Giovanni

by Dominique Butler

  "You might want to sit down if you want to hear about Camille," he said. I stop in my tracks, turning around.

  "What did you say?" I said in a deep voice.

  "Don't cause a scene," Chris said, looking around the room.

  I breathe in and out, calming myself down before taking a seat. The waitress comes to the table. "Scotch," I tell her.

  "Scotch also and give her some red wine," Chris says. The waitress takes our order, then leaves the table. "Marianne leaves," Chris tells the blond. After she grabs her purse, walking to the bar, I say, "What do you know about Camille?"

  “I know that she's missing, and her family doesn't care," he said.

  "Here are your drinks," the waitress said, placing our drinks in front of us. I pick it taking a sip.

  "Get to the point Chris I don't have all day," I tell him. Chris laughs.

  “You do have time, so sit back and listen," he tells me, taking a sip of his drink. “Even though we don't like each other, we're getting played by the same person," Chris said.

  "Who?" I ask.

  "The Smith's," he said.

  I look at him. I know that Camille wouldn't double-cross me, I thought.

  "All of them are playing both of us," Chris says.

  "Everyone but Camille," I say. Chris laughs.

  “Especially her. She’s playing you the most," Chris said.

  I take another sip of my drink before I snap. "How are they playing us?" I ask, setting my glass down.

  "Rico offered his daughter to me, but she scheduled to leave on a plane in the next couple of days. Then he offered me part of his business, but I haven't heard from him in a month," Chris said.

  He doesn't need their money. What's Chris really after? I thought. "Chris, you're telling me that you want their little money," I say, laughing.

  "No, but I need to keep an eye on someone," he says. Who does he know in that family?

  "Thanks for the information. I'll let you get back to your date, “I tell him getting out of the seat.

  "I'm here always to help," Chris says, smiling at me. I walk back to my table.

  "What did he want?" Dom asks.

  "Just some friendly advice," I told him.

  “Sorry, Mr. Werner, but I have to leave," I tell him.

  "No, it's okay. I need to get home to the wife. Have goodnight fellows," he said, finishing his drink.

  We walk out of the restaurant getting in the car. "Where to?" Dom asks.

  "To Danny's," I said, sitting back, thinking if what Chris said he needs to keep an eye on someone, then he knows that Camille is missing. Who's his informant, I thought.

  Dom parks in front of Danny's house, and I hop out the car banging on the front door.

  "Who is it?" Danny yells before looking through the peephole. "Gio, what are you doing here?" he asks.

  "We need to talk," I said, walking into his living room, seeing that he has candles light, wine, and slow music playing. "Am I interrupting something?" I ask.

  "Yes, Tiffany staying over tonight," he said. I walk to his office. "What's going on, Gio?" he asks.

  I waited for Dom to get into the room and close the door. “Chris came to the restaurant telling me how Camille and her family are playing both of us," I tell him.

  "What?" Dom says.

  "That Camille's dad was giving Chris a part of his business, and Camille is supposed to be on a flight out of the country in a couple of days," I say.

  “His ass doesn't need their business," Danny said.

  "The same thing I said to him, but he needs to keep an eye on someone," I tell them.

  Danny looks at me. "That's what I came over here for. I need you to find out who's he talking about and see if there is a flight for Camille," I tell him.

  "I got you," Danny said.

  "Let's get out of here so he can enjoy his night," I tell Dom. We walk out of the house into the car.

  "Where to boss?" Dom asks.

  "The new club on fifth," I tell him, needing something to distract me. My phone rings. I pull it out, seeing a number I don't know.

  "Who's this?" I answer the phone.

  “Amy. I know your mother taught you better than that to answer the phone like that," she said. I let out a deep breath.

  "What do you want, Amy?" I ask her.

  "Just reminding you that you have a curfew of 11. If you’re not home by then, the cops will arrest you," she said. I look at my watch, seeing that it is 10:30 already. "But if you come over to my house, I can make it go away," she said.

  “I’m fine," I tell her hanging up the phone.

  "Change of plans we're going home," I tell him. This bitch must be crazy, I thought. I call Angel.

  “Hey, boss," he said.

  "What's going on?" I ask.

  "Dan, just text me they’re here. Now the family is worried about Camille, and I can't find Devin," he said.

  "When are you gonna see them?" I ask.

  "In the morning," he tells me.

  "Make sure you take Tisha with you and find Devin," I tell him.

  "Will do," Angel said before hanging up the phone.

  After another five minutes of driving, we made it to my house. I get out of the car, going into my house, heading straight to the shower. After stepping out, I put on a Nike t-shirt and some sleeping pants. I grab my phone headed to the office. I sit down, turning the computer on when someone is banging at the door. I turn the security cameras on to see the police at the door; why the fuck are they at my door, I thought. I walk to the door.

  "Who is it?" I ask.

  "Police," said a man. I open the door.

  "How can I help you?" I ask the one cop who looks me up and down.

  "We’re here to make sure that you are not running the streets this time of night," said the other cop.

  “Well, you see that I'm here," I said, closing my door.

  This bitch thinks she has the upper hand, but I got something for her ass, I thought. I walk back into the office, grabbing my phone, calling an old friend.

  "Long time no see," I hear Nicholas answer.

  "Work is busy," I tell him.

  "It is. What type of work you have for me?" he asks.

  “The fun kind," I tell him.

  Camille POV

  What the fuck I thought waking up to Devin sitting in the chair watching me. I sit up, looking at him.

  "What’s going on?" I ask him. He shrugs his shoulder. "Devin, you're not gonna tell me nothing?" I ask. A phone rings; he pulls it out of his pocket.

  "Hello," he said, pausing for a minute. "She's up," he said then breaks again. "I'll be down," Devin said before hanging up. “Looks like you have visitors today," he said, getting out of his chair, leaving the room.

  I get out of the bed looking in the window to see two people getting out of a blue Toyota. A few minutes later, the door open. Dad and Tammy walk in. "Hey, sweetie," dad said, giving me a hug. I push him away.

  “What's this?" I ask. He pauses for a minute.

  "Baby, what I'm doing what is best for all of us," he said.

  "What's that?" I ask.

  He clears his throat. "Making everyone’s life better by sending you to the Dominican Republic," he said.

  “What!?" I said.

  Tammy steps in between us. "Hunny," she said, trying to calm me down. I stare him down.

  "So to help the family is to send me across the ocean so no one can find me then what spend the million you're getting from the insurance and what hurt Giovanni's feelings," I said.

  "No, Hunny, we just want you to have a good life," she said.

  "You mean not the one I had before y'all fucked it up," I said Tammy take a step back.

  "Camille, we're sorry we didn't think this would turn out this way," she said.

  "Tammy, so you didn't think that selling me to the mafia would turn out bad," I said, taking a step towards her.

  "Umm," she said, not knowing what to say.

  “Camille, don't take your anger out on h
er," dad said.

  "You’re right. She's just your little puppet that can't do shit without your say so," I tell him.

  “You better calm your ass down," he said.

  "Mother fucker, I don't know who you think you're talking to," I tell him.

  “My daughter. Show me some respect," he said.

  “You lost respect when you sold me to the mafia," I yell. He grabs me by my shirt, slamming me against the wall.

  “Camille, you will do what the fuck I say," he yells in my face.

  “Or what your gonna smack me like the good old days," I say. We stare at each other for a couple of seconds before he releases me. I drop to my feet, grabbing the wall for support.

  "We all need to calm down," Tammy said, looking between the both of us.

  "What are you here for?" I ask her taking a seat on the bed.

  “Sweetie, we just wanted to make sure that you're fine," Tammy said. I run my hands over my face.

  "Tammy, no matter what you do or say, I won't be alright about this situation, so just stop talking," I tell her, closing my eyes.

  “Look, Camille, I'm trying to help," Tammy said.

  I snap my head up at her. "Tammy, shut the fuck up. I don't want to hear all this whining about helping the family when you damn near set your best friend up than married her man," I said.

  The room was quiet for a minute. Tammy takes her hand back about to smack me when I grab her arm. "What we not gonna do is hit me," I tell her, swinging her arm away from me. She just looks at me the walk to the door.

  "In the end, your mother was weak and too forgiving she wouldn't have lasted being a wife of a kingpin," she said, walking out the door.

  “Be ready to leave in three days," dad said, following her.

  Giovanni POV

  "Angel, what's going on?" I ask, sitting in my office.

  "We have Trey detailing Chris and Gabe with Rico," Angel said.

  "Okay, keep your ears open when in that house," I say.

  "Will do," he said, hanging up someone knocks at the door.

  "Come in," I say.

  "Mr. Ricci, I have the list of companies you wanted," Lorrie said, handing me the paper.

  "Thanks," I tell her, going through the papers. Lorrie stands in the room. "What else do you want to speak about Lorrie?" I ask.

  "For the last couple of days, there have been men coming to see you, but every time I ask them what their names are, they tell me L and J," she said.

  "Lorrie, if they come back, call me and leave the building," I tell her.

  "Yes sir," she said, walking out of my office. After she closes the door, I pull out my phone, calling Danny.

  "Gio," he said, answering.

  "They're here," I tell him.

  “Shit, when did they come?" Danny asks.

  "Lorrie just told me they had been here a couple of times," I told him.

  "Fuck, what you wanna do?" he asks me.

  "Right now, we need to fix one problem at a time," I tell him.

  "Okay," he said, then hangs up the phone.

  I drop my phone on the table start rubbing my face it’s too early for this shit I thought getting out of my chair walking to the floor-length window I look at the sky then the parking lot seeing Michelle's dad getting out of his grey Porsche. The fucking day can't get any better, I thought, walking to my mini-bar, pouring a glass of Scotch to help relax. I gulp the first drink then pour a second one taking to my seat.

  I sit down, trying to get my mind right when the office phone rings. I pick it up.

  "Yes, Lorrie," I say instantly.

  "Mr. Rivers wants to see you," she said.

  "Let him in," I say before hanging up the phone. A few seconds, Lucas Rivers walks in my office.

  "Giovanni, how are you doing?" he asks.

  "Good. What about you, Mr. Rivers?" I said, getting up from behind my desk, shaking his hand.

  "Same old same old," he said, taking a seat.

  "What is this visit about?" I ask him about taking my seat.

  "You promised to marry my daughter," he said. I take a sip of my drink.

  "The agreement was between my father, the head of the mafia at the time, and you. At the time of the agreement, you were supposed to hand us Freddy Ferrari's head, but that hasn't happened. It’s been over ten years so that arrangement is over," I tell him. Lucas' face started turning red.

  "You’re trying to get out of the deal. I wasn't able to get Freddy's head, but I gave your father valuable information," he said I take another sip.

  "Yes, you did, but that wasn't part of the deal. Since the Ferrari's know that you and your family are associated with us, we can't use you for work anymore," I tell him.

  "Fuck you, Ricci. Watch your back," he said, walking to the door. I got out of my seat, grabbing him from the back of his jacket, slamming him to the wall grabbing his neck, picking him off the floor.

  "Are you threatening me?" I ask him.

  Lucas tried his best to break my hold.

  "Answer me," I demand.

  "No," he said.

  "Good. Next time you bring up this conversation, Michelle will end up missing," I tell him, releasing my hold around his neck. Lucas takes a few seconds to catch his breath then he leaves the office. I wait a few minutes then call Dom.

  "Yes, boss," he said.

  "Get some eye on Lucas Rivers," I tell him, then hang up. The office phone rings. "Lorrie," I say.

  "Your father is here," she said.

  “Send him in," I tell her before hanging the phone up. I open the door. “Papa," I say, giving him a hug.

  "Son," he said.

  "What brought you here today?" I asked, closing the door. He walks to the minibar, pouring him some bourbon.

  "What was Christian Ferrari doing at the restaurant last night?" he asks, turning towards me. Shit, I thought.

  “He came to tell me how both families are getting played by Rico," I say as papa takes a seat.

  "Meaning?" he asks.

  "Rico was supposed to give Chris a part of their business, and Camille will be on a flight out of the country in a few days," I tell him.

  "What would he need with their business?" he asks.

  "Something I asked too. He said something about needing to keep an eye on someone," I say. He takes a sip of his drink.

  "What about Camille?" he asks.

  "I don't think she'll leave voluntarily. So this gotta be connected with her disappearing," I tell him.

  I look at him, seeing what he thinks about the situation.

  "Someone in that family got dirt on Chris, and he has an informant in that house. So tell Angel to watch his back," papa said. I shake my head, taking all the information he told me in.

  "What were Rivers doing here?" he asks.

  "You don't miss a beat," I say.

  "I might be retired, that doesn't mean I don't have eyes and ears on you," he said.

  "Rivers was asking about the deal you two made," I said. Papa just shakes his head.

  "He knows that was over with when he got caught," he tells me.

  Chapter 21

  After talking to papa a little more, I call Angel. "Boss," he said.

  "How's it going?" I ask.

  "Getting a little hard. We can't find Devin or the woman that claims to be his mom, and Rico is a smooth motherfucker," he says.

  “What do you mean?" I ask.

  “Every time we tail him, he drops that car off switching to another," he tells me.

  “Fuck," I say.

  “Yeah, he's making this shit harder," Angel said.

  “I got information from Christian saying that they are trying to ship her out of the country," I tell him.

  “Shit, that's why they took her," Angel said.

  "I need you to see if Tisha can find something out from her sister," I tell him.

  “I’ll talk to her about it," he said.

  “Talk to you later," Angel said, hanging up the phone.

  I get out of the cha
ir, walking out of my office, walking to Lorrie's desk. "Yes, Mr. Ricci," she says when I approach her desk.

  "Did you send Amy my schedule for the month?" I ask.

  "Not yet, I need to finalize two more meetings," she said.

  "I need you to add a three days stay in Atlanta starting tomorrow for whatever company we have down there," I tell her.

  "Yes sir," she said, getting to work. I walk to Danny's office knocking on the door.

  "Come in," he said. I open the door to see Danny behind his desk face in the computer.

  "You find out anything yet?" I ask, taking a seat in front of him.

  "I see multiple trips to Atlanta every month it started five years ago," he said.

  "Any business down there?" I ask.

  "Just a nightclub that his cousin runs," he said. He doesn’t need to go a couple of times a month to just check on business that family is running, I thought.

  "Christian is lazy and spends money as his life depended on it, so he's not coming down to just be checking on the club," Danny said.

  "See if he has any connection with any of Camille's family,” I tell him getting up.

  “Will do," he said, typing away on the computer. I walk back to my office to see Michelle.

  “What can I help you will, Miss. Rivers?" I said, closing the door as she walks up to me.

  “We’re not getting married," she said, poking my chest.

  “No, we're not," I tell her, grabbing her finger, pulling it back. “Listen, little girl, next time you're in my eyesight, I’ll have you tied and gagged while you watch me hurt your father," I say, letting go of her finger.

  She holds her hand, giving me a dirty look leaving my office. I close the door behind her. I take a seat behind my desk, pulling out paperwork that I need to complete. A couple hours later, Danny and Dom bust through the door. I look up at them.

  Gio," Danny said, walking up to my desk.

  “Yes," I said.

  “We need to talk outside of the office," he said. I put everything up.

  “Where we going to for lunch?" I ask.

  “Restaurant," they both said, walking out of the office. I stop at Lorrie's desk

  “I’m out for lunch," I tell her getting the elevator

  “What’s going on?" I ask hopping in the car Dom start the car.

  “You told me to watch Rivers," he said

  “Yeah, what did he do?" I ask him.