Authors: S. W. Frank
Alfonzo nodded, Ricardo
Dellegio
was
Nico’s
second cousin.
A man
whos
e
actions in the past proved honorable,
“Thanks
,
mi
amico
.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY
“Those little punks can’t do shit right!” Dominick fumed. He didn’t break a stride
. He took these strolls on his property often.
“
Send a cleaner to take care of it.
”
He directed his
Capo.
Boris
nodded.
They climbed the
small hill leading to the house and came to the
foot of the gate
. They
halted at the sight of Alberti and another
less congenial man
waiting
beside a rental car.
Boris’ hand traveled to his waist
.
Alberti’
s enforcer smirked, his actions were less obvious. In his pocket, his finger already rested on the trigger of a
G23.
“Don
Fiorello
, how are you?”
Alberti announced pleasantly.
Beneath Alberti’s unassuming countenance, lurked a dangerous man. Dominick had firsthand knowledge of this and
tread carefully in his speech, “Hello Signore Luca, your visit is unexpected.”
“
Yes, it is.”
Dominick continued forward, stopping a foot away from the shorter man, “What is this about?”
In the usual Alberti fashion, he commented on the landscape then gestured to the pathway, “Let’s take a stroll. I enjoy stretching these feeble legs whenever I can.”
Alberti’s old man routine brought a smile to Dominick’s face.
“Certainly.”
They walked together down the path followed by Boris and Alberti’s man. The trees were dense
here, concealing them from the eyes of any law enforcement who might be watching.
“How is business?”
“Pretty good.”
“I am glad.”
Dominick walked slowly, “Your presence at my door is for a reason,
do you
care to tell me?”
“
Oh, what a pretty flower, who tends them?”
“A landscaper, I have no time to do it myself.”
Dominick answered impatiently.
“It’s nice to surround yourself with pret
ty
flowers
but it’s best to personally tend to them
from time to time.”
“Yeah…I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.”
Alberti stopped to admire the scenery, “Is there another?”
He secretly hoped Alberti would reveal the nature of his visit and forego the artifice
. He played along, “
It’s best to leave some things in the hands of a professional.”
“Hum.”
Dominick took a seat on the pine bench, waited until Alber
ti sat then stared ahead, far beyond the small pond. This visit was an inquiry. “What have you come to say, Alberti?”
“You once handled a delicate job at my request. My gratitude was shown when your predecessor’s debts were wiped clean.”
Yes, favors. They must always be repaid.
Alberti,
had kept his word. The
families
disharmony became a melodious one, since
the
intervention. His businesses flourished, without impediment.
Old adversaries became allies. Indirectly, he had Alberti to thank for this. “And I am grateful.”
Alberti lit a cigar then blew a perfect circle of smoke in the air, “
There comes a time when niceties are se
t aside. This is that time.
There is but one courtesy, which I extend. There will be retribution for the
attempt on
Don
Dichenzo
’s
life
. We do not desire a war but sometimes such drastic measures are necessary to flush out traitors. There will be no passes given to the insurgent
.
” Alberti puffed on the cigar, “Ah, life is so precious. Cigars cannot be appreciated in death. I digress, as I was saying, No one desires war,
people die
.
A show of good-faith can prevent needless bloodshed.”
Dominick inhaled the cigar filled air. His nostrils flared, “What is this good-faith?”
“The traitor’s head within 72 hours.”
“Or?”
“Or, anarchy will not come from a
drug,
it will be a torturous reality.” Alberti stood with his cigar,
nodded to his man and they strolled casually up the path.
Boris watched until they were out of view and joined his boss, “What do you want me to do?”
“Clever old man.”
Dominick murmured.
‘He knows about the drugs and suspects me
o
f the insurgency, but he has no proof, yet.’
“Sweep up the mess,
then
we
send
the bastard a head.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The jet sat
o
n the tarmac, fueled and ready
to go once everyone arrived.
Selange settled in the
seat
,
looking anxiously out the
elliptical shaped porthole.
“
Are you sure she’s on the way, because I’m not leaving without
Allie
?”
Once they left
Dellegio
’
s
, he’d driven straight to a private hangar in Newark. He hadn’t shared his plan with Selange until now. “They’ll be here soon, babe relax.”
“You should’ve told me about this, I left
everything at the b
rownstone.”
Alfonzo secured his briefcase in an overhead compartment and occupied an opposing seat. He smiled, trying to assuage her fears, “It’s all taken care of, trust me.”
She sighed,
then
turned to face him, “Alright…but I won’t feel better until Allie’s right here with me.”
His mouth curled in a grin, “Tranquilo, you’re stressing.”
The light brown eyes softened, “
Wh
o’s
Kiki
?”
An uncomfortable
warmth fanned his face, “A cousin of an old friend.” He shifted uncomfortably, thinking about Kiki’s red lips on his. “Why?”
“Did you screw her the other night?”
“Wait,
“ he
put a hand in the air thinking out loud, “How the hell did you find out about Kiki, are you having me followed?” When her gaze faltered in guilty admission he sucked in air, “Selange, answer the goddamn question?”
“Not in the way you think, it’s…”
A light bulb moment occurred, “Who…who is it?”
She
nibbled
nervously
on her bottom lip
, “Don’t get mad.”
H
is
skull
collided with the headrest
in an effort to contain his mortification.
“Oh
,
honey what did you do?
”
“
I…was concerned.”
He pushed forward, the blue eye afire, “Tell me and quit with the innocent crap!”
The contentious tone in his voice brought her alive, “Answer my question first,
then
I’ll tell you!”
“This isn’t a game. Do you understand how seri
ous this is?”
“Who’s Kiki?”
“My friend
,
Danté’
s
cousin Kiki called to tell me
he’d been killed. I went to the hospital to confirm it then
came
home to my wife
–
no mas
. What else do you want to know, should I take a lie detector test
?
” His eyes shone brightly with hurt from her
display of
m
istrust. “
Tell me how to end this fear of yours, tell me and I’ll do it….I’ll slit my throat if that’s what you want….is that what the fuck you want?”
He reached to his waist and the
cherished Bowie
knife
emerged. It’s ivory handle gleamed and the silver steel blade
flashed brilliant sparkles as it arced in the air, colliding with the ray of sun
before coming to rest at his Adam’s Apple.
Their eyes locked. She held the power
;
he
awaited the spoken command.
The corrosive pain hidden in his soul burned through the muscles of his flesh, exposed and putrid in its ugliness.
Perhaps, she’d realize
the fragility of his heart and tread carefully upon it.
He was bluffing, of course but shock therapy often changed learned behavior, or so he read.
This was his version of shock therapy!
The tense moment held, her mouth curved upward into a smile
and she called his bluff.
“
I wonder
,
can a dying man get an erection because I
’ll be right on top of you trying to get
one last fuck before you
expire
?”
“Damn, you’re cruel.” The knife was sheathed
and he growled
.
“Next time I
might actually do it, if you imply one more time that I’m out screwing other women.”