A meeting with the Don
1370 Words
*Adriano*
I push the door to the private back room in the small restaurant partially open. Sweeping my eyes over the room and the man sitting at the table nervously fiddling with a napkin. No danger.
I turn, looking at the elderly grey haired man standing behind me. “He is alone, boss”.
“Good, he might live to see tomorrow then”. Don Totò says.
I open the door fully and step in, then I turn, pressing my back against the wood, letting my boss, Don Salvatore ‘Totò’ Catalano, head of the Sicilian Catalano mafia family. He might look like a nice Italian uncle, but he is anything but that.
“Good to see you Ferdinando”. Salvatore says as he walks towards the table.
The little man springs to his feet, grabbing my boss’ outstretched hands and kissing them. “Padrino … it was too kind of you to invite me”.
I close the door, and take a stance in front of it, knowing my size alone makes me intimidating.
“You know kindness has nothing to do with it my old friend”. My boss slaps the other man without warning, his heavy rings leaving a mark on his cheek. “That was for disappointing me”. Then he smiles widely. “Come sit, let’s eat”.
“Sorry”. The man says, sounding nervous and he manages to knock a glass over, as he sits down. “Sorry”.
The poor fool is Ferdinando La Rosa, a businessman who sold his soul to the devil to go into politics, the devil being my boss, now he is a minister, but he has failed to repay the favour to the familia.
A waitress comes in that Salvatore orders without asking what the politician wants. As the girl leaves, my boss looks after her. “I like her … maybe I should hire her … what do you think Adriano ?”
“Pretty face, nice ass, t**s could be better, but passable”. I say, letting my eyes run over the girl.
She looks up at me with scared eyes and as she passes, I grab her arm, and lean down, whispering in her ear. Her eyes dilate, but then she quickly nods, and I let her run along.
Salvatore laughs. “Did you scare the poor girl Adriano ?”
“Quite the opposite boss”. I grin. “She is waiting for me in the bathroom, ready for an appetizer”.
“Earning your nickname I see”. He turns to look at Ferdinando. “This is my capo bastone, Adriano ‘lady killer’ Catalano, he is also my nephew … Luck with the ladies runs in the family. Should we let him go enjoy himself while we eat ?''
I am in reality more like his nephew twice removed, but it doesn’t seem to matter to Salvatore, neither does it that I am third generation born in America. I am familia, and when I returned to my forefathers home country eighteen months ago I was immediately accepted, and have shot up through the ranks to be his trusted right hand man.
“If you think so, Don Totò”. The man says. “It’s okay with me”.
“I can stay if you prefer”. I flash him a cheeky grin. “Or have her come handle it here”.
My boss grins. “Entertainment and dinner … Nah just run along kid, enjoy”.
I hurry out, telling the two men posted outside to be extra vigilant, before hurrying off to handle things.
15 min later:
As I enter the private dining room again a male waiter brings in the first course. Salvatore looks at me. “I hope you didn’t break our waitress ?”
“No worries boss, but she was in need of a very long rest”. I grin and resume my spot by the door.
“The young have all the fun, huh Ferdinando ?” My boss says, taking a bite of his food. “But you seems to have some fun too, being a minister … and still, this things we agreed on … somehow they haven’t happened yet, that … confuses me”.
The man visibly swallows, had I not known how rotten he is I might have felt bad for him. “You have to understand I can’t just make laws on my own .. I …”.
“Are you saying I am to dumb to know how politics work ?” Salvatore asks, before looking at me. “Did he just call me stupid ?”
I shrug. “He might have”.
“No, I swear Padrino, I would never”. The man’s hands are shaking. “I am working on it … It’s just a bit more complicated,,,”.
Salvatore slams his hand down on the table. “Do I look like I care that it is complicated …”.
“No … of course …”.
Another slam shuts the man up. “Do I look like I care ? Just get it done”.
“I swear I will … I just need time..”. The man is visibly sweating now.
“And I need some kind of payment, some show that the family can trust you”. Salvatore slowly rubs his chin, like he is thinking. “What do you think Adriano ? A finger ? A kneecap ?”
Just for effect I pull out the wicked knife I always carry, cleaning my nails. “Always a classic boss”.
“Please no”. Ferdinando looks like he is considering running, but one look from me makes him reconsider. “I promise, I am doing my best”.
“I still feel I need some … leverage to make sure you are doing your best”. Salvatore is just calmly eating now. “It would be a shame if something happened to your beautiful family … wouldn’t it Adriano ?”
A predatory smile slides over my face. “Oh so very sad … yet accidents do happen, every day”.
The sleazy politician whimpers. “Please, there is no need to …”.
“Talking about your family”. Salvatore daps his mouth with a napkin. “If I remember right you have a very beautiful and accommodating Young daughter … right ?”
“Yes Padrino, my pride and joy”. The man says, smiling in a way that honestly gives me the creeps.
Salvatore looks at me. “You should see her, Adriano, a beautiful young woman, a little meek but always seems to do what she is told. We could use someone like that around the mansion”.
“No …”. Ferdinando’s eye goes almost comically wide. “Please don’t …”.
“Don't ever tell me no''. Salvatore hiss. “I think it sounds like a great plan, your little girl comes to stay with me, as a holiday until things start happening … yes that is a great plan”.
The man literally slips off the chair, scooting on his knees over to my boss. “Please Don Catalano, don't hurt my daughter”.
“Who said anything about hurting ?” His smile is cold. “I will be very nice to her … and you will get her back when you have fulfilled your promises and paid what you owe”.
The man is shaking his head, moaning. But then he stops … wait did he just smile ? “My daughter … she would stay with you ?”
Salvatore looks slightly confused too. “Yes, so you won’t forget your promises”.
“Okay then”. The man gets off, brushing himself off and getting back on his chair. “I seem to have no choice”.
I am having a weird feeling about this.
- Writer
