Giovanni

by Dominique Butler

  “No," I said, grabbing my jacket then the keys. I look over to see Gio still busy. I was speed walk past the tables to the front door.

  "Can I help you?" asks the valet when I got outside.

  “Yes, I can you tell me where you parked the car?" I ask.

  “Close to the back. Do you need me to walk with you?" he asks.

  "No, I should be fine," I said, walking towards the back of the restaurant. I felt inside my pockets for my knife and phone. I pulled out my phone look for voice recording. I found the button to record then started speed walking to the back. I make it to the back of the restaurant to see nothing but a dumpster and trash on the ground I look around. "Did I just get played?" I said, looking around one more time. I turn around to leave when a man comes out from behind the closest car.

  “Good evening Mrs. Smith," the man said, walking towards me. I couldn't see his face since he had on a pea coat with the collar up and a hat that helps hides his face.

  “Who might you be?" I ask, putting my hands in my pockets.

  "My name doesn't matter, but people call me Skin," he said, stopping a few feet from me.

  "So, what type of information do you have for me?" I ask.

  “Your uncle Dre has been trading secrets between families," the man said.

  "What type of secrets?" I ask, moving a little forward.

  “He told about the whereabouts of drops between your family and the Ricci's," he said.

  I knew that nigga was a snake, I thought.

  "There's something else from what we gather. We also suspect that your dad is trying to cover up for him," he said. That doesn't make any sense. Dad knows that if you break the code, then you are up the creek.

  "Where's this evidence?" I ask.

  “I'll send it to you," he said, walking away from me. Just as he passes the cars, the back door to the restaurant bust open. I jump when I hear the door hit the wall I look over to see Gio stalking his way to me.

  "What are you doing?" he said.

  "I needed to grab something from the car," I told him.

  "It shouldn't take no fifteen minutes," he said, grabbing my arm then walking us through the back of the restaurant. We walk through the busy kitchen with people running around and shouting. Walking to the front and we make it to our seats. "Next time you need to go somewhere, take somebody with you," he said.

  "Yes, father. I need all the help I can get," I said, sliding into the booth. I look around the table to see Angel and Brandi almost done with their food then I look at Gio's to see him halfway done.

  I must have been gone for a minute, I thought, grabbing my fork.

  Chapter 13

  We finished our food. "Any dessert?" Brandi asked. I just shake my head because this girl can eat you out of a house.

  "Yes, let me get the waiter," Angel said, raising his hand.

  "Excuse me," I said to Gio, scooting over to him with my phone in my hand.

  "Where are you going?" he said.

  "To the bathroom. You gonna come in with me?" I ask, waiting for him to get up.

  "Watch your mouth," he said, getting up from the seat.

  I just walk past him to the restroom. After getting to the restroom, I look under the stalls to see if anyone's in here. I go into the last stall, locking the door, and I turn my phone on. Going straight on the recording, I turn my volume on low playing the recording. I could hear everything, but it was low. I get out of the stall when a lady walks in. I go to the sink and wash my hands. She walks up to me.

  "You are with Giovanni Ricci?" she asks.

  "Yes. How may I help you?" I said, drying my hands.

  "I was wondering if you can talk him into helping my grandfather with his problem," she asks.

  "What type of problem is that?" I ask her.

  “I can't really speak on it but, I can give you a card with my number on it," she said, handing me a white index card with Carter's shipping company on the front and a number on the back. I take the card holding it in my hand.

  "I'll try to talk to him," I said, walking out of the bathroom. I made it back to the table, seeing Brandi eating some cake.

  "You want any?" ask Gio.

  "No, I'm fine," I tell him.

  "What are you doing tomorrow?" he asks.

  "Nothing really, just packing," I tell him, grabbing my purse, putting the card in there. My phone beeps. I look at it to see that Tisha had to text me asking where I am. I texted her back saying I'm having dinner.

  “You’re texting my wife?" Angel asks.

  "And if I am?" I ask.

  "We'll just be hanging out at your place," he said with a smug look on his face.

  My phone beeps again. I turn it on, seeing that Tisha texted back, saying that she'll be at my apartment when I get there.

  “It looks like you're in luck lover boy, but if I were you, I would get her something to eat. Since she knows that I went to dinner," I tell him. Angel shakes his head.

  “We'll have to stop at that wing place by your house," he said. I look over to see Brandi has finished with her cake.

  "Time to go kiddos," I said, grabbing my jacket we all leave out the restaurant with Brandi and I getting in the backseat, Angel driving and Gio in the passenger seat. We drive in silence until Gio’s phone rings he answers speaking in Italian. I didn't understand what was being said, but I did hear my name a couple of times. We were halfway to my apartment when Gio got off the phone.

  "Camille, we need to have a talk," he said. I look up from my phone.

  “About what?" I said.

  "Who you were within the parking lot?" he said.

  How does he know I met with someone in the parking lot? I didn't say anything just got back on my phone. Twenty minutes later, we made it to the wing spot by my apartment.

  "I gotta go to the bathroom," Brandi said, getting out of the car with Angel leaving Gio and me alone.

  "So who were you talking to in the parking lot?" he asks again.

  I let out my breath. "I don't really know, but he said he goes by Skin," I tell him.

  "What did y'all talk about?” he asked. I pulled my phone out, playing the recording.

  After listening to it, Gio starts rubbing his forehead. “You can't go to the reunion," he said.

  “I already told them I was coming, but that would look suspicious if I don't come now," I said. He huffed.

  "What happened when you went to work?" he asks.

  "Damn Angel tells you everything," I mumbled.

  "He works for me, so he has to tell me for your protection," Gio said.

  “It was more so that the Feds are wanting me to be your CO still, and somehow they know about Dre owing money to you," I said.

  "What," Gio said.

  "They told me after I was refusing to be your CO that they know Dre own money to you," I said.

  Fuck," he said, pulling out his phone. "Danny emergency meeting at ten," Gio said, then hangs up.

  I look out the front window to see Angel and Brandi walking to the car. They get in the car.

  "Can you hold this?" Angel said, handing me the food. He starts driving out the parking lot. He looks over at Gio. "You okay," he asks.

  "Yeah, we have a meeting at ten," Gio tells him. The rest of the way to my apartment was quiet; nobody said a word. Angel parked on the street in front of the building. We all got out of the car with me walking in front of everybody, unlocking the door. We get in the building to see Mrs. Lilly at the mailboxes. She turns around to us.

  "Ooh Gio baby," she said, walking over to him. "How are you out?" she asks.

  "I'm on house arrest," he said, smiling at her.

  "Good, you didn't need to be in there. Are you hungry? I have food on the stove," she said.

  “No, nonna, we just came from dinner," Gio said as we all get on the elevator.

  "What are you guys doing tonight?" Mrs. Lilly asked.

  "Nothing really," Gio said when the door of the elevator open.

  "Before you leave come o
ver to see me," Mrs. Lilly said.

  "I will," Gio said, giving Mrs. Lilly a kiss on her forehead. She walks to her apartment while the rest of us went to mines. I grab the doorknob to see that it's unlocked. I walk in.

  "Tisha," I said, walking into my apartment. There was no response. I look back at Gio and Angel. They both get in front of Brandi, and I walk in the living room.

  "Brandi put the food in the microwave," I tell her handing the bag to her. She walks into the kitchen. Angel walks down the hall while Gio follows a couple feet behind him.

  "What the fuck, Angel?" I hear Tisha yell. I walk into the living to see Gio standing in the hallway and Angel getting pushed out of the bathroom. The door slams closed, then Gio and Angel walk back into the living room, taking off their jackets.

  "What’s wrong?" Brandi asks.

  "Nothing, put my jacket in my room," I tell her handing her my jacket. After Brandi disappears into my room, Tisha comes into the living room.

  “Didn’t your mom ever teach you that if the bathroom door is shut to knock?" Tisha said to Angel.

  "Sorry I didn't mean to, but I got you some food," he tells her.

  "Where is it?" she asks, looking around.

  “In the microwave," I tell her. She speeds walks in the kitchen. I sit down on the couch, seeing a manila envelope sitting in the table. I pick it up, seeing that it was addressed to me. "Tisha, where did this envelope come from," I ask her. Tisha walks back into the living room, carrying her food.

  “That was by the front of the door," she told me, taking a seat next to Angel.

  “Okay,” I said, walking to the kitchen, putting the envelope in the cookie jar, then grabbing some water.

  I walk back into the living room, looking at Tisha. “We’re just talking," Tisha said, pushing Angel away from her. Gio takes a seat next to me.

  “What are we gonna do?" Angel asks.

  “You want to play bowling on the Wii," I ask

  “Yeah, I'm gonna beat everyone's ass, “he said. I just shook my head at him getting up from his seat, turning the Wii on, and changing the channel on the TV.

  "What are you doing tomorrow night," Gio ask me.

  “Nothing really, packing for our flight it leaves at four on Friday," I tell him.

  “Good, then you can come over to dinner with me," he said.

  “Gio, I don't think that's a good idea with the Feds watching and with both of us having a mole. Plus, we were out all day today. I'm not supposed to have any contact with you unless it's work-related," I tell him.

  “We won't be in public. We'll be at my house," he said.

  This man just doesn't get it, I thought.

  Angel walks to us, handing me a remote control. “Team two," he said. I look at the TV, seeing that there were only two teams. We played for a couple hours.

  "We have to go," Gio said after making a strike.

  “No. One more game," Angel said, seeing that we won another game.

  "Can't. I gotta see nonna before we leave," Gio said, putting the controller on the table, grabbing his coat off the back of the couch. “I’ll see tomorrow for dinner," Gio said give me a kiss on my forehead then walks out of the living room.

  “Man," Angel said with pout grabbing his coat.

  “I should leave too," said Tisha getting off the couch, grabbing her purse and jacket.

  “Call me when you get home," I tell her, walking to the door before Angel and Tisha leave they give me a hug.

  “See you later," Angel said, walking down the hall with Tisha. I close the door locking it. I walk into the living room start cleaning up the mess we made. I turned the TV off and put up the Wii and the controllers I gathered all the trash taking it in time the kitchen throwing it into the can. I look around the kitchen to see if anything needs to be clean, then my eyes look up at the cookie jar for a minute. I grab it off the fridge setting it on the table. I grab a wine glass and some white wine from the refrigerator, placing it on the table, I was so nervous about going through the pictures not wanted to see my dad being involved with this shady shit. I take a seat at the table and pour me some in the glass. I take a gulp of the wine then put the cup back on the table. I take a big breath in and then slowly release it.

  “Let's do this," I said out loud, grabbing the top of the cookie jar. I reach in grabbing the envelope taking all the pictures out of it. I look at each one carefully until I got to the last four. I see Dre and my dad standing in a parking lot between two black SUVs with a group of white men in front of them. The next picture shows my dad taking a suitcase from them shit what the fuck this looks bad as hell. Not only is he meeting with them, but it seems like he's taking money as well, I thought. I look at the third picture Dre, and my dad is at a dinner or small restaurant there sitting at a table by a window with two white men across from them. I put the pictures down, taking another gulp of wine, then breathe in and out before picking up the photos again the last one shows dad reaching for a thick envelope on the table.

  This man can't be serious, I thought.

  I picked up all four of the pictures, checking the date on them. The picture from when they're outside was dated two months. The other picture was from last month. These dirty as niggas. Especially my dad having me think that the family is in a crisis. I let out a deep breath grabbing the rest of the wine-drinking. The rest of it is placed back on the table, knocking some pictures down. I pick them off the floor seeing in the back of one of them there's red writing on the back it said:

  Mrs. Smith, if you ever need some more information on your dad, Dre, or any other person, don't be shy to email dskin3248@gmail.com.

  I place the pictures on the table walk to my room to see Brandi sprawled out in my bed. I go to my desk, grabbing an envelope, then walking back out, headed to the kitchen. I place the pictures with my dad in the other envelope and the rest back in the original envelope, putting them back into the cookie jar. I set the jar back on the fridge then took the other envelope walk into the living room, opening the vent under the TV stand, placing the envelope there. That should be alright until I get back I have to put them somewhere else, I thought. I take a seat on the couch. I grab my phone, seeing that I got a text from some unknown number. I open the message to see:

  I hope you had a good time, my love. I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight. Love, Gio.

  I sent I did have a good night I saved his number under G.

  "Mille," I hear someone whine.

  "What?" I said, turning over.

  "I'm hungry," I open my eyes to see Brandi pouting.

  "Go in the kitchen and make breakfast then," I tell her, closing my eyes.

  "Come on, Mille. This is my last day. Can’t you take me out to breakfast?" she said.

  This girl just won't stop, I thought. "Fine, I'll take you to a diner close by," I tell her getting up from the couch.

  "Yes," she said, walking to my room. I stretched for a minute before going to the vent under the TV stand, grabbing the envelope, placing it on the table. My phone starts to ring. I hurry up, closing the vent picking up my phone on the couch. I see that Tisha is calling me.

  “Hey, girl," I say.

  “Hey girl," I hear Angel's voice through the phone. I started to laugh.

  "What are you doing with Tisha's phone?" I asked, walking into my room.

  “You know she's my wife. What are mines is hers and hers is mine," Angel said.

  “Does she know that," I asked, grabbing some jeans and a shirt out my drawers.

  “Not yet, but she will, so what I really called you for was what are you doing today," he asked.

  “For starters, Brandi and I are going out for breakfast, then packing," I tell him.

  “Shit, I forget we leave in the A.M. for Hotlanta," Angel said.

  “Yeah, make sure that you and Tisha are there the plane leaves at four," I tell him.

  “Okay, captain," he said before we hung up.

  After showering and getting dressed, I put my hair in a ponytail then grab
my purse and a jacket.

  "You ready to go?" I ask Brandi walking into the living room, seeing her on her phone sitting down.

  "Yeah," she said, getting off the couch.

  “Grab that envelope," I tell her.

  She hands it to me. After I lock the front door, I put it in my purse.”You had fun yesterday?" I ask her.

  "Yeah, I did," she said.

  “Good," I said. As we waited to get on the elevator, my phone rings again. I pull it out my pocket, seeing that it's Tammy.

  "Morning," I said.

  "Morning, Mille. How’s everything?" she asks.

  “Good, we went shopping and out to dinner yesterday, and today we're going out to breakfast," I tell her getting on the elevator.

  "That’s good. Just remember that your flight leaves at 4," she said.

  "We'll be on it. Have a good day," I tell her, hanging up.

  We get off the elevator I hand my keys to Brandi. “My car is the blue one right outside the door,” I say after opening the mailbox. I grab the mail sorting through it, just seeing bills. I hop in the car putting my seat belt on driving for ten minutes to this diner close to my apartment. We get out the car walking to the door seeing that it wasn't packed. We walk in the door, and I look around the diner. I start walking to the back of the diner by the window. We sit down across from each other.

  "It smells good in here," Brandi said, taking off her jacket.

  “Yea," I said, taking my phone out of my pocket.

  “Good morning, ladies, my name is Ciara. I'll be your waiter this morning," she said, handing us menus. "What would you like to drink?" she asks.

  “Orange juice," Brandi said, opening the menu.

  “I’ll have the same," I tell her.

  “I’ll be right back," she said, leaving the table. I look at my phone to see Tisha had texted me, asking where we went. I texted her. I was at the diner near my apartment.

  Chapter 14

  After sending the text, I look at the menu, seeing what I wanted to eat.

  “Here we go," said the waitress place two glasses of orange juice on the table. “Just call me when you guys ready to order," she said, walking away from the table.

  “What are you getting, B?" I ask her.

  “I’m thinking of the family breakfast," she said.