My Mafia Guardian Angel

Chapter 4

Thursday night, the bar was full. Antony held his weekly meetings in the bar. He knew this is why Maurice didn't want Echo to work on Thursdays. Antony also did not need Echo around most of the men who came in on a Thursday. Thursday nights, the local Capos meet to pay dues to their Don. The American Mafia had 3 families. The 1st and oldest family would be the Luciano family from New York. They run the northeastern part of the country. The 2nd family, the Gotti family, hail from Los Angeles. They run the north western part of the country. Lastly, the Mariano family has always lived in Dallas. They run the south. All 3 families work together as they are all technically cousins.

Antony Mariano had plenty of legal business ventures, but most of his wealth came from being the underboss of the Mariano family. His father, Don Carlo, rarely left his penthouse. It was expected he would retire before too long and pass his ring on to his son, Antony. Antony was known as a cruel man. He was able to spot investments that would turn a profit very quickly and make him much money. People did not cross him. People did not fail him. He expected perfection from those under him, and anyone who crossed him felt his wrath.

He barely listened to the Capos status reports on the various businesses he had them running, his mind kept going to the woman upstairs. How did such a little thing get in his head so easily? Who was she really?

"Boss?" Antony was brought back to the room by Capo Juan. Juan was great for the horse racing market, but that was about it.

"Let's talk later," Antony stood up, not really caring what Juan wanted to discuss. He knew he was being rude, but his status gave him certain privileges. He walked to the bar and found Mabel cleaning a glass.

"Hey, Boss," She greeted.

"Whiskey on the rocks," Antony requested.

Mabel poured a generous glass and slid it to him. He studied it a moment before taking a sip. He turned leaned against the bar and watched the Capos socialize.

"Mabel," Antony spoke without turning.

"Yes, Boss."

"Tell me about the girl."

"Which girl, Boss?"

Antony turned and glared at her, then looked up towards the ceiling.

"Oh, Echo? She's a doll. Don't know tons about where she's from, but I do know her old man beat the snot out of her regular like. I guess she would protest him wanting to harm the child and would take the beating herself. All she said was he crossed a line, and she had to flee with the clothes on their backs. They traveled far until she was sure they were not followed and used various aliases." Mabel stated. Antony could hear the admiration in her voice of the woman. In such a short time, Echo was able to get into the heart of the rough and tumble Mabel, who was able to keep up with the Mafia on her own. She was not part of it, but she was not not part of it. She had a strange understanding of the life. Antonio was able to keep her employed because he knew she would keep everything she heard and saw confidential.

He tapped his fingers on the bartop with one hand and held his glass in another. He sipped on the drink absentmindedly mulling over what he learned about this mystery woman. What kind of line would need to be crossed for a woman to flee so far and take such precautions to become a different person?

The enigma that is this mystery woman who stumbled upon this humble bar drew Antony's attention in a way that was startling. He glanced at his watch and saw it was only 9 pm. He set the glass down and strode behind the counter.

He quickly strode to the door that led to the stairs for the apartment and proceeded to open it. He strode up the stairs and walked down the small hall to the door. He knocked and waited.

Echo opened the door a sliver and gasped. "Mr. Mariano, why are you here?"

"I own the place. Will you let me in?"

Antony heard Manny scurrying up the stairs to ensure he was fulfilling his duties.

"It's after 9. My daughter is asleep." Echo protested.

"I just have some questions. It's not like I want to fuck." Lies. Antony keeps picturing those pouty lips around his c**k. He has to force the mental image away to avoid pitching a tent.

Echo frowned at his words. "And this couldn't wait until a normal time of day?"

"I am a very busy man, Miss Newton. And I do not like to repeat myself, nor do I like to be kept waiting. You keep defying me, and you will find out what happens."

Echo shuddered at his words. Sighing, she said, "Let me grab some clothes."

She started to close the door when Antony held his hand out, stopping her. her pushed enough to show her he was coming inside but not hard enough to harm her.

She quickly backed up, and he took in her appearance. She was wearing a silk nightgown that stopped mid thigh. Its cream color complemented her olive toned skin. His eyes skimmed down from her neckline to her breasts that were pebbled out. Those legs looked so smooth. He could only imagine they would be so soft. She was a siren.

Flushing, she scurried to the bedroom and grabbed a robe. While tying the sash to the baby blue silk robe, she made her way across the room.

Antony watched her under hooded eyes. The robe did little to hide her body from him, but it made her feel better. "Mr. Mariano, you wanted to speak?"

"Yes," now that Antonio was here, he was second guessing the sanity of coming here. He needed to remember why he wanted to speak with Echo in the first place. "I wanted to get more information from you on the severity of your situation. It is bad enough that you have changed your name more than once from what I have heard."