Authors: S. W. Frank
The chuckle was more irritation than humor
.
Wax was not Nico or Vincent and they
’re the ones Alberti
needed
for
this
important
job.
“It appears Alfonzo has also had quite a bit of difficulty
,
lately
.”
This got
Nico’s
attention. His knuckles became more pronounced and his head tilted questioningly as if he hadn’t heard correctly, “What do you mean?”
“A little inner city gang problem, gnats buzzing around the elephant’s ass.”
Nico deciphered Alberti’s riddles easily,
“Was he hurt?”
“Not yet, but we cannot wait for the problem to grow bigger.
The bums who attacked Alfonzo were
lowly
drug deal
ers, who suddenly grew fat pockets.
Too many coincidences usually
are interrelated
.”
“
And where does a retired guy
like me
factor in
?”
Alberti’s mouth twisted, “Need I remind you Nico of your pledge made to
Luzo
on his deathbed?”
Nico’s
eyes were on Alberti. He
didn’t need
reminders of his vows. He noticed Wax’s hand move, but
Nico’s
hand was faster and
the
pistol
tucked in the seat was now in
Nico’s
grasp. Wax’s weapon was pointed at
Nico’s
heart,
Nico’s
gun aimed at his head.
They remained seated, locked in a deadly stalemate until Alberti smirked, “You have not lost your touch
Nico.” He gestured with his hand and Wax put away his weapon.
“You
know this America best, you are also the most skilled at what you do. Your father would be proud.”
Nico didn’t blink. His father was dead, and Nico had children
of his own
to worry about. He was only twenty when he came to the states with
Luzo
and
left to
guard
a
wayward preteen until he turned eighteen. Alfonzo was more like a younger brother
who
Nico watched grow into
a man
. He had hoped with Alfonzo’s blessings he could finally be there for his boys and guide them into manhood.
Yet, he’d taken
an oath and the penalty as Alberti sought to remind him was death. “
It is on my blood, I will protect Alfonzo long after your death
Don Palazzo
.
I
am
bound
as one until
Alfonzo
has ascended to Capo de tutti
. O
nly upon his blessing or
in death
can
I be released
.”
Those were the words he breathed
as Alberti stood witness.
Nico
could debate with Alberti
it is
Alfonzo
who
released him from the pledge but it would be a trivial thing. In the end Alberti knew Nico was a man of honor and thus would come to Alfonzo’s aid.
Nico kept
anb
eye on Wax, “How bad is this problem with Alfonzo?”
“Serious enough for me to have come to
you
!”
He paused then asked, “
Have you heard of a drug called Anarchy?”
“No.”
“
This pill was
found on
one of the
men
.
”
Nico listened,
“Okay.”
“He was
a local
from America
, Florida
.”
“
W
hat else?
”
Nico asked
and
slipped
the
gun down in the cushion.
“
I want you to go to
this place
,
then
in five days meet me in Miami
.
” He handed Nico a paper, “Th
is
is the only lead we have, an address of a pharmacy. Find out what you can, see if there is a link
between the New York
gnats
and this place.
Nico you’re
skill
ed at making people talk
.
Your father was the same.
Make them sing.”
Nico nodded, “Alright
.”
They were discussing details when t
he glass door slid open and
Nico’s
wife
Ariana
strolled in wearing a
tiny
bikini. Alberti smiled
.
Ariana
was lovely. He could understand
Nico’s
reluctance to leave. He
stood
respect
fully
, “
Buon
giorno
, signora.”
“
Buon
giorno
,
”
she grinned, “I’ve never had a man rise when I entered a room before.”
He chuckled, “You may not have noticed when they have.”
Alberti was a dirty old man, Nico concluded. He introduced the senior man first,
“
Ariana
this is Mr. Luca and
Paolo.”
He left out the alias, Wax.
She graciously shook their hands and offered them refreshments which they accepted. They were silent
when she
scurried to the kitchen and returned with ice-cold beers and placed them down
on the low table
.
“Nico can I have a word with you
, please
?”
Nico stood and they went to the patio, carefully closing the glass door. “What’s up?”
“What are they doing here?”
“Business.”
“Look dad, watch this!” His son Darren shouted then dived in the pool showing off his mastery of the backstroke.
“Looking good, son!”
“I want them gone Nico
. They’re trouble
.”
“
Ariana
, if it’s got something to do with Alfonzo, I need to hear them out.”
“Wh
o
’s more important us or a mobster
’
s son?”
The question had more than one answer, “
You guys are, but if Alfonzo’s in trouble I’m not going to turn my back on the kid.”
“He’s not a fucking kid, or your responsibility anymore, we are. Don’t forget I gave up my career to have a quiet life with you and this
i
sn’t part of the bargain.”
“
I
swore
an oath
to
his father never to let harm come to his son
as long as
I
breathe
.
”
“What about our sons?”
“They have their mother and she’s fierce.”
“But they also need a father.”
“
They got me, besides
I won’t be gone indefinitely. I just want to make sure Alfonzo’s okay. I love you and the boys more than the world
,
you
know that but
I
gotta
do this
.”
She turned to peer at the silhouettes seated in
side
her
home then back to her husband; she had to let him go.
She crossed her arms, “
Oh
,
dammit
.”
“
Look I’ll be back
.
”
“
Promise
you
’re not going to be gone more than a week?”
“I can’t promise that but I promise I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
His sons were climbing out of the pool, their pubescent bodies developing into maturity. They were g
etting taller, a trait from their father. The boys were laughing, snapping each other’s butt with wet towels.
Darren ran over,
“Hey dad,
can we go fishing tomorrow?”
His wife turned away, leaving
Nico
on his own, “I’m going on a business trip but when I get
home it’s
the first thing we’ll do.”
Aaron slapped
Darren’s leg with the twisted towel and it made a loud cracking sound. Aaron rubbed his leg as he exclaimed, “
Ouch that
hurt stupid!”
Then chased his brother around the pool.
Ariana
shook her head, “See why
you’re
need
ed
, here
?”
He smirked, bent ov
er and kissed her then said, “I
’ll be
back soon.
”
“You better
, I’m serious Nico
.”