Free Ultimate Betrayal by Joseph Badal

than anything: A deep, “old country” brand of retribution. His father, Peter, understood and so did Gino Bartolucci. The two warhorses lent him silent support as they stood on either side of him at the burial service.
    His father had essentially tolerated him since his brother Tommy was killed. The old man never said so, but David always felt his father blamed him for Tommy’s death. That presumed blame had weighed on David for over twenty years. It wasn’t until he had married and Heather and Kyle were born that he and his father had reconciled—sort of.
    At sixty, Peter Hood stood ramrod-straight, lean as an athlete. A lifetime in construction had hardened his body and toughened an already steely temperament. He was a silent, reassuring presence. Something icy in his dark eyes discouraged any of Carmela’s family members from even attempting conversation. He spoke only to his son.
    After the service, he put his hands on David’s shoulders and said, “I’m with you.” While he continued to stare at David with tear-filled eyes, he added, “We need to find out who took my babies.”
    David had seen his father so emotionally distraught twice before: when Tommy died and when David’s mother died. But now there was anger in his father’s voice and David needed his father’s anger more than any other emotion.
     
     
    Gino Bartolucci and his wife, Rosa, hugged David after the service and then Gino pulled Peter aside.
    “Peter, I know you never liked it when David worked for me. And you were upset about him marrying into my family. But I love your son like my own. He’ll need both of us now. You think maybe we can put our differences aside and work together to help him?”
    “Gino, I’ve always believed in doing things the right way, the law-abiding way. When you took the mob route, we became strangers to one another. But I never had a problem with David marrying Carmela. I loved her like she was my own child. And I’ve always appreciated your affection for David.” He paused. “But maybe you were right and I was wrong. What has a lifetime of respect for law and order brought me? A son murdered years ago by street punks, and now the loss of a daughter-in-law I truly loved and the grandchildren who owned my heart.” Peter put a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder and nodded. “Call me when you’re ready.”
     
     
    The Bartoluccis left the cemetery in a limousine with two bodyguards. Gino had not spoken one word to anyone other than Peter and David at or after the service. While Rosa quietly wept and fingered her rosary, Gino stared at the monotonous scenery they sped through without seeing a thing. He focused on one thought: Had one of his enemies killed Carmela, Heather, and Kyle? Payback against him for something he’d done in the past? He couldn’t get the thought out of his mind. Had he been responsible for the bombing?
     
     
    David drove with Peter from the cemetery in the armored black Lincoln Towncar Warren Masters had delivered to him at the Corona Motel. The vehicle was equipped with bulletproof glass, body armor, and mechanical systems upgraded for rapid evasion maneuvers. It had a small metal locker installed on the floor within easy reach for the driver. The locker held three fully loaded and licensed weapons: an Uzi machine gun, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, and a Colt .45 pistol.
     
     
    Montrose Toney had polished off a 32-ounce Big Gulp while he watched David Hood bury his family. He had a perfect view from the front seat of the stolen Camaro, parked on a hill that overlooked the cemetery. He noticed when Hood and an older man left the cemetery in a black sedan. He started the Chevy, smiled, and said, “Come to Papa, baby. Come to Papa.”
    From three vehicles back, Toney watched the Lincoln as it wound its way through city streets. He had no idea where Hood was headed, but he was a patient man and knew his opportunity would present itself sooner or later. The Lincoln pulled onto the I-95