Giovanni

by Dominique Butler

  “Not him but his daughter," Dom said this little girl, I thought.

  "What did she do?" I ask him.

  "She went to the Ferrari garage talking to Corey," he said; Corey is one of the enforcers for the Ferrari.

  "She must think that getting him gonna change shit," I said. We pull up to the restaurant getting out the car, letting the valet park the car.

  "Mr. Ricci, the regular table," the hostess asks.

  “Yes," I tell her. She walks in front of us, trying to switch with her non-ass having self, I thought.

  "Here you go," she said, placing our menus on the table.

  “Keep your eyes on her," I tell Dom. I look at the specials on the menu.

  "Chris has a female friend in Atlanta that he visits every month," Danny said. I look up at him, we all know that he likes to flaunt his women for everyone to see.

  “What can I get you to drink?" the hostess said.

  "Scotch for everyone," I tell her, then she leaves. "Who is she?" I ask.

  “Camille's cousin, Keisha," he says. I was in shock for a minute.

  "You sure," I ask.

  "Yes every time he's in town she's on the list for VIP booths at the same time," he said

  "That can be a coincidence," I tell him, and Danny shakes his head.

  "Keisha has a son that's four, he doesn't hold the Ferrari last name but Chris mother's maiden," Danny said.

  "Damn," I said as the hostess place our drinks on the table. I take a sip then place it back on the table.

  "You sure about this?" I ask.

  "Not one hundred percent sure but a good 80," he said.

  "She might be his informant about the whole situation that's going on down there," I said. They shake their heads I pull out my phone calling Angel

  “Boss not a good time," he said over the top of yelling in the background.

  "What's going on?" I ask.

  "Tisha is about to fight Camille's cousin Keisha," he said before hanging up, I shake my head.

  "What can I get you?" the hostess asks. We each got a special.

  "Looks like we can't get them to ask Keisha about anything," I said. For the remainder of lunch, we talk about some legal business.

  Dom drops us off at the office while he went to look for Michelle.

  "Mr. Ricci," Lorrie said when I get off the elevator.

  "Yes," I say.

  "The FBI is in your office," she said. I smile at her.

  "I'll handle it," tell her. I walk into my office, seeming two men looking around my office.

  "How can I help you, fellas?" I ask, taking a seat behind my desk.

  "Mr. Ricci, I'm Officer Conner, and this is my partner Jackson," Conner said.

  "Nice meeting you. What have you come here for?" I ask, looking them up and down.

  "We're here to ask you about your relations with Miss. Camille Smith," he asks. I lean back in my chair.

  "You’re talking about my CO from jail?" I ask.

  "Yes," Conner said. I take a minute to think.

  “She is a stunning woman, but during my time in jail, she was just my CO," I tell him.

  Jackson walks up to my desk, slamming a folder down. "Bullshit, we have photos of you and her shopping and going out to eat," he said. I pick up the photos looking at Camille.

  "We did go out with her sister and my friend after I was released, and before I started house arrest," I tell them.

  "So you have been having a relationship with her?" Conner said.

  "Look, if you want to question me on a relationship with her further, then we have to get my lawyer involved," I tell them.

  "Thanks for answering our questions," Connor said, leaving the room.

  "Just so you know if there was a relationship when you were in there, she's going to jail," Jackson said.

  “I'll remember that," I tell him after they left the office I call my lawyer.

  "Yes, Mr. Ricci," he said.

  “Sam, I need you to be on standby," I tell.

  "I will be," he said, hanging up the phone.

  Camille POV

  I sit on the bed, replaying what Tammy and dad just said the door open," I never seen people that mad before," Devin said, taking a seat. I look at him.

  "What do you want?" I ask him.

  "Nothing, just telling you that they moved you're going away party to two days from today," he tells me.

  Shit, I need to find a way to get away, I thought.

  "Camille, I can get you out of this," Devin said.

  "How?" I ask Devin to smile at me.

  "If you join the Ferrari family," he said. I look at him.

  "So you want me to go against Ricci," I said.

  "Think about if your dad works for the Ferraris so he would have no control to do nothing. Just take some time to think about it," he said getting out of the chair going to the door “I’ll be back in a couple of hours," he said before closing the door.

  I lean back on the bed, closing my eyes thinking about how my life went to shit from becoming Ricci's CO, then Mike attacking me than being fucking kidnapped to be sent out of the country, I thought. After hearing a car startup, I get out of the bed start ramming my body into the door. First, I bounce off, holding my shoulder. I run back into the door for ten minutes before stopping out of breath, rubbing my sore shoulder I take a seat looking around the room when the door opens. Chris walks through, closing it behind him; we didn't say anything for a few minutes.

  “Sorry," he says. I get up off the bed, walking towards him. I start throwing punches for a little while he let me hit him, then he grabs my arms.

  "Camille, I didn't know that they would do this to you," he said, but I was still hype.

  "What da fuck did you think was gonna happen when they took me away?" I tell in his face kneeing him in the balls. Chris lies on the floor, holding his balls while I stand over top of him.

  "I'm sorry they told me to talk some sense into you after you hit your head I called dad telling him what happened, he told me to make sure you're not bleeding, and he'll be on his way," he said.

  Chris gets up off the floor, taking a seat on the bed, " dad told me he was taking you to the hospital, but after a few days of him gave me the runaround. I overheard him, and Tammy talking about that you're on at the cabin," he said.

  “Chris, do you know what they’re trying to do to me?" I ask him. He shakes his head, no.

  "They're trying to send me to the DR," I tell him.

  "They gonna send you to stay with granddad," he said.

  "What?" I said.

  "Granddad lives in the DR after he left grandma G," he said.

  I take a minute to think I haven't seen this man since I was five. He and grandma G got a divorce after my mom got killed was all that I can remember.

  "Why did he leave?" I ask. He looks at me

  "You don't want to know Mille," he said.

  "Chris tells me. I know it has something to do with my mom," I tell him. Chris rubs his hands down his face.

  “After your mom gave all the money she had into the business, grandma G and Tammy got her set up, and granddad found out about it, so he left," he told me. I was stunned for a few minutes, taking a seat next to him.

  "Chris, you have to help me," I tell him.

  "I will just give me a couple of days to figure out a plan I can't be seen over here," he tells me, hearing a car pull up. He walks out the door, and a few minutes later, the door opens again with Devin coming in with Wendy's.

  “Here you go," he said, handing me the bag.

  Giovanni POV

  "Mr. Ricci, you have Amy Williams on the line," Lorrie said.

  "Send it through," I tell her.

  “Hello," I say into the phone.

  "Mr. Ricci, I have your list of meetings for this month and next month," Amy said.

  "Yes," I say, trying to get her to hurry this along.

  “I approve of all of them except for the one going to Atlanta," she said.

  "Why is that?" I
ask. s She hesitates for a minute.

  "I won't be able to find someone to report to in this short amount of time," she tells me.

  "How about you try, or I'll go talk to your boss about it," I tell her before hanging up.

  I work for a few more hours. "Mr. Ricci, I'm done for the day," Lorrie said.

  "Have a good night," I tell her.

  “You too. Go home," she says, walking out of the office. After I finish up the last little bit of paperwork, I start cleaning up. I walk out of the office, getting on the elevator when Angel calls me.

  "Hey, what's going on?" I ask.

  "We have some good news," he tells me.

  “Camille's brother Chris said he knows where she is," he tells me. Why did he wait all this time to say something, I thought.

  "Where is she?" I ask.

  "At the family cabin, that's about four hours away from her grandma's," he says.

  “Check it out first," I tell him.

  “I have Dan and Gabe on it," he says

  “Good, I should be down there tomorrow," I tell him.

  “Are they gonna let you?" Angel asks. I get out of the elevator, walking past the lobby.

  “Amy will make it work somehow,” I tell him, watching Dom pull up.

  “If you get seen with Camille, it's gonna be on some shit," he tells me. I get in the back, checking my watch it was nine.

  "Home," I tell Dom.

  "She is already having the police come to my house at eleven to see if I'm home," I tell him.

  “Damn, she wants to catch you," he said.

  “Yeah. I'll call you when they give me some information about the cabin," Angel tells him.

  "Okay, just keep me posted," I tell him before hanging up.

  "What's going on with that girl?" I ask Dom.

  "She's going around town speaking to well-known men," he tells me.

  "She gonna get herself killed for being in grown folks business," I say.

  “Yes, she is," he says. I close my eyes, thinking about all the information that was given to me today.

  Christian has a child with Camille's cousin that his family would frown upon, so he keeps it a secret. Michelle trying to kill me. Camille's family is holding her in a cabin. The FEDs are trying to link us to a romantic relationship all in a couple of months.

  "We're here, "Dom says, knocking me out of thought.

  “See you in the morning. Have a talk with Rivers," I tell him getting out of the car. I walk into the house, going to my room, throwing my clothes on the floor taking a shower after ten minutes I get out drying off going to the closet when my phone rings. I look at the screen seeing that it’s a private call, so I let it ring going in my closet, putting on shirt and basketball shorts. I pick the phone off the bed, walking into the kitchen, going into the oven to see the plate that Rose made. I went into the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water. I sit at the table, eating when the phone rings again. I look at it to see a private number again, I answer.

  “Hello,” I say.

  “Cousin Gio," I hear Lorenzo say.

  "Fuck. What do you want?" I ask.

  "G, I wanted to make sure that you and Danny remember what you promised us," he said.

  “I remember, but did you finish the job?" I asked him.

  "Just give us some time," he tells me before hanging up. I set my phone down.

  If they kill Romeo Rossi, then they get their payment and become part of the mob, but they can't be fully trusted, I thought while I'm finishing my food. I throw the dishes in the dishwasher then go in the living room putting on sports center. I look at the clock on the wall seeing that it's 10 o'clock. The phone rings again. I pick it up.

  "Boss," Angel said.

  "Yes. Anything new?" I ask.

  “The cabin is a property that her grandma owns. Gabe saw Devin walking around the property," he tells me.

  "I want y'all to grab both of them and hide them until I get down there," I tell him.

  “Okay, Tisha, and I will stay at her grandma's until then," he said.

  "Good. Keep me updated about what's going on there," I tell him before hanging up. I lean back, watching TV. I jump out of my seat to a banging on the door I look at the time to see that's it eleven I turn the cameras on the TV to see the same two cops from last time. I open the door.

  "Good your here," the one cop says.

  "What's your name?" I ask.

  “Officer Hampton and Edwards from the eighth precinct," Hampton said.

  "Guess I'll be seeing you two a lot," I said before closing the door. I turn off all the lights and TV then go upstairs to my room, calling Danny.

  “Yes," he says.

  “I need you to get me information in Officer Hampton and Edwards of the eighth precinct," I tell him before hanging up and lying in bed when Camille's cat climbs in bed next to me. I pet her for a few minutes before going to sleep.

  I walk downstairs into the kitchen to see mama and Rose talk. "Morning, ladies," I say, walking over to kissing his cheek.

  “Morning," they both say, going back to their conversation. I take a seat at the table, looking at my emails.

  “Here you go, Mr. Ricci," Rose said, placing a plate in front of me.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Rose," I say, digging in.

  “Gio," mama said, taking a seat across from me. I lift my head in her direction.

  “Yes," I say, wiping my mouth.

  "What's going on with Camille?" she asks. I take a sip of coffee.

  “She’ll be here in a couple of days," I tell her. Mama shakes her head, then starts eating. We talk about other important things like her getting grandchildren and my new house guest for the rest of the breakfast. "I'll see you later, mama," I tell her before leaving the house.

  Dom is waiting in the car outside. I get in the back. “How did last night go?" I ask.

  Dom huffs. "At first, she was being difficult yelling and trying to scratch me, but then she pleaded with me. After she saw that won't work, she tried attacking me again. I had to tie her up for a minute," he tells me. I start laughing at him.

  “She wasn't that much of a handful," I told him.

  “She was trying to offer me money," he tells me.

  "Does she understand now?" I ask, getting serious.

  “Yes," he said, stopping in front of the building. I get out walking through the lobby bypassing everyone I get on the elevator when Danny gets on.

  "The things you can find on the internet," he said, handing me his phone. I look at it to see Keisha's Facebook page with a picture of her and her son looking just like Chris. I give the phone back to Danny, getting out of the elevator and walking past Lorrie's desk.

  "Good morning Mr. Ricci," Lorrie said.

  "Good morning," I tell her.

  "Mr. Ricci, Amy Willimas is in your office," she says. I shake my head, walking in my office. Amy is in my chair, digging through my drawers.

  "What can you possibly be looking for in other people’s stuff?" I ask her. After the door close, Amy jumps out of my chair, closing the drawer.

  "Ricci, I came to tell you that I can't find no one to supervise you," she tells me.

  "Amy, I have important business to attend to down there. I can't reschedule meetings. I need to be down there," I tell her walking close to her.

  “Well, if I go with you, then you'll be able to go," she says. I stop for a minute.

  "Be ready tonight night. I'll have Lorrie send you the details," I say, sitting in my chair, turning the computer on.

  Chapter 22

  "Why are we riding on a public plane?" Danny asks. I look at him.

  “I don't want Amy on the private jet," I tell him while we wait in line. Dom stands behind us munching on chips

  “Give me some," Danny said holding his hand out Dom gives him two chips

  “Don’t be acting all stingy," Danny said, still hold his hand out.

  “I thought Angel was gone," I said to the children. We went through the metal detectors then took a seat c
losest to our gate.

  “You see Amy anywhere?" Danny asked, looking around for her. I pull out my phone calling Angel.

  "Boss," he said.

  “We’ll be there around 5 in the morning," I tell him.

  “I’ll have Trey pick you guys up," he tells me.

  “Man, this shit is so tiresome," he tells me.

  "What's wrong?" I ask him.

  “This family doesn’t give a fuck about Camille. I can't get no type of help. They just drive me crazy," he said.

  “There she goes," Dom said as Amy walks to us

  “Angel, I'll call you when we land," I tell him hanging up.

  “Hey," she said putting her luggage next to me

  “Hey," we all said in unison. We are all on our phones, not paying her attention.

  “Where are your bags?" she asks, taking a seat next to me. "I know yall heard me," she said, getting an attitude since no one's answering her.

  "We have clothes at the hotel we’re staying at," I tell her.

  "Flight 72 to Atlanta is boarding," said a man over the intercom. We get up out of our seat, walking towards the gate.

  "No one's gonna help me?" Amy says.

  "No pick up the pace," Danny says. Amy huff and puff behind us, pulling her luggage. Danny hands everyone their tickets as we walk up to the podium giving the lady our tickets.

  "Down the hall," she tells us we board the plane going to first-class with Amy following behind us.

  "Ticket, please," the flight attendant asked. We each hand her our tickets passing by. "Ma'am, you're in coach," the flight attendant said.

  "What? I should be up there," Amy tells her.

  “I’m sorry, ma'am, but your seat is down there," she tells Amy.

  "Fucking assholes," Amy said, walking to coach. Danny and Dom laugh at her taking our seat.

  “This should be a quick flight," I say, getting comfortable.

  A few hours later, we land getting out of our seat.

  "Where is she gonna be staying?" Danny asks, and I start smiling.

  “You’ll see," I tell him. We walk through the airport waiting outside for Trey I pull out my phone out calling Angel.

  “You here?" he asks.

  “Yeah, we're in the front," I tell him.

  “He should be there any minute, " he tells me before hanging up. An all-white Range Rover stops in front of us. The passenger window rolls down.

  “Good to see my boys," Angel said, seeing us.