Authors: S. W. Frank
He rolled his neck, trying to release the tension. Every muscle in his body
felt tight and his pectorals jumped in rapid succession.
Alfonzo clenched his fists, fighting his thoughts and losing.
Shit, he thought, I have to do this!
S
uddenly
Selange
reappeared
to
give him a piece of her mind, “You know Alfonzo I don’t care if you’re pissed off at the world, don’t start taking it out on me, I’m not your enemy, remember that!”
He got up from the couch, took his wife in his arms and asked forgiveness. She stroked the back of his head, “Tell me what’s going on,
let
me in.”
“I can’t,” he said, “the less you know the better.”
She pulled back to look into his eyes. Reading him and finding the truth in the
tropical blues
, “
You
’ve
tried hard sweetie, I know
you have.
I love you
for it,
because you did it for
us
.
Don’t struggle anymore,
w
e have one life
and
we can’t live with one foot in and the other out. Look what’s happening,” she squeezed his hands bravely, “
if we step in,
we step in together.
”
His head drooped under the weight of her words, “Babe,
you and the kids are all I care about
…
”
There were no tears, no weakness in
the
feline eyes when she spoke, “You have to care about yourself, too. Do
what you have to so we can stay a family
. I
’d rather live as a mobster’s wife than mourn
my
honest
husband
.”
He sucked in air, “There’s no turning back
for me
this time
. Once I get involved with these guys
,
they’re not going to let me out alive,
me siento
?”
“
Yes, but truthfully
hun
y
ou were never out
, only in denial.”
“Maybe, you’re right.”
“You know I am. So, are you going to stay in denial or accept who you are?”
Alfonzo
straightened, the weight dissolved, “Okay…
” his eyes smiled with love, “
I
’m going
out,
you want to
take a
spin
with me
?”
“Sure,
let me tell Anita we’re
leaving
.
”
“
Do that
.”
She rushed upstairs
and h
e glanced at the briefcase against the wall. He planned to do this alone, having her beside him
,
made
it e
asier. He
walked to the win
dow
,
shoved his hands in
his
pockets
gritting his teeth
.
Alberti was
right;
a man
may have a thousand suits but
gravitated to the
one
which
fit him best.
The police cruiser followed
Alfonzo’s Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
. Once they reached the New Jer
sey state line the cruiser f
aded from view. Alfonzo stayed with the flow of traffic, not making any sudden maneuvers to draw attention
from State
Troopers
then
continued South on I-
95 to
the Garden State Parkway. An hour later, the Mercedes drove into an empty parking space outside
D
ellegio’s
Restaurant
. He emerged from the car,
took the briefcase off the backseat and
waited for his wife
. He
clasped her hand and escorted her
in
side
the
ornate lobby.
T
he lights
in the main room
were dim,
its decorative
fixtures sparkling from a recent polish. The blonde hostess stepped from behind the four foot wood stand
, more like a podium,
clutching laminated menus to her bosom.
“Hello
. W
elcome to
D
ellegio’s
.”
Alfonzo scoured the lobby, “
Private dining room please for
the Palazzo
family.”
Selange’s face remained impassive as the woman nodded, escorted them away from the filled dining hall down a corridor to a cozy
room. The dining arrangements were finer here, even the décor were top quality. Once they were seated, the hostess placed menus on the table then hurried to fetch her boss.
Minutes later, a stout man appeared
, his girth filling the width
of the doorway. On his heels were five severe looking
men, their granite expressions falling on the young man
and
his female
companion.
The door closed and
Dellegio
approached.
A
man
blocked the exit with his
body;
the others t
ook
positions
on
each
side of
the couple, hands clasped in front of them
.
Their actions may have intimidated others, however to
Alfonzo,
it was merely a
prudent safety
precaution
. He took no offense.
“This is a surprise, young
Palazzo.” He turned toward Selange, “and you bring
your lovely wife
.”
Alfonzo did not introduce
Selange by
name,
instead
he spoke
bluntly
and got
Dellegio’s
attention. “I’m calling in a favor.”
The large man took a seat at the table, “Got anything to do with your appearance on prime time?”
“You can say that.”
“Humph, figured.
F
avors come with a price.”
Alfonzo eyed the man, “Heard you’re
scouting
d
owntown for
a location for
another restaurant.”
“Yeah,” he leaned back, his attention piqued, “you heard right. I’m not keen on the leasing prices, highway robbery you know what I mean?”
“Parting the rich from their money requires more than good food. You have to sell them an illusion,
provide an ambience that reminds them of their posh Fifth Avenue
l
ofts. Tribeca,
is
a
n ideal
location for
an upscale place like
Dellegio’s
, what do you think?”
The man grinned, “I’m listening.”
Alfonzo
lifted the briefcase from the floor, sat it on his lap and snapped it open. The guard moved in on him but soon relaxed when he noticed the contents. Alfonzo removed a document, signed it and slid it across the table, “Prime real estate in Tribeca, worth two and a half million.
Perfect for a nice restaurant like yours.”
The large man’s eyes skimmed the document. It was a legal transfer of property. The young man got his interest. “What do you need?”
Another item was placed on the table, a cell phone, “There’s an address stored in contacts. I need someone to pay the addressee a visit. I need a full confession.”
“
About?”
Alfonzo leaned over the briefcase, “Who’s putting my ass on the stove.”
He thought the kid was out the business, for good. This favor was
not
the request of a man
in retirement. No, this was Alfonzo’s reemergence into society.
He
smirked
. H
e
always
liked the young Palazzo, he
definitely
had balls
. “
All right,
when do you need it
?”
“Tonight.”
“How do I reach you?”
He tapped the cellular,
“
The number’s programmed in
, just hit number
one and talk to me.”
“Okay.”
Alfonzo
snapped the suitcase shut, placed it on the floor and
lifted the menu,
“Have you met my wife?” He asked once their business was over.
“
Haven’t had the pleasure
.”
“Ricardo this is my wife Selange.”
He lifted her hand in his chubby palms, “Pleasure, Selange.”
“Same.”
“We’re starved, what
’s
you
r
recommend
ation
?”
Del
l
eggio
laughed
heartily
, “
I’m glad you’ve come to eat
, as well
.
Everything’s excellent but for you and the lovely lady, I’ll have the chef whip up something
extra
special.” He
stood, tapped Alfonzo on the shoulder
and added, “
It’s nice to have you back with the family Don Alfonzo
.”