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A woman. A God Damn woman! The mighty Chicago Outfit almost brought down by a woman. Gia Bellantoni. Unbelievable!
“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” I announce as I take a sip of my whiskey.
My father sighs. He shakes his head. His eyes are bloodshot.
“Bobby, I trusted that man with my life for over twenty years and he betrays me!”
“He betrayed me not you.”
My father wraps his knuckles against the metal table and explains, “I should have seen what was happening. I knew Nick was tired of his wife after twenty years of marriage. Gia is an attractive young woman with a husband who spends too much time with whores. She cried on Nick’s shoulder. Gia likes power. She seduced him. Manipulated him. Wrapped him around her finger!”
“What the fuck happened to loyalty?”
I push my chair from the table. I cross my ankle over my opposite thigh.
“Nick was always loyal to me until I retired. Nick and New York wanted Paul Jr. to be capo. Tradition. Fuck tradition!” My father raises his glass and says, “here’s to the Chicago Outfit under yours and Paul Jr.’s leadership. You did good son. You took care of the Antonovich brothers without starting a war. I am proud of you!”
I clink glasses with my father and smile.
I leave “On All Fours” early in the morning. I do not go home. I use a pass key to unlock the door to Vanessa’s downtown apartment. I own the building, so it is easy for me to gain access to any of the apartments. She rents this apartment in the city for business purposes and to fuck married male clients. She owns a lavish home in the suburbs with her mother. Her mother is elderly and frail. Vanessa takes care of her.
I sit in Vanessa’s living room on a black velvet sofa. The shades are open, but the room is still dark. Vanessa living room is tastefully decorated. Modern yet feminine, like she is.
I hear the shower running. Vanessa does not know I am here.
The shower turns off. The pipes squeak. A door shuts. Movement in the bedroom.
Vanessa walks out of her bedroom fully dressed in a business suit. Her stiletto heels tap against the hardwood floor. She turns on an overhead light. She gasps as she sees me sitting on her sofa.
“Bobby! You scared me! What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were working for the Antonovich brothers.”
I am stating a fact. Not asking a question. I want to see her reaction.
“I can explain…”
Vanessa hurries over to the couch. She sits next to me. She sits so close I can smell her fear mixed with her expensive perfume. I straighten my tie and my Rolex. I do not look at her. I stare at the creases in my black dress pants.
“I’m listening, Vanessa.”
“Bobby, I didn’t have a choice. They threatened me. They threatened to kill my mother if I didn’t help them.”
“Why didn’t you come to me. I would have helped you.”
I finally look in her eyes. I see regret.
“I was afraid of them. They said they would know if I told you. I was frightened.”
“What did you tell them, Vanessa?”
“Nothing. I would never spy on you. They wanted me to have an affair with you. Video tape anytime I had sex with you. We only had sex once in your office. They were not happy with the audio recording on my phone. They told me to keep trying. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. You sleep with so many women anyway…”
“Christophe Antonovich played the audio of us fucking for Gwen.”
“Oh, God, Bobby! I am so sorry.”
Vanessa puts her hands over her face.
