A few moments later, I return. The room is quiet again, but with everyone working to make arrangements. Nicholas is on the phone and Michael has stepped outside to use his phone as well. Nonna is making some notes on a notepad, and as I look over her shoulder, I see that it is for Mr. Crowder. Instructions of some sort but written in vague terms. I assume she's trying to make sure that if anyone came across these notes, they would think it was nothing. I walk over and take the seat next to Nicholas. He glances my way but continues to speak to someone in rapid Italian. He completes his call and sets his phone on the table.
"The plane will be at the airport by seven in the morning to pick us up. That was my pilot, he will take care of the rest. Now let's call your friend."
A quick call with Natalia made her upset that she needed to be watched, but also grateful that she could go home and get on with her life. I apologized to no end, but she just kept saying it wasn't my fault, and our friendship was more important. Nicholas arranged for her to fly back to New York in two days so that we could see each other and talk before I went to Italy.
Once our arrangements were put in motion, I spent the rest of the day packing and helping Nonna to get her things ready as well. She was going to fly to New York with us, but the plan was for her to immediately go to Italy, and I would meet her there with Nicholas a few days afterward. It seemed that this arrangement left things less inconspicuous and allowed Nicholas to take care of some pressing matters in New York as well.
The day flew by and before I knew it, it was dinner and then it was time to try and get some sleep. We had to get up early to make the drive to the airport, which was a good hour or two away. We had some flexibility because it was Nick's plane taking us out and not a commercial flight, but he didn't want his plane sitting on the tarmac for too long. It would draw attention if Thomas Cain and his men were watching the airport at all.
Nonna sent me up to bed and she trailed behind me, rattling off a million things to me as she did so. Finally, I stopped her. "Nonna, I'm a grown woman. I have everything in order, I promise. I am packed, I have my passport, and I am ready to go."
"Okay, Okay. I'm just worried. Excited to take you to Italy, finally as well. Your cousins will be so excited." She clapped her hands together and then kissed my cheek. "Buona notte."
"Good night." I pulled my door closed with a sigh. I hoped this was the right thing to do, but everyone seemed to think so and I couldn't argue anything differently. I climbed into my bed and turned out the lamp. Sleep found me quickly.