Giovanni

by Dominique Butler

  A few minutes later, Kevin opens the door. “I’ll be outside," he said, letting Tony in the room.

  “Mr. Rossi, I'm Officer Smith. I'll be your CO, for the time being, we'll meet every two weeks until I think that we can meet every month. If you have any questions or concerns you can ask me at any meeting," I tell him he just shakes his head looking me up and down.

  “So are you gonna be my woman up in here," he says.

  I'm taken back by his statement. "I'm no one's woman in here. If you want one get one of the boys that do anything for protection," I tell him.

  While grabbing the files and heading to the door. I get on the elevator heading to James’ office before I can knock on the door. "Come in," James said. I walk in to see James, Amy, and the FBI agents.

  “You wanted to see me," I ask.

  "Yes, come in and have a seat," James said. I took an empty seat next to Amy. “So Mr. Ricci has personally requested that you become his CO,” James said.

  This man, I thought. "As I said earlier, I'm not trying to get involved. Have a good night, guys," I tell them, leaving the office.

  I go straight to my office, putting the file away and grab my purse then out the front door. This day is crazy as hell everyone knows about Sean, and then Mr. mafia himself requests for me to be his CO, and the feds want me to snitch. I drive straight to the DJs, I walk straight to the bar ordering an E&J straight. Needing to relax, I went to order some wings. I get back to the bar to see Mike at the other end, and I order another E&J when he takes a seat next to me.

  “Rough day," Mike asks.

  "Yeah," I replied, taking a sip of my drink. "Why are you here," I ask him.

  “Meeting my brother here, but as usual, he's late," said Mike.

  I nod my head, and we were silent for a few minutes. Two white men dressed in all black came in sitting across from us at the bar. “So that thing with Amy and me was nothing," said Mike.

  I look at him, “what do you mean," I ask.

  "When you saw us in the hallway, she just jumped on me," Mike said.

  “What you two have going on is none of my business," I tell him, drinking the rest of my E&J. The bartender places my food in front of me.

  “You want some," I ask Mike he shakes his head no. I started digging in a few minutes later a man walks up to Mike.

  “Hey, bro," Mike says, giving a dude a manly hug.

  “Hey," the man said back.

  “Who’s this pretty lady?" he asks I just laugh at his comment.

  Mike responds fast " this is Camille my co-worker and this my brother Chris," he says

  I look at Chris and see some similarities. I whip my hand. “Hey," I say

  Chris looks me up and down. “You’re the one that my little bro wants to date," he said. Mike got so embarrassed, "we have to go," he said, pushing his brother to one of the back tables. I stay until I finish my food then walk out the door going to my car when someone calls my name.

  "Camille," I turn around to see the two white men that walked in the bar earlier approached me. I reach my hand in my purse. Grabbing my .22.

  “Yes," I say.

  " We have someone on the phone for you," said the closest man to me standing at six feet, black hair and brown eyes, the other one has to be a little shy of 6’1 blond hair and blue eyes. I make a face at them. “Who is it," I ask.

  “Mr. Ricci," said the man he put the phone in my face making me grab it.

  “Hello," I say. "My love, didn't I tell you to accept the position of being my CO," he said.

  “Do I look like the type of bitch you tell what to do and follow orders? No. So when you speak to me talk like you got some sense," I said, then hand dude his phone back. I got in my car drove straight to my apartment. I took all my clothes off, then lay in bed. Today has been a day from hell, I thought.

  I wake up to hear banging coming from the front door, I hop out of bed looking at the time on my phone showing 2 am. Who the fuck is at my door this time in the morning, I thought, putting on my robe then grabbing my gun-walking quietly to the door. I look through the peephole to see Mike leaning on the side of the door. I place my gun in the drawer in the hall table. He knocks again.

  "Camille," he calls me.

  "Who is it," I say.

  "It's me, Mike," he says.

  I put the door latch on and crack the door. "Hey, Mike," I say.

  "Hey, I need to talk to you. Do you mind if I come in," he asks.

  I look at him to see that he's swaying a little, and there's a small slur in his speech. "Mike, it's late you need to go home we have work in the morning, "I tell him. Out of nowhere, he starts trying to push the door open.

  “You must have your little boyfriend in here is that why you won't give me a shot," he said.

  Don't tell me this nigga tryna be crazy at 2 am like we fucking, I thought, while he still tryna break through the door. I walk to the hall table, grabbing my gun. I turn back around to see that he's not there, but I hear some scuffling in front of my door. I peek through the crack of my door to see the two white men from earlier, the blonde-haired one grabs Mike by the neck.

  I open the door all the way to ask, "What’s going on," I ask.

  Dark hair man walks up to me, “everything will be taken care of, Gio will talk to you in the morning," he tells me. I look at the scene in front of me. I'm not getting involved, so I went back into my apartment, locking the door then going to sleep. Whatever happens to Mike that's gonna be on him, I thought.

  I woke up tired as hell from the last night; it took me two attempts to get out of bed this morning. After doing my hygiene, I went to my closet, picking out my outfit for the day. I pick an all-black suit and flats then put my hair into a ponytail. I grab my purse walking out my room, stopping in the kitchen to fill Star's bowls then leave out my front door seeing Mrs. Lilly.

  “Good morning Mrs. Lilly," I say.

  “Good morning, sugar," she said, waving at me.

  I walk out the building see the two white men from last standing by a black Mustang. I walk up to them. “What are you guys' names," I ask.

  “I’m Angelo, but everyone calls me Angel," said the blonde buff one.

  “I’m Danny," said the black hair and a thin build one with a man bun.

  “I’m Camille nice meeting you guys, and thank you for last night," I said. I walk to my car driving to work I sit in my car for an extra 5 minutes before going into the building. I hand Tisha my purse.

  "IHey girl," I say.

  "Hey. How did you sleep well last night," Tisha asked while checking my purse.

  "Not good someone was banging on the door at two in the morning," I tell her she hands me my purse.

  "Who was it," she asks.

  "When I made it to the door, the person was gone," I tell her, not trying to put Mike all out there.

  “Whoever it was is an asshole waking you up at two in the morning for nothing," said Tisha.

  "I know. It took me a while to go back to sleep," I tell her.

  “I’ll see you at lunch," I say, walking to the elevator.

  I get on seeing Amy and Lindsey.

  “Why did Mike come over my house yesterday," said Amy trying to whisper.

  “Oh really," said Lindsay tryna boost the conversation.

  "Yes, he came over all beat up like he got in a fight. He was a little drunk, too," said Amy.

  I get off the elevator heading straight for my office I open the door to see both Jackson and Conner looking around. "Good morning Miss. Smith," Conner said.

  "Morning," I replied, walking behind my desk, placing my purse in the drawer.

  "So what brought you two here this morning,” I asked.

  “We came to see if you changed your mind about being Ricci's CO, " said Jackson.

  “Look, I can be his CO, but I'm not going to snitch or tell you about personal things we talk about," I tell them.

  Jackson walks up to my desk, looking me in the eye.

  “As long as you meet
up with him in the office by the elevators 2- 3 times a week and ask him a question that we write, then you won't," he said.

  “I’ll say them, but if he chooses not to answer that's on him, I'm not gonna force him to," I tell them.

  “Okay just ask the question, we'll have the office ready by 9:30 am," Conner says.

  "Okay," I tell them.

  They leave my office. I turn my computer on, seeing that it was only 7:30. I can get some work done before meeting Ricci, I thought.

  When 9 o'clock hit, I stopped all my work, putting all the files I'm working on up and headed to Amy's office. As I approach Amy's office to hear her talking, " if she takes the position, we'll lose our one on one with him, and I won’t be able to convince him to switch sides," she says then there are a few minutes of silence. “I’ll find a way to keep her from being his CO," she says then pauses for a minute, “I sent Mike last night to her apartment, he did nothing to make her scared.

  That trifling ass hoe I got her, I thought.

  “I'll talk to you later, bye," she says, ending her conversation. I waited a few more minutes before I knock on her door. "Come in," she says I walk into her office to see mostly everything is pink.

  "I need the file on Ricci," I tell her.

  Amy's face scrunches up at the mention of his name. “You don't need to take the case," said Amy.

  " No, it's fine," I tell her holding out my hand for the file, she takes her sweet time grabbing it out of her desk before handing it to me.

  “You need to let this case go. You won't want to be caught in the middle of something," she said.

  “Are you trying to threaten me," I ask her.

  "No, I'm just telling you that getting mixed up with the mafia is a bad thing," she said. I grab the file out of her hand.

  “I can handle myself,” I tell her as I leave out her office and walk to the elevator.

  Does she really think I'm scared of her, I thought. I make it the second floor heading to Block A."Morning Kevin," I say.

  "Morning Camille. How’s it going?" Kevin asked.

  “It’s going fine," I tell him walking to the leaving quarters.

  I see that most of the inmates were out socializing with each other. I look for Giovanni but get interrupted by Tony, "Morning sweet thang," he said.

  I look at him, "it's Officer Smith, and if you call me out my name again, you'll be thrown in the hole," I tell him. I walk past him continuing looking for Giovanni, but Tony grabs my arm, stopping me. I turn facing him. "Your ass better let me go," I tell him, dropping the files that were in my hand to reach behind my waist.

  “Rossi! Let her go," I hear a husky male voice say.

  I look over Tony's shoulder to see Giovanni behind him.

  “She’s mine," Tony said, trying to pull me towards him. I gathered all my strength, snatching my arm away from him.

  " Now I'm gonna tell you this one time and one time only if you ever mess with this one right here it will be a war," said Giovanni with a stone face. He walks past Tony picking up the file I drop.

  "Morning officer Smith," said Giovanni.

  “Morning Ricci," I say to him, grabbing the file, and we walk out of the living quarters, "follow me." I take us to the office by the elevators.

  "Have a seat," I say while I take my time looking through his file. "I see that you have no priors and that you're only here for assault," I say Giovanni shakes his head

  “Yeah, I'm just a clean-cut guy," he says with a little chuckle.

  "So, as you know from your previous CO that we'll meet a couple of times a week to discuss your behavior and anything that you participate in while you’re here for these six months, “I tell him.

  “So officer Smith you're telling me that I get to see your gorgeous face a couple of times a week," he tells me.

  “Flattery doesn't get you anywhere," I tell him we pause for a minute.

  "Just stay out of trouble, and your stay might only be 3 months with good behavior," I tell him. He just stares at me. "You have anything to ask me," I say to him.

  "Officer Smith, do you have a man," he asks.

  I just roll my eyes " I hope you ask officer William's that question too," I say ." No, she wasn't as pretty as you more of a slut," he said. I just shake my head

  "We’re done," I said, getting up from my seat, heading to the living quarters. We walked down the empty hall when I got pulled into a dark room with a hand over my mouth.

  Chapter 5

  I started moving my limbs all wildly, trying to break free of the hold that I was in.

  “Calm down it's me,” Giovanni whispered in my ear

  I stop moving then pulled away from him.

  “Why did you pull me in here," I asked.

  "We need to talk about something," he said while locking the door.

  “What do we need to talk about," I ask while staring at his handsome face.

  "Don't ever in your life talk to me the way you did in front of my men ever again," he said, walking closer to me with every word.

  “Don’t ever demand me to do things," I tell him Giovanni grabs my arm, pulling me to him.

  “We’ll compromise you don't disrespect me in front of my men, and I'll ask you to do things,” he suggests.

  It took me a minute to comprehend what he was saying from how close he was to me. “ I can do that," I say I pull away from him since he's becoming a distraction.

  “That Mike guy-—you can't be around him no more," Giovanni tells me.

  “I know. That shit last night was crazy," I say, leaning on the wall.

  "He'll be dealt with," he said.

  “So Amy's trying to get you to switch sides," I tell him he Giovanni stares at me for a minute.

  “Where did you hear that from?" he asks.

  "This morning, when I went to grab your file from her. She was talking on the phone with someone," I said.

  He shakes his head. "Is there anything she else said while on the phone?" he asks.

  I thought about it for a minute, "She threatened me about taken your case," I tell him.

  He raised his eyebrows at my words."Don't worry, you'll have the boys watching you when you’re out, and I'm watching you while you're here," he said.

  “While we are in here, you don't refer to me as yours," I tell him.

  "But you are," he says.

  I got butterflies from him saying that, but he's a prisoner and I'm a CO; I'll get in trouble for that. “In here, I can't be yours, and we don't really know much about each other, "I tell him.

  "Fine," he said, walking to me before grabbing my face between his hands, giving me a long kiss. We separate, “my love, you'll always be mine no matter what happens," he said, giving a kiss on my forehead.

  We walk out of the room to see Alex, one of the guards standing by the door, nodding his head at Giovanni. We all walk back to the living quarters dropping him off " I'll see you in a few days," I tell him. We got to the entrance he shakes his head then go in. I make my way to my office to see Conner, Jackson, and James, there lounging around with no care.

  “Here again I see," I said to them while I take a seat behind my desk

  “We see that Ricci is attracted to you," said Jackson

  “So I attract all types of guys. What does that have to do with me being his CO," I ask?

  “Well we would like you to play upon that maybe do a little seducing," said Jackson

  I started laughing at him. " Now, let's understand something if you wanted a hoe you would be still using Amy, but that didn't work now you have me, and I'm for sure not gonna slut myself out for shit," I tell them.

  “Sorry for bringing that up," said Conner

  I look at him. "I have other work to do. You all can leave," I tell them.

  They walk out my office, closing the door behind them idiots working my fucking nerves. Ricci better get out of here fast I can't deal with them, I thought. I look at my emails and start doing paperwork for the rest of the morning until lunch I grab
my lunch heading to the lounge. Amy and I get on the elevator together.

  “You need to watch your back from now on," she said

  I turn around to her. “What’s your problem with me," I ask, putting my hands on my hips waiting for her response.

  "I don't have a problem with you," said Amy.

  “It sure does seem like it from your side comments to sending Mike to my house last night, telling me to back off the case, so tell me what your problem with me is," I say.

  With every word I said, I took a step towards her, she keeps taking steps back until she hits the side of the elevator. She kept on stumbling over her words, looking frightened of me. "Next time you think of threatening me, I'll beat your ass like you're one of these bitches in the street,” I tell her. I walk out the elevator going to the lounge, spotting Tisha instantly talking on her phone I just take a seat across from her. Waiting for her to get off the phone

  “Ok, baby, I'll talk to you later," she says then hangs up the phone.

  "Hey, girl," Tisha says to me. “Hey, how's your day going so far," I ask her before taking a bite of my sandwich.

  "Good, it's Friday we off for the weekend. We gonna get drinks after work today," ask Tisha.

  “Yeah, I'm down. It has been a stressful week," I tell her.

  “Girl, I can tell by the way Amy is over there grilling you from behind like you won't smack the shit outta her," said Tisha.

  I just laugh I swear these people don't understand that even though I went to a four-year college and got my masters doesn't mean that I won't still be that bitch from the hood. We finish our lunch talking about our plans for the week, which mines are nearly nothing while she got a whole date planned out for her.

  We leave the lounge with her heading to the front door and me the elevator “I’ll see you at DJ’s," I call to Tisha. I get on the elevator in silence, listening to my other co-workers talk about their plans for the weekend. I get off on my floor seeing Mike in the hallway I walk past him going into my office. I was in the middle of working when someone knocks on my door.