Mafia Obsession

Elio

“You seem to have used many Family men for this pet project,” Mom says, then sips her red wine. She’s not usually much of a drinker.

We’re sitting on the balcony; the grill fire is lit. Luca sits to the side, almost like he’s getting ready to intervene if we start arguing. I lean forward, looking closely at Mom. “What did Dad say about it?”

She stares down at her glass of wine. I remember what Scarlet said about Mom’s reaction when she sang for him. Dad teared up, and Mom seemed shocked. She asked if he could hear and understand, but he’s been giving instructions for months.

“I haven’t spoken to him about it yet,” she says.

“Then, with all due respect, Mom, as acting don, I have every right to do what I did.”

Mom huffs and takes another sip of wine. Luca looks at me with his eyebrow raised, silently asking me why I’m speaking to her with this tone. I shake my head. I need to calm the hell down, but the idea of Mom lying about this is just sick.

“Do I have the right to ask why you did it, Elio?” Mom says.

“Scarlet isn’t just a singer.” “Ah, Scarlet.”

I nod. “I gave her a fake name because I was worried about our new associate finding out she was here.”

“Our new… what?” Mom says.

“Russel,” I growl. “Now that I’ve told you that, I need you to promise you won’t mention anything to him.”

Mom’s face drains of color. Her eyes get wide as if she’s looking for an escape. It happened the moment I mentioned Russel’s name. “What does this have to do with him?”

“Promise, Mom. Please.”

“I promise. Now, you please answer my question.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I’ve got reason to suspect that Russel broke into Scarlet’s apartment and threatened her. He loaned her dad some cash, her dad took off, and so he threatened his daughter instead.”

“Russel suggested the restaurant,” Luca says. “Scarlet works there as a waitress. We think he was trying to scare her. Or maybe just get a look at her and see what effect his threat had. Or, well, who knows how idiots like Russel think?”

Mom scowls. “I thought you were in support of this stadium project.”

“I was,” Luca says, “but I won’t work with somebody who breaks into women’s homes and threatens them. If the dad took a loan, then all right, he should’ve paid it. If he didn’t pay it…” Luca shrugs. “He made his bed the day he took the cash, but to go after his daughter? That’s cartel shit. That’s the shit the Marinos have always kept out of this city.”

I smile at my little brother’s passion, then focus on Mom. I can tell she’s getting frustrated. It makes me feel like one shitty son. “What makes you think Russel is the loan shark?” she asks.

“A hunch Scarlet had.”

“A hunch?”

“Russel was eyeing her up at the restaurant.”

“You’re saying Angela-Scarlet-was working at the restaurant that night?”

“She served our food and drinks all night, Mom,” I say. “I knew you wouldn’t recognize her. You were too focused on Dad.”

That’s only half the truth. The other reason is that Mom rarely pays attention to waiting staff. She’s not rude-never that-but she doesn’t notice them. I probably don’t either, unless they’re curvy, perfect, and mine.

“Russel was reveling in it,” I say. “He chose that restaurant for a reason.” “It’s hardly proof,” Mom replies, then drains her glass of wine.

“I can get proof,” I growl. “The debt’s owed tomorrow. The shark said he’d visit my…” Crap. I was about to say my woman. “Scarlet’s apartment to check on it. I’m going to set up an ambush there. When the shark shows up, we’ll spring the trap. If it’s Russel, we’ll know who we’re in business with. If not, we’ll catch the shark and make him back off. It’s a win-win.”

“That’s not a win for us,” Mom says. “It will jeopardize our business.”

She’s not looking at us. Her head’s on a swivel, constantly changing direction. It’s like she’s hiding something. I can’t stop thinking about what Scarlet said. When Luca asked if I thought Mom would pretend Dad was speaking to her, the idea seemed insane to me, but now, not so much. But why? If she’s doing this, she has to have a reason.

“It was Dad who said we should never be in business with men like that,” I grit out.

“Don’t yell at me, Elio,” Mom says, glaring. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

“He didn’t yell,” Luca says quietly.

I wave a hand at him. “Mom,” I go on, “we have to do this. Maybe it’s a coincidence, and Russel chose that restaurant randomly. Maybe the shark is somebody else, but we have to find out, don’t we?”

“Do we?” Mom says, her breath coming fast as if she’s about to have a meltdown. “I don’t think we should put our business at risk so hastily.”

“Let’s ask Dad about it, then,” I reply.

Mom flinches, head on a swivel again, looking anywhere but at me. She was shocked when my singing angel’s voice stirred Dad to tears. There’s no doubt in my mind now. This whole thing has been a sham. I just can’t figure out why she would do that.

With a huff, she stands up. “I need a rest. This is all too messy for me. If you’re going to do it, do it. You clearly don’t need or want my opinion.”

She storms off the balcony, slamming the glass door behind her so hard it’s a miracle it doesn’t shatter. Luca leans forward and crosses his arms. “That was weird. I can’t remember the last time she got this upset.”

“Luca, I need to tell you something, but you can’t get pissed.” “Nah, fuck that,” he says. “Tell me first. Then I’ll decide.”

Sighing, I tell him about the song, Dad’s tears, and Mom’s reaction. “Are you sure Scarlet’s telling the truth?” Luca says.

I have to warn myself not to slap my little brother. To him, Scarlet is a woman I’ve known for… hell, days. It might feel like years to me, but his question is fair.

“Yes,” I tell him. “She has no reason to lie about that.”

“True,” Luca replies. “Unless she’s working with somebody else. Maybe she left you that note at the restaurant because somebody-maybe even Russel-told her to. Or maybe there’s no loan shark. Maybe the Irish or the… Bro? Elio?”

I don’t even realize I’ve stood up until my little brother leans back, staring at me. The fear on his face is so rare it makes him look like a little boy again. He’s looking at me like he thinks I will hit him.

I sit down, shaking my head, trying to calm myself down. “She’s not working for anybody. She’s a good person.”

“Okay, man. Shit. I was just saying…”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Don’t just say. You’ll see she’s telling the truth when we catch this loan shark bastard.”

“So you do think Mom’s been pretending Dad’s been talking all these months?”

I swallow. “I don’t know. If she has, something bad is happening. She wouldn’t do that willingly. You know what Mom and Dad are like. Other dons have their side women. Other dons have their trophy wives. Mom and Dad are the real thing.”

“No question there,” Luca agrees. “What now?”

“Now, I catch up on some work. We’ve got the sting tomorrow, but there’s still the day-to-day business. I’ve got reports to file. Figures to check. You know, the fun stuff.”

“I’ll help,” Luca says.

I tilt my head at him. “Really?”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” he snaps. “I want to be useful.”

I reach across the table, clapping him on the arm. “Thanks, Luca. Let’s get to it.”